POLICY

 

5500

 

Section: Pupils

           

      5500- EXPECTATIONS FOR PUPIL CONDUCT (M)

      

      M

      

      The Board of Education believes that pupils should commit themselves to

      learning and to the development of their unique potential.  Pupils should

      know that their attitudes and acts affect both their own and their

      classmates’ learning and should accept responsibility for helping to

      create a positive school environment.  With the support and assistance of

      school staff members and parent(s) or legal guardian(s), all pupils can

      contribute to the effectiveness of the school and the value of their

      education.

      

      The Board expects all pupils in this school district, commensurate with

      their age and ability, to:

      

      1.         Prepare themselves mentally and physically for the process of

                        learning;

      

      2.         Respect the person, property, and intellectual and creative

                        products of others;

       

      3.         Take responsibility for their own behavior;

      

      4.         Use time and other resources responsibly;

      

      5.         Share responsibilities when working with others;

      

      6.         Meet the requirements of each course of study;

      

      7.         Monitor their own progress toward school objectives; and

      

      8.         Communicate with parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and appropriate

                        school staff members.

      

      The Chief School Administrator shall, in consultation with staff members,

      parent(s) or legal guardian(s), and, where appropriate, pupils, develop a

      statement of specific pupil behaviors that exemplify these expectations

      and shall publish both this policy and the statement of behaviors to all

      pupils, parent(s) or legal guardian(s), and professional staff members.

      

      

      N.J.S.A. 18A:11-1

      

      

      Adopted:  9 February 2009

      

      

      

REGULATION

 

5500

 

Section: Pupils

           

            5500. EXPECTATIONS FOR PUPIL CONDUCT

            

            The following specific behaviors exemplify the conduct expected of

            pupils, in accordance with Policy No. 5500.

            

            A.        Pupils will prepare themselves mentally and physically for

                        the process of learning by:

            

            1.         Being well-nourished, rested, clean, and properly dressed

                        and groomed;

            

            2.         Being free of drugs and alcohol and refraining from

                        smoking; and

            

            3.         Developing attitudes that will prepare them for

                        listening, participating, and learning.

            

            B.        Pupils will respect the person, property, and intellectual

                        and creative products of others by:

            

            1.         Being always honest, forthcoming, and courteous;

            

            2.         Displaying care for the property of others;

            

            3.         Acknowledging the intellectual work of others when it is

                        incorporated into their work;

            

            4.         Accepting the rights of others to their own opinions and

                        beliefs;

            

            5.         Resolving disputes and differences peacefully;

            

            6.         Displaying loyalty and good sportsmanship; and

            

            7.         Helping to maintain school facilities that are neat and

                        clean.

            

            C.        Pupils will take responsibility for their own behavior and

                        learning by:

            

            1.         Recognizing that academic endeavor is the primary purpose

                        of school attendance;

            

            2.         Completing all homework, classwork, and assigned projects

                        on time;

            

            3.         Preparing for each class by bringing necessary supplies

                        and equipment;

            

            4.         Making personal choices that are based on sound reasoning

                        and decision-making;

            

            5.         Accepting constructive criticism; and

            

            6.         Acknowledging and accepting the consequences of their own

                        actions.

            

            D.        Pupils will use time and other resources responsibly by:

            

            1.         Attending school regularly and promptly and striving for

                        a perfect attendance record;

            

            2.         Using study periods and library time for school work; and

            

            3.         Using books and other equipment appropriately.

             

            E.         Pupils will share responsibilities when working with

                        others by:

            

            1.         Cooperating with others in the work of the group;

            

            2.         Contributing talents and services as appropriate;

            

            3.         Accepting leadership when appropriate; and

            

            4.         Respecting the rights and opinions of others in a group

                        setting.

            

            F.         Pupils will meet the requirements of each course of study

                        by:

            

            1.         Participating actively and appropriately in the scheduled

                        class;

            

            2.         Following the rules and procedures established for the

                        class by the teacher;

            

            3.         Bringing to class the textbook, clothing, and other

                        materials necessary for participation; and

            

            4.         Observing school rules for the safe handling of class

                        equipment and materials.

