Student Expectations/Behavior

All ACS community members are responsible for nurturing a safe school environment where all students and employees are treated with respect and care. ACS is committed to educating staff, parents and students to build positive relationships.

Everyone in the community is responsible for his/her own behavior and that all actions reflect respect for oneself, others, and their surroundings. Students are expected to follow the institution’s motto of “Be Ready. Be Respectful. Be Responsible.”

Framework for Supporting Positive Student Behavior

Students are provided with opportunities to reflect on their choices and behavior to learn from their mistakes. Our philosophy on good citizenship is based on restorative practices, which centers on repairing the harm done to self, people, relationships, the environment, unlike traditional discipline which focuses on the violation of rules.

Processes for Determining Misconduct and Consequences

The Citizenship Coordinator (C.C.) plays an integral role in promoting and supporting positive student behavior. It is expected from the student who acts in an inappropriate manner to take responsibility for their actions and work to resolve the problem through the reparation process. Depending on the severity of their misconduct, students with guidance of the Citizenship Coordinator develop a personal action plan to repair the damage inflicted either on themselves, others or the environment. The action plan includes logical consequences presented in detail below, which are based on the frequency and severity of the action. Throughout the academic year, the C.C. guides and monitors the implementation of student action plans and holds reflective student meetings to evaluate the learning outcomes.

Lunchtime Reflection

Lunchtime is used to further reflect on the incident with the Citizenship Coordinator and work on making amends. Students should bring their lunch.

After School Reflection

After school reflection may be used to reflect on the incident with the principal and work on making amends.

CC Supervision Days and Time-out of School

There are times when a behavior warrants the removal of a student from class for a certain period of class. This break period from class is used by the school as a time to work with the student in taking responsibility, giving time to reflect, and making things right in consultation with the Citizenship Coordinator.

Students that are assigned a day under the CC’s supervision, spend their day in the Citizenship Office. Students, parents, and teachers are notified of the situation, to make necessary arrangements for assignments that need to be completed. Students work on assignments provided by the teachers and on completing their reflection process. The student is expected to give their teachers their completed assignments. If applicable, students may be assigned to work in the Writing or Math Studio during this time. Students under supervision are not allowed to participate in after-school activities on that specific date.

Students that are assigned time out of school, are not allowed to be on campus during the determined period. During that time, the student is not allowed to participate in any school related events or activities. Students, parents, and teachers are notified of the deadline to make necessary arrangements for assignments that need to be completed. Students may receive a no credit count for the work done/due on the day and for that day’s class participation grade.

Reparations

In restorative practices, both the wrongdoer and the people involved meet to be given a voice and an opportunity to make amends. Members involved are supported and guided to engage in reflective conversations, to help them gain insight into the harm that their actions caused. The purpose of this approach is to encourage students to take an active role in resolving problems. Restorative circles are used in this approach. This is a facilitated, group resolution intervention.

Social Probation

The Board endorses the concept that positive behaviors should always be the expectation for ACS Athens students and in all places. However, students who repeatedly violate the provisions of the Middle School Code of Conduct or who are charged with serious infractions of school rules are placed on Social Probation for a minimum of one semester. In addition to those actions described in the Code of Conduct which result in immediate placement on Social Probation, the assignment of more than one supervision day for consequences in the course of a school year also results in the student being placed on probationary status. These sanctions apply during the school day, during extra-curricular activities and student trips, and at all school-sponsored events during which the staff is directly responsible for the supervision of students.

The consequences of being placed on Social Probation are as follows:

1. Revocation of all privileges (including Honors’ Passes, the right to serve as student assistants, etc.) for the duration of the probationary period.

2. Revocation of the right to hold elective office in student government for the remainder of the school year.

3. Revocation of the right to participate in all extra-curricular activities for the duration of the probationary period.

4. Disqualification from Honor Society eligibility or membership.

Students placed on Social Probation are referred to the Child Study Team. Building on their advice and recommendations, the Administration draws up a behavior contract stipulating behavioral goals and provision of in-school and out-of-school counseling, psychological and special services - which is signed by the student and their parents. The consequences of violating the terms of this contract may include an extension of probationary status or a request to the President that the student be withdrawn from school. At the end of each school year, the Administration reviews the status of all students who have been on Social Probation during the year.

Based on a review of each student’s social progress, the Administration may take one of the following actions:

1. Rescission of the student’s probationary status, allowing the student to re-enroll in ACS Athens for the following school year with restoration of eligibility and privileges.

2. Extension of probationary status for the first semester of the following school year, subject to the conditions of a new behavior contract.

3. Recommendation to the President that the student is not allowed to re-enroll at ACS Athens at the beginning of the next school year.

If a student is convicted of a crime, regardless of where it took place, the Administration recommends to the President that the student be withdrawn or expelled from school. The Board is

Procedures of addressing, monitoring and correcting behavior misconduct

The steps below describe the process of handling any behavior misconduct:

• Teachers, staff, and/or administrators must complete a behavioral referral form and send it to the S.C.C.

