PHES School-wide Student Code of Conduct
The following is a summary of PHES school rules, expectations, procedures and related Douglas County School District policies. The items marked with an * are reviewed by teachers with students in an age-appropriate manner at the beginning of the year or upon a student’s enrollment. Teachers are to record in their attendance book that the following information has been reviewed with students. Parents and students are encouraged to discuss this together. Complete copies of the following policies are available from the District Office or school office, or online at http://dcsd.k12.nv.us/.
We look forward to seeing you at school events such as Open House, Parent Conferences, school assemblies, and other activities. You may arrange to visit your child’s class and are welcome to volunteer to help in the classroom. Please be sure to sign in and out at the office and pick up your name badge.
Each classroom teacher is responsible for establishing rules of class conduct. These rules will be communicated to students and parents within the first month of school.
· When inside the building, the rule is - WALK!
· Students must walk their bikes and scooters on campus.
· All walkers and bike riders leaving the campus on Stephanie must exit by the yellow posts with the crossing guards.
· Students may also exit the school grounds through the south gate into the field off Stewart Street.
· It is strongly recommended that students put their names on clothing, lunch boxes, books, etc. The Lost and Found Box is located near the multi-purpose room.
· All required books and materials are provided to each student free of charge. Students are expected to care for these items as if they were their own. All texts going home must be covered. In the event school materials are lost or damaged, students will be assessed the prorated cost of the item.
· No toys are allowed at school. Toys brought to school will be confiscated and returned at the end of the day. A second occurrence will necessitate a parent retrieving the toy. Articles brought for show and tell must be kept in the classroom. Pagers, electronic toys, CD and cassette players, and laser pointers are not allowed. Sports equipment may only be brought if all students are allowed to use it and be in the games. No skateboards, roller blades, hard balls, or bats of any kind are allowed. If you are in doubt about the appropriateness of an item, please call.
· Gum chewing is not allowed at Piñon Hills.
If your student misbehaves
while at school, they will receive a discipline form. This will keep you informed about what is happening at school and
allow you to discuss problems or events with your child. Parent(s) must sign these forms. If not returned the next day, the student
will receive an Alternate In School Instruction (AISI). Students receiving 4 discipline notices in a
12-week block will be required to go to the office for further disciplinary
action.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT*
(Douglas County School Board Policy 541)
· Inappropriate behavior against students of the opposite or same sex.
· Physical -- touching of sexual nature, preventing someone from leaving an area, gestures.
· Verbal -- jokes, remarks, teasing or questions of a sexual nature, pressure for dates or sexual favors, sexually degrading words used toward an individual or to describe an individual.
· Written -- jokes, uninvited letters, display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures, graffiti.
· Students will be subject to disciplinary action including possible counseling, suspension, or expulsion.
** Sexual harassment, especially with younger students, needs to be differentiated from inappropriate language.
(Douglas County School Administration Regulation 529B)
The School District may conduct
canine sniffs of school hallways, lockers, classrooms, buildings, parking lots,
and other school property through the use of a canine unit and may also conduct
canine sniffs of the personal property including vehicles of students. Sniffs through canine units will occur at
random, at the discretion of the School District and at the availability of a
canine unit. Additionally, canine
sniffs can occur in response to a reasonable suspicion that an illegal or
prohibited substance, weapon, or bomb may be located in the area or on the item
being searched. There shall be no
canine sniffs of a student's person.
WEAPONS/FIGHTING/INTIMIDATION*
(Douglas County School Board Policy 529A)
It is the policy of the Board of Trustees that Douglas County schools provide a safe environment for students and staff in order to promote learning. In order to accomplish this, all weapons, intimidation, and fighting are strictly prohibited on school campuses, in classrooms, on school busses, and at any school-sponsored event. In addition, this policy applies throughout the school day and traveling to and from school. Students who are involved in fighting or bringing weapons to school, to school-sponsored events, or on school busses will receive the following consequences:
1. Guns - Consistent with the Gun-Free Schools Act of October 1994, a student bringing a gun, firearm, or explosive device to school or to school-sponsored events will receive a minimum of one year expulsion from Douglas County schools. In addition, school administrators will notify the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department when they become aware that a student has possessed a gun at school or at a school-sponsored event. Section 921 of Title 18 of the United States Code defines guns, firearms, and explosive devices.
2. Dangerous Weapons - Consistent with Nevada Revised Statute 392.466, a student bringing a dangerous weapon to school or to school-sponsored events will receive a minimum of a 90-day expulsion from Douglas County schools. In addition, school administrators will notify the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department when they determine that a student has possessed a dangerous weapon at school or at a school-sponsored event. NRS 392.466 defines dangerous weapons, however, a dangerous weapon can include any weapon or object used, or intended to be used, upon another person when such weapon or object is capable of inflicting physical injury.
