Disciplinary Infractions

A student will not possess, use, and/or offer to buy or sell, purport to sell and/or sell a controlled substance, a dangerous drug, prescription drug, counterfeit drug, intoxicating substance or alcohol.

A student legally in possession of prescribed medication will not be in violation of this section as long as the school authorizes his/her use and possession of the prescribed medication.

When alcohol and/or drugs are the cause of the referred student, every attempt will be made to provide parents/guardians with recommendations for counseling and/or treatment. Discretion will be given to school officials with drug situations on a case-by-case basis. An example might be the case where a student is found in possession of a legally prescribed medication yet failed to notify school officials.

Students will not willfully by means of fire cause harm to property or any person nor participate in the burning of property or any person.

Unexcused tardies and absences will result in associated disciplinary consequences

In instances of excessive tardiness/dismissal/absenteeism families will be contacts via a combination of phone calls, text messages, emails, and hard-copy letters. Continued absenteeism may result in referrals to Truancy and or Family Court

A student at MHS is allowed 4 unexcused tardies per quarter without an intervention or school disciplinary action. Our goal is for our students to attend a full day of school in order to maximize their educational needs and preparation for life after high school. The school day begins at 7:30 and ends at 1:40. It is recommended that student drivers arrive to MHS at 7:15am or earlier to avoid any arrival issues or consequences.

Per RI State Law Chapter 16-19, students have a right to an education and are required to attend school. The school admiration does reserve the right to report chronically absent students per RI State Law Chapter 4 0-113.

A student will not illegally enter a school building or any school property.

A student will not exhibit conduct which subjects a pupil to insults, taunts or challenges whether verbal or physical in nature, which are likely to intimidate or provoke a violent or disorderly response from the student being treated in this manner.

Bullying can occur in many forms including, but is not limited to, psychological and emotional, verbal and physical. (Refer to the MPS Bullying Policy #7100)

More information may also be accessed via the Bullying & Cyberbullying page of this resource

A student will not possess, handle, transmit, conceal or use a weapon. A student will not use any object, otherwise permitted in the school, as a weapon or in any manner likely to cause injury to another person. The Zero Tolerance Policy will be strictly enforced.

A student will not willfully cause defacement or damage to property of the school or others. Actions such as writing in school textbooks or library books, writing on desks, carving into woodwork, desks or tables and spray-painting surfaces are actions of defacement. Restitution and disciplinary/legal remedy is sought in such cases.

A student will not harass others nor misbehave in a manner that causes disruption or obstruction to the educational process or any part of the school day.

Disruption caused by talking, making noises, throwing objects or otherwise distracting another constitutes disorderly conduct. If the teacher is prevented from starting an activity or lesson or has to stop what he/she is doing to try to control disruptive behavior, such behavior is considered disorderly.

Violations of the dress code may result in parent contact and/or dismissal until the code is upheld.

A student will not make another person do any act against his/her will by force or threat of force, expressed or implied.

A student will not willfully tamper with the Fire Alarm System, unless an emergency exists.

A student will not willfully sound a fire alarm or cause a fire alarm to be sounded, nor will a student falsely communicate or cause to be communicated that a bomb is located in a building or on the premises of a building owned by Middletown Public School.

These acts are prohibited irrespective of the whereabouts of the student.

A student will not use another person's identification, use another student’s handbook nor give false identification to any school official with intent to deceive school personnel or falsely obtain money or property.

Is a criminal offense, regardless of age. Please reference RI State Law Chapter 11-1-2.

A student will not physically fight with another person. Fighting is defined as “taking part in a battle or physical combat, conflict, or struggle between adversaries.” Self-defense or defense of others may be considered in determining whether this provision has been violated.

A student will not possess, handle, transmit, conceal, nor use any explosive device or substance, which can be used as an explosive. Firecrackers are included in this definition.

A student will not sign the name of another person for the purpose of defrauding school personnel.

A student will not deceive another nor cause another to be deceived by false or misleading information in order to obtain anything of value.

A student will not exhibit conduct which subjects a teacher/staff to insults, taunts or challenges whether verbal or physical in nature.

A student will not verbally, electronically or by written words, photographs, or drawings, direct profanity at any school personnel or adult volunteer, nor insult any school personnel/volunteer by obscene gestures.

A student will not willfully cause destruction of either school property, or that of others. Actions that impair the use of something are destructive. Ruining bulletin boards, intentionally clogging plumbing system, breaking light bulbs or fixtures, and damaging school equipment or school busses, etc. to the point where repair is necessary are acts of property destruction.

Whoever is a participant in the act of hazing, as defined herein, shall be subject to suspension and/or criminal action in a court of law. The term "hazing" shall mean any conduct or method of initiation with any student or student organization, whether on public or private property, that willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person.

Such conduct shall include whipping, beatings, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to weather, forced consumption of food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any other brutal treatment which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or subjects such student to extreme mental stress, including deprivation of sleep or rest.