• The C..C. will meet with the student to discuss and record the details of the incident.

• The C.C. will continue discussing with other students who might have been involved or affected by the misconduct.

• The C.C. will call the parents to inform them about the outcome of the meetings with the student regarding the incident.

• After the incident is fully documented and student ownership is assumed, the S.C.C. and/or the VP together with the student will work on developing an action plan for correcting the damage as well as apply the logical consequences as stated below. Counselors and the Principal will be called in the meetings as necessary.

• Action plans will be shared with the adults who have been affected by the student's misconduct. This will allow the student to not only correct but also develop a stronger and more meaningful relationship with the adult.

• For any incident, the S.C.C. will email parents or guardians regarding the logical consequences and the agreed action plan.

• The C.C. will record all steps above on Skyward under the Discipline tab

• Upon completion of the reparations students will meet with the S.C.C. to complete a reflection form in order to evaluate the learning outcomes from the reparations. This reflection will remain in the student file.

Expected outcomes of Reflection-Time under the supervision of the S.C.C.

Students who repeatedly misbehave may spend time under the supervision of the S.C.C. as part of the logical consequences. This time is designed so that the students have additional time to reflect and create with the guidance of the S.C.C. an action plan to repair the damage inflicted either on themselves or others or the natural environment. During that time the students will also have the opportunity to meet with school’s professionals (counselors, school psychologists) who can further assist the student to address the causes of the misbehavior. A reflection letter and a suggested action plan will be submitted to the S.C.C. by the end of the school day. If time permits, the student may also work on studying and/or completing course assignments. During that day the student will not participate in club or athletics events.

• Students will not attend regular scheduled classes

• Students must work at all times on their reflection letter, action plan, and homework

• Students will have breaks for lunch or snacks but at different times than their peers.

• Students must submit all their work to the S.C.C. by the end of the school day.

Suggested Outcomes for Reflection - Time out of School

Students involved in Levels 5 and/or 6 misconducts will spend time at home as part of the logical consequences. This time can be utilized for reflection and discussion with their parents/ guardians about the misconduct, for a deeper and honest understanding of their share of responsibility and the potential positive response. Also, they will have the time to create an action plan to repair the damage inflicted with the input and advice of their parents / guardians, which should be submitted to the S.C.C. upon their return to school. In addition, the student must submit a reflection form before he returns to school.

Reparation Guidelines

While our Code of Conduct is non-negotiable, we believe that students who have committed infractions in school will have opportunities, following the consequences of their actions, to give back to the community. Our philosophy considers code of conduct violations as taking something away from self, others, and/or the environment. Therefore, repairing the damage done to self, others and/or the environment gives students the opportunity to understand how to build healthy relationships in each of the three areas.

Following consultation with the school counselor, opportunities for reparations will be provided but students will also have the option to make their own reparation proposals.

Examples may include:

• The repair of damaged property and participation in school community service (summertime included).

• Referral to peer group mediation

• Working with a faculty member on a specific project to be completed/ assign a certain number of hours to be completed assisting the faculty member.

• Community Service done off-campus grounds as agreed upon with the parent.

Student's successful participation in the reparation programs becomes a part of their official citizenship record, and will be taken into account when making decisions regarding social behavior.

Dress Expectations

One of our important goals as educators is to prepare students for professional and social life outside of school. Learning to dress appropriately in a variety of contexts is an important life skill. It is a mark of maturity, sophistication, self-respect and respect for others (especially important in a multi-cultural environment such as ACS). Parents and students should consider student attire carefully each morning before students leave for school.

We do not have a uniform, we do have dress expectations. Students' clothes must be functional. This means that students should be able to reach, run, bend and throw in the clothing that they wear. For safety reasons students should also wear appropriate footwear.

• Excessively tight clothing without appropriate length shirt

• Clothing printed with suggestive, obscene or offensive words and images

• Torn clothing (no matter how fashionable the tears!)

• Midriff-baring tops (for both boys and girls; tops must be long enough to be tucked into slacks or skirts or to cover the waistband of slacks and skirts if not tucked in.)

• Any style of clothing that reveals a students’ undergarments (for girls, this means no undergarments showing through see-through or low-cut tops and slacks; for boys, this means no boxers showing above the waistband of low-hanging jeans.

• No visible body piercing except for earrings

• Excessively short skirts for girls or shorts (higher than mid-thigh for boys & girls)

• High heels

• No hats/caps in hallways

PE Uniforms

In an effort to ensure that students in physical education classes are appropriately attired, the following administrative policy has been adopted. During the first week of school, all students must purchase a standard ACS Athens uniform consisting of:

• Sweatsuit (sweatshirt/sweatpants), t-shirt, shorts.

The uniforms may be purchased in a choice of two colors (navy/gold or gray/navy) and will be available during the first week of school when students are issued locks. Payment may be made during registration.