CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE

The policy of the Board of Education concerning student behavior states:

“A central goal of our schools is to help students develop self-discipline and a capacity for wise behavior through inner control.  Our schools must help each student learn to control himself/herself, to conform within reasonable limits to his/her environment.  Inner control, then, is a significant element in discipline.

Discipline so conceived is developmental rather than punitive.  Based upon faith in the worth and dignity of each individual, discipline, which impairs a student’s self-respect, should be avoided.  Basic to that approach is each teacher’s success in maintaining an environment in which students eagerly learn.”

Amherst Middle School has become a fine school because of the active cooperation of its students.  It is our goal to help students develop self-discipline and a strong sense of responsibility.  The rules are based upon the simple code of  “Respect plus Responsibility equals Success”.  In using this as a guide for behavior, the atmosphere of the school will be more pleasant. Students should observe the generally accepted and understood rules of common decency.  This includes:

·          Don’t speak when others are speaking - listen when others are speaking

·          Respect the rights of others to have and express different viewpoints and attitudes

·          Show respect for the feelings of individuals with either physical or mental limitations

·          Respect public and private property

If a student acts in an unacceptable manner, s/he will be sent to the Office with a Discipline Memo.  This report includes a description of the behavior and what the teacher has done in an attempt to correct the problem.  If a student is repeatedly referred to the office, the student will not be able to participate in extra curricular activities including field trips, intramural sports and dances.

INSUBORDINATION is defined as refusal to comply with reasonable, established and well-defined school rules and regulations or refusal to obey reasonable directions or instructions by school personnel.  We expect students to respect the authority of all adult personnel: administrators, teachers, teacher aides, secretaries, custodians, cafeteria staff, bus drivers, and to cooperate with their requests.  The penalty for insubordination may range from reprimand to suspension from school.                             

LANGUAGE that is inappropriate, abusive or foul will not be tolerated in school.  The penalty may range from detention to a suspension.

PHYSICAL THREATS AND/OR INTIMIDATION toward another student is prohibited.  The penalty may range from detention to suspension from school depending on the severity of the infraction.  Physical threats or physical assault upon a staff member or unprovoked physical assault upon another student will result in immediate suspension from school.

FIGHTING in school or anywhere on school property will be grounds for suspension from school.  If an aggressor can not be determined, both students will be suspended from school.  The suspension may be one or more days, not to exceed five days.

TARDINESS TO CLASS will be reported to the office.  Unexcused tardiness to classes will result in detention.  Students have 4 minutes to get to class on time. 

SKATEBOARDS AND/OR ROLLERBLADES may not be used anywhere on school grounds.   

GUM CHEWING is not allowed in the building.  The penalty for gum chewing may range from reprimand to other disciplinary action.

FOOD AND BEVERAGES, including candy, are allowed only in the cafeteria before school and during lunch periods.

SNOWBALL THROWING in the area of the school (including the four surrounding corners) is not permitted at any time.  Those who do so may be kept after school and/or have parents contacted.  There is a large field across the street from the front of the school where winter fun might be more appropriate.

WALKMANS, TAPE RECORDERS, CD AND IPOD PLAYERS with or without headphones are not to be brought into the classroom or study hall.   These electronic devices are to be used in the cafeteria before home base time only.  If a student chooses to bring such a device to school, upon entering the building, the student is to place it in their backpack inside his locker and not carry it around. Failure to abide by this rule will result in disciplinary action.

BEEPERS, CELL PHONES AND PAGING DEVICES are not allowed to be used while in the school building.  Failure to comply will result in the phone being confiscated with additional disciplinary consequences.

HAT/HEAD COVERINGS other than for religious purposes are not allowed to be worn inside the building or at any indoor school function, regardless of the time of day.

SMOKING or possession of tobacco products is prohibited in the school and on school grounds.  This rule applies to students when on school property at any time and at all school functions or at preparations for them, whenever or wherever they are held.  Students will be suspended and parents notified.  Smoking on the bus can also result in cancellation of all bus privileges. 

