Decorating lockers - students must get permission from the office the day prior to the event; staff reserves the right to prohibit the decorating of lockers. Students may not write directly on lockers. Decorated lockers should be cleaned up in a timely fashion.
Students are prohibited from selling items within the school or on school grounds unless the administration approves them.
All students have the right to a safe learning environment. The Board of Education strictly prohibits any act of teen dating violence committed by one student against another on school property, during a school-sponsored activity, or during school-sponsored transportation. For more information, see Policy 7:185.
The Geneva Middle School Code of Conduct acts as a supplement to Board Policies Section 7 relating to Student Conduct and Student Discipline. The Code of Conduct provides a safe, orderly, and constructive environment where teaching and learning can occur. It is our goal to promote fair and consistent standards and to help students develop personal responsibility and self-discipline.
Students are expected to be accountable for their own behavior during school hours, at school-sponsored activities, at the bus stop, and on the school bus. To assist students in making good conduct decisions, the faculty has outlined the following behavior guidelines. Under each general statement about behavior are listed examples of specific expected behaviors and examples of specific unacceptable behaviors.
1. STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO FULFILL THEIR CLASSROOM OBLIGATIONS.
Expected Behavior | Unacceptable Behavior |
Be on time | Tardiness |
Complete schoolwork | Late/incomplete schoolwork |
Participate positively | Breaking classroom rules
|
Bring materials | Lack of materials |
Follow classroom rules | Disrupting learning |
Be a good listener | Cheating/plagiarism |
Use good study skills |
|
Use time wisely |
|
Turn in all assigned schoolwork on time |
|
2. STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS.
Expected Behavior | Unacceptable Behavior |
Respect others' rights to be treated courteously | Verbal, physical or written harassment (religious, racial or sexual) |
Respect others' rights to be safe | Classroom disruptions |
Respect others' rights to learn | Foul language |
Respect others' rights to be an individual | Running, pushing, hitting, fighting, tripping |
Respect others' rights to achieve their own goals
| Spitting, throwing things, kicking, etc |
| Spreading rumors |
3. STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO RESPECT THE WORTH OF OTHERS.
Expected Behavior | Unacceptable Behavior |
Politeness, courtesy | Teasing |
Display a positive attitude | Swearing |
Respect for others' "space" | Verbal abuse |
Honesty | Lying |
Cooperation with others | Gossip |
Support and encouragement of others | Name calling |
Accepting differences | Put downs |
Accepting responsibility for one's actions | Spreading rumors |
Accepting correction |
|
4. STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO RESPECT BOTH SCHOOL PROPERTY AND THE PROPERTY OF OTHERS.
Expected Behavior | Unacceptable Behavior |
Pick things up | Breaking things |
Put things away | Defacing or destroying property |
Keep things neat and clean (all lockers) | Losing or being careless with property |
Pay for repair, damaged or lost property | Stealing |
Handle equipment and materials carefully |
|
Code of Conduct Consequences
All consequences for Category I, Category II, Category III and student chemical use are defined as guidelines only. Consequences may be assigned as deemed appropriate by teachers and/or administrators.
Violation of classroom rules, minor disruptions to the classroom or school (Examples include but are not limited to chronic tardiness, running in the hall, disrupting class, offensive language, excessive body marking). Each teacher has individual classroom rules, expectations, and consequences for violation of those rules. In the case of repeated violations, the teacher will call the parents. When student behavior persists or when the behavior is serious enough, the teacher may write an office referral.
Category II behaviors are defined as: any behavior that impairs the teacher’s ability to teach or the student’s ability to learn. Behavior that is injurious or potentially injurious to oneself or others. Behavior that is disrespectful to others. (Examples include but are not limited to serious classroom disruption, physical altercation, mean-spirited conduct, taunting, provoking, throwing objects, rude/discourteous behavior directed at a student or a staff member, defiance, negligent property damage, cheating, forgery, plagiarism).
• Causes injury to the student himself or to others
• Seriously disrupts the classroom.
• Seriously disrupts the school
• Any reasonable person would label it as gross misconduct.
Examples include but are not limited to:
Verbal, physical, sexual, and written harassment, (teasing, coercive behavior and other offensive, or mean-spirited conduct) and all forms of racial, sexual, and religious harassment (inappropriate touching, sexual advances, graffiti, sexually explicit drawings and pictures, inappropriate written and audio/video materials, negative physical contact, threatening or degrading language, jokes, and gestures).
Substance use or abuse (see separate section on student chemical use), solicitation to procure/purchase/sell illegal substances, fights with or without injury, physical assault, possession/use of weapons or any item used in a threatening manner, fireworks, false fire alarms, or phone calls of a threatening nature.
Insubordination, defiance, gang-related graffiti or activities, intentional property damage, stealing, verbal or written abuse including threats or threatening behavior directed toward students, faculty, or the physical plant.
