Students may be assigned a lunch detention for displaying inappropriate behaviors in the cafeteria. These inappropriate behaviors may include, but are not limited to, throwing food, refusal to clean up after oneself, cutting the lunch line, leaving the lunch room prior to dismissal, arriving at lunch more than five minutes past the start of lunch without a valid pass. This consequence would require the student to eat lunch in a quiet location, away from their peers for a prescribed amount of time. Cell phone use is not prohibited while serving lunch detention. 

Students may be assigned detention by individual teachers for certain classroom infractions as outlined in the classroom management plan. Teacher detention is used at the discretion of individual teachers and students are expected to serve the detention either that afternoon or the following afternoon. Assigned detention times for this type of consequence may vary at the discretion of the individual teacher. Transportation, work and extra-curricular events are not acceptable excuses for missing an assigned teacher detention. Students who skip teacher detentions are referred to building administration for escalating consequences. Cell phone use is not prohibited while serving teacher detention.

Similar to teacher detentions, this consequence is assigned for a wide variety of classroom/school disciplinary infractions. Office detentions are held twice per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and are monitored by our Student Life Coordinators and/or Building Administrators. Office detentions are one (1) hour in duration. Transportation, work and extra-curricular events are not acceptable excuses for missing an assigned office detention. Skipped office detentions will lead to escalating consequences including, but not limited to, additional office detentions, Saturday Academy, in-school suspension, suspension from extracurricular and/or co-curricular activities. Cell phone use is not prohibited while serving office detention.

Saturday Academy Goal

The goal of Saturday Academy is to provide high school students with another level of support for habitual tardiness, detentions, or a combination of incidents.  

Student Eligibility

Students must be invited to attend Saturday Academy.  Some criteria may include: 

• Attendance issues such as absences, dismissals, excessive class cutting, and tardies, or any combination thereof 

• Re-taking assessments due to cheating/plagiarism

• Other students may qualify as determined by building administration

Communication

Parents will be contacted by building administration and students will sign a contract with details and the scheduled date assigned for Saturday Academy.

Time for Saturday Academy

Saturday Academy will be held on select Saturdays (as needed) from 8:00-11:00 AM.  Students will need to provide their own transportation to and from school.  Missing work will be requested from the student’s teachers but students are expected to bring necessary supplies.

Rules:

1. Students should report to Portsmouth High School on time at Doors 4-5 closest to the library.

2. Students are expected to arrive at 8:00 AM sharp.  Students who are tardy will not be allowed to serve that day

3. Students will sit independently with appropriate space between peers to reduce distraction

4. Cell phones/electronic devices should be off and collected by the supervising adult

5. Students should bring additional class work that needs to be completed

6. Students are required to attend Saturday Academy for the duration of the entire scheduled time

7. Appropriate behavior is expected

8. Students will participate in a 30 minute session focused on decision making and self-reflection

Purpose

The primary purpose of the In School Suspension Program is to offer a structured, supervised program to students who fail to comply with the school’s code of behavior.  The student who is assigned to ISS will be in an educational environment with separation from their peers for the entirety of the school day. It is hoped that this program has a positive effect on students' school experience and general school attitude and behavior.  ISS is supervised by certified academic teachers and a temporary alternate educational program will be provided for each student.  IEP students will not lose the opportunity to meet with their resource teachers. Cell phone use is not prohibited while serving ISS. 

Eligibility

The opportunity for a student to participate in the In School Suspension Program will be at the discretion of the School Life Coordinators in tandem with building administration.  The School Life Coordinators and building administration will evaluate each case individually as to whether the In School Suspension Program will be offered.  

Procedures

1. For disciplinary offenses, a student may be assigned up to three (3) days in the ISS room.  This will be assigned by the building administration. 

2. Only after serving the assigned days will a student return to the regular school program. Absences, excused or unexcused, do not count toward the three (3) days.

3. Before a student is returned to the regular school program, a parent conference may take place.  This conference will include the student, parent/ guardian, and building administration.

4. Misbehavior in the In School Suspension Program may result in out-of-school suspension. Out-of-School suspensions may be administered in those instances where repeated infractions occur.

5. Students who continue to violate school rules and regulations will be referred to the School Committee for exclusion from school and the School Committee may, if it desires, exclude students for the remainder of the school year or for the subsequent year.

6. Teachers will be notified and classroom work made available when a student is assigned to the In School Suspension Program as participation in this program is viewed as an excused absence from the student’s regularly scheduled classroom environment. However, it is the ultimate responsibility of the student to make-up all academic work.