THEFT AND VANDALISM of school property, the property of school personnel, or the property of other students is forbidden.  The penalty will be restitution and possible referral to the appropriate civil authority and suspension from school.

WEAPONS of any kind are never allowed in school or on school grounds.  Weapons include, but are not limited to firearm, BB/air gun, knife, dagger, box cutter, slingshot, explosive, firecrackers, imitation gun, dangerous chemicals including pepper spray and mace.

SCHOOL POLICIES

EARLY DISMISSAL for reasons other than medical or dental appointments are discouraged.  If an early dismissal is necessary, a written request giving a brief explanation, signed by your parent or guardian needs to be presented in the Attendance Office before 9:05 AM.  A pass to leave the building will be issued for the time requested.  Students returning to school after an early dismissal are to report back to the Attendance Office with the pass for re-admittance.  If no specific reason for early dismissal is given, the request may be denied. 

ABSENCES:  When you return to school after an absence, you are required to bring a written explanation. TELEPHONE CALLS TO OUR PARENT ALERT CALL BACK PROGRAM DO NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF A WRITTEN EXCUSE.  When you return to school, you need to bring the excuse to the Attendance Office where it will be stamped.  Even if you forget to bring the excuse you must still report to the Attendance Office.  An attendance card with a note attached showing that the excuse was not brought in will be given.  If you are absent three or more days, you will be admitted through the Attendance Office after being checked by the nurse.

EXTENDED ABSENCES AND ASSIGNMENTS:

If you are absent three days or more because of illness, assignments will be sent to the Attendance Office from the classroom teachers.  These assignments may be picked up for you in the Attendance Office.  If you are absent for reasons other than illness, assignments will not be sent to the Attendance Office.

Make up work will be allowed for all absences.  It is your responsibility to get make-up assignments on the day you return to class.  There shall be one day allowed for make-up work for each day of absence.  A building administrator may make exceptions to any provision of this paragraph when unusual circumstances arise. 

EXTENDED FAMILY VACATIONS are discouraged.

 If you are to be away for an extended period of time, or will be starting vacation early, the parent or guardian should notify the Middle School Attendance Office in advance with a note or a telephone call.  You must arrange to make-up assignments for this type of absence with the individual teacher.  This will be considered an illegal absence.

BUS REGULATIONS: You have the privilege of using the transportation services of the Amherst Central School District. While on the bus, the bus driver is in charge.  It is crucial for students to behave appropriately while riding district buses. This will ensure the safety and well being of all passengers on the bus and will avoid distracting the driver. Students are required to conduct themselves on the bus in a manner consistent with established standards for classroom behavior.

You are expected to ride your assigned bus.  A request to ride a different bus on a given day will be honored only if a note signed by a parent or guardian is brought to the Main Office on the morning of the day in question to be signed by the Assistant Principal or Principal.

The bus loading area is at the entrance to the corridor leading to the gym and music rooms.  All bus students must use only this corridor when arriving at or leaving the school by bus. The same school rules apply for good behavior and courtesy when you use the school bus.  You must ride only your assigned bus and permission cannot be granted to leave the bus at any place except the stop nearest your home. 

While riding the bus:

·          Except for ordinary conversations, students shall observe quiet conduct on the bus.

·          Students shall stay in their seat while the bus is in motion.

·          Students shall not throw waste paper on the floor of the bus.

·          No part of the body shall be extended through the bus window.

·          Students shall not leave the bus from the emergency door unless an emergency exists.

·          No food or drink is permitted on the bus.

Bus discipline and penalties:

·          The riding privilege of a student may be revoked for violation of the rules or for conduct, which is detrimental to the safe operation of the school bus.

·          The driver is in full charge of the bus and students.

