Standards of Behavior
Appropriate student and adult behavior is expected in all academic settings and at all school related events. Mutual respect, personal responsibility and school safety is modeled and encouraged by all staff members. Students learn and practice behaviors that reflect these standards in a variety of settings both in school and in the community. A clearly articulated system of school discipline provides the foundation for positive social and intellectual growth and development. Our standards of behavior preserve the dignity and integrity of all. The standards of mutual respect, personal responsibility and school safety can be simply understood as children and adults practicing behaviors that demonstrate:
Care for Self and Others
Being Ready to Learn
Procedures for governing student behavior exist on a continuum beginning with preventative strategies that reinforce the concept of personal responsibility and self-discipline to alternative, out of school placements for disruptive behaviors that require interagency support.
Many of the behaviors that are not allowed in school or on school grounds are covered in the Policy section of the handbook as they relate to federal and civil law. In addition, Guilford Central School requires that students do not chew gum, use profanity or vulgarity, wear clothes that are provocative (bare midriff, exposed underwear, excessively baggy pants, shorts or skirts that are too short, t-shirts that are sexually suggestive or communicate inappropriate messages) and/or behave in a manner that disrupts the educational process.
Electronic devices, such as cell phones, radios, computer games, CD players and beepers are not allowed in school. Ipods and MP3 players are allowed on the buses, as long as they do not disrupt others. Students who choose to bring such devices to school must turn them off and put them away once they enter the school building. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
The consequences for students who do not comply with Guilford’s standards may vary depending on the type of behavior displayed. The classroom teacher plays a major role in maintaining appropriate classroom management and for determining logical consequences for misbehavior. In order to provide a clear sense of fairness and equity in our response to student behavior issues, it might be useful to think of student misbehavior as falling into three (3) levels.
Level 1 offenses are considered minor in severity. Teachers and/or Paraeducators are responsible for redirecting and/or assigning consequences for these behaviors. Examples of Level 1 offenses include:
Eating food at inappropriate times
sharing food with classmates
Gum chewing
Violating dress code guidelines
Being unprepared for class (i.e. homework)
Disruptive classroom or hallway behavior
Disruptive playground or cafeteria behavior
Level 2 offenses are more serious behaviors or repeated Level 1 offenses. These offenses may result in a student being temporarily removed from an activity or permanently revoking a student’s participation in class sponsored events, class trips or sports programs. After school detentions and/or in-school or out-of-school suspensions are also considered for Level 2 offenses. Detentions are served after school for one hour (3:20 P.M.- 4:20 P.M.). Students who serve after school detentions are expected to work on classroom assignments or silently read. Given the offense, it may be appropriate for a student to provide community service by working with our afternoon custodian. During in-school suspensions students are isolated from peers and supervised by an adult while they serve their suspension.
When a student serves an out-of-school suspension, they are required to make up all missed assignments while they are out of school. Examples of Level 2 offenses include:
Repeat offenders of Level 1 behaviors
Inappropriate physical contact, such as, pushing and rough physical play
Marking walls/marking desks, etc.
Unacceptable language
Repeated Lunch and Recess offenses
Rude behavior
Lying
Chronic absenteeism and/or tardiness
Repeat dress code violations
Level 3 offenses are the most serious. These offenses will always be handled by the building administrator. Level 3 offenses could result in program or placement changes, suspension, restitution, and/or other consequences deemed appropriate by the Principal and/or Superintendent. Examples of Level 3 offenses include:
DETENTIONS AND SUSPENSIONS ~ As stated above, detentions are given as a consequence for serious infractions of school rules. Parents will be contacted to make arrangements for all detentions. Transportation for a student who is serving a detention is the responsibility of the parent. School Board policy allows the principal or his designee to assign a student to in-school suspension, or out of school suspension for a period of ten days or less for violations of school rules. All suspensions will be assigned in accordance with due process procedure. A copy of the school board policy pertaining to student conduct and discipline is available in the school office.