Please see below for a sampling of offenses for which the In School Suspension Program or an Out of School Suspension may be given:

• Truancy from school or tardy to school or class

• Graffiti

• Disturbing the school, classroom, or educational school program

• Disrespectful/Insubordination to faculty or staff

• Smoking/Vaping

• Possession or use of hookah pens, e-cigarettes, and/or electronic inhalation devices 

• Misbehavior and/or removal from the In-House Detention

• Failure to report to the Assistant Principal when sent by a staff member

• Unauthorized leaving of school grounds or school building

• Second and any additional cutting of a class for the school year

• Sexual Harassment

• Harassment or intimidation of another student

• Unacceptable language

• Loitering in school building or on school grounds

• Gambling

• Stealing from school, staff, or fellow students

• Bus misconduct

• Forging passes

• Cheating/Plagiarism

• Bullying/Hazing

• Physical Contact between students, (pushing, horseplay, etc.).

• Fighting/Physical Confrontation on school property * 

OSS is the temporary exclusion of a student from regular school programs and activities; not to exceed ten (10) days for a single suspension. All suspension decisions will provide for procedural due process. Students who are suspended from school will not be allowed to participate in sports/extra-curricular activities during the duration of the suspension and the social probation period that applies. Parents/guardians will be notified of a suspension, the reason, and the duration. A written notice will also be sent home. Parents may need to accompany their student to school upon the end of a period of suspension to discuss the conditions of return.

Due Process Code

Regulations for Governing Disciplinary Exclusion of Students from School. (See Board of Regents Memorandum of Policy Statement on Student Rights, adopted July 8, 1976.) (Policy 5114.1 – policy revised June 22, 1999)

1.  Portsmouth School Committee, shall, in accordance with Section 16-2-16 of the Rhode Island General Laws, establish and post rules and regulations for the government and discipline of the public schools.  Such student discipline rules shall be distributed to students and their parents at the beginning of each school year and become effective only after distributed to students and parents.

2. The student discipline code and all other rules governing student discipline shall be posted in conspicuous places within the school throughout the school year;

3. Each student discipline code and rules for governing student discipline shall clearly state the types of punishable offenses;

4. The High School Principal, Assistant Principals, Middle School Principal, Assistant Principal, Elementary Principals, Superintendent of Schools, and Assistant Superintendent of Schools are authorized to suspend a student for (5) five school days or less, provided that all suspensions of more than ten (10) school days shall occur only after formal action by the School Committee as set forth in these policies.

5. The student discipline code and rules for governing student discipline shall prescribe the procedure to be employed in excluding any student from school.

6. The prescribed procedure to be employed in the suspension and exclusion of any students as provided under Policy 5114.11 and 5114.12.

7. Discipline of a student with “disabilities”, as the term defined by Federal and State law, shall be in accord with those rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Education.

8. When a student receives a discipline of less than an out-of-school suspension or long-term suspension,, the student’s right to appeal said discipline is to the school principal.

9. All suspensions and or long term suspensions in excess of ten (10) days shall, unless otherwise provided in the policies, proceed to the School Committee.

Suspensions of Ten (10) School Days or Less

1. The student shall be given oral or written notice of the charges against him/her;

2. If the student denies the charges, the student shall be given an explanation of the evidence the authorities possess;

3. The student shall be given notice and a meeting with building administrator(s) prior to the student's removal from school, but if prior notice and meeting are not feasible as where the student's presence endangers persons or property or threatens disruption of the academic process, thus justifying immediate removal from school - the necessary notice and meeting shall follow removal from school as soon as possible;

4. That in the event a student has not attained the age of majority (18 years), notice containing the reason for suspension and the duration thereof be given to the parent or guardian.  Such notice shall be given in the parents spoken language, unless it is clearly not feasible to do so;

5. An attempt will be made to contact a parent at home and at work, regarding a suspension, prior to the end of the school day.

Suspensions for more than Ten (10) Days and Expulsion

Prior to suspension or expulsion, except for such time as not feasible, as where the student's presence endangers persons or property or threatens disruption of the academic process, thus justifying immediate removal from school, the necessary notice of hearing shall follow as soon as practicable, the student shall be afforded:

1. 1. A clear, written statement of the reason for suspension or expulsion;

   2. Notice of the right to prompt public or private hearing, and the right to be represented by counsel at such hearing; and

   3. If a hearing is requested, the student shall be given a prompt notice setting the time and place of such hearing, said time and place to be reasonably set so as to allow sufficient time for preparation, without undue delay.

