STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
Approved
COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT
This document was developed through the efforts of
the District-Wide Decision Making Committee during the ‘95-’96 school year, and
has been revised during the summers of 1997 through 2004 to comply with the
particular ideas and beliefs of our community.
It reflects the input of parents, community members, patrons, business
persons, teachers, students, and administrators.
CAMPUS
DISCIPLINE PERSON
The Campus Discipline Person on each campus shall be
the campus principal or person designated by the principal. Duties shall include the authority to:
1. Assess and implement the Student code of
conduct.
2. Remove a student from campus for compelling
non-discipline reasons or pending a hearing.
3. Remove a student to an alternative
education program.
RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF ADMINISTRATORS
1. Respond to discipline problems referred to
them by teachers.
2. Promote effective training and discipline
of all students.
3. Encourage parent communication with the
school, including participation in parent/ teacher conferences.
4. Provide appropriate assistance to students
in learning mature self-discipline.
5. Assume responsibility and instructional
leadership for discipline and for evaluation of the Discipline Management Plan.
6. Serve as appropriate role models for
students, in accordance with the standards of the profession.
RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS
All students
are entitled to enjoy the basic rights of citizenship recognized and protected
by law for persons of their ages and maturity levels. District schools shall foster a climate of
mutual respect for the rights of others.
Each student is expected to respect the rights and privileges of other
students, teachers, and district staff.
Students shall exercise their rights and responsibility in compliance
with rules established for the orderly conduct of the districts educational
mission. The district rules of conduct
and discipline are established to achieve and maintain order in the
school. Students who violate the rights
of others or who violate district or school rules shall be subject to
disciplinary measures designed to correct the misconduct and to promote
adherence by all students to the responsibilities of citizens in the school
community.
Student responsibilities for achieving a positive
learning environment at school or school-related activities shall include:
1. Attending all classes daily and on time
2. Being prepared for each class with
appropriate materials and assignments
3. Being properly attired
4. Demonstrating courtesy and respect for
others
5. Conducting themselves in a responsible
manner
6. Paying required fees and fines
7. Refraining from violations of the student
code of conduct
8. Obeying all school rules, including safety rules
9. Seeking changes in school policies and
regulations in an orderly and responsible manner, through appropriate channels
10. Cooperating with staff in investigation of
disciplinary cases and in volunteering information when the student has
knowledge relating to a serious offense
11. Student responsibilities in the cafeteria
should be:
·
Keep milk
cartons, food and waste paper on tray.
·
Return
trays, dishes and silverware to the receiving window.
·
Keep
tables, chairs and floors clean.
·
Push
chairs back under the table after eating.
·
Talk in a
low voice
·
Keep the
cafeteria lines orderly.
·
Never
push or run.
·
Pick up
and clean up any food dropped or
spilled.
·
Leave
food in the cafeteria as directed.
·
Empty all
paper goods from trays into trash containers.
12. The responsibility of the snack bar is that
of the high school student council.
·
Food and
drinks are to be consumed in designated places only.
·
Every
student is expected to clean up his/her own mess.
RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS
Throughout this plan, “Parents” includes single parent, legal
guardian, or person having lawful control of the student.
Parents have the responsibility to:
1. Make every effort to provide for the
physical needs of their child.
2. Teach their child to pay attention and obey
the rules.
3. Be sure their child attends school
regularly, and promptly reports and explains absences and tardies to the
school.
4. Encourage and lead their child to develop
proper study habits at home.
5. Participate in meaningful parent/teacher
conferences to discuss their child’s school progress and welfare.
6. Attend parent training workshops as
requested.
7. Keep informed of school policies and
academic requirements of school programs.
8. Participate in school-related
organizations.
9. Be sure their child is appropriately
dressed at school and school-related activities.
10. Discuss report cards and school assignments
with their child.
11. Bring to the attention of school
authorities any learning problem or condition that may relate to their child’s
education.
12. Maintain up-to-date home, work, and
emergency telephone numbers and other pertinent information at school.
13. Cooperate with school administrators and
teachers.
