Discipline
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
The Fluvanna County School Board prints a student Code of Conduct. Each student receives a copy of the Code. In the event of any conflict between this student handbook and the school system's Code of Conduct, the Code will dictate the disciplinary action. School policy may be amended or changed at any time through publication in the announcements or other methods of communication.DISCIPLINE PHILOSOPHY
One of the important lessons education should teach us is self-discipline. Training in this area helps one to develop self-control, character, orderliness and efficiency. It is the key to good conduct and proper consideration for other persons.Conduct Standards
Students will:
- Obey the laws of the United States, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the County of Fluvanna.
- Attend all classes regularly and be punctual.
- Respect the rights and property of others and respect other students' rights to learn.
- Resolve conflicts peacefully.
- Be honest and truthful.
- Use appropriate and acceptable language at all times.
- Respect the personal and physical safety and welfare of others.
- Make appropriate use of school property and equipment.
- NOT USE OR POSSESS weapons, alcohol, drugs and/or tobacco at school.
- Function at a level of maturity appropriate for age and grade.
- Avoid defiance, disrespect and rudeness toward teachers and others.
- Not disrupt the school environment at any time.
Attending Class
It is expected that students will remain in their classes. Any student who is in the hallway during class time is expected to have an agenda book signed by a faculty member. Students must go to where the pass designates and return to class immediately. No passes are to be written during the daily announcement time.
Cutting class, being in the halls without permission, failing to report to a regularly assigned class; remaining in the halls during an assembly; or leaving these places without permission will result in 1 day after-school-detention for first offense with increasing consequences for succeeding offenses.
Leaving school grounds, defined as being away from school grounds without parental AND school permission, will result in 1 day ISS for first offense and increasing consequences for repeated offenses.
Tardies
It is important for all students to be in the classroom "ready to work" when the tardy bell rings. Students who are not in the classroom when the bell rings will be considered tardy. This includes tardies to the first class of the day. Consequences for tardiness per class will be as follows:1st Offense: Verbal Warning by teacherAfter the fifth offense, subsequent tardiness will result in a repeat of the consequences above, until another absence is accrued (10th tardy), which results in 1 day of OSS, 1 unexcused absence and a meeting with the Student Behavior Review Team.
2nd Offense: Documented parent phone call by teacher
3rd Offense: Discipline referral and administrative letter
4th Offense: Teacher Assigned Detention (TAD)
5th Offense: Referral, 1 day of ISS for that particular class, and one unexcused class absence
Late to school and/or first period
a. Students that arrive late to school, but before 8:20 A.M., must sign in with the attendance clerk in the attendance office. The student will sign in on the computer and receive a printed slip to class. This slip is the pass to class, but it does not alleviate the student from being tardy. When the student arrives to class, the first block teacher will record the tardy as he or she would for any other period.
b. Students that arrive late to school, after 8:20 A.M., must sign in at the attendance office. If the student does not have a note or a parent with them, then the attendance clerk will request a number where she may reach the parents to inform them that the student was late to school. If the parent in unaware of the child's tardy, a referral will be written. The student will sign in on the computer and receive a printed slip to class. This slip is the pass to class, but it does not alleviate the student from being late to school. When the student arrives to class, the teacher should record the absence.
Principled Behavior
A student caught stealing or attempting to take or in the possession of stolen goods will be referred to the proper legal authority and/or out of school suspended for at least 3 days for the first offense and a police report will be filed.
Students who are referred for cheating will receive a "zero" on the assignment and one day of ISS for the first referral. For a second referral, the student will receive a "zero" on the assignment and one day of OSS. The student will fail the course and receive three days OSS for a third referral.
Students who provide or write notes not signed by a parent/guardian shall be guilty of forgery and will be disciplined through ISS and loss of privileges. A student caught lying to any staff member will receive ISS.
Cooperative Attitude
The school and police personnel have broad discretionary authority to maintain safety, order and discipline. All students are expected to show respect for faculty members, staff, and administration. This includes following the directions of any teacher, staff member or administrator. Directly disrespecting any teacher, staff, or administrator will result in immediate out-of-school suspension.
Students are expected to properly identify themselves when asked by faculty. Failure to do this will result in 2 days of ISS for first offense.
Appropriate Conduct
Students are expected to behave appropriately at all times during the school day. Simple courtesy is important. This includes loud behavior in the halls. Disruptions will lead to ISS. Any conduct that endangers the welfare of self or anyone else at school will not be tolerated.
Pupils participating, whether involved directly or indirectly, in the planning or execution of any disruptive demonstration or protests will be disciplined through suspension.
Fighting will not be allowed on school grounds. Neither verbal nor physical confrontations will be tolerated. Physical confrontations will result in a minimum of five days OSS for the first offense. Also, the participating students and their parents must meet together with an administrator prior to returning to school. The participating students will be placed on behavior contracts. Succeeding offenses will result in 10 days OSS and possible recommendation to alternative education.
Gambling on the school grounds is prohibited. OSS will be given for this.
