STUDENT BEHAVIOR

RESTORATIVE PRACTICES

We believe in fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment by implementing restorative practices. Restorative practices focus on building and maintaining relationships, resolving conflicts, and repairing harm. We actively integrate restorative practices into our teaching and discipline strategies using diverse methods. 

HATE-MOTIVATED BEHAVIOR- LVUSD Board Policy 5145.9

The LVUSD School Board prohibits hate-motivated behavior. A student or parent/guardian who believes the student is a victim of hate-motivated behavior is strongly encouraged to report the incident to a teacher, the principal, or other staff members. Any staff member notified that hate-motivated behavior has occurred, observes such behavior, or otherwise becomes aware of an incident shall immediately contact the principal or the compliance officer responsible for coordinating the District's response to complaints and complying with state and federal civil rights laws. As appropriate, they shall also contact law enforcement. Any complaint of hate-motivated behavior shall be investigated. As necessary, the  District shall provide counseling, guidance, and support to students who are victims of hate-motivated behavior and for students who exhibit such behavior. 

STUDENT SEXUAL HARASSMENT- LVUSD Board Policy  4119.11

The LVUSD School Board prohibits the unlawful sexual harassment of any student by any employee, student, or other person at school or at any school-related activity.  Students shall be assured that they need not endure any form of sexual behavior or communication, including harassment, because of sexual orientation.  They shall further be assured that they need not endure, for any reason, any harassment which impairs the educational environment or a student's emotional well-being at school.

• Students are  encouraged to report incidents of sexual harassment immediately to the Assistant Principal. All  sexual harassment reports will be treated seriously and offenders will be disciplined.  

• All sexual harassment instances are recorded in the Las Virgenes Unified School District sexual harassment log. 

• Students should be aware that calling other students certain names can be interpreted as sexual harassment. A copy of the  district’s sexual harassment policy is included in the opening of school packet and students and parents are encouraged to read it carefully.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STANDARDS 

The Las Virgenes Unified School District values hard work and evaluates students against high academic standards. The district does not allow any forms of dishonesty or deception that unfairly, improperly, or illegally enhances a grade on an individual assignment or a course. If you have questions about whether your actions would be considered honest, please ask a teacher or administrator for clarification. You may also refer to the Legal Notification Handbook. pg.104

Academic Dishonesty shall include but is not limited to:

Cheating

• Copying from others and presenting the work as your own.

• Use of notes, "cheat sheets," or electronic devices without explicit permission.

• Using communication devices to obtain unauthorized information.

• Completing work or exams for another student or having someone do it for you.

• Asking for or accepting improper assistance, including offering money or benefits.

• Providing or receiving information about an exam.

• Altering a graded exam without authorization.

• Gaining unauthorized access to examination materials.

• Giving or getting improper assistance on individual assignments.

Plagiarism

• Submitting materials not based on your own research and writing.

• Using third-party term paper assistance or copying another person's work.

• Collaborating on assignments without permission and misrepresenting it as independent work.

• Submitting the same work for credit in multiple courses without consulting teachers.

• Failing to properly acknowledge paraphrased materials or falsifying data.

• Citing nonexistent sources.

Other

• Tampering with official district records.

• Failing to stop work on an exam when time is up.

• Forging a signature or providing false information to a faculty member.

• Hoarding or damaging library materials to hinder access by others.

CONSEQUENCES FOR ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

After an investigation by the administration, if a student is found to have broken the Academic Integrity Policy, the following will occur:

FIRST INCIDENT*

1.  0 - 50% on assignment, test, quiz or final

2.  Parent notified by teacher

3.  Referral submitted to administrator and loss of up to 3 school behavior points

4.  School counselor notified

5. The student will do a written assignment regarding the importance of academic honesty. 

SECOND INCIDENT

1. 0 on assignment, test, quiz or final

2. Referral submitted to and parent notified by administrator 

3. School counselor notified  

4. An automatic “U” in citizenship for the semester

5. Loss of 5 behavior points

THIRD INCIDENT

1. 0 on assignment, test, quiz or final

2. Referral submitted to and parent notified by administrator 

3. School counselor notified

4. An automatic “U” in citizenship for the semester

5. A one day In-House Suspension

6. Loss of 5 points for each day of In-House Suspension

*Additional disciplinary actions may be taken based upon the severity of the student action, including a loss of behavior points.