14. Be sure their child attends school
tutorials when required to as the need arises.
15. Submit a signed statement that they
understand and consent to the responsibilities outlined in this plan.
16. Control their child. Under Family code #33.01, a student’s parent
is legally liable for property damage proximately caused by (A) negligent conduct of the student if such
conduct is reasonable attributable to the negligent failure of the
parent to exercise that duty, or (B) the willful or malicious conduct of a
student who is at least 12 but under 18 years of age.
RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEACHERS
Teachers have the responsibility to:
1. Use discipline management techniques
developed in the Districts Code of Conduct.
2. Ensure good student discipline by being in
regular attendance and on time.
3. Be prepared to perform their teaching
duties with appropriate preparation, assignments and resource materials.
4. Comply with district and school policies,
rules, and regulations and directives.
5. Maintain an orderly classroom atmosphere
conducive to learning.
6. Teach to the standards of performance
required by the district.
7. Establish rapport and an effective working
relationship with parents, students, and other staff members.
8. Teach students to strive toward self
discipline.
9. Encourage good work habits that will lead
to the accomplishment of personal goals.
10. Serve as appropriate role models for their
students, in accordance with the standards of the teaching profession.
PARENT-TEACHER
CONFERENCES
A teacher or administrator shall conduct a
conference with a student’s parent when he/she has committed one or more
serious offenses as defined in this code.
A teacher or administrator shall attempt to conduct
these conferences face-to-face, but, where impractical, may conduct them by
telephone. If these methods fail, in
lieu of the conference, contact may be make by mail. The district shall document these
conferences.
A teacher or administrator may request a conference
with a student’s parent whenever the teacher perceives the need for parental
cooperation in enforcing the student code of conduct.
SCHOLASTIC
PENALTIES
A student removed from his or her regular classes
for any reason other than suspension will not receive an excused absence and
will be expected to complete any course work assigned within a time designated
by the teacher. No academic penalty will
be assessed based solely on the
disciplinary infraction.
Pending an appeal to the Board of an expulsion,
students will be allowed to remain current on all course work. However, if the appeal is denied, the student
will not receive credit for that work.
Students who are expelled will not receive credit for work missed during
expulsion. Handicapped students will
receive educational services during expulsion as determined by the Admission,
Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee.
JURISDICTION
The district has jurisdiction over its students
during the regular school day and while going to and from school on district
transportation. The district’s
jurisdiction includes any activity during the school day on school grounds, and
/or attendance at any school-related activity, regardless of time or location.
DRESS CODE
The student and parent may determine the student’s
personal dress and grooming standards, provided that the student’s dress, hair,
and grooming meet guidelines as outlined in student handbooks.
SCHOOL TRIPS
1. Major school trips must have prior approval
of principal and superintendent.
2. All work must be turned in prior to
departure unless students have each teachers approval.
3. A student must be passing all subjects that
the student will miss before the student will be allowed to go on any
extra-curricular school trip. Field
trips are not extra-curricular.
4. Dress code on school trips will be
determined by the sponsor(s) and principal (school dress code is a minimum.)
5. A student must go to and return from out of
town activities in school conveyance unless the parent personally clears the
change with the sponsor. Phone Calls and
notes are not accepted.
6. A student shall have an itinerary at least
two days prior to leaving. (This should
include a departure and return time).
7. The sponsor must have a parent permission
slip before the student is allowed to go on any off-campus activity.
8. On overnight trips, a reasonable time for
all students to be in their respective rooms will be established.
9. It is the student’s responsibility to
obtain from the teacher any make-up work missed during the trip. Students on school-sponsored trips are not
considered absent from school.
10. The code of conduct is in force on all
school trips.
11. If a student embarrasses himself, herself,
his/her classmates, and the community by his/her behavior on school trips, he/she will have forfeited all
extra-curricular activities for the remainder of the school year. (This is a minimum, and if the principal
believes the student is taking advantage of not having further activities, and
thus creates a problem in order to circumvent the rule, additional action will
be taken.)