2. The student shall be afforded a hearing at which time the student shall have the right to representation and participation by counsel.

3. There shall be complete and accurate (stenographic or electronic) record of the hearing including all exhibits. The record shall be preserved for transmission to the Commissioner of Education as soon as possible in the event of an appeal.

4. The student shall be furnished a copy of the record without cost.

5. A written decision shall be rendered, within a reasonable time, based exclusively on the record detailing the reasons and factual basis therefore. 

6. The student shall promptly be provided with a copy of said decision.

7. A copy of the decision, together with the record, shall be promptly forwarded to the Commissioner of Education if there is an appeal.

Please see below for a sampling of offenses for which the In School Suspension Program or an Out of School Suspension may be given:

• Truancy from school or tardy to school or class

• Graffiti

• Disturbing the school, classroom, or educational school program

• Disrespectful/Insubordination to faculty or staff

• Smoking/Vaping

• Possession or use of hookah pens, e-cigarettes, and/or electronic inhalation devices 

• Misbehavior and/or removal from the In-House Detention

• Failure to report to the Assistant Principal when sent by a staff member

• Unauthorized leaving of school grounds or school building

• Second and any additional cutting of a class for the school year

• Sexual Harassment

• Harassment or intimidation of another student

• Unacceptable language

• Loitering in school building or on school grounds

• Gambling

• Stealing from school, staff, or fellow students

• Bus misconduct

• Forging passes

• Cheating/Plagiarism

• Bullying/Hazing

• Physical Contact between students, (pushing, horseplay, etc.).

• Fighting/Physical Confrontation on school property * 

For attendance-related infractions and/or infractions involving the improper use of motor vehicles on campus, students who have applied for the opportunity to park on campus may have their parking privilege suspended. Parking suspension revokes the student's right to drive/park in any of the Portsmouth High School campus lots. Parking suspensions can be assigned by the Student Life Coordinators and building administration for a variable amount of time with the most common time frames include one week, multiple weeks, one semester, or, in extreme/repeat circumstances, the entire school year. 

Students may lose the privilege of participation in and attendance at any after school extra-curricular activity scheduled outside the regular school day, except after school detention or extra academic help. Social suspension is assigned at the discretion of the Student Life Coordinator(s) in tandem with building administration. 

Students may be assigned restorative community service by the building administration for a wide variety of infractions. Community service may be assigned in two manners: (a) Hours to be completed by a specified deadline or (b) Hours to be completed by the close of one's Senior graduation. Accepted hours for community service will be determined via collaborative conversation between the student, building administration, and related stakeholders. The building administration will be responsible for recording these hours and monitoring progress towards completion.

Students are allowed to be out of the classroom only during specific pre-approved times: before school starts, breakfast, lunch time, passing periods between classes, designated restroom breaks, with a pass from a teacher, and after school. Otherwise students are required to be in the classroom on time in order to benefit from instructional activities. Interruption of instructional time must be avoided as much as possible.  If students are found to be out of class without permission, for extended periods of time, without a pass, or more frequently than most students, then students will be assigned to pass restriction. 

The purpose of the "Pride Reset" intervention is to support student behavioral growth by facilitating restorative practices for students assigned to In-School Suspension (ISS). This program promotes accountability, relationship-building, and reintegration into the school community. Students who receive "PRIDE Reset" may be excused from traditional In-School Suspension upon successful completion of the restorative steps as determined by the Student Life Coordinator.  Restorative tasks may include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Completing structured, reflective activities focused on their behavior, its impact, and steps to repair harm

• Completing a written or verbal apology

• Restitution or service to the school community

• Completing behavior or accountability plans

The results of the process allow affected parties the opportunity to collectively define the impact and determine steps to make things as right as possible for everyone.  Students learn how to manage their relationships with adults and peers and become better equipped to understand how their behavior impacts others. 

If the inappropriate behavior continues, or in situations where behaviors have an adverse effect on the learning environment and/or those behaviors that pose risk or harm to self or others we may use alternative consequences to shape behavior.  

In certain instances, students may be asked to complete a "Stay-Away" Agreement in order to minimize the risk of future issues with one or more peers. This agreement is designed to clearly outline the expectations that neither student involved in the situation is to attempt to contact, approach, intimidate, or address the other student(s) at the risk of in so doing, receiving immediate, escalated consequences. A copy of a sample PHS "Stay-Away" agreement can be found by visiting this link.