CODE OF CONDUCT
Regulations 5131.14 and 5131.6
Revised
Summer 2011
It is the belief of the Hampton Township
school community, staff and students that all students, regardless of age,
religion, and race, have definite rights. These rights have been defined
according to Board of Education policy and the collective thought processes of
teachers, students, parents, and administrators who are responsible for the
welfare of all students in the school setting.
Commensurate with these rights are responsibilities for
which all students are held accountable while in school. Not unlike the larger
society for which we prepare our students, the smaller society of the school
must have rules and consequences to establish and maintain a safe, orderly environment.
The Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities is
designed to clarify expectations of students in terms of their behavior and
self control. Disciplinary actions will be taken for infractions of established
rules. They will be carried out in a fair and equitable manner reflecting the
age and maturity level of the pupil and the nature of the misconduct.
Rights – Students have the right to attend a school that is safe, clean, in good repair, and drug-free where they and their property are respected at all times and under all circumstances.
Responsibilities – Students have the responsibility to follow directions given by those in authority, respect the rights and feelings of others and their property, keep themselves drug free, maintain a clean school environment, and refrain from acts of violence.
2. Learning Environment
Rights – Students have the right to a full day of instruction in a learning environment that is safe and free from excessive noise and/or disruptive behaviors.
Responsibilities – Students have the responsibility to contribute to a positive and safe environment by coming to class on time and prepared, cooperating with peers and those in authority, respecting the rights and feelings of others, following established rules, and being actively involved in the learning process.
3. Shared Areas
Rights – Students have the right to an orderly and safe school environment, which is free from disruption and excessive noise.
Responsibilities – Students have the responsibility of ensuring the safety of themselves and others by following established rules and demonstrating positive behaviors appropriate to each shared area of the school community.
4. Extra Curricular Activities Privileges –
Rights -- Students who are in good standing have the privilege to participate in and enjoy the benefits of socialization and organized activities sponsored by the school.
Responsibilities – Students have the responsibility to conduct themselves appropriately at assemblies, concerts, meetings, field trips, and other extra-curricular activities by cooperating with peers and those in authority, adhering to general school rules, and/or rules imposed by the visited area, and serving as a proper ambassador for our school community.
· School environment includes classrooms and offices, hallways, lavatories, media
center, technology area, gymnasium, cafeteria, playground, buses, bus stops, and all equipment.
My
Pledge to the McKeown School Community
Prepare
myself mentally and physically for the process of learning.
¨ Arrive at school well nourished, well rested,
clean, appropriately dressed,
and with books and supplies.
¨ Demonstrate respect for my body by remaining
drug, alcohol,
and tobacco free.
Take
responsibility for my own behavior and learning.
¨ Use appropriate language.
¨ Be prompt.
¨ Use time and other resources responsibly.
¨ Know and accept the consequences for my decisions
and actions.
Demonstrate
respect for people, property, and country.
¨ "People" includes students, adults, and
myself.
¨ "Property" includes classrooms and all
equipment, cafeteria, library,
hallways, school buses, and bus stops.
¨ Act courteously, honestly, and safely in all school
settings.
¨ Demonstrate respect for the flag and all it
represents.
¨ Respect feelings and opinions of others even if
different from my own.
Communicate
with parents and school personnel about school-related matters.
¨ Recognize my parents are partners with the school
in my education.
¨ Take home school notices, homework assignments,
and all other data.
Contribute
to the school community.
¨ Participate in a positive way in all learning environments.
¨ Conduct myself appropriately in all organized activities before, during, and after school.
¨ Serve as a proper ambassador for my school on field trips and off-campus activities.
Why do
we have a Code of Conduct?
Hampton
Township School District is providing guidelines with this Code of Conduct to
educate, inform, and communicate the expectations of appropriate student
behavior in the school building, on the playground, on the school bus, at the
bus stop, and at off-campus special events.
Discipline is a necessary part of a community. The staff and the administration will continue to educate students in ways of conflict resolution and appropriate personal conduct. Until self-discipline becomes the habit of individuals, it is necessary to preserve the rights of others through imposing consequences for various infractions.
An
infraction is a violation of the Code of Conduct and usually occurs when rules
and guidelines are willfully ignored or disobeyed.