Academic dishonesty is cumulative for the duration of middle school, not a per class/year incident. 

CELL PHONES AND PERSONAL DEVICES

• Students are allowed to have mobile devices while attending school and school-sponsored activities.

• All mobile devices, including phones and tablets, must be turned off at all times unless specifically approved by school personnel.

• Using mobile devices should not cause tardiness to class.

• If a student receives a disruptive call or message during school hours, a certificated or classified staff member may confiscate the device and hand it over to an administrator.

• The device will be returned to the student at the end of the school day.

• A second infraction will result in the confiscation of the device, and the parent or guardian will need to meet with the principal or an administrative designee to retrieve it.

• A third infraction will lead to disciplinary action, including revoking consent to possess any electronic devices until the end of the semester. 

ELECTRONIC LISTENING OR RECORDING DEVICE – EC 51512

Using electronic listening or recording devices in classrooms without the teacher's and principal's consent is strictly prohibited. 

DISRUPTIVE ITEMS & PERSONAL ITEMS

Squirt guns, balloons or other toys may not be brought to school.  Additionally, wallet chains, toys, aerosol or spray items, perfume, hair spray, etc. are not permitted on campus at any time.  Matches, lighters & other dangerous items are not permitted.  Laser pointers are not allowed & are a violation of the law.  We encourage students to leave valuable belongings at home and do not accept responsibility for lost, damaged or stolen valuables. Students may only use markers when they are issued or asked for by teachers. No permanent marker pens allowed. Students may only use markers when they are issued by teachers.

CONFISCATED ITEMS

Any confiscated item will be returned to the parent/guardian if they come in to pick it up or to the student at the end of the last day of school.  Any unclaimed items are donated to charity at the end of the school year.

GUM

Gum chewing is not allowed on school grounds as chewing gum can cause accidental damage, such as sticky residue on desks and floors. Students will receive increasing point deductions for each incident of gum chewing; or be assigned gum scraping duty or detention for repeat offenses. We want to keep our school clean. 

DISCIPLINE PLAN 

Learning takes precedence over every other activity at A. C. Stelle Middle School. In order to maintain a campus  that is conducive to learning, the following general rules of  conduct are to be followed: be safe, be respectful and be  prepared. 

Positive Behavior Interventions:

• Teach schoolwide positive behavior expectations and procedures (see back of handbook for schoolwide matrix) 

• Positive reinforcement for all students

• Consistent consequences for problem behaviors

• Effective instruction and classroom management 

• Tier II and Tier III interventions implemented as needed (i.e. Check in/Check out, Behavior contracts, SEL groups)

Procedures for Disciplinary Action: 

Pursuant to all state laws and Las Virgenes policies and  procedures, the following administrative actions are taken  to enforce necessary regulations. This listing of minimum  and maximum actions does not imply or require that a  step-by-step progression of increasing severity be used by  school staff in dealing with a violation. In most cases  disciplinary action is dependent upon the situation, and the  previous behavior record of the student. When it becomes  necessary to refer a student to the office after appropriate  teacher interventions, any of the following schedule of  actions may take place when an infraction of regulations  occurs: 

1. Conference regarding violation and a warning 

2. Detention, lunch trash pick-up or written assignment 

3. Gum-scraping duty 

4. In-school or class suspension from a specific class  and/or activity 

5. Parent conference 

6. Parent/teacher conference 

7. Signed behavior contract 

8. Wednesday Work Program 

9. In-House Suspension (served at school) 10. Suspension (served at home) 

11. Transfer to another school within the district 

12. Expulsion from the district 

The following represent samples of violations that may occur in the school. The asterisk (*) indicates a law enforcement agency may be notified. All infractions are subject to the disciplinary actions outlined above.  

Student Attire

• Wearing clothing that is offensive, inappropriate, distracting to the learning process, unsafe or violates the dress code.  