            

            G.        Pupils will monitor their own progress toward school

                        objectives by:

            

            1.         Carefully planning courses of study and schedules;

            

            2.         Promptly seeking staff assistance as required; and

            

            3.         Maintaining records of progress.

            

            H.        Pupils will communicate with parent(s) or legal

                        guardian(s) and appropriate school staff members about school

                        matters by:

            

            1.         Discussing progress in school with parent(s) or legal

                        guardian(s) and relaying necessary information to parent(s) or legal

                        guardian(s);

            

            2.         Transmitting school letters, forms, and notices to

                        parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and returning required responses to

                        school staff members;

            

            3.         Conferring with appropriate staff members when a problem

                        occurs; and

            

            4.         Developing with parent(s) or legal guardian(s) a clear

                        idea of their educational goals.

            

            Classroom, Hall and Grounds, and School Lunch Conduct

            

            All children are permitted to eat their lunch in school.  All school

            lunch pupils must eat their lunch in school.

            

            All children who eat lunch in school must abide by the following

            rules or their privileges will be taken away:

            

            1.         Pupils must report to the area assigned for lunch.

            

            2.         Pupils must be seated while eating their lunch.

            

            3.         Pupils must see that all leftover food, paper bags, etc.

                        are discarded in the area basket.

            

            4.         Pupils must keep their hands off any property not

                        belonging to them.

            

            5.         Pupils are not to run in and out of the building.

            

            6.         Lunch hour will begin at 11:55 a.m. and end at 12:55 p.m.

            

            The teachers whose duty it is to maintain discipline during the

            lunch period will be held accountable for any lack of it.

            

            Any change in schedule of pupil lunch attendance must be by a note

            from parent(s) or legal guardian(s), approved by the Chief School

            Administrator.

            

            Snowball Throwing

            

            It is important to impress upon the children that many young

            children have been seriously hurt because of having been hit with a

            snowball.  There is to be no snowball throwing in and around the

            school building.

            

            Littering

            

            Children should be impressed with the fact that they should not

            discard litter, refuse and waste of any kind on the school grounds

            or in the building at any time.

            

            Discipline/Punishment

            

            Board policy requires each pupil of this district to adhere to the

            rules and regulations established by the administration and to

            submit to such disciplinary measures as are appropriately assigned

            for infraction of those rules.  The Chief School Administrator shall

            provide to pupils and their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) the rules

            of this district regarding pupil conduct and the sanctions which may

            be imposed for breach of those rules.

             

            The rules shall require that pupils:

            

            1.         Conform to reasonable standards of socially acceptable

                        behavior;

            

            2.         Respect the person, property, and rights of others;

            

            3.         Preserve the degree of order necessary to the educational

                        program in which they are engaged;

            

            4.         Obey constituted authority and respond to those who hold

                        that authority.

            

            Pupils who display chronic behavioral or academic problems may be

            referred to the Child Study Team by the Chief School Administrator

            for possible identification as disruptive or disaffected.  Pupils so

            identified shall be provided with appropriate programs and services

            as prescribed by the child study team.

            

            Teachers shall establish, through their own behavior, standards of

            attitude and activity reflecting respect and appreciation for other

            people and for the processes and facilities of the educational

            instruction.  Teachers shall personally direct and supervise pupils

            at all times, controlling and guiding behavior in a manner

            compatible with such standards.

            

            Each teacher is responsible for the conduct of his/her class at all

            times except when another member of the professional staff assumes

            direct control.

            

            Teachers shall be in their classroom prior to the arrival of pupils.

             No pupil shall be given the responsibility of supervision of other

            pupils except under the direct personal control of a teacher.

            

            Each teacher shall be responsible for correcting pupil misconduct

            occurring in his/her presence at any time except when the child is

            under the direct supervision of someone else.  Breaches of good

            manners shall be dealt with as a learning rather than a punitive

            situation.  Disrespect and disobedience must not be tolerated.

            

            Corporal Punishment

            

            No person employed or engaged in a school or educational

            institution, whether public or private, shall inflict or cause to be

            inflicted, corporal punishment upon a pupil attending such school or

            institution.  There are extreme situations, however, where the

            courts have found that physical force is both reasonable and

            necessary.  As long as the teacher is acting within the scope of

            his/her employment, it may be found that a reasonable amount of

            force is necessary to:

            

            1.         Quell a disturbance;

            

            2.         Obtain possession of weapons or dangerous objects;

            

            3.         Offer self-defense; and

            

            4.         Protect persons or property.

            

            

            Issued:  9 February 2009