BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS

Commitment: 

AIS - West believes that the environment most conducive to learning and growth is one in which all members of the community feel confident, secure and safe. A sense of responsibility for one’s own conduct as well as for the general well-being of the community is expected of all Middle School students. All Middle School students are expected to exhibit sensitivity and respect for the rights and property of all members of the school community. They are expected to follow the school rules and regulations, respect school property and do their part to maintain the positive reputation of the school. 

All students are expected to:

• Act and behave in a manner that ensures a safe environment.

• Follow the rules/agreements in each classroom. 

• Report to class on time, and be ready to learn. 

• Wear the school uniform. 

• Arrive in a class with appropriate materials to perform in class (textbooks, pencils, pens, erasers, note pads, etc). 

• Communicate in English and use appropriate language.

• Keep hands and feet and other objects to themselves. 

• Avoid making rude gestures, using bad language or making “put downs” about students or teachers – they will be respectful at all times.

• Follow the agreements of the teacher in charge of the classroom.

• Understand that the teacher is in charge of the classroom.

There are some specific expectations that teachers implement in order to promote and support the life of the Middle School students. If guidelines are not met, procedures are initiated.  Immediately after an incident has been reported or observed, the student(s) will be interviewed by the teacher, Dean. Assistant Principal and/or Middle School Principal. 

If it is a minor offense, the teachers will discuss the infraction with the student, and parents may or may not be contacted. If it is a major offense, the student will be given the opportunity to explain the circumstances.  Specific action will depend on the gravity of each incident. Parents of the student(s) involved will be informed of the details and may be asked to meet with the administration to discuss the incident. Parents will be notified of the consequences.

AIS - West believes students must:

• Learn from experiences

• Be respectful, responsible and safe

• Learn consequences for their actions

• Work towards changing mistaken behaviors

• Work towards reflecting and monitoring self and actions

• Be responsible for knowing the school’s Code of Conduct

A Positive, Problem-solving Attitude

All problems are solvable if we all view the school as a friendly place where each person cares and is cared for. Parents are encouraged to contact their child’s class teacher in the first instance whenever there is a problem or concern. In any extreme cases, please contact the Principal.

ANTI- BULLYING

AISE West is committed to providing a caring, friendly and secure environment for all our students.  Bullying of any kind is unacceptable. We take responsibility for helping students understand what bullying is and the harm it can do.  Any incidents of alleged bullying will be investigated and dealt with appropriately. Anyone who believes that bullying is happening is encouraged to tell a member of staff.

The school strives to achieve a balance between the rights of the students and the need for order and safety.

The school administration and staff are committed to the principle of fair and equal treatment of all students within the school as well as uniform and equal enforcement of school policies, but each case will be reviewed as an individual event. Through cooperative relationships between students, school staff and parents, the school experience for all students can be meaningful, stimulating and produce lifelong benefits. 

Outside Food on Campus

All students are not allowed to order food to delivered on campus. Students are not permitted to have staff members order food on their behalf. Any food that is ordered by or for students will be confiscated by security and will not be returned. If a pattern of ordering food to school persists a meeting with parents will be held and issue will be escalated to the Senior Leadership Team and may face additional consequences.

Examples of minor, major and exclusion/expulsion offenses are listed below:

Major Offenses: 

• Serious destruction of property that creates a safety concern 

• Failure to report to assigned class, detention, assembly, meeting, etc.

• Physical/Verbal Aggression 

• Threats

• Harmful behavior

• Fighting

• Refusal to go to the office

• Excessive disruptive behavior (habitual defiance, willful disobedience)

• Disrespect of a Teacher or Staff Member

• Intimidation, or bullying, including cyber bullying

• Unauthorized use of technology/computers (major – to include but not limited to virus activity, profanity, obscenity, etc.)

• Sexual harassment of teacher, staff member or student

Consequences for Major Offenses: 

To be determined by the Leadership Team. Major offenses or repeated minor offenses that have warranted teacher notification to the Middle School office may result in lunch detentions, after school detentions, in-school suspensions, or out of school suspensions.  All Major Offenses could result in placement on Behavior Probation.

ZERO TOLERANCE BEHAVIOR

Recommendation for Immediate Exclusion/Expulsion Offenses:

These offenses are extremely serious and will not be tolerated at AIS - West.  Parents will be notified immediately by the Middle School Principal and/or Vice Principal when a student commits any of the acts listed below, and the student will receive the appropriate consequence as judiciously and quickly as possible. AIS -West’s Director will be involved in all cases involving offenses of this nature. Examples of these offenses are (but are not restricted to):

1. Possession or use of Alcohol/Tobacco/E-cigarettes/Vape/Drugs/Illegal Substances

2. Explosives (to include bomb threats)

3. Possession of weapons, or the use of any object as a weapon 

4. Arson

5. Any acts of extreme violence

Behavior Probation (BP)

When a student receives a minimum of 6 referrals from two or more teachers, parents will be notified of a warning of placement on behavior probation. The student will meet with the Counselor and/or the Dean to come up with possible solutions.

When a student has 10 referrals from 3 or more teachers, 3 ISSs, or 1 OSS, they may be placed on Behavior Probation Tier 1. At this point parents will be brought in for a meeting with the Leadership Team. A committee will analyze a student’s improvement during this probationary period and if a student continues to have major and minor offenses, s/he will continue on Tier 1 or be elevated to Tier 2. At this point parents will be brought in for a second meeting with the Leadership Team, and if the student continues to have behavior infractions, the student will risk Tier 3 (please see table below for Tier Information). 

The consequence of being on Behavior Probation is exclusion from participation in extracurricular activities and field trips. The purpose of placing students on these probations is to encourage students to find solutions for their misbehaviors and, therefore, come off probation. Removal from Behavior Probation is contingent upon a behavior review by the Discipline Board. All decisions about probation are at the discretion of the Middle School Leadership Team.

*To be determined by the Leadership Team 

Please note that if a student shows sufficient improvement as deemed by the Leadership Team, they have their BP tier reduced or removed as per the details below. 

● Satisfactory Improvement on Tier 1 - Removal from BP 

● Satisfactory Improvement on Tier 2 - Placed on Tier 1 

● Satisfactory Improvement on Tier 3 - Placed on Tier 2

If a student does not show satisfactory improvement on Tier 3, they will have their file referred to the AISE Director. Options at this point will include but are not limited to Exclusion/Discontinuation of Enrollment/Expulsion