Violations Against Public Decency and Good Morals

• Vulgarity/Profanity:  Language that is inappropriate at school.  

• Offensive Social Behavior

Violations Against Public Health and Safety

• Possession or use of any of the following:

*Dangerous Drugs and Paraphernalia

*Unauthorized Controlled Substance: Alcohol  

*Unauthorized Controlled Substance: Tobacco & E-cigarettes    

“Look-alike” Substance    

• Selling dangerous drugs or unauthorized controlled substances

Violations Against Persons

• *Assault against Student or Staff:  Unlawful attempt, coupled with a present ability to commit a violent injury on the person of another PC240

• *Battery against Student or Staff:  Any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another PC 242. “Serious bodily injury” means a serious impairment of physical condition including, but not limited to the following:  loss of consciousness; concussion; bone fracture; protracted loss or impairment of function of any bodily member or organ; a wound requiring extensive suturing; and serious disfigurement (PC 243).

• *Weapon Possession:  Weapon is defined as any injurious object EC 49330 and any imitation firearm

• *Other dangerous objects of no reasonable use at school, including fireworks, lighters, matches, etc.  

• *Fighting:  Mutual combat in which both parties have contributed to the situation by verbal and/or physical action.

• *Hazing:  Participating in or conspiring to engage in, or conspiring for others to engage in harassing acts that injure, degrade, or disgrace other individuals EC 32050-2  

• Interference/Obstruction:  Any action taken to attempt to prevent a staff member from exercising lawful assigned duties.

• Verbal Abuse:  Threatening language to a staff member; Insulting language to staff member.

• *Sexual Harassment:  Any act of a sexual nature, verbal or physical, that creates a hostile, intimidating or offensive educational  environment or negatively impacts academic performance EC 48900.02. 

• Harassing, threatening, or intimidating others EC 48900.04  

Violations Against Property

• *Extortion:  The obtaining of property from another without consent, induced by a wrongful use of force or threat or under the guise of official right.  

• *Theft:  An unlawful taking of property.  

• Unauthorized Use of School Property: The unauthorized, illegal use of school property.

• Willful Damage of School Property:  Any student who willfully cuts, defaces, or otherwise injures in any way property, real or personal, belonging to the school district is liable.

• Damage to Personal Property  

Violations Against School Administrative Procedures

• Continued Willful Disobedience:  Repeated refusal to follow school rules and regulations.    

• Defiance of Authority:  Willful refusal to follow a legal direction or order given by a staff member.

• Disruptive Behavior:  Actions which are prejudicial to the effective operations of the school.

• False Identification:  Refusal to give or giving false identification when requested to do so by a staff member.

• Forgery:  Falsifying signature or data on official records.    

• Leaving Campus:  Leaving campus during school hours without proper clearance.    

• *Violation of Suspension:  Physically present on a school campus or at a school activity while on suspension or otherwise ineligible.  

• Visiting Other Campus:  Unauthorized presence during school hours on a school campus other than the assigned campus.

SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION FROM SCHOOL

California Education Code 48900 includes a number of laws governing student behavior.  Students violating these laws may be suspended or expelled from school whether on school grounds, while going to or from school, during the lunch period whether on or off campus, during or while going to or coming from a school-sponsored activity.  Suspension or expulsion may result if it is determined that a pupil has:

a-1. Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person.

a-2. Willfully used force or violence upon the person of another, except in self-defense.

2. Possessed, sold, or furnished to another a firearm, knife, explosive or other dangerous object including but not limited to matches, lighters, firecrackers, etc.

3. Possessed, sold or furnished to another or been under the influence of any controlled substance, alcoholic beverage or intoxicant of any kind.

4. Offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any controlled substance, alcoholic beverage, or intoxicant of any kind, and then furnished another liquid, substance or material and represented it as a controlled substance or intoxicant.

5. Committed or attempted to commit robbery or extortion.

6. Caused or attempted to cause damage to school property or private property.

7. Stole or attempted to steal school property or private property.

8. Possessed or used tobacco, products containing tobacco or nicotine (vaping or ju’uling).

9. Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity.

