Porter Elementary's

Schoolwide Discipline Plan

Dear Parents and Guardian,

 

    Porter Elementary is a safe and productive place to learn. To insure that all students are allowed to do their personal best everyday, we wish to convey a positive discipline plan. Each student at Porter will be SAFE, RESPONSIBLE AND RESPECTFUL. Our expectations will be taught, and students will learn about choices and consequences.

 

    In accordance with Mesa Public School Guidelines for Student Behavior students are accountable for their behavior on school property, at school-sponsored activities, at school bus stops, on the way to and from school, and in other locations off school grounds if their behavior has a negative impact on other students, teachers or school activities.

We want parents to know that school rules are designed to protect all children and that youngsters who choose to break the rules are treated firmly, but kindly and appropriately.

 

    We will work closely with parents to maintain a great learning environment for each child. Serious situations can be a challenge to each of us. Let us continue to work together at these times in a constructive manner to serve your child. You can help us a great deal by backing us up at every opportunity and by expressing positive feelings about school to your children. The rules, consequences, and guidelines that follow will be discussed with the students at Porter.

Now, would you also take the opportunity to read this school plan, and then talk about it with your child? After doing so, your support will be demonstrated by signing the bottom of this sheet and returning it to your student’s teacher. Thank you for caring and supporting our school.

 

    Attached is a copy of the Porter Elementary School Behavior Plan.

These are the three behavior expectations and the potential problem behaviors.

SAFE

• Deadly Weapons

• Dangerous Instruments

• Firearm Violations

• Bus Violations

• Threats

• Physical Assaults

• Aggressive Behavior

• Fighting

• Gang Activity

• Tobacco Violations

• Drug Violations

• Cheating/Plagiarism

• Academic Misconduct

• Tardiness

• Unexcused Absences

• Forgery

• Verbal Abuse

• Discrimination

• Harassment

• Sexual Harassment

• Defiance to Authority

• Lying

• Destruction of Property

• Theft

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PORTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT BEHAVIOR

 

Throughout the Guidelines for Student Behavior, "parent" means a parent (unless parental rights have been judicially limited or severed), a legal guardian or an individual acting as a parent in the absence of a parent or guardian.

 

PROBLEM AREAS

The list is not all-inclusive. A student committing an act of misconduct not listed will, nevertheless, be subject to the discretionary authority of the principal.

 

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT:

CHEATING/PLAGIARISM

Engaging in any action that may cause a student to receive a grade or score that the student has not legitimately earned.

 

TARDINESS

Arriving late to a scheduled class.

 

UNEXCUSED ABSENCE AND DITCHING

Any absence that has not been both excused by a parent or legal guardian and approved by the appropriate school official.

 

FORGERY

Writing and using the signature or initials of another person.

 

DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTS VIOLATIONS

The use, display or possession of a knife, or other instrument, not designed for lethal use but which may be capable of causing death or other serious physical injury. (i.e. matches, lighter, knife, etc.)

Any student who knowingly assists another in using, displaying, or possessing a dangerous instrument may be subject to the same disciplinary action.

 

DEADLY WEAPONS VIOLATION

The use, display or possession of anything designed for lethal use, including a firearm.

 

FIREARMS VIOLATIONS

The use, display or possession of any operable or inoperable, loaded or unloaded (1) weapon, including a starter gun, which will or is designed to, or may readily be converted to, expel a projectile by the action of an explosive: (2) the frame or receiver of any such weapon:

(3) a firearm muffler or firearm silencer: or (4) any destructive device, including (a) any explosive, incendiary or poison gas device, (b) any weapon which will or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an non explosive propellant and which has any barrel with a bore of more than one-half inch in diameter, and (c) any combination of parts either designed or intended for use in converting any device into any destructive device and from which a destructive device may readily be assembled.

 

LYING

Giving false information or information calculated to mislead.

 

BUS VIOLATIONS

Failure to comply with bus rules set forth in the guidelines.

 

VERBAL ABUSE

Statements intended to put down intimidate, or harass another student.

 

DISCRIMINATION/HARASSMENT

Unkind words, or actions based upon disability, ethnicity, gender, religion, national origin or age (i.e. use of racial slurs, name calling and or profanity. This problem area includes making false accusation of discrimination or harassment.

 

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Engaging in unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, regardless of whether the behavior is written, verbal, or physical, (i.e. kissing, inappropriate touching, snapping bras, snuggies, sexually suggestive comments, notes, art work).

 

THREATS

Making verbal or written threats of injury.

 

PHYSICAL ASSAULT

Physical attack of one student, or a group of students, upon another student, who does not wish to engage in the conflict and who has not provoked the attack. Anyone who encourages or directs another to commit an assault may be subject to the same disciplinary action as the student who commits the assault. (i.e. false accusations, kicking, slapping and intimidation).

 

FIGHTING

Any student participating in aggressive confrontational physical contact with another student(s). (i.e. pushing, shoving, kicking punching or grabbing). Any student who plans an assault or fight, before, en route to, during, or in route home from school.

 

GANG ACTIVITY OR ASSOCIATION

Engaging in gang-related dress, grooming, language and/or behavior that threatens the health or safety of persons or the security of property, that creates an atmosphere of threat, intimidation or undue pressure, or that disrupts the educational environment/process or interferes with curriculum goals or educational objectives, (i.e. throwing signs, gang initials, writing gang names or symbols on paper, notebooks, etc.)

