CODE OF CONDUCT
The West Islip Public Schools are committed to an orderly and stimulating learning environment for all students. The right to learn and teach in an educational setting that is safe, free from disruption, and conducive to learning is essential. The circumstances of such a learning atmosphere are dependent upon a sustained and cooperative effort on the part of the students, parents, teachers, administrators and support staff. To this end, a District Code of Conduct has been established in accordance with Part 100 and Part 200 Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.
It is recognized that students must exhibit responsible behavior and that they must be held accountable for their actions. It is also recognized that the Code will be administered in a firm, fair, and consistent manner. All students are expected to know and adhere to the District Code of Conduct, which will be reviewed at an assembly program held early in September.
While students have the responsibility to abide by the policies and regulations of the District, they shall also be afforded the opportunity to present complaints and grievances free from interference, coercion, restraint, discrimination or reprisal. Refer to District Policy 3232 and 3232R for further information.
Good citizenship involves personal responsibilities such as demonstrating courtesy and respect to other pupils as well as teachers. Students should obey rules and regulations, maintain a positive attitude toward authority, and display school spirit. A copy of the School Conduct and Discipline Guidelines is available in the Main Office.
General Rules of Conduct
All students and parents are expected to become familiar and comply with the middle school rules of conduct.
§ Students must observe the rules of the school for their own safety and security and that of others. Students have primary responsibility for their actions. We encourage self-control.
§ Students shall follow the classroom rules established by the teacher(s). Students are reminded that any teacher or staff member in the school has the right to correct unruly individuals at any place, at any time.
§ Students shall show respect for the person and property of others around them. Students are expected to show respect for school property and take good care of books, desks and other furniture and equipment.
§ Students are expected to assume responsibility for assignments, books, and necessary supplies. They are not permitted to telephone home during the school day for forgotten homework, sports equipment, and instruments, and may not return to school for items that have been left behind at the end of the day.
§ Students are expected to dress in a manner that complies with district policy and does not distract from or interfere with the educational process. See rules for “Dress” below.
§ Students are not permitted to use any personal communication device, including cell phones, during the school day. Such devices pose significant disruptions to the educational process. Students who violate this policy will have the unit confiscated and returned to them at a later time. Repeated violations may result in further disciplinary measures.
§ Electronic equipment including, but not limited to i-pods, other personal music devices, hand-held laser pointers, and gaming devices are not permitted in school. Students who violate this policy will have the unit confiscated and returned to them at a later time. Repeated violations may result in further disciplinary measures.
§ Trespassing on school grounds after dark and on weekends when school is closed is strictly forbidden.
§ Playing cards and dice are not permitted in school.
§ Gum chewing is prohibited.
If a student’s conduct disrupts the educational process, the student may be sent to the Conflict Room. A follow-up phone call from the teacher to the parent will be made. The administrator will decide if additional disciplinary action is warranted. These measures may include after school detention, in-school suspension, removal from class, or suspension from school.
Dress
The students of the West Islip middle schools take pride in themselves and their school. The way you dress and conduct yourself reflects on your home and your school. Students are expected to dress in a manner that complies with district policy and does not distract from or interfere with the educational process.
Apparel that is suggestive, disruptive, a hazard to the student, or a hindrance to teaching and learning may not be worn.
Hats are not to be worn in school.
For safety reasons, flip-flops and backless shoes may not be worn to school. Open-toed shoes of any type may not be worn to physical education, technology, or science lab classes.
Beach apparel, excessively short skirts and shorts, and tank tops are inappropriate for school. See-through garments such as tube tops, net tops, halter tops, spaghetti straps and plunging necklines may not be worn.
Underwear must be completely covered by outerwear, and skin may not be exposed between shirt and pants/skirt (midriff).
Clothing with inappropriate messages or pictures will be subject to the disciplinary measures described in the District Code of Conduct.
Apparel with logos that reference alcoholic products, drugs, or smoking may not be worn to school.
Coats and lined sweatshirts may not be worn during the school day.
Any mode of dress or other items of clothing that identifies a student with non-school groups, other than recognized and accepted public organizations, may not be worn to school.
Students who violate the middle school dress code shall be required to modify their appearance by covering or removing the offending item and, if necessary, replacing it with one of our “loaner” tee shirts. Any student who refuses to do so shall be subject to disciplinary measures.
Lunch Detention
Lunch detention is assigned as a displinary action for students who fail to follow the cafeteria or classroom rules and procedures. Students who are assigned a lunch detention are required to bring their lunch to the designated silent lunch room. Students are expected to remain silent throughout their lunch period and may bring work to accomplish. Students must stay in the silent lunch room for the entire period and may not visit other areas of the building. If a student does not comply, the teacher in charge may recommend a lunch detention for the following day or assign an office detention. A student may not be excused from a lunch detention without the express approval of the principal before the assigned day and time.
Detention
Detention may be assigned as a disciplinary action. Detention is held immediately after school from 2:50-3:35 p.m. and is supervised by a teacher. Double detention for serious offenses is held from 2:50-4:20 p.m.
Students who are assigned detention are required to report to the detention room promptly. Athletic events and afterschool activities do not excuse an offender. Students are expected to study or do their homework during this detention period. If the student does not comply, the teacher in charge may recommend detention again for the following day. A student may not be excused from detention without the express approval of the principal before the assigned day and time.
Teachers may assign their own detention, as appropriate.
Suspension (In-school and Out-of-school)
Suspension is assigned as a disciplinary action for serious misbehavior that takes place on school property, buses, or field trips, and for primarily one of four purposes:
to make the student aware that he or she has committed a serious breach of school regulations;
to convey to the student body that a serious breach of school regulations will not be tolerated;
to convey to parents the seriousness of a situation and to encourage them to work with the school to avoid the situation from occurring again;
to deter those who might be tempted to commit a serious breach of conduct.