DRUGS AND ALCOHOL: Use or possession of, or being under the influence of narcotics (including marijuana) or alcohol will result in suspension from school for a period not to exceed five

school days.  Possession of any apparatus or paraphernalia designed or intended for smoking, inhaling, or ingesting any illegal substance will be cause for suspension from school.  The appropriate police authorities will be notified.  On the first infraction of the above section, the five-day suspension may be reduced to a three-day suspension if the parent and student elect to enroll in counseling.  On a second and subsequent infraction, the five-day suspension will be invoked.

SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT: Any form of sexual discrimination is a violation of the federal law.  A learning and working environment that is free from sexual harassment shall be maintained.  It shall be a violation of policy for any member of the district staff to harass another staff member or student, or for students to harass other students through conduct or communications of a sexual nature. 

 “Any student who believes that he/she has been discriminated against with regard to age, sex, race, creed, color, national origin or handicapping condition may file a grievance with the principal.  The procedures and forms for filing a grievance are available in the school office.”

DETENTION will be held after school with the teacher giving the detention or in the building if the detention is a result of a discipline memorandum.  Parents will be notified before you stay after school.  The following infractions are examples of reasons for detention:  (1) continued disruptive behavior (2) abusive and vulgar language (3) tardiness to class (4) throwing objects (5) dangerous horseplay (6) failure to do work.

Parents will be contacted by the teacher, when a student will stay after school for detention.  If parent cannot be reached, the student will have the responsibility of telling parents that they will stay the next day.  If students skip detention, they may receive ILC the next day.

The INTENSIVE LEARNING CENTER (ILC) is designed to help students make better choices.  Students may be sent to the ILC as a disciplinary action.  It is a very structured environment in which each student receives the day’s assignments from his/her classroom teacher.  The Center is supervised by a certified teacher who helps students with their assignments. 

A student assigned to the ILC has the following responsibilities:

·          To report on time to the Assistant Principal’s Office by 9:05 AM

·          To bring all books and materials that will be needed.

·          To remain quiet.

·          To complete all assignments.

·          To return completed assignments to the ILC Teacher to receive credit for the day.

Any disruption or failure to meet responsibilities may result in another assignment to the ILC or suspension from school.

Student cannot stay after school or participate in any school related clubs, sports or activities for the duration of the ILC assignment.

SUSPENSION is a disciplinary action taken by school officials, which temporarily prohibits a student from attending regular classes and other school events.  The length of the suspension will normally vary from one day to five days depending on the offense.  When a student is suspended, he/she will be suspended to his/her home by a school authority.  The full purpose of suspension can only be effective if the parents take the suspension as a serious matter.  Students under suspension will not be allowed on the school grounds or in the building during the time of suspension.  Students will not be allowed to participate in school activities including dances during the period of suspension. 

HEALTH AND MEDICINE: Medications are rarely necessary for students during the school day.  They are justified only in chronic health conditions or short-term acute health conditions.  If, under exceptional circumstances, a student is required to take oral medication during school hours, only the school nurse or the nurse’s designee will administer the medication in compliance with the following regulations:

Ø       Written orders (the required form is available in all school offices) from the student’s physician must be on file in the school stating:

a)         Student’s name

b)         Name of drug

c)         Dosage

d)         Purpose of the medication

e)         Time of day medication is to be given

f)          Number of days it needs to be given

g)         Possible side effects

Ø       The medication must be brought to school in a container appropriately labeled by the pharmacy or physician.

Ø       An individual record will be kept of such prescription medications administered by school personnel.

Ø       Medication will be stored in a clean, locked cabinet or container.  Any exceptions (asthma inhalers, etc.) to this provision must be specifically stated by the physician on the written form.

Ø       Unless these requirements can be met, medications will not be administered at school.

The school will not administer any medications (i.e. Tylenol, Aspirin, Motrin) to a student unless it is in a prescription container and follows the same rules that would apply to other prescription medications.  Please do not ask that the school give your child over-the- counter drugs, as we are not allowed to do so.

LOST ARTICLES can be found in either the Main Office or the Custodian’s Office.  If something is left on the school bus, check in the office or ask the bus driver the next day.