TRUANCY
Truancy is defined as absence from school without
approval of the school officials or leaving school without proper
authorization. Truancy absences are
automatically unexcused absences.
Because truancy is a serious infraction of school policy, strict action
will be taken against those who are truant.
Any student who is truant for one (1) or more class periods or
assemblies will be subject to corporal punishment, Saturday detention, or
in-school suspension for the offense.
Second offense will require the same plus a parent conference. Subsequent offenses will result in suspension
and potential removal to an Alternative Education Program.
BEHAVIOR AT
ASSEMBLIES
During assemblies, the pride of each student at
Sundown Schools is under observance.
This is one of the few times all of the student body is
congregated; therefore, misbehavior by a
small number bears a direct reflection upon
Sundown Schools as a whole. For
this reason, misbehavior at assemblies is a serious offense and may result in
suspension from school.
LEAVING SCHOOL
DURING THE SCHOOL DAY
In order for a student to leave school for routine
reasons or because of an emergency during school, the student (parent in
elementary school) must first check through the office. If no one is found in the office, then he/she
shall inform a teacher before he/she leaves.
If a student leaves school at any time during the day except during an
emergency, he/she must have a note from the parents or the parent must have
called the office prior to his/her leaving.
The note shall specify an exact time the student is to leave.
FULL TIME
STUDENT (HIGH SCHOOL)
A full time student is one enrolled for a minimum of
five periods. A person must be a full
time student to be eligible for membership in any clubs or organizations and
qualify for academic or elected honors.
ELECTED
OFFICES
In order to be an eligible candidate for cheerleader
or any elected school office, a student must have an 80 overall average. In order for a student to remain as a
cheerleader or in a school elected office, a student must be passing all classes that meet UIL standards, and be a
full time student.
DETENTION HALL
For minor infractions of the code of conduct, other policies and regulations,
or as consequences on the assertive discipline plan, teachers may detain
students after school.
VANDALISM AND
DAMAGE TO SCHOOL PROPERTY
Students shall not vandalize or otherwise damage or
deface any property, including furniture
and other equipment belonging to or used by the school. Students, or the parents or guardians of
students guilty of damaging school property shall be liable for damages in
accordance with the law. Students shall
be responsible for the care and return of state-owned textbooks and shall be
charged for replacement of lost or damaged textbooks.
HAZING
Hazing involves any knowing, intentional, act done
by a student, either individually or with others, to another student for the
purpose of subjecting him/her to indignity, humiliation, intimidation, physical
abuse or threats of abuse, social or other ostracism, shame, or disgrace. No student shall engage in any form of
hazing, nor shall any student encourage or assist any other person in hazing.
TOBACCO USE
Students in all grades shall not possess or use
tobacco products, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff
or chewing tobacco, on school premises or at school-related functions.
DRUG/ALCOHOL USE
No student shall possess, use, transmit, or attempt
to possess, use or transmit, or be under the influence of any of the following
substances:
1. Any controlled substance or dangerous drug
as defined by law without regard to amount, including but not limited to
marijuana, any narcotic drug, hallucinogen, stimulant, depressant, amphetamine,
or barbiturate
2. Alcohol or any alcoholic beverage
3. Any abusable glue, aerosol product, or any
other mind-altering, or behavior-altering drug
4. Any other intoxicant, or mood-changing,
mind-altering, or behavior-altering drug
“Use” means a student has smoked, ingested,
injected, imbibed, inhaled, drunk, or otherwise taken internally a prohibited substance recently enough that it
is detectable by the student’s physical appearance, actions, breath, or speech.
“Under the influence” means a student’s faculties are noticeably impaired, but the student need not be legally intoxicated.
“Possess” means the presence of any detectable amount of an illegal substance, whether on the person, their personal or assigned property, or in the body system.
The transmittal, sale or attempted sale of what is
represented to be any of the above-listed substances is also prohibited under
this rule.
A student who uses a drug authorized by a licensed
physician through a prescription specifically for that student’s use shall not
be considered to have violated this rule.
