STUDENT CONDUCT

Introduction

Hopkinton Middle High School is a learning community that functions most efficiently according to a set of expectations for student behavior. These expectations exist to cultivate two common ideals: respect for others and responsibility for oneself. If a student acts without respect or responsibility, the school will help the student modify behavior in accordance with expectations.

Teachers may assign before/after school or break detentions or use other disciplinary strategies when students fail to meet expectations.

Failure of the student to comply will result in the student being referred to the administration.

If a student is referred to the Administration for any reason the following interventions and strategies may be utilized: plan and process, behavior plans or remediation, parent conferences, office detentions, acts of community retribution, participation in the Saturday Education Program, Suspension, referral to the Superintendent, and others, as needed.

Whenever a student is referred to the administration for alleged misconduct, the student will always be given the opportunity to express their opinions, ideas, and feelings about the situation. Should disciplinary action seem warranted, the guidelines described in the next section, “Disciplinary Actions,” will be administered. It should be emphasized that each situation will be dealt with on an individual basis and that the guidelines are flexible.

In instances where the administration is involved in a disciplinary problem, written records will be kept. The student will have an opportunity to explain their behavior and to respond to the teacher’s account. Each case will be judged individually.

Students have the right to appeal decisions of the Assistant Principal on disciplinary matters to the Principal and then to the Superintendent.

Guidelines for Disciplinary Action

LEVEL I

Misbehavior on the part of students which disrupts orderly classroom procedure or interferes with the operation of the school is a Level I offense. These misbehaviors will be handled by the classroom teacher. The classroom teacher will either issue a teacher detention (break, lunch or after school), when appropriate, or refer the student’s misbehavior to the office by writing a disciplinary referral and an administrator will meet with the student.

Examples, but not limited to:

Failure to be in assigned areas

Improper use of a pass

Inappropriate classroom behavior

Inappropriate displays of affection

Inappropriate physical contact/roughhousing

Three(3) "tardies" to school, class, or study

Loitering in halls

Unauthorized use of a communication device (cell phone, iPods, iPad, smartwatches, other messaging devices, etc.)

Skipping a teacher detention

Disciplinary Options:

Verbal or Written warning

Teacher detention

Office detention

LEVEL II

Misbehavior whose frequency and seriousness tend to disrupt the learning climate of the school is a Level II offense.

Examples, but not limited to:

Recurring or more serious than a Level I offense, plus:

Academic Dishonesty

Cafeteria misconduct

Classroom offense with a disciplinary notice

Chronic Misbehavior

Cutting a class or study hall

Cutting an office detention

Disruptive behavior in office detention

Forgery

Leaving school/school grounds without permission

Lying to Faculty/Staff

Profanity, obscenity, or vulgarity

Refusal of reasonable request

Six (6) "tardies" to school, class, or study

Skipping Saturday Education

Bullying

Harassment

Truancy

Use of tobacco (see District Drug and Alcohol Policy)

Verbal disrespect

Violation of Technology Acceptable Use Policy

Threatening communications

Disciplinary options include:

Office detention

Saturday Education

Suspension (1-3 days)

LEVEL III

Behavior that is extremely disruptive and may threaten persons or property is a Level III offense. Although these acts may be considered criminal, most can be handled through the school discipline policy.

Examples, but not limited to:

Recurring or more serious Level I and Level II offenses, plus:

Arson

Assault on a student or staff member

Behavior that threatens the safety and well-being of students, staff and property

Bullying

Fighting in school, or on school grounds*

Gross misconduct

Malicious damage or destruction of school property

Possession or use of fireworks

Possession or use of a weapon

Reporting a false fire alarm or bomb threat

Theft and/or Vandalism

Violation of Drug/Alcohol Policy (see District Drug and Alcohol Policy)

Vulgar, obscene or offensive language or gestures toward a staff member

Disciplinary options include one or a combination of the following:

Suspension (3-10 days)

Referral to the Superintendent

Referral to the Hopkinton School Board

Referral to the Police

Teacher Detention

Teacher detention is defined as a detention where the student stays with the classroom teacher for a break, lunch or after school detention. The teacher is required to contact a parent/guardian and give a student 24 hours notice to serve a before or after school detention. Lunch or break detentions will be served on the day assigned by the teacher.

Office Detention/Saturday Education Rules:

• Students are expected to report to detention promptly on time—7:25AM (morning detention) - 2:55PM (afternoon detention)—and remain for 30 minutes. Multiple detentions could be issued depending on the nature of the offense.

Consequences: Students who do not arrive on time may have another detention assigned.

• Students are expected to report to Saturday Education promptly at 8:00 AM and will stay the entire time.

• Detention/Saturday Education should have a quiet, study-like atmosphere. Talking and unnecessary noise is prohibited.

Consequences: Students who talk or make unnecessary noise will be assigned an additional hour of detention the next school day.

• Except for an emergency, students are expected to remain in the detention room for the entire scheduled time. Therefore, students are expected to have their books and study materials with them when they report to detention. Students should also use the lavatory before reporting for detention.

• No food or beverage, or communication devices (cell phone, iPods, iPad, smartwatches, other messaging devices, etc.) will be allowed in the detention room.

Consequences: Students who consume food or beverages or use communication devices in the detention room will be assigned another hour of detention on the next school day.

• Any student who requires special arrangements (i.e., arrive late, leave early, etc.) should have a written request from a parent.

• Should a student be sent from the room because of an infraction of detention rules, additional disciplinary action will be taken. This will normally create a parent/guardian conference and one of the following: additional detention assignments, or suspension depending on the reason for being sent out.

• Once a detention is assigned it must be served that afternoon, the following morning, or the following afternoon. Students must schedule their detention at the time of the initial meeting with the Assistant Principal.

(* A daily job after school or participation in sports are not considered valid reasons for missing detention.)

Suspension

The Administration reserves the right to suspend students when the issue warrants such action. In addition, the Hopkinton School District and its employees must comply with RSA 193-D, The Safe Schools Act. This legislation requires that certain violations, such as vandalism, be reported to the Hopkinton Police Department within 48 hours. Further information regarding this law, is available at http://www.ed.state.nh.us.

Repeated suspensions may result in the student being referred to the Superintendent of Schools for additional disciplinary action, including additional days of suspension from school and/or referral to the Hopkinton School Board for expulsion.

A student who accumulates ten (10) days of suspension in a school year will automatically be referred to the Superintendent.

A suspended student is not permitted on school grounds or in the building for the duration of the suspension, nor is s/he permitted to attend or participate in co-curricular or athletic activities. The student will be given the opportunity to complete any class work including, but not limited to, examinations that may have been missed during the period of suspension. The student must also participate in a procedure for reentry to school.

The Hopkinton School Board has adopted strict policies regarding the possession and/or use of controlled substances, the possession and/or use of dangerous objects, and harassment/bullying. These policies are included in the district portion of the handbook.