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MIDDLE SCHOOL HANDBOOK PART 7 - RULES & STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

227 N. Fourth Street
Geneva, IL 60134
Phone: 630-463-3000
All rules apply to Geneva Middle School students while in the school zone. A school zone is defined as any school owned building or property; any vehicle designated by the school for transportation of the student to and from a school or to and from a school activity, thereby, placing the student within the school zone while they are riding on the designated vehicle for that designated purpose; any school-sponsored activity. 
 
Articles Not Permitted at School 
The following items are NOT permitted at school: 

1.  Skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, scooters, hover-boards, and toys. 
2.  Radios, TV's, electronic games, electronic organizers, beepers, laser pens, and other non-school related electronic devices.
3. Alcohol, tobacco, controlled substances, related paraphernalia (includes but is not limited to wrapping papers, pipes, e-cigarettes/vaporizers etc.), matches or lighters. 
4.  Any item that might be dangerous to oneself or others, such as knives, guns, or any other item that may be considered a weapon, or fireworks. 
5.  Any item which would distract from learning or disrupt the classroom or the school. 
6.  Aerosol containers. 
7.  Students are not permitted to bring coats or backpacks to class. 
8. Food and drinks are not permitted in classrooms or hallways, except for water in a transparent bottle at teacher’s 
discretion.
9.  Each teacher has the right to enforce his/her own gum rules within the classroom.
10. Students may not carry medication of any kind without permission from the nurse. This includes prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, diet pills and herbal supplements. 

Bicycles 
Students may ride bicycles to school. Bicycles must be parked in the racks provided and must be locked when not in use. 
 
Bus Rules 
The bus driver is in full charge of the students.  Students must follow bus safety rules and cooperate fully with the driver in order to ensure the safety of all.  School rules will apply to the school bus and all school bus stops.  Students who persist in violating rules will be deprived of the privilege of transportation for a length of time determined by the school administration. All buses are video, and audio monitored. 
1. Students must wait at the designated school bus stops until the bus comes to a complete stop. 
2. Students are expected to respect private property where bus stops are located. 
3. Heads, hands, feet, and other objects must be inside the bus windows at all times. Throwing objects out of the window is strictly prohibited. 
4. Students must refrain from loud talking which is distracting to the driver.  Students must be completely silent when the bus stops at railroad crossings. 
5.  Students must remain seated at all times.
6. Students must refrain from behavior that distracts the driver's attention or is harmful to fellow students. 
7.  Bus drivers may change seats or assign permanent seats if they choose to do so. 
8.  Be courteous, use no profane language. 
9.  No eating or drinking on the bus. 
10. Keep the bus clean. 
11. Cooperate with the driver. 
12. The expectations for use of WCD apply for all areas of the school zone which includes the bus and bus stops. 
 
Cafeteria Rules 
To make the lunch period enjoyable, students are expected to observe the following rules. An alternative lunch period may be assigned to a student by staff for inappropriate behaviors during lunch. 

1. Eating is permitted in the cafeteria only. Lunches may not be taken outside. 
2. Students are to remain in the cafeteria until they are dismissed. 
3. Serving lines are to be orderly. No eating in the serving line is permitted. 
4. Students may choose their seats; however, the staff requires students to remain at the tables they select until seats are reassigned. This reassignment takes place periodically. Staff will reassign seats, as needed, to maintain order in the lunchroom.
5. Students are expected to leave the table and floor neat and clean for those who use the cafeteria after them. 
6.  Students outside for recreation must remain in the designated areas. 
7.  Due to repayment problems, Sodexo does not loan lunch money to students. 
8.  Students are not permitted to have food brought or delivered to the cafeteria for anyone else besides themselves. 
9. Students should have all the money that they require for their purchase prior to entering the food line. 
10. Parents and/or guardians may only bring food for lunch for the student they are responsible for.  