3. Knives/Other Weapons Not Covered by NRS 392.466 - This category includes those knives and/or weapons that are not specified in NRS 392.466. Any student who brings a knife and/or a weapon to school or to a school-sponsored event will be suspended for ten days for the first occurrence. Students should be made aware that if a knife is inadvertently brought to school, the student should immediately give the knife to a staff member for safekeeping. The parent will be called to pick up the knife, and the student will not be subject to any disciplinary action. (Students are not permitted to bring screwdrivers to school. If a student is found in possession of a screwdriver, other than one provided by the school for a supervised project, he/she may be disciplined for possession of a weapon).
4. Fighting/Bullying/Intimidation - Any student who fights and/or bullies or intimidates others through personal actions or electronic means at school or at a school-sponsored event can be suspended up to ten days for each occurrence. Repeated offenses may result in a recommendation for expulsion.
5. In order to be proactive about the importance of safe schools, parents and students will be notified at the beginning of each school year or at the time of their enrollment about the contents of this policy.
6. Sexual harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.
Related Policies: Safe Schools: Drug and Alcohol Policy 529 B
Safe Schools: Gang Policy 529 C
Safe Schools: Sexual Harassment Policy 529 D
Safe Schools: Hazing 529 E
DRESS CODE*
(Douglas County School Board Policy 521)
The Dress Code requires that students pay attention to personal cleanliness and not wear clothing that would detract from the educational process.
· Shorts or skirts must be at least mid-thigh length.
· Students will not be permitted to wear: halter tops, bare midriff tops, low-cut tops, fishnet shirts, see-through or revealing shirts or blouses.
· Tank tops must have at least a 1” wide strap (no bra straps may show) and the shirt must fit tightly under the arm (no baggy sleeve openings).
· Clothing and accessories that display suggestive, double meaning, gang-related, drug/alcohol-related words and/or symbols are prohibited.
· Students may not have chains that are attached to wallets, clips or other items.
· Footwear must be worn at all times. We strongly suggest appropriate footwear that children can play and run in. Flip-flop style shoes and high heels are a danger on the playground and during P.E.
· Hats or headwear and sunglasses may not be worn inside the building.
TEACHER REMOVAL OF SERIOUSLY DISRUPTIVE STUDENT (AB 521)
(See Flowchart)
A teacher may temporarily remove a student from the
classroom if, in the judgment of the teacher, the student has engaged in
behavior that seriously interferes with the ability of the teacher to teach the
other students in the classroom and with the ability of the other students to
learn.
A principal of a school shall deem a pupil in the school a habitual disciplinary problem if the school has written evidence that documents that in one school year:
·
The pupil has threatened or extorted, or attempted to
threaten or extort, another pupil or a teacher or other personnel employed by
the school;
·
The pupil has been suspended for initiating at least
two fights on school property, on a school bus, or if the fight occurs within
one hour of the beginning or end of the school day, on his/her way to or from
school; or
·
The pupil has a record of five suspensions from the
school for any reason. For this
purpose, a suspension is defined as: A
pupil being prohibited from attending school for three or more consecutive
days.
NRS 392.4655 defines one of the conditions of being a habitual discipline problem as a student with a record of five suspensions of three days or longer that will result in a mandatory recommendation for expulsion to the Board of Trustees. Children expelled under NRS 392.4655 who receive five suspensions of three days or longer, are unable to attend the Douglas County School District’s Alternative Education Program.
USE OF
MEDICATIONS*
(Douglas County School District Policy 508)
No medication may be administered to any student during school hours without the written request of the parent and the written order or prescription of the prescribing physician. Over the counter (non-prescription) medication can only be administered upon written parent approval. Students are not allowed to have any medications (including Tylenol) on campus. Health Services personnel or other designated school personnel may only administer all medication, prescribed or unprescribed, to students.
(Douglas County School District Administrative Regulation 523A)
The possession and/or use of alcohol or other drugs by students, while in school, on school property, or at school-sponsored events, is expressly forbidden. The definition of possession, as used here, includes, but is not limited to, alcohol, inhalants, drugs, and/or drug paraphernalia containing drugs on the person of a student, in any school locker, or any clothing, purse, backpack, automobile, or any other item belonging to the student while in school, on school property, or at school-sponsored events. The definition of use, as used here, includes any student while in school, on school property, or at school-sponsored events with alcohol, inhalants, or other drugs in his/her system.