It is the responsibility of every person to report hazing – failing to do so is a violation subject to suspension.

A Middletown High School’s student learning expectation (civic and social) presupposes students will demonstrate a personal sense of ethics that will include honesty, integrity and self-control in school and at all school sponsored activities.   

Students are responsible for earning grades honestly and honorably, including homework. Failure to meet this responsibility will result in an in-school suspension and a potential partial loss of grade.

Cheating is defined as using someone else's work or labor with or without their knowledge and representing it as your own. This includes (but is not limited to) giving or receiving answers or work on a task, test or quiz, removing tests or answers from the testing room, plagiarism, any use of a cell phone or other communication or recording device during the task/test. It is also knowingly giving your work or labor to another, for representation as his/her own produced work. Working together does not mean “copying.”

If you assist someone in misrepresentation of their work in any way, it is considered cheating, even if there is no benefit to you as the accomplice. 

Having knowledge of fraudulent academic activities as described above without reporting them also constitutes cheating.

A student will not violate any element of the Internet Agreement. Failure to adhere to the policies governing technology use will likely result in disciplinary action. (Refer to the MPS Computer Use Policy)

Students will not incite to riot.

A student will not exhibit negative behavior, either physical or mental, which targets a specific victim. Behaviors may include but are not limited to: threats, verbal or written abuse, physical abuse, harassment, ethnic, racial, or gender slurs targeting a specific victim. (potential police referral).

The above infraction will result in an automatic 1 day in-school suspension.  Repetition of an offense will result in multiple days

A student will not physically attack another person. Assault is defined as "an act of physical violence or an aggravated threat of physical violence by a student, of another student or staff member." When considering aggravated assault, factors to be weighed include age, seriousness of injury, state of mind and other relevant factors.

A student will neither verbally, electronically nor by written words, photographs or drawings direct profanity at any other student or insult any student with obscene gestures.

A student will not take or attempt to take from another person any property by force or threat of force, expressed or implied.

Sexual harassment is strictly forbidden on school grounds, school buses, parking lots, and at school-sponsored events, whether on or off school grounds. Anyone who feels that their rights have been violated should contact the MHS administration or another adult immediately. 

A student will not use words, pictures, objects, gestures, or other actions relating to sexual activity or a person's gender, as defined by Federal Regulations, that have the effect of violating the right of a person to a safe and nurturing environment in which to learn or to participate in school activities.

Sexual harassment shall be reported immediately to school officials. The School Committee will not tolerate any acts of sexual harassment and will deal with this issue in a very harsh manner according to (policy #7100).

A student will not engage in conduct, which would appear to the ordinary observer to be sexual misconduct, sexual exposure or masturbation.

A student will not possess, smoke or use tobacco and non-tobacco products (including vapes, e-cigarettes, or any other electronic means of tobacco/substance delivery) in any area under the control of a school district or any activity supervised by school personnel.

Student will be subject to disciplinary action for possession or use of such products.

Smoking in schools or on school grounds is a violation of RI State Law Chapter 23-20.9.

Purchase, sale, or delivery of tobacco/ENDs products is a violation of RI State Law Chapter 11-9-13.

Possession and use of all tobacco products is forbidden on school property, on school buses and at any event sponsored by the high school. Tobacco products will be confiscated.

Student will be subject to disciplinary action for possession or use of tobacco products.

Refer to MPS Substance Use and Student Wellness Policy (7010) for more information

Any language that is derogatory or can be construed as racially oriented, inappropriate, or intent to cause harm.

A student will not, without permission of the owner or custodian of the property, have in their possession property that does not belong to them.

A student will not be insubordinate, refuse to identify themselves, nor refuse to comply with the directions of authorized school personnel during any period of time when the student is under the authority of the school. Not obeying the classroom-related instructions or directions of a teacher is unruly conduct. Refusing to open a particular book, write an assignment, work with another student or work in a group, take a test, obey bus rules, or do any other class or school-related activity not mentioned here constitutes unruly conduct.

While students are generally expected to comply with directions of school personnel, they are not expected to comply with directions that are contrary to law, school department rules and regulations or safety. This may include, but is not limited to, riding in a car with a teacher, leaving school and or school grounds, improper advances, lying, etc.

Deliberate destruction of public or private property

A student will not by use of violence, force, coercion, or threat of violence, cause disruption or obstruction to the education process.

Weapons of all types are forbidden on school grounds and at all school functions. Possession of (or withholding of knowledge regarding) any weapon will result in an immediate suspension, possible long term suspension/exclusion, and notification of the local police department (Confidentiality will be respected). 

Weapons include, but are not limited to, any gun, facsimile of a gun, knife, razor, martial arts device, explosives, defense weapons (mace, stun gun, etc.), and tools or instruments which could cause bodily harm (blackjack, chain, club, knuckles, pipe, ice pick, studded bracelet, etc.).