DRUG, FELONY,
AND GROSS MISCONDUCT VIOLATIONS
Violations of drug use rules both on and off the
school campus, and students testing positive to urinalysis that resulted from
reasonable suspicion as detected by student’s physical appearance, actions,
breath, or speech (See Drug Deterrent Plan), or students committing gross
misconducts or violations that do not constitute a felony, are as stated below:
FIRST OFFENSE:
1. The student may be removed to a
disciplinary Alternative Education Program for a length of time, as established
by the principal, or as required by the Drug Deterrent Plan.
2. Participation in a school approved
counseling program
3. Suspension from participation in all
activities for thirty calendar days
4. The student being subject to further
consequences as determined by the coach/sponsor
SECOND OFFENSE
1. The student may be removed to a
disciplinary Alternative Education Program for a length of time, as established
by the principal, or as required by the Drug Deterrent Plan. Expulsion
is possible if defined as persistent problem (See Expulsion)
2. Participation in phase two of a school
approved counseling program
3. Suspension from participation in all
activities for sixty calendar days
4. The student being subject to further
consequences as determined by the coach/sponsor
THIRD OFFENSE
1. The student will be removed to a
disciplinary Alternative Education Program for a length of time, as established
by the principal, or as required by the Drug Deterrent Plan. Expulsion is possible if defined as
persistent problem (See Expulsion)
2. Participation in phase three of a school
approved counseling program
3. Suspension
from participation in all activities for up to one calendar year
4. The student being subject to further
consequences as determined by the coach/sponsor
SUBSEQUENT
OFFENSES
Subsequent offenses will result in additional
removal to a disciplinary Alternative Education
Program for a time period as
determined by the principal, possible suspension or expulsion, and immediate
expulsion from all extra-curricular activities for a minimum of one calendar
year, and potentially for the remainder of the high school/middle school
career. Further intense counseling will
take place. There may be other
punishment set by the principal.
Punishment might include (but is not necessarily limited to) periods of
suspension, extra work, and corporal punishment. (See suspension and expulsion)
ALCOHOL
Consequences for possession or use of alcohol by students (See Drug Deterrent plan for reasonable suspicion alcohol use) are:
1.
The
student may be removed to a disciplinary Alternative Education Program for a
length of time as established by the principal.
2. Participation in phase one of a school
approved counseling program
3. Further consequences as determined by the
coach/sponsor in any activity in which he/she participates
1. The student may be removed to a
disciplinary Alternative Education Program for a length of time as established
by the principal.
2. Participation in phase two of a school
approved counseling program
3. Four weeks suspension from all
extra-curricular activities. Students
violating the rules during the summer will begin their suspension on the first
day of school
4. Further consequences as determined by the
coach/sponsor in any activity in which he/she participates
THIRD OFFENSE
1. The student may be removed to a
disciplinary Alternative Education Program for a length of time as established
by the principal.
2. Participation in phase three of a school
approved counseling program
3. Suspension from all extra-curricular
activities for one calendar year.
4. Further consequences as determined by the
coach/sponsor in any activity in which he/she participates
SUBSEQUENT
OFFENSES
1. The student may be removed to a
disciplinary Alternative Education Program for a length of time as established
by the principal.
2. Participation in the critical phase of a
school approved counseling program
3. Suspension from all extra-curricular
activities for a minimum of one calendar year.
4. Further consequences as determined by the
coach/sponsor in any activity in which he/she participates
REQUIRED
TESTING
Students testing positive to annual or random
required testing because they are participating in extra-curricular activities,
drive vehicles to school, or are in driver education in grades 6-12, are
subject to consequences as set forth in the Drug Deterrent Plan.
DRUG OFFENSES
REQUIRING EXPULSION
Conduct related to an alcohol or drug offense that
is punishable as a felony mandates expulsion (Sec. 37.007 of SB1). Misdemeanor
drug or alcohol offenses may result in expulsion, depending upon the severity
in nature as determined by the principal.
WEAPONS
A student shall not go onto the school premises with
a firearm, explosive weapon, or illegal knife, unless pursuant to written
regulations or written authorization of the district. The student shall not interfere with normal
activities, occupancy, or use of any building or portion of the campus by
exhibiting, using, or threatening to exhibit or use a firearm, explosive
weapon, or illegal knife.
