Spencer Van Etten High School
Student & Parent Handbook 2020-2021
Together We Achieve Excellence Beyond Expectations
Dartt Cross Road Spencer, New York 14883
607-589-7140
www.svecsd.org
Student & Parent Handbook 2020-21
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTENT PAGE CONTENT PAGE Animals 31 Guided Study Hall 10 Announcements 9 Health Service 8 Attendance Policy & Procedure 5-6 Holidays 4 Bicycles and Skateboard 31 Honor Roll 12 Bottom Line Behaviors 27 Interscholastic Athletic 14-16 Regulation Bus Conduct 12 Library Media Center 9 Cafeteria 7 Lockers 7 Cell Phones 8 Marking Periods 4 Change of Address 7 Music Lessons 12 Code of Conduct 18 National Honor Society 16 Parent’s Bill of Rights 29 Consent for Use of Pictures/ Videos 31 Personal Electronic Devices 9 Course Load 12 Physical Education 13 Complaints and Grievances 16 Plagiarism Policy 28 Prohibited Conduct 21 Computer Usage 30 Protection of Pupil Rights 18 Conference Days 4 Public Conduct on School 26 (School Not in Session) Property Corporal Punishment 25 Repeating a Course 13 C-Pass 10 Reporting a Violation 22 Dances 11 Retaking Regents Exams 13 Dignity for All 28 Disciplinary Penalties 23 School Closing 7 Discipline of Students with 24 School Day 4 Disabilities Distribution and Display of Materials 9 Searches and Interviews 26 District Beliefs 3 Sexual Harassment 17 Social Media 17 District Mission 3 Statement of Nondiscrimination 29 / Anti-harassment Building Goals (Objectives) 3 Student Driving 6 Dress Code 21 Student Rights and 19 Responsibilities Dropping a Course 13 Staff 2 Early Dismissal 4 Telephone 8 Eligibility 13 Textbooks 7 Equal Opportunity 17 Transportation Changes 12 Evacuation Instructions 8 Unit Fail 13 FERPA 17 Visitors 9 Grading and Discipline 13 Working Papers 10 Guidance 8
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High School Staff
Office: Teaching Assistants: M. Jewell – Principal TBD - Assistant Principal / AD E. Brown – Instructional Support M. McKinery– Guidance Counselor J. Clearwater – Instructional Support J. Ashman – Guidance Counselor D. Rider – Instructional Support H. Perry – Secretary T. Dhuy – Instructional Support T. VanDerpoel – Guidance Secretary S. Quinn – Library T. Vallely – Nurse M. Smith – Instructional Support N. Whitmarsh – LPN-Inst. Support Teachers:
K. Alpert – Instructional Support Cafeteria: J. Browne – Science J. Cole – Mathematics J. Carr – Manager L. Domion – Health and PE D. Presher W. Dove – English B. Alpert TBD – Librarian M. Golden – Agricultural Education Custodians: J. Kastenhuber – Social Studies A. McGee – Social Studies D. Grover J. McGee – Instructional Support J. Evans J. McIntosh - Art T. Price R. Meissner – Business C. Rappleye D. Miller – Music E. Wright R. Miller – Physical Education R. Miller III – Instructional Support R. Missal – Science T. Nash – Science R. Paasch – English M. Pena – Spanish E. Peters – Social Studies T. Sherwood – Science S. Sisson – English L. Tonjes – Mathematics M. Winnick – Mathematics K. Wixted – English
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Spencer – Van Etten School District
VISION: Together We Achieve Excellence Beyond Expectations Mission: We Promote Pride, Inspire Growth, & Foster Innovation Goals SVE will increase awareness, SVE will cultivate creative, SVE will invest in and interest, and involvement by problem solving, and future support social-emotional encouraging collaborative ready citizens through rich well-being, academic growth, efforts to develop school experiences and positive and community through spirit and community pride. relationships. meaningful connections. We Believe: In a safe, respectful and trusting environment That all individuals can learn In pursuing excellence In human dignity In responsibility In positive involvement In communicating effectively
In building healthy relationships
2020-2021 S-VE High School smart goals (objectives) The Spencer – Van Etten High School will: ▪ Have 50% of the student population earn a c-pass. (Calculate using each marking period total). ▪ Achieve an average mastery rate of 30% for all 10 Regents exams. ▪ Meet or exceed the regional and state passing rate for all 10 Regents exams. ▪ Achieve an average mastery rate of 55% for all final exams. ▪ Achieve an average mastery rate of 60% for each course - using final grade for the course. ▪ Achieve an Advanced Designation rate of at least 40%. ▪ Achieve a graduation rate of 100%. ▪ Meet or exceed the “chronically absent rate” of the state determined MIP (Measures of Interim Progress) for SVE High School. ▪ Have 93% of students participate in at least 1 extra-curricular activity.