Teacher Intervention- Based on the Code of Conduct, teachers will
determine what behavior constitutes an infraction of the Code, taking into
consideration the age and grade level of the student. If a student misbehaves, the teacher will
issue a verbal warning. If the
misbehavior continues, the teacher will impose appropriate consequences.
If
misbehavior escalates to the extent that the learning process is disrupted or
when a serious infraction occurs, the student may be referred to an
administrator.
Administrative Interventions- A conference will be held with the student and
his/her discipline record will be reviewed.
Parent contact will be made by telephone and/or by the discipline report
form. Consequences for misbehavior may
be imposed. They might include detention
or suspension, depending upon the infraction.
In addition, school counselor intervention may be requested.
1.
Disregard for school, bus, and/or classroom rules
2.
Disregard for school dress code
3.
Forgery
4.
Cheating
5.
Inappropriate behavior (i.e. note-writing, littering, etc.)
6.
Uncooperative behavior with staff or guest teachers
7.
Insubordination (disobedience)
8.
Harassment/Verbal abuse/Bullying/Teasing
9.
Profanity or Inappropriate language
10. Any and all Physically
Aggressive Behavior
11. Intimidation/Extortion
12. Stealing**
13. Smoking***
14. Vandalism/Tampering with
property **
15. Possession and/ or use
of drugs, alcohol, and/or tobacco***
16. Threats to others
17. Possession and/or use of
weapons, and/or explosives (real or fake)***
18. Any other actions that may constitute a criminal
offense or disorderly persons offense
19. Any violation of any school rule or regulation
When
students choose to disobey rules, consequences for their behavior will
result.
Consequences will be fair and consistent with consideration given to the age and grade level of the student and the seriousness of the infraction. Consequences may include a warning, parent contact, detention, suspension, bus suspension, notification of authorities*** or expulsion***.
* School environment includes classrooms and offices, hallways, lavatories, media
center, technology area, gymnasium, cafeteria, playground, buses, bus stops, and all
equipment.
** In cases of vandalism or theft, restitution will be expected for each occurrence.
*** Per Board Policies 5131.6, 5131.7, and 5114, respectively.
Board
Policy 6171.6-7 regulates disciplinary action regarding educationally
disadvantaged students.
Infraction within or outside
of the School Environment that impedes the Educational Process:
In the
event that a student or a group of students writes, verbalizes, or in some form
leaves a message that interferes with the smooth operation of the educational
process, the school staff and administration will take every step enumerated in
Board Policy and Regulations under policy # 5512 Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying to investigate, discipline,
counsel, inform all parents/guardians of students involved and involve all law
enforcement agencies as required by law in a way to be consistent with the
following procedures:
a.
findings related to
specific incidents will be related to the parents, especially whose children
are involved, in a period of time not to exceed ten school days following the
completion of an investigation
b.
all incidents of this
type will be recorded by any staff member reporting the incident to the School
Principal in writing on a Student Behavioral Referral Form and maintained by the
School Principal
c.
law enforcement
agencies will be informed of an incident based upon the level of potential
threat to the safety of children or staff and direction for school
administration will be provided by state statute, administrative code, and the
United States Secret Service and the United States Department of Education in
its May 2002 release of Threat Assessment in Schools: A Guide to
Managing Threatening Situations and to Creating Safe School Climates.
Parents
and/or guardians are herewith alerted that if their child writes or makes a
statement that causes a disruption to the educational environment here at the McKeown
Elementary School, then that child will be held accountable by the school
district and/or law enforcement agencies.
In addition, the Hampton Board of Education will provide counseling and
professional assistance for any student associated with the incident after
proper consultation with their parent or guardian.
1. Students are assigned a
detention; parents are given written or verbal notice of the scheduling.
1. The student and parents
are notified by telephone and in writing of the in-school suspension stating
the misbehavior and the date of the in-school suspension.
2. The student’s teachers are
notified of the in-school suspension and required to submit work to the office
for the student to complete during the suspension.
3. The student will be
supervised in a private setting, isolated from classmates throughout the day,
while working on schoolwork.
4. The student’s work will be
returned to the teachers at the end of the day.
5. The student will be
dismissed at the end of the day to ride the school bus.
OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSION PROCEDURES
1. The student and parents
are notified by telephone and in writing of the out-of-school suspension with
respect to the misbehavior and the date(s) of the out-of--school suspension per
Board of Education Policy 5610.
2. The student is not
permitted on the school campus and may not participate in any before or
after-school events on the day(s) of the suspension.
3. All work missed during the
out-of-school suspension may be made up and the student will be given a fair
amount of time to do so.
4. The parent(s) and student
must participate in a re-entry conference prior to the student being readmitted
to school. This can be arranged by
mutual consent between the parents and the administration.
5. The number of days of the
suspension will be dependent upon the seriousness of the infraction and
previous referrals.
EXPULSION
Expulsion is the permanent denial of the student’s right
to attend school and may be imposed only by the Board of Education. A student may appeal an expulsion decision of
the Board of Education to the Commissioner of Education and State Department of
Education. Assault and battery on a
teacher, Board member, administrator, or other employee of the Board of
Education or possession of drugs with the intent to distribute are situations
that may result in an expulsion from school. (Board Policy 5610)
BUS SUSPENSION PROCEDURES
1. The students and parents
are notified of the bus suspension in writing explaining the
misbehavior.
2. The number of days of the
suspension will be dependent upon the seriousness of the
infraction and previous referrals.
DRUGS,
ALCOHOL, TOBACCO
When a pupil is
confirmed as using, under the influence of, in possession of, transmitting, or
selling illicit drugs or alcohol, the following action shall be taken:
The
pupil shall be placed on temporary suspension, not to exceed ten days, until a
conference is held with the parents/guardians following
which the pupil may be placed
on school probation until disposition of the case
is made by legal and/or
school authorities in accordance with state law. Such
probation will include surveillance by school authorities and may include
exclusion from all school social and
extra-curricular activities until such time as the pupil has
demonstrated that he or
she is worthy of the return of these privileges.
Additional
Offenses:
The pupil will be subject to suspension
or expulsion through proper channels until
dispositions of
the case by legal and/or school authorities. If expulsion is recom-
mended, a full
child study team evaluation shall be initiated and completed prior
to the
expulsion.
A
wide choice of action is possible in handling each pupil's case ranging from advice
and
rehabilitation to suspension and expulsion. Whenever possible,
a non-punitive solution
is preferable if
predicted chances for recovery are good.
Some
pupils with drug abuse or other problems may voluntarily go for advice to a
favorite or respected member of the school staff. In such a
case, the staff member
should advise and guide the pupil in any way possible while
attempting to convince
him/her of the need for medical treatment and
rehabilitation. However, any staff
member is obligated to report such a situation to the chief
school administrator.
Students
are forbidden to carry or use tobacco in any form. Pupils who disobey
the rules of the school concerning the use of tobacco, shall
be reported to the chief
school administrator and may be suspended from school for a
period not to exceed
ten days.
The
Hampton Township Board of Education prohibits the possession and/or use
of firearms, other weapons, or instruments which can be used
as weapons from
school property, at any school function, or while enroute to
or from school or any
school function.
Pupils
who are found to be in possession of weapons or dangerous instruments
will be reported to the chief school administrator who will
in turn inform appropriate
law enforcement officials.
Pupils
who are found guilty of possessing weapons or dangerous instruments will
be subject to state mandated sanctions in addition to
consequences imposed by the
school district.
When a student
receives 6 discipline reports for administrative rules, unit rules, cafeteria
rules or other rules in any combination, a meeting with the teachers, parents,
student and administrator may be convened. An alternate discipline plan may be
written and followed for the student. This plan may deviate from the steps
listed in this Code of Conduct.
The Hampton Township
Board of Education shall provide ongoing counseling services for students who
exhibit problems of drugs or alcohol abuse through the child study team
psychologist, the school nurse, the school counselor, and/or the chief school
administrator, as well as through an appropriately certified alcohol or
substance abuse counselor acting as a resource person or in conjunction with a
certified teacher or guidance counselor.
An evaluation by
the child study team to determine a pupil's eligibility or need for a special
educational program and/or related services due to involvement or consumption
of alcohol or other drugs shall be initiated following state rules and
regulations which govern such evaluation.