This consequence indicates that the student has clearly failed to behave as expected. The most common causes for suspension are:
dangerous behavior, including fighting, carrying a weapon, throwing objects, or any other act deemed serious;
anti-social behavior, including profanity, obscene gestures, vandalism, theft, verbal, written, or sexual harassment;
smoking, drinking alcohol, or possessing or using illegal drugs;
leaving school without prior authorization;
extreme discourtesy or insubordination;
truancy, excessive illegal absence, and lateness;
excessive disruption.
Students who are suspended may not participate in any school activities for the duration of the suspension.
Note that students who participate in illegal activities or destroy school property are subject to arrest. Also, reporting a false incident is a serious offense and warrants a severe consequence. Anyone found guilty of such an offense may be subject to a Superintendent’s Hearing, potentially resulting in suspension and/or expulsion from school.
Parents are reminded that laser pointers, walkmans, Ipods, beepers, cell phones, or electronic devices of any kind are not permitted in school at any time. Any such items taken from a student will be returned only to a parent/guardian and may result in disciplinary action.
District Policies
The Board of Education is committed to safeguarding the rights of all students within the school district to learn in an environment that is free from all forms of harassment. Such behavior includes, but is not limited to, bullying, sexual harassment, and hazing.
Bullying
Bullying is a form of harassment, and is defined as:
“the act of threatening, stalking, coercing or intimidating, verbally, physically, in writing, by gesture or through electronic communication, the well-being, health, safety, freedom, or reputation of any person, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function or on a school bus, or that takes place off of school grounds but that is designed to or has the effect of interfering with a student’s ability to attend school and/or to be educated in a safe, non-hostile environment.”
If it is determined that bullying or other inappropriate behavior has occurred, immediate and appropriate corrective action will be taken in accordance with law and district policy. Consequences for any student found to have engaged in retaliatory behavior towards any person who reports an act of bullying range from behavioral interventions up to and including suspension or expulsion, as permitted under District policies and procedures.
Sexual Harassment
Conduct is deemed to be sexual harassment when the recipient perceives such behavior as unwelcome. It is irrelevant that the harasser had no intention to sexually harass the victim. Sexual harassment can originate from a person of either gender against a person of the opposite or same sex, and from peers, employees, Board members, or any individual who foresee-ably might come in contact with students on school grounds or at school-sponsored activities.
Any student who believes that he/she has been subjected to sexual harassment shall report the incident. A prompt and thorough investigation, and appropriate disciplinary measures, will be immediately taken.
Hazing
Purpose and Philosophy
Hazing and initiation activities that involve hazing are abusive and illegal behaviors that harm victims and negatively impact the school environment by creating an atmosphere of fear, distrust, and mean-spiritedness. Because the district is committed to providing a safe and orderly environment for all students that promotes respect, civility, and dignity, it is the purpose of this policy to establish and preserve an educational environment free from any type of hazing or initiation activities that invoke hazing.
Policy
The district strictly prohibits any person from engaging individually or collectively in any form of hazing or related initiation activity on school property, in conjunction with any school activity, or involving any person associated with the school, regardless of where it occurs. Consistent with the District’s Safe and Orderly Schools and Sexual Harassment policies, any person who participates in hazing or related initiation activity, or conspires to engage in hazing will face immediate disciplinary action, up to and including suspension, termination, expulsion, and loss of participation in extracurricular activities. In addition, persons who participate in hazing will be referred to law enforcement authorities and may face subsequent prosecution.
Off-Campus Conduct
Students may be disciplined for off-campus conduct that may endanger the health or safety of pupils and/or staff within the educational system, or adversely affect the educational process.
Academic/Integrity Policy
Academic dishonesty is the failure to maintain academic integrity. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: cheating, (using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise); fabrication, (falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise); bribery offered for grades, transcripts, or diplomas; obtaining or giving assistance before, during or after an examination; having unauthorized prior knowledge of an examination; doing work for another student, presenting another student’s work as one’s own; and plagiarism. Any student who engages in acts of academic dishonesty will face sanctions as per Board Policy.
Smoking
Smoking in the building, on the school grounds, or on school buses is in violation of school regulations. Violators will be suspended from school. Possession of tobacco products/vaping products is also cause for suspension.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Any student who sells (or attempts to sell), gives, possesses, uses, or is under the influence of illicit drugs, narcotics, or alcohol in or on school property, on buses or school trips, shall be suspended and shall be subject to the penalties of civil law.
Alcohol/Breathalyzer
The West Islip School District is committed to discouraging and eliminating the use of alcohol by students attending instruction or any school-related function. Therefore, any student for whom there is a reasonable suspicion of the use of alcohol before or during the school day, prior to, or during any extracurricular, interscholastic, or other school-related function, conducted on or away from school property, may be required to submit to a breathalyzer test.
Theft
Each year students complain of books and valuables being lost or stolen. In the majority of cases, this is due to carelessness. The school is not responsible for items that are lost or stolen. Two guidelines are recommended for your protection:
1. Keep all valuables in a locked locker.
2. Do not bring large amounts of money or special valuables to school.
Reporting Violations
A goal of the West Islip School District is to establish a teaching and learning environment that will allow students to develop to their fullest potential. In order to maintain this environment, it is expected that all students, staff, and visitors be aware of school rules, and observant when violations occur. This awareness will promote good citizenship by students. However, when violations of school rules do occur, the prompt reporting by students and staff to a teacher, counselor, building principal or supervisor is required. All reported violations will be dealt with by the appropriate staff member in a timely, fair and legal manner.