Definitions of Minor and Major Unexpected Behavior

Minor Unexpected Behavior

The following minor unexpected behaviors are classified as behaviors that violate SHS’s school-wide expectations or classroom norms.  Most cases do not require administrative action. If a student repeats a minor behavior with consistency, the behavior will be considered a major unexpected behavior (see below). 

Inappropriate Language

Oral, written, electronic, photographic, or illustrative use of swearing, references to drugs and/or drug paraphernalia and/or sexualized language or innuendo in general context or school areas (i.e. classroom, cafeteria) and is not directed toward any individual or group

Disruption 

Verbal

speak out of turn 

make inappropriate comments at inappropriate times

try to engage others while they are working

excessive laughing

makes noises on purpose

over socializing or whispering to peers

asking frequent and obvious questions

find fault with everything others say

claim to not know what is going on, when should have been paying attention

Physical

purposely dropping things

bother other students

Excessively out of seat; excessively getting drinks frequently, sharpening pencil, etc, 

knocking on other classroom doors

Defiance 

Not Disrupting Others -Doing the opposite of stated expectation, remaining in place and refusing to move, refuse to follow classroom routines and/or directions, work refusal

Disrupting Others - Act out or do the opposite of stated expectation, remaining in place and refusing to move, refuse to follow classroom routines and/or directions, project blame onto others

Physical Contact 

Defined as low intensity physical contact that is not meant to inflict harm on another individual or group (ex: riding on another student’s back in the hallways, mock fighting/slapping, knocking someone’s hat off their head)

Property Misuse 

Defined as Engaging in low level property misuse (ex. tipping back in chair, breaking writing utensils, throwing paper, excessive use of resources) 

Electronic Violation (Personal Devices) 

Defined as a student using personal electronic device during any part of the school day outside of the Main Office setting

Electronic Violation (School Sponsored Device) 

Defined as a student engaging in a non-assigned activity on their Chromebook or other school sponsored device and/or is negligent in care (ex. Leaving on floor or hanging off desk, not placing on charger) 

Late to Class/Scheduled Location 

Defined as a student arriving at a class or scheduled location after the bell rings without a pass. 

Other Minor Behavior Not Listed 

Defined as a student engaging in a minor behavior that is not listed or defined.

Major Unexpected Behavior

A major unexpected behavior is classified as a behavior that violates SHS’s Code of Conduct, and in most cases requires administrative action and caregiver contact. Major unexpected behaviors are subject to the disciplinary policies and procedures set by the Springfield School District. 

Abusive Language

Directed negative/profane language toward another person or group of people including, but not limited to: name calling, teasing or comments promoting social segregation.  Use professional judgment to determine major vs minor (inappropriate language)

Property Destruction

Student engages in behavior that significantly damages school property, including but not limited to: punching walls, defacing bathroom utilities, graffiti, throwing chairs or other large pieces of furniture, ripping books

Significantly late to class or scheduled location 

Defined as a student who arrives to class or scheduled location more than 10 minutes late

Major Electronic Violation 

Defined as a student who uses any electronic device to access content that violates the SSD electronic code of conduct including, but not limited to, pornography, cyberbullying/harassment, and/or content promoting violence/hate 

Elopement

Defined as a student who leaves or attempts to leave the school building, school owned property, or school sponsored location (i.e. off campus field trip) without school staff permission and supervision 

Tobacco Possession - Defined by the Springfield School District Tobacco Policy

Alcohol/Drug Possession - Defined by the Springfield School District Alcohol/Drug Possession Policy 

Bullying, Hazing and Harassment - Defined by the Springfield School District Harassment Policy

Sexual Harassment - Defined by the Springfield School District Bullying Policy,

Consequences for Unexpected Behaviors

The following are consequences issued most frequently at SHS when unexpected behaviors occur. SHS strives to ensure that unexpected behaviors are met with logical and meaningful consequences that help increase positive behaviors and contributions to our school community. . 

Change of Clothing:  

Students wearing inappropriate clothing at school (i.e. ripped/torn, unclean, immodest) will be asked to change into appropriate attire before attending classes.

Clean Up/Work Detail:  

Students who vandalize school property will repair and/or replace the damaged property, or provide a clean-up service for those who had to do the work, in order to make up for their lost time.

Restorative Conference:  

Our goal is to teach students how to resolve conflicts peacefully and build capacity to repair harm, this includes talking to one another with an adult or peer mediator. This may not be appropriate in situations where there is an imbalance of power between students and we will work with individual students and teams to ensure this is an appropriate consequence if unexpected behavior occurs.

Conference with Administration: 

Administration will conference with students, create an action plan to move forward and communicate with SHS staff of the outcome.

Lunch Detention:  

Implemented by either a teacher or an administrator. Students may receive lunch detention resulting from negative behavior. 

Teacher Flex Assignment:  

Requires that a student stays after school for varying amounts of time and is intended to be restorative and to repair harm. 

Office Detention: 

Office detentions will be assigned if a student’s behavior negatively impacts general settings of the school (i.e. hallways, cafetera), if school administration feels that the office detention is more appropriate than an after school  teacher assignment, or if the student’s behavior within a specific class continues to violate the SHS 3 R’s. The detention assignment will be communicated to caregivers by a detention notice and a phone call. Detentions will last until 3:15.  If the assigned detention date is inconvenient for a caregiver, he/she should contact the office and suggest an alternative date that is within 72 hours of the original detention. Detentions take precedence over any after-school activity or sport. 

Saturday Detention/Restitution: 

Students will be assigned to a Saturday detention/restitution if they fail to report to a teacher or office detention, or if they continually engage in minor behaviors after other restorative and/or traditional discipline methods have been attempted. A student may be assigned a Saturday detention/restitution if their behavior was major and consequences are not outlined per SSD policy. Failure to attend an assigned Saturday detention/restitution unless previous arrangements have been made may result in alternative assignment within school or an out of school suspension. 

Processing Time: 

In certain circumstances, a student may be sent out of class and needs processing time before rejoining the community.  Often times this means they will finish out the block in the office or Student Support Area.

Suspension:  Students will be placed on Alternative Assignment or Out-of-School Suspension when the offense warrants such a consequence.

• Alternative Assignment: Students will report to the Student Support Area and are isolated from the rest of the student population for the day. The parent will be notified of the assignment. A student on Alternative Assignment may not attend any extracurricular activities associated with SHS for the duration of the assignment.

• Out-of-School Suspension: Students are sent home for a number of days per administrative decision and in accordance with SSD policy. The parent will be notified of the suspension. A student receiving Out-of-School Suspension may not attend any extracurricular activities associated with SHS, for the duration of the suspension. Before being allowed to return to school, the parent or guardian must schedule and attend a re-admittance conference with school administration.

Principal’s Discretion: The Principal has the authority to make exceptions to the Student Handbook, depending on circumstances of the situation and in compliance with Board policy.