Category III Consequences
Major misconduct for Category III may result in a suspension for 1 to 10 days. Parents will be expected to arrange a conference with the school administration upon the return of their child from a suspension. Loss of privileges may also result from any suspension. Police may be notified of some behaviors. In some cases, an expulsion hearing by the Board of Education will be held.
The following behaviors/incidents which may result in a suspension or possible recommendation for expulsion include but are not limited to:
• Insubordination/Defiance
• Intentional Property Destruction (Financial Responsibility)
• Possession/Use of Ammunition/Fireworks
• Tobacco / Tobacco Paraphernalia
• Gang, Gang Related Activities & “Secret Societies”
• Possession and/or use of e-cigarettes or vaporizers, including related paraphernalia
• Fighting (with and without injury)
• Verbal or written abuse/threats directed at faculty, staff, or students
• False fire, False “911”, or threatening phone calls
• Possession/Use of weapon
• Possession/Use of a firearm or explosives
• Substance/Chemical Abuse
• Possession/Use of alcohol or drug paraphernalia
• Threatening bodily harm to others
Discipline situations not covered by the Code of Conduct will be handled case-by case. All consequences for Category I, Category II, and Category III are defined as guidelines only. If necessary, alternative consequences will be assigned by school administrators.
Multiple / Chronic Violations
A student who accumulates excessive referrals or several referrals for serious behavior may be disciplined in light of the student’s overall record. The student and parent will be notified and made aware that the student is accumulating too many referrals. Any student who has been suspended for violations of this guideline may be recommended for increased levels of consequences, referral to the Instructional Support Team, referral to police/community resources or other consequences that administration deems appropriate to protect the learning environment.
For students to learn from their mistakes, the staff intends those consequences to be appropriate to the nature of the offense and that individual needs are considered. In general, teachers, counselors, or administrators may issue the following consequences:
1. Time Out - When student behavior is not severe enough to justify a referral to the office but disrupts a classroom to a point where the teacher’s ability to teach or another student’s ability to learn has been impaired, the student may be sent to the office for the remainder of the class period. While being timed out, the student will complete assignments. The office will record “Time outs” and when they become excessive, the parent will be notified, and an alternate intervention technique may be utilized.
2. Teacher Issued Detentions - When a student is assigned an after-school detention by a teacher to discuss behavior, the student is issued a “detention notice.” This notice is to be signed by a parent and returned to the assigning teacher. This notice informs parents of the incident and of the date and time of the detention so that transportation arrangements can be made.
3. Administration Issued Detentions - When a student is assigned an after-school detention by administration, the student is issued a “detention notice.” This notice is to be signed by a parent and returned to the main office. This notice informs parents of the incident and of the date and time of the detention so that transportation arrangements can be made. If an office detention has been assigned as a consequence for missing a teacher issued detention, then the student is responsible for serving both the office detention AND the teacher issued detention.
The following consequences may only be issued by school administrators:
In School Suspension (ISS) - An in-school suspension is a disciplinary intervention assigned when a student has exhibited unacceptable behavior in which the desired outcome is a modification in behavior. Students serve an in-school suspension in a supervised area. While serving the suspension, students are required to work on school related assignments. Parents will be notified by phone of an in-school suspension. Loss of privileges may result from an ISS
Out-Of-School Suspension (OSS) - An out-of-school suspension is a disciplinary intervention assigned when a student has exhibited unacceptable behavior. The desired outcome is a modification in behavior. During the suspension students may not be on school grounds at any time. Students will receive credit for daily work and can make up tests or major assignments. Parents will be notified by phone and in writing of an out-of-school suspension. A re-admittance conference must be held before the student returns to school. Any student suspended greater than four days is entitled to receive support services.
Recommendation for Expulsion - A recommendation for expulsion may be made when a student has exhibited unacceptable behavior. The desired outcome is modification in behavior. A student may be expelled for up to two calendar years. Students who are expelled may not be on school grounds at any time. Parents will receive written notice of an expulsion hearing.
The building principal or designee shall meet with a student returning to school from an out-of-school suspension, expulsion, or alternative school setting. The goal of this meeting shall be to support the student’s ability to be successful in school following a period of exclusion and shall include an opportunity for students who have been suspended to complete or make-up missed work for equivalent academic credit.
Law Enforcement Official. A referral to law enforcement officials for prosecution may occur in addition to school consequences when a situation merits police action.
Alcohol / Chemical Substances
Use, possession, solicitation to procure/purchase, or being under the influence of alcohol, other illegal/inappropriate chemical substances, or possession of paraphernalia for drug use at school, on school property, at any school activity, or anywhere during regular school hours is prohibited.
Use, possession of tobacco, e-cigarettes, vaporizers, or solicitation to procure/purchase tobacco or tobacco products or paraphernalia (lighters/matches/papers) at school, on school property, at any school activity, or anywhere during regular school hours is prohibited.