10. Unlawfully possessed, or unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any drug paraphernalia.

11. Disrupted school activities or otherwise willfully defied the valid authority of supervisors, teachers, administrators, or other school personnel.

12. Knowingly received stolen school property or private property.

13. Possessed an Imitation Firearm.

14. Committed or attempted to commit a sexual assault.

15. Harassed, threatened, or intimidated a complaining witness in a school disciplinary proceeding.

16. Unlawfully offered, arranged to sell, negotiated to sell or sold the prescription drug Soma.

17. Aided or abetted the infliction or attempted infliction of physical injury; or engaged or attempted to engage in hazing.

r.     Bullied, including cyber bullying, acts of bullying by using the Internet (e.g., social networking sites, e-mail), 

       text-messaging, or other electronic device (including telephones).

Additional grounds for suspension:  48900.2 sexual harassment as defined in Ed. Code Sec. 212.5; 48900.3 hate violence; 48900.4 harassing, threatening or intimidating others; 48900.7 (a) making terroristic threats against school officials, school property or (b) making terroristic threats against another person. 

Law enforcement agencies may be notified as per district policy for major violations.  These offenses include, but are not limited to the following:

• violations against public health and safety

• violations against persons

• violations against property

“EAGLE CLUB” POINT SYSTEM BEHAVIOR PLAN 

Eagle Club is a reward system to recognize good  citizenship, behavior and attendance. Every school year  students will begin the year with 100 school behavior  points and automatically be a member of Eagle Club.  Those students who chose not to follow school rules and are sent to the Assistant Principal’s office for a discipline issue, or who are habitually absent from or tardy to school, may lose points.  

ALL students must: have 100 points at the end of the  year to participate in the Eagle Club trips in June AND have at least 5 S’s (Satisfactory) or O’s (Outstanding) in Citizenship at the 1st semester mark and 15 week mark of the 2nd semester. Any loss of points must be  made up within the make-up period (April 15 - May 15) to  be able to get back to 100. Any student who falls below 90 Eagle points will only be able to make up to 90 points.  Making up points is student initiated, and must be done before school, during lunch, or after school with prior  permission of the supervising staff member. If negative  behavior and loss of points continue, students will not be  allowed to make up points. Students whose behavior point total falls below 90 are declared “ineligible” and will not be allowed to participate in various on-campus and co curricular activities, included but not limited to: assemblies, elected student body offices, field trips, dances, special  events, and intramurals. (Ineligible students attending any assemblies, activities, or coming on campus during a school sponsored program or event may result in  suspension.) Ineligible students may earn points back up to 90 to become eligible again for those on-campus and  other co-curricular activities. It is the student’s responsibility to know his/her point total.  Through voluntary service that is approved by the school, students can earn back points. Any school behavior points may only be made up between April 15 and May  15. Forms, if needed, are available in the Assistant  Principal’s office and must be initiated by the student. 

Students may make up points: by attending a Full-Day Wednesday Work Program with previous arrangement (+3); or performing lunch clean-up (+1 point). Students may also arrange to work for a staff member before or after school, or during lunch, for +1 point per 20 minutes of work. The student must make the arrangements with the staff member. 

EAGLE CLUB DISCIPLINARY ACTION PLAN 

When it is determined that a loss of points is an  appropriate consequence, points may be deducted  according to the recommended disciplinary action plan  shown below. 

Infraction Point Deduction *The following breakdown of points is a guideline and is at the AP’s discretion. 

Tardiness (1-3 points)

Lunch behavior (1-3 points) 

Electronic Devices/Cell phones (1-3 points) 

Repeated dress code violation (1-3 points) 

Gum chewing (1-3 points) 

Classroom disruption (1-3 points) 

Bad sub report (2-3 points)

Defiance of authority (2-3 points) 

Disrespecting the teacher (2-3 points) 

Letter to parent/phone call home (1-3 points) 

Conduct Referral to AP (1-5 points) 

Wed. work program (3 points) 

In-house/At-home suspension (5 pts/day)