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Marking Periods
Marking Period End Date Report Card Date 1 October 23rd October 27th 2 December 11th December 15th 3 January 29th February 2nd 4 March 12th March 16th 5 April 30th May 4th 6 June 25th June 30th
School Not in Session:
Date Reason October 12th Columbus Day November 11th Veteran’s Day November 19th ½ Day Parent/Teacher Conferences November 25-27th Thanksgiving Recess December 24th – January 1st Winter Recess January 18th Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day February 1st Staff Conference Day February 15th -16th Mid-Winter Recess March 12th ½ Day Parent/Teacher Conferences April 2nd -9th Spring Recess May 31st Memorial Day Recess June 24th Last Day For Students
SCHOOL DAY As set by the Board of Education, the school day is from 8:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. Students who have completed all their obligations for the day will be excused at 2:56 P.M. Students who have not met all of their obligations (examples include- staying at the request of a teacher, detention, etc.) will remain until 4:00. Students may stay after school ONLY if supervised by a teacher/staff member, or coach.
The High School will open at 7:30 A.M. for students.
All mobile communication devices are to be turned OFF and stored in the student’s locker from 8:00- 2:56 PM unless a Mobile Communication Use Privilege application has been filled out and approved.
EARLY DISMISSAL Any excuses for students leaving during the day MUST be initialed by either the Principal or his/her designee BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS. Student will obtain a pass stating the leaving time and the students’ names will then appear on the daily absentee list as being excused.
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ATTENDANCE POLICY Statement of Overall Objectives The School District has developed this Comprehensive Student Attendance Policy to meet the following objectives: a. To accurately track the attendance, absence, tardiness and early departure of students to and from the school; b. To ensure sufficient pupil attendance of classes so that pupils may achieve State mandated education standards; c. To identify attendance patterns; d. To track student location for safety reasons and to account to parents regarding the location of children during school hours; e. To verify that individual students are complying with education laws relating to compulsory attendance; f. To accurately record daily attendance for State aid purposes.
Description of Strategies to Meet Objectives The School District will: a. Maintain accurate record keeping via a Register of Attendance to record attendance, absence, tardiness or early departure of each student. b. Utilize data analysis systems for tracking individual student attendance and individual and group trends in student attendance problems. c. Develop early intervention strategies to improve school attendance for all students. d. Review on an annual basis the Comprehensive Student Attendance Policy and the student attendance data and recommend any changes.
Determination of Excused and Unexcused Absences, Tardiness and Early Departures The School District has determined that absences, tardiness and early departures will be considered excused or unexcused according to the following standards. a. Excused: An absence, tardiness or early departure may be excused if due to personal illness, illness or death in the family, impassable roads due to inclement weather, religious observance, quarantine, required court appearances, attendance at health clinics, approved college visits, approved cooperative work programs, military obligations or other such reasons as may be approved by the Board of Education. b. Unexcused: An absence, tardiness or early departure is considered unexcused if the reason for the lack of attendance does not fall into the above categories (e.g., family vacation, hunting, babysitting, haircut, obtaining learner’s permit, road test, oversleeping).