Damage to Property 
Students may be held financially responsible for causing damage to school property or the property of others. When negligent behavior is involved, additional disciplinary action may be taken. When students intentionally damage property, this behavior will be considered a Category III offense and may result in a suspension. (See Code of Conduct) 

Dress & Hygiene 
Geneva Middle School North expects all students to dress appropriately for the school day or for any school-sponsored event. Student dress choices should respect the district’s intent to sustain a community that is inclusive of a diverse range of identities. The primary responsibility for a student’s attire resides with the student and their parent(s) or guardian(s). The school district is responsible for seeing that student attire does not interfere with the health or safety of any student, that student attire does not contribute to a hostile or intimidating atmosphere for any student, and that dress code enforcement does not reinforce or increase marginalization or oppression of any group based on race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, household income, or body type/size. 

The following guidelines for student dress and appearance will be in effect: 

Students Cannot Wear: 
  • Clothing that contains violent language or images. 
  • Clothing that contains images or language depicting/suggesting drugs, alcohol, vaping, or paraphernalia (or any illegal item or activity). 
  • Clothing that contains hate speech, profanity, pornography. 
  • Images or language that create a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class or consistently marginalized groups. 
  • Any clothing that reveals visible undergarments (visible waistbands and visible straps are allowed) or does not cover their genitals or buttocks. 
  • Any item, such as a hat or hood, that obscures the face or ears.  Exceptions may be made out of medical necessity or religious observance. 
Students in violation of the dress code will be provided three (3) options to be dressed more to code during the school day:  
  1. Students will be asked to put on their own alternative clothing, if already available at school, to be dressed more to code for the remainder of the day.  
  1. Students will be given temporary school clothing to be dressed more to code for the rest of the day.  
  1. If necessary, students’ parents may be called during the school day to bring alternative clothing for the student to wear for the remainder of the day. 
Depending on the nature of the dress code violation, the inappropriate item in question may be held for an extended period of time and parent pick up may be required. Students will be held in the office until such contact can be made. Repeated offenses may result in further consequences.
Locker Decoration 
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.
 
Student Sales 
Students are prohibited from selling items within the school or on school grounds unless the administration approves them. 
 
Teen Dating Violence 
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. 
 
Code of Conduct 
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. 
 
Expected Behaviors 
1. STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO FULFILL THEIR CLASSROOM OBLIGATIONS. 
Expected BehaviorUnacceptable Behavior
Be on timeTardiness
Complete schoolworkLate/incomplete schoolwork
Participate positivelyBreaking classroom rules
Bring materialsLack of materials
Follow classroom rulesDisrupting learning
Be a good listenerCheating/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 BehaviorUnacceptable Behavior
Respect others' rights to be treated courteouslyVerbal, physical or written harassment (religious, racial or sexual)
Respect others' rights to be safeClassroom disruptions
Respect others' rights to learnFoul language
Respect others' rights to be an individualRunning, 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 BehaviorUnacceptable Behavior
Politeness, courtesyTeasing
Display a positive attitudeSwearing
Respect for others' "space"Verbal abuse
HonestyLying
Cooperation with othersGossip
Support and encouragement of othersName calling
Accepting differencesPut downs
Accepting responsibility for one's actionsSpreading rumors
Accepting correction
 

4. STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO RESPECT BOTH SCHOOL PROPERTY AND THE PROPERTY OF OTHERS. 
Expected BehaviorUnacceptable Behavior
Pick things upBreaking things
Put things awayDefacing or destroying property
Keep things neat and clean (all lockers)Losing or being careless with property
Pay for repair, damaged or lost propertyStealing
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. 
 
Category I 
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 
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). 
 
Category III 
Behavior that: 
    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 
    Stealing 
    Harassment 
    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 
    Gross Misconduct 
 
Unique Situations 
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. 
 
Disciplinary Action 
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. TeacheIssued 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 OfficialA 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. 
 
Tobacco 
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: 
 
  1. 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: 
  1. Substantially interfering with a student’s educational environment. 
  1. Creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment 
  1. Depriving a student of educational aid, benefits, services, or treatment; or 
  1. 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.