Sale / Distribution – Alcohol, Chemical Substances
Sale/distribution of or intent to sell/distribute alcohol, other illegal/inappropriate chemical substances, or paraphernalia for drug use, at school, on school property, at any school activity, or anywhere during regular school hours is prohibited.
Definitions & Conditions:
• "Inappropriate" chemical substances include look-alike, inhalants or any mood-altering chemical that has harmful physical, mental, or social consequences.
• Aerosol containers will be considered a potential inhalant. Possession of an aerosol container is strictly prohibited. If a student is found with an aerosol container in their possession it will be confiscated, and the student will be warned of the consequences. If the student has used the aerosol for inhalant purposes, they will fall under the appropriate disciplinary response stated previously.
• Local police may be notified of the rule violation.
• Prior incidents of misconduct and interventions may be considered when assigning consequences.
• Parents/students are responsible for the cost of drug education programs, professional chemical dependency evaluations, and follow-up on recommendations from evaluation or for the cost of a stop-smoking program.
• Students who have committed a second or third offense and have satisfactorily completed treatment for chemical dependency may apply for reinstatement to school activities when they have reached the following: three months of exclusion following a second offense or six months of exclusion following a third offense. A hearing will be held to consider such an application.
• Students who sell or distribute alcohol or other illegal or inappropriate chemical substances or paraphernalia for drug use are not eligible to apply for reinstatement to school activities.
• If a student or a member of a student's family voluntarily discloses treatment for chemical dependency prior to a student's violation of disciplinary policy, the student will not be subject to the above penalties as a result of that disclosure. Penalties will apply, however, if the student uses or possesses illegal substances on school property or at school events.
• A student's participation in a drug education program or submission to a professional chemical dependency evaluation will not become part of his/her permanent record.
• The term ‘firearm’ means any weapon which will or is designed to be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any destructive device, or any ‘look-a-like’ of any firearms
Bullying Policies (Student Discipline – 7:180 & 7:20)
Bullying is prohibited by Board Policies 7:180 & 7:20 – Prevention of and Response to Bullying and Aggressive Behavior. It includes cyberbully and is defined as any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communication made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one (1) or more of the following:
A. Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or property
B. Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s physical or mental health
C. Substantially interfering with the student’s academic performance; or
D. Substantially interfering with the student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
The Board of Education is committed to creating a supportive climate that encourages learning in an environment which is free from “bullying.” Bullying is an action or pattern of conduct and behaviors toward other students that terrorize, intimidate, instigate fights, or provoke retaliation. The principal or designee may notify the student’s parents or guardian of the referral and may attempt to schedule a conference to discuss the referral and to recommend such available intervention and/or disciplinary procedures as deemed reasonably appropriate to the action. Students who believe they are victims of bullying, intimidation or harassment or have witnessed such activities are encouraged to discuss the matter with a building administrator.
Due Process – 7:140 & 7:190
The district provides appropriate notification and "due process" as required in all issues involving suspensions and expulsions.
Sexual Harassment & Teen Dating Violence
Sexual Harassment Prohibited
Sexual harassment of students is prohibited. A person engages in sexual harassment whenever he or she makes sexual advances, requests sexual favors, and/or engages in other verbal or physical
conduct, including sexual violence, of a sexual or sex-based nature, imposed on the basis of sex, that:
Denies or limits the provision of educational aid, benefits, services, or treatment; or that makes such conduct a condition of a student’s academic status; or
2. Has the purpose or effect of:
Substantially interfering with a student’s educational environment.
Creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment
Depriving a student of educational aid, benefits, services, or treatment; or
Making submission to or rejection of such conduct the basis for academic decisions affecting a student.
The terms intimidating, hostile, and offensive include conduct that has the effect of humiliation, embarrassment, or discomfort. Examples of sexual harassment include touching, crude jokes or pictures, discussions of sexual experiences, teasing related to sexual characteristics, and spreading rumors related to a person’s alleged sexual activities. The term sexual violence includes several different acts. Examples of sexual violence include, but are not limited to, rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual abuse, and sexual coercion.
Teen Dating Violence Prohibited
All students have the right to a safe learning environment. The Board of Education strictly prohibits any act of teen dating violence committed by one student against another on school property, during a school-sponsored activity, or during school-sponsored transportation. For more information, see Policy 7:185.
Engaging in teen dating violence that takes place at school, on school property, at school-sponsored activities, or in vehicles used for school-provided transportation is prohibited. For purposes of this policy, the term teen dating violence occurs whenever a student who is 13 to 19 years of age uses or threatens to use physical, mental, or emotional abuse to control an individual in the dating relationship; or uses or threatens to use sexual violence in the dating relationship.
Making a Complaint; Enforcement
Students are encouraged to report claims or incidents of sexual harassment, teen dating violence or any other prohibited conduct to a building administrator or any staff member with whom the student is comfortable speaking. A student may choose to report to a person of the student’s same sex. Complaints will be kept confidential to the extent possible given the need to investigate. Students who make good faith complaints will not be disciplined.