(Subsection XI) The use of prescription medications is to be construed as an exception to this regulation when used by the individual for whom they are prescribed, when used in the manner and amounts prescribed, and when used in accordance with school policies governing student medications (see Policy 508 – USE OF MEDICATIONS).
BEHAVIORS HANDLED BY CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND STAFF
The classroom teacher or staff member will handle the following behaviors: off-task behavior; class disruptions; failure to complete work and/or homework; failure to carry out requests (non-defiant); and disrespect for other students. Possible consequences include: call home; time out; warning; miss recess; proximity; mediation essay; staying after school; take student’s time to practice the rule; student writes own plan for improved behavior on own time; agreed upon class consequences; implement consequences specified in behavior plan; physical consequences (e.g.) take a lap, run in place, etc. These consequences are suggestions. Staff is not limited to those listed. If these behaviors persist, parent contact should be initiated promptly. A behavioral plan may be worked out with the parents and/or school counselor and/or administrator. Request for collaboration with the CARE team can also be made.
Every staff member has the right and responsibility to enforce school rules and procedures to ensure student safety. Student folder grades will reflect student conduct in all areas of school including: playground, music, art, and physical education.
SELF-IMPROVEMENT ESSAYS
Self-improvement essays are given to students for a variety of misbehaviors. The student is to complete the essay during a scheduled recess, take it home to be signed by his/her parent or guardian, and return the signed essay to school the following day. Failure to return the essay signed by the parent will result in additional consequences.
COUNSELOR & PSYCHOLOGIST
The special services staff are resources that can help develop plans with staff and/or parents to change persistent behaviors. Behaviors that reoccur will not go away without an agreed upon plan that is consistently administered. The counselor is not responsible for administering consequences, but can develop and coordinate such a plan for improving specific behavior.
Special Service intervention may be
required for: moral issues (lying,
stealing); continued classroom disruption; anti-social behavior; off-task
behavior; failure to complete work; drug, alcohol, tobacco possession; cruelty
to other students -- continued fights, bullying, harassment; lack of friends;
unusual behavior -- nervousness, crying, depression; home problems; evidence of
abuse or neglect; persistent classroom misbehaviors or violations of school
wide rules.
BEHAVIORS HANDLED BY ADMINISTRATION
Students who choose to do any of the following will be referred immediately to administration.
1. Disrespect - by any student to any student or staff member.
2. Danger - students who pose physical danger to themselves or others.
3. Destruction - any student destroying school or personal property.
4. Disobedience - willful or repeated.
The consequences of the above behaviors could include time out, loss of
recess privileges, writing a mediation essay, cleanup detail, paying for
damaged items, or working towards payment of damaged items, an apology,
Alternate In School Instruction (AISI), and at-home suspension or
expulsion. Upon the third visit to the
principal’s office for disciplinary action, the student will be assigned to a
one-day AISI. The fourth visit will
result in a mandatory conference with the principal, teacher and/or counselor,
and parents prior to the student’s return to school. This conference will establish a behavior modification plan for
the student.
Any student who sees the
principal for disciplinary action will receive a 4 (four) in conduct for that
week. A note from the office will be
sent home to inform parents of any incident involving an office visit. Failure to return the note signed by the
parent will result in a one-day AISI. A
4 (four) in conduct makes the student ineligible for special class and school
activities until the next Thursday’s Student Folder grade is 3 (three) or
better.
PLAYGROUND RULES*
All
playground/recess rules are to ensure safety and provide effective management
of students at play. Students must
abide by these rules, as well as, listen to and respect the playground
supervisors. All playground and
school rules apply before, during, and after school.
1. Whenever possible students will go outside for recess. Students are expected to wear appropriate clothing during cold weather and take these items from their class to recess. They will not be allowed to return to their classrooms for outdoor clothing
2. Students can go outside with permission of staff members only.
3. All playground rules are to insure safety and provide effective management of students at play.
4. Students must abide by any rules adult supervisors deem important to insure safety.
5. When the warning bell rings during recess, students are to stop play immediately, pick up playground equipment, and walk directly to their classroom line. Stragglers will miss their next recess.
6. The restrooms are not considered part of the playground.
7. Students in the building must have adult supervision.
8. Students need to have a note or pass from a parent or teacher to be in the halls.
9. Failure to abide by these rules could result in time out, suspension of the privilege to use certain equipment, or suspension of recess until students can agree to abide by the rules.
10. Misconduct on the playground, in library, music/art, P.E., or elsewhere will be reflected in classroom conduct grades. Students’ conduct goes with them wherever they go.