Harassment or bullying of individuals on the basis of gender, race, age, religion, creed, handicap, or national origin is prohibited. The school board has a policy on sexual harassment. FCHS will deal with all forms of harassment and bullying with an appropriate intervention. If you feel you have been harassed or bullied or you have seen another student being harassed or bullied, please inform a staff member.
Illegal entry into school programs is punishable by suspension and possible legal action. All school rules apply for after-school events, social functions, and field trips.
Selling items on school grounds unless they are part of a school approved fund raising activity. Free distribution of items not approved by the administration is prohibited.
Throwing objects can be considered a physical assault and will result in out-of-school suspension.
No undue affection, such as kissing and close body contact should be shown on school grounds. The school is a public building, and each student is expected to project a respectable image.
Vandalism, destroying school property, is inexcusable. Those who do will be asked to pay for the damage done, will be suspended, and a police report will be filed. Failure to pay restitution will result in a loss of "good standing."
Vulgar language can be controlled. Students who resort to any form of profanity or vulgar language will receive consequences.
BUS TRANSPORTATION
It is our goal to transport all children to and from school safely and all school related activities safely and free from harm. All students who ride a school bus are subject to and expected to abide by the laws, rules, and regulations set by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Fluvanna County School Board. The driver is in charge of the bus and students who ride the bus. The student must accept the authority of the driver and cooperate with his or her requests. At anytime, a parent conference may be required by the principal or his designee before a student can return to the bus. Riding a school bus is a privilege. Abuse of this privilege will not be tolerated.Fighting, hazing, harassment, intimidations, use of/or possession of tobacco products, forgery of bus note, theft, vandalism, use or possession of lasers, spitballs, fireworks or stink bombs will result in out-of-school suspension and possible loss of bus riding privilege.
Defacing or damaging the bus will result in 10 days out-of-school suspension and a recommendation to the Principal for loss of riding privilege for the remainder of the school year.
Use of profane, vulgar, obscene, or abusive language or gestures will result in a one day loss of bus privilege on the first offense, a three day loss of bus privilege on the second offense, and five day loss of bus privilege for a third offense.
The following behavior will result in a 1-3 day loss of bus privilege on the first offense and 3-5 days loss of bus privilege on the second offense. Students will not receive a warning.
- Disrespectful behavior / disruptive behavior.
- Unauthorized boarding or exiting a bus.
- Warning by the bus driver
- Warning by an administrator (if warranted)
- 3-5 day loss of privilege
- 5-10 day loss of privilege
- 10 day loss of privilege and a behavioral contract developed
- 12 day loss of privilege with recommended loss of privilege for the entire school year.
Students are not allowed to use cell phones, walkman/MP3's or other audio devices while riding the bus.
Not every possible act of misconduct may be listed; however, this does not mean that the behavior is acceptable. The administration reserves the right to take disciplinary and/or legal action. Please note: school rules also apply at the bus stop.
The school reserves the right to amend the aforementioned policies and the announcements of such changes will be deemed as notification.
DUE PROCESS
All students are guaranteed a right of due process. As part of due process, actions taken by any high school administrator can be appealed to the Principal in writing. If the principal took the administrative action, the appeal can be made to the Superintendent of Schools. In any case in which a parent or guardian requests a review of a suspension by the school board, the board shall review the appeal within thirty days. Further details are explained in the Fluvanna County School Board Policy Manual.The administration of FCHS reserves the right to alter or change rules or regulations governing FCHS. Such changes will be announced either verbally over the intercom or on the student announcement sheet. Once done so, they will be deemed published.
CONSEQUENCES
COMMUNITY SERVICE
On occasion, students may be assigned community service, and other appropriate consequences for minor offenses. Students are expected to comply with the consequences given.
IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION (ISS)
When it becomes necessary to discipline students for school problems, out-of-school suspension is not always appropriate. In-School Suspension, or ISS, is designed to remind students that inappropriate behavior/actions are not acceptable and offers a discipline measure without missing school time.
Students may be placed in the ISS program for a period of time depending upon the nature of the discipline problem. Class assignments will be sent to students to work on while in ISS. Students will also be counted present for that day in school. Students in ISS will be expected to comply with the rules set forth for in-school suspension and failure to do so will result in OSS and a complete make-up of the ISS time missed.
Students are not to participate in extra-curricular activities during the ISS time. This includes rehearsals, field trips, dances, practices and interscholastic competitions. Students are assigned ISS beginning at the end of the school day it is given and the assignment ends when the suspension is completed.
OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSION (OSS)
On occasion, violations of school policy warrant a student being suspended from school. While a student is suspended from school, he/she cannot be on school property, including buses, while the suspension is in effect. Any student found on school property during an out-of-school suspension will be considered trespassing and subject to severe consequences and/or arrest. This includes after-school events.
OSS begins when it is given and ends when the student returns to school after the suspension. Generally, if a student is suspended from school for an extended period of time, the parent will need to meet with the administration when the student is scheduled to return to school.
A student can be suspended from school for being arrested for violating certain laws while not on school property. This is to protect the safety and welfare of the student body.
Students who are habitually referred to the office will be placed on a behavior contract, receive more serious consequences (than mentioned above) for additional referrals, and may lead to a recommendation to an alternative education program and/or the Superintendent of Schools.
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