 

TOBACCO

The use, sale of distribution, or possession of tobacco, of any kind. The possession of matches or lighters.

 

NON-PRESCRIBED DRUGS VIOLATIONS

The use (including inhalations), or possession of non-prescribed drugs or other noxious substances.

 

THEFT

Taking or concealing property that belongs to others, receiving stolen property, or encouraging others to steal. Any student who knowingly assists another in taking or concealing property belonging to others.

 

DEFIANCE OF SCHOOL PERSONNEL’S AUTHORITY

Refusal to comply with reasonable requests of school personnel. Using an inappropriate tone of voice, rolling eyes, disrespectful body language or constant back talk. Improper use of school computers, not complying with teacher directives.

 

AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR TOWARD SCHOOL PERSONNEL

Engaging in aggressive physical contact directed at any school employee (i.e. pushing, shoving, kicking, hitting, spitting and throwing objects directly at an adult.) Profanity directed at an adult.

 

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY

Destruction or defacing objects or materials belonging to the school personnel or other persons. The malicious burning of property.

 

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PORTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

 

GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT BEHAVIOR

 

Students involved in inappropriate behavior are subject to certain disciplinary actions. Depending upon the behavior problem of the student, one or more of the following actions may be taken by school officials.

 

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

INFORMAL TALK

School personnel with talk with the student,

Describing the inappropriate behavior and informing the student of acceptable behavior. The parent may be notified.

RESTRICTION OF PRIVILEGES

Inappropriate behavior may result in a restriction of a student’s privilege to participate in playground, cafeteria or specific special activities.

DISCIPLINE CONFERENCE WITH STUDENT

A conference is held with the student, the principal and/or the teacher to discuss the inappropriate behavior and discuss and develop a plan for changing the student’s behavior. The parent may be notified.

TIME OUT

Time out is when the student is assigned by the teacher to a location removed from his/her classmates. This may be within the classroom or in a designated classroom.

RESPONSIBILITY CONFERENCE

The parent is required to attend a conference with the student, and school personnel to discuss the student’s inappropriate behavior and develop a plan for changing the behavior. The student is removed from the classroom until the conference is held.

DETENTION

A student may be detained after school to make up work or for disciplinary reasons. The parent will be notified about a student’s detention, and arrangements for travel from school to home will be discussed with the parent before a student is kept for detention.

IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION

In-school suspension (ISS) may be imposed for one or more days. The student is removed from the regular classroom setting and is assigned to a location isolated from

His/her classmates. This may be a location in the principal’s office area or another location on campus. Class assignments will be given to a student placed on ISS. The parent will be notified and a responsibility conference will be required before the child can return to the classroom.

REMAINDER-OF-DAY RELEASE TO PARENT/DESIGNEE

The parent will come to school for a responsibility conference. The student will be released to the custody of the parent/designee for the duration of the school day.

ALTERNATIVE LEARNING CLASSROOM PATTERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The Alternative Learning Classroom (ALC) located at Patterson Elementary School is an alternative to out of school suspension and may be imposed for 1 or more days. The student is removed from the regular classroom setting and is assigned to the ALC. Class assignments will be given to a student placed in the ALC. An instructional assistant will monitor the behavior of the student and assist with assigned work. The student will be transported by MPS bus to Patterson. A responsibility conference will be required before the child can return to the classroom.

SHORT SUSPENSION

The student is subject to a suspension of 10 school days or less. Short suspension may be imposed by the Principal. During that suspension, the student is not permitted on district property or at district functions.

LONG SUSPENSION

The student is subject to a suspension of 11 school days or more. Long suspension may be recommended by the Principal and imposed by the Assistant Superintendent. During that suspension, the student is not permitted on district property or at district functions.

ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL PLACEMENT

Under certain circumstances, the district may reassign the student to an alternative educational program in place of long suspension, with or without the agreement of the student or parent.

If a student is assigned to an alternative placement program in place of long suspension, there is no right to a formal hearing on the incident.

Additionally, under Arizona law, the district may reassign to an alternative educational program any student who refuses to comply with rules, refuses to pursue the required course of study, or refuses to submit to the authority of teachers, administrators or the Governing Board.

EXPULSION

Expulsion means the permanent withdrawal of the privilege of attending any school in the district, unless the Governing Board reinstates that privilege. Only the Governing Board can expel a student. The student’s parent will be notified in writing that expulsion is recommended. Notification will include instructions regarding due process procedures.

Expulsion does not become effective until due process procedures have been completed. During any expulsion, a student is not permitted on district property or at district functions.

DENIAL OF SCHOOL BUS SERVICE

Bus riding is a privilege not a right. Inappropriate conduct at bus stops on buses or in the process of boarding or disembarking from a bus may result in the denial of bus riding privileges. When school bus rules are consistently violated and cause danger to the students or drivers, the following will occur:

 

1. Warning – The bus driver may issue a

warning note to give students the chance

to correct their behavior before disciplinary

action is taken.

First Infraction – Following the first infraction

That is documented in writing, the student may be denied bus-riding privileges from all buses for a minimum of one day.

 

RESTITUTION (LIABILITY)

Under Arizona law, parents may be liable for damage to school property done by their children.

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GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT BEHAVIOR

Relationship Between Problem Areas and Disciplinary Action

Students involved in inappropriate behavior are subject to certain disciplinary actions.

Depending upon the behavior problem of the student, one or more of the following actions may be taken by school officials.