Students are also prohibited from bringing to school
or a school-related activity any other weapons . This prohibition will not normally apply to
school supplies such as pencils, compasses, and the like, unless they are used
in a menacing or threatening manner.
School premises shall include the parking area of
the school. Weapons include, but are not
limited to:
1. A firearm
2. An illegal knife, such as a knife with a
blade over 51/2 inches; hand instrument, designed to cut or stab another by
being thrown; dagger, including but not limited to a dirk, stiletto, and
poniard; bowie knife; sword; or spear
3. A club
4. A prohibited weapon, such as an explosive
weapon; a machine gun; a short-barrel firearm; a firearm silencer; a
switchblade knife; knuckles; armor-piercing ammunition; a chemical dispensing
device; or a zip gun
The possession or use of articles not generally
considered weapons may be prohibited when, in the principal’s or designee’s
judgment, a reasonable suspicion of danger exists to the student in possession,
other students, staff, or school property by virtue of possession or use.
WEAPONS
OFFENSES REQUIRING EXPULSION
A student must be expelled for any of the following
offenses if committed on school property or while attending a
school-sponsored or school-related
activity on or off school property (See
Expulsion):
1. A firearm violation, as defined by federal
law
2. Use, exhibition, or possession of the
following, under the
PAGING DEVICES
Students are prohibited from bringing on the campus
any electronic paging devices, cellular phones, laser pointers, or other
similar electronic devices.
ASSAULT
Students are prohibited from
assaulting anyone during the school day on school property or at any school
-related event. An assault is defined
as:
1. Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly
causing bodily injury to another person
2. Intentionally or knowingly threatening
another with imminent bodily injury
3. Intentionally or knowingly causing physical
contact with another when the student knows or should reasonably believe that
the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative
ASSAULT
OFFENSES REQUIRING EXPULSION
Behavior containing the elements of the following
under the Texas Penal Code require expulsion:
Aggravated assault; Sexual assault; or aggravated sexual assault.
DISRUPTION OF
CLASSES
For purposes of this rule, “school property”
includes public school campuses or
school grounds upon which any public school is located, and any grounds or
buildings used by district schools for assemblies or other school-related
activities, and “public property”
includes any street, highway, alley, public park, or sidewalk.
No student shall be permitted on school property or
on public property within 500 feet of school property, to willfully disrupt,
alone or in concert with others, the conduct of classes or other school
activities. Conduct that disrupts the
educational activities of a school includes:
1. Emissions by any means of noise of an
intensity that prevents or hinders classroom instruction.
2. Enticement or attempted enticement of
students away from classes or other school activities that students are
required to attend.
3. Prevention or attempted prevention of
students from attending classes or other activities that students are required
to attend.
4. Entrance into a classroom without consent
of either the principal or teacher and either through acts of misconduct and/or
use of loud or profane language causing disruption of class activities.
DISRUPTION OF
LAWFUL ASSEMBLY
No student or group of students acting in concert
may willfully engage in disruptive activity or disrupt a lawful assembly on the
campus or property of any school in the district. Disruptive activity means:
1. Obstructing or restraining the passage of
persons in an exit, entrance, or hallway of any building without the
authorization of the administration of the school.
2. Seizing control of any building or portion
of a building for the purpose of interfering with any administrative,
educational, research or other authorized activity.
3. Preventing or attempting to prevent by
force or violence or the threat of violence any lawful assembly authorized by
the school administration.
4. Disrupting by force or violence or the
threat of force of violence a lawful
assembly in progress.
5. Obstructing or restraining the passage of
any person at an exit or entrance to said campus or property or preventing or
attempting to prevent by force or violence or by threats thereof the entrance
or exit of a person to or from said property or campus without the
authorization of the administration of the school.
A lawful assembly is disrupted when any person in
attendance is rendered incapable of participating in the assembly due to the
use of force or violence or due to a reasonable fear that force or violence is
likely to occur.