Code of Conduct

A good school is a disciplined school.  Education simply cannot take place in an undisciplined environment.  Indeed, no worthwhile human experience can occur without discipline.

REMEMBER...

1. Our Main Goal is Education.
2. Our school is a community.  Like home, school has authorities.  The school staff are very concerned about you.  Their goal is your welfare.
3. To learn requires being able to LISTEN, RECITE, SHARE AND CONCENTRATE.  We protect your right to an education without interference.
4. Being a good citizen in our school is highly respected.
5. School is a time to learn to accept responsibility for your behavior.

Your Rights

You have the right to learn.

You have the right to attend school free of charge.

You have the right to an atmosphere which encourages learning.

You have the right to express your opinions as long as they do not disrupt classes and school routines.

You have the right to due process if you are accused of any infraction of the rules.

You have the right not to be discriminated against due to your race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or handicap.

You have the right to symbolic expression which includes wearing buttons, badges and messages on your T-shirts as long as they are not obscene, defaming, inciting or disruptive.

You have the right to wear clothes of your choice as long as they conform to community standards and do not violate established codes of health and safety.

Your Responsibilities

1. Attend School Daily.  You have a responsibility to attend school.  A valid excuse is illness or family emergency.  Any absence which we cannot verify will be considered a truancy.
2. To Participate Fully in your Classes.  When you enter class you are expected to actively participate in class learning.  It is your responsibility to be prepared.
3. Follow the BASIC RULES.
4. To be Honest at all Times.
5. To be Respectful and to Demonstrate Common Courtesy to Everyone in our School Community.  This includes respecting the rights and property of others.
6. To Be Punctual.
7. To Take Excellent Care of All School Property.  This means books, furniture, the building, learning equipment and activity materials.  If you break, damage, or deface school property, you will either repair or pay for the damage.  Remember, lockers are school property, and on occasion it may become necessary for the administration to open and examine the contents of a student's locker.
8. To Do All of Your Homework Assignments.
9. To Use Appropriate Language at all Times.
10. To Demonstrate School Appropriate Behavior at all Times.  To be self-controlled, reasonably quiet and non-disruptive in classrooms, hallways, study areas, school buses, on school property and at school activities.
11. To Remain on School Campus All Day.

The Big Six

There are six offenses which are forbidden:

1. PHYSICAL FIGHTING  In middle school there is no such thing as "play-fighting," "teasing" or "the other person started it."  Any behavior which might endanger someone else will be punished severely.
2. STEALING (Student will make full restitution.)
3. VANDALISM (Student will repair and pay for damages.)
4. ENDANGERING SAFETY (This includes bringing unsafe articles to school.)
5. OBSCENE OR PROFANE LANGUAGE (This includes swearing and/or name calling.)
6. FAILURE TO OBEY REASONABLE STAFF REQUEST

YOU MAY BE SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE OFFENSES FOR 1 TO 3 DAYS. SCHOOL PERSONNEL WILL CONFER WITH YOUR PARENTS.  YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO DO SCHOOL SERVICE WORK.

These rules also apply to your behavior on the school bus and during school-approved activities whether on or off school grounds.

Consequences that Result from Breaking the Rules on the Bus

You have the privilege to ride the school bus to and from school if you live 1 1/2 or more miles from school unless your behavior endangers the health and safety of other students on the bus.

Consequences from breaking the rules on the bus may include a reprimand by the bus driver, parent notification by telephone and letter home, parent conference, and suspension from riding the bus for three to ten days.

Hazing

Chapter 536 of the Acts of 1985 specifies that it is a crime to participate in or organize hazing, or any person at the scene of such a crime to fail to report the incident.  Individuals found guilty of hazing shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000, or by imprisonment of not more than one hundred days or both.  Whoever fails to report such a crime shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500.

Smoking/Tobacco and Controlled Substances

According to Chapter 71, Section 2A of the Massachusetts General laws, all students are prohibited from smoking on school property and on field trips, or at school-related activities.  Additionally, students are not allowed to possess, give or sell cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff or tobacco in any of its forms to any person under the age of eighteen.

Additionally, students shall not use, consume, possess, buy, sell, or give away any beverage containing alcohol, any drugs or any other mind-altering substance on school property, or in a school-sponsored activity off school property.

Consequences for violations may include out-of-school suspension, parent and/or police notification, parent conference, and participation in drug and alcohol awareness education.