Guideline 1:          Respect the rights and responsibilities of others.

Students have the right and responsibility to learn. Teachers have a right and responsibility to teach. When students cause disruptions in class or in the hallway, they deprive others of their basic right to learn.

 

Guideline 2:          Make learning a priority.

Be ready to learn at the start of class. Students should arrive at class prepared for class with books, and other supplies required for the class. Pride in workmanship is shown when students complete work in an organized neat manner.

 

Guideline 3:          Be a person of integrity.

Strive to do the right thing. Always tell the truth and take responsibility for your actions.

 

Guideline 4:          Show respect for your school environment.

Students should look for was to help keep our school campus looking nice. Leave your area neat and clean. Treat school equipment and books with care. Do not enter office areas or classrooms when NCMS staff is not present.

 

Guideline 5:          Be on time and where you are supposed to be.

Lateness to class or school often causes disruption. Students are responsible for being at school and in the classroom punctually.

 

Guideline 6:          Treat others the way you want to be treated.

Complement, encourage, and care about each other. Do not say hurtful things to or about others. Do not listen or participate in gossip or the spreading of rumors. Do not bully others through words or actions.

 

 

Each person at our school shares the responsibility of behaving in ways that make NCMS a special place where people are valued and where learning is a priority. Inappropriate behavior is that which disrupts the teaching and learning environment of the school.

 

 

All NCMS students must adhere to all guidelines, rules and procedures while in attendance at school and during all school-sponsored activities such as field trips and extracurricular events. These expectations also apply to bus travel to and from school.

1. Be on time to school and class.

2. Attend each class, be prepared and attentive, and remain in class until dismissed by the teacher.  Follow classroom rules as posted or distributed by individual teachers.

3. Obtain parental and school permission before leaving campus.

4. Respect the rights of others and practice social courtesies. Students will:

· Speak respectfully to teachers and staff.

· Not fight (assault and battery)

· Not defy authority

· Not use profanity towards any member of the NCMS community

· Not use racial, ethnic, homophobic or sexist insults

· Not use coercion toward other students

· Never bully, intimidate or demean others

· Never sexually harass teachers, staff, or students (see definition of sexual harassment in the Glossary of Terms)

· Always seek to solve problems without resulting to physical means

· Clean up after themselves

· Not skip others in lunch line

· Refrain from public displays of affection (examples – kissing, touching, hugging)

· Be honest in our words and actions

· Take care of school property and respect the property of others

5.    Respect the safety and welfare of others

· Running and other horseplay in classrooms, building and hallway is prohibited.

· When riding the school bus students must conform to all school rules.

6. Be dressed appropriately for school success.  Students and parents are asked to monitor clothing worn to school in order to ensure that student dress adheres to the guidelines set forth in the school dress code.

7. Not use cell phones between the hours of 8:00-2:45.   Teachers and administrators will confiscate cell phones when they are seen or heard and parents will be contacted to pick items up at school. NCMS is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

8. Abide by the signed school computer network use contract. School computers are to be used for teacher-directed school assignments and research. No personal emails, downloading of music or inappropriate content, or non-class related searching is allowed.

9. FFollow the laws of the City of Chiefland and the State of Florida especially with regard to the prohibition of:

Use, possession or selling of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs

Stealing or possession of stolen property

False emergency reports

Using any object as a weapon

Possession, association, or knowledge of weapons on campus

Vandalism or theft to school or someone’s personal property

10.         SPECIFIC SERIOUS VIOLATIONS:  The following actions are considered serious violations of the student code of conduct and may result in suspension and/or the student being dismissed from Nature Coast Middle School.  Law enforcement officials will be involved where appropriate.

Zero Tolerance of Violence in School Including Prohibition of Violence Against School Personnel

Prohibition of Weapons :    Weapons and the use of weapons are prohibited on school property, including buses and at school-sponsored activities, and any vehicle brought onto school property or to a school-sponsored activity.

A student, who possesses sells, distributes, displays, transfers or uses any firearm\explosive, including a look-alike, shall be suspended for ten (10) days, and the Director may recommend dismissal. Any student who brings a firearm to school will be dismissed from the School and referred for criminal prosecution.

A student using a weapon, any harmful, or potentially harmful, article or substance not normally considered to be a weapon, including a look-alike, shall be suspended for ten (10) days, and the Director may recommend dismissal.

Prohibition of Alcohol and Drugs – The possession and/or use of illicit drugs and unlawful possession and/or use of alcohol in school or at any school-sponsored activity are wrong and harmful. Florida Statute rules prohibit possession, sale, transfer, distribution, or use of alcohol or any controlled substances. Controlled substances are drugs which require a physician’s prescription. Any drug that requires a physician’s prescription and over-the-counter drugs must be registered with and administered by the school staff. Also prohibited is the sale of any substance represented by the student to be alcohol or a controlled substance, the use of a legal substance to attain a mood-altering effect, or the possession of any equipment or device for preparing or taking drugs.

Prohibition of Misconduct on School Bus – Violation of transportation rules, including disruptive behavior on a school bus, may be considered a serious violation of the Code of Student Conduct.

Prohibition of Sexual Harassment – Violation of sexual harassment policy is a serious offense and can result in out-of-school suspension or dismissal.

False Accusations – It is a serious violation for a student to intentionally make false accusations that jeopardize the professional reputation, employment or professional certification of a teacher or other member of the school staff. A recommendation of dismissal may also be made for any student found to have intentionally made false accusations that jeopardize the professional reputation, employment or professional certification of a teacher or other member of the school staff, according to the Code of Student Conduct.

ABSENSES AND TARDIES / CHECK IN--OUT

A. Absences

1. Attendance is taken in every class, and official attendance is taken during the first class of each day. Students arriving after the school day starts must check in through the Main Office.

All absences are unexcused until verified and evaluated as excused. Verification of absence(s) must be completed within 48 hours or 2 school days of the student’s return to school. Absences must be verified by a note from the parent/guardian, and must include the parent name, student name, grade, date of absence(s), reason for absence(s) and parent’s daytime phone number for verification. Absences will be evaluated as excused on the following criteria:

Illness of student – doctor’s verification may be required

Doctor’s appointment – doctor’s verification form requested

Illness in the immediate family (mother, father, guardian, sibling)

Death in the family

Religious holiday

Prior approval by the Director of extenuating circumstances  such as student meetings/activities and special circumstances approved by Director

3. When students accrue nine (9) excused or unexcused absences, they will be referred to the Child Study Team for a parent conference.

4. Skipping will be recorded as an unexcused absence, and work cannot be made up for the missed classes.

5. Out of school suspensions (OSS) are unexcused absences. Students may not make up work for credit.

6. All unexcused absences will be reported to parents. Students having three unexcused absences in a nine week period will receive after school detention. **By law, five (5) unexcused absences in a 30 day period or ten (10) unexcused absences in a 90 day period require the school to establish a child study team. A student who does not cooperate must be referred to truancy court. A parent who does not cooperate can face criminal prosecution.

Tardies

It is each student’s responsibility to be on time to class. Punctuality in one of the hallmarks of success. Students arriving after the start of school must check in through the front office. In order to facilitate individual responsibility, NCMS has implemented the following policy:

1st Tardy – Teacher asks the student to make plans for correction of  tardy issue.

2^nd Tardy – Student/Teacher conference/call to parent by teacher

3^rd Tardy – 30 minute detention (detention can be during lunch or free  time)/call to parent by     administrator

4^th Tardy – Parent Conference with contract for Friday after school detention

***Failure to attend “After School Detention” is an automatic suspension from school.

Check-In and Check-Out

All students arriving late to school or checking out early must do so through the Main Office. Students who check out and return to school must check back in through the Main Office.

Anyone not listed on the student’s emergency form will not allowed to check a student out of school without prior written verifiable permission form parent/guardian. Anyone checking out a student should be prepared to show a picture ID.

Check-outs during the last 30 minutes are strongly discouraged.

Parents must come in to the Main Office to check out students. No student may leave campus without parent permission.

DRESS CODE VIOLATIONS:

NCMS may provide appropriate T-shirts for students to change into if they come to school with an inappropriate shirt.  A student who requests a school shirt and changes prior to the start of the first class will not be considered in violation of the dress code.  However, a student who wears an inappropriate item to class will be considered in violation of the dress code.

 
*1^ST violation & 2^nd violation – opportunity to change & parent contact by homeroom teacher

*3^rd violation – ISS/parent call by administrator

*4^th violation – Friday Detention/parent call

*5^th violation – OSS/parent called

*6^th violation – Discipline Committee