Student Attendance Data/Data Collection Attendance shall be taken and recorded in accordance with the following: a. For students in kindergarten through grade five (i.e., self-contained classrooms and supervised group movement to other scheduled school activities such as physical education in the gym, assembly, etc.), such student’s presence or absence shall be recorded after the taking of attendance once per school day, provided that students are not dismissed from school grounds during a lunch period. b. For students in grades six through twelve, each student’s presence or absence shall be recorded after the taking of attendance in each period of scheduled instruction or supervised activity except that where students do not change classrooms for each period of scheduled instruction, attendance shall be taken in accordance with paragraph “a” above. c. Any absence for a school day or portion thereof shall be recorded as excused or unexcused in accordance with the standards articulated in this policy. d. In the event that a student at any instructional level from kindergarten through grade twelve arrives late for or departs early from scheduled instruction, such tardiness or early departure shall be recorded as excused or unexcused in accordance with the standards articulated in this policy.
Student Attendance Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes. Consistent with the importance of classroom participation, student absences, tardiness, and early departures may affect a student’s grade. Students who are absent from class due to their participation in a school-sponsored activity are to arrange with their teachers to make up any work missed. Attendance at school-sponsored events where instruction is substantially equivalent to the instruction that was missed shall be counted as the equivalent of regular attendance in class. Upon returning to school following an absence, tardiness or early departure, it shall be the responsibility of the student to consult with his/her teacher(s) regarding arrangements to make up missed work, assignments and/or tests in accordance with the time schedule specified by the teacher.
Notice of Students who are Absent, Tardy or Depart Early Without Proper Excuse If a student has been marked as absent for the first period of scheduled instruction and the school has not been previously notified of the absence, the district shall attempt to contact the student’s parent(s) or person in parental relation to learn the reason for the student’s absence and/or notify the parent that the student has not arrived at school. 5
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Attendance Incentives The school principal and staff shall create and implement school and classroom-based incentive programs for excellent attendance.
Disciplinary Consequences A student may be subject to disciplinary procedures for unexcused absence, tardiness, or early departure.
Intervention Strategy Process Each marking period, the Building Principal with other administrators and teachers as the Principal determines necessary to review student attendance records, address identified patterns of unexcused pupil absence, tardiness and early departure, and review current intervention methods.
ATTENDANCE PROCEDURE 1. First period teachers will take attendance for the day. 2. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. If you are not on the absentee list and you are not in class, you will be reported to the main office. a. Arriving to class 20 minutes or more from the start of the class without a valid pass is considered a “cut.” b. Tardiness and cutting class are violations of the Code of Conduct and may result in administrative action. 3. Arriving late to school: Anyone arriving late must sign in at the attendance clerk and obtain a pass before reporting to class. 4. All students leaving or entering the building must sign in or sign out in the attendance office with a legal excuse from the appropriate source. (Example- Note from dentist, doctor, parent, etc.) 5. Students will only be permitted to leave school early with permission from a parent. 6. Students who are absent are required to present an excuse upon their return to school. The excuse must contain not only the date/time of the absence but must state the reason for the absence.
The following reasons for student absences from/tardiness to school are recognized as valid LEGAL/EXCUSED by the Board of Education: illness, sickness or death in the family, religious observance, sickness requiring attendance at a medical clinic, doctor appointments, quarantine, required court appearances, approved school-sponsored trips, approved college visits, and approved cooperative work programs.
Students who have a LEGAL/EXCUSED absence from school or class(es) will be allowed to make up missed work according to the individual teacher’s make up policies.
Regular attendance in school is critical to your success. Excessive, unexcused absences from class may result in the loss of course credit. The Student Attendance Regulations included in our district policy states the following: Course credit is awarded based on regular attendance and achievement. To fulfill the course requirements and thereby be awarded credit, a student must attend a minimum number of class sessions, equivalent to 85% attendance. (Policy 5100 R)
STUDENT DRIVING The school district provides transportation to every student. Driving to school is a privilege. Eligible students who have and present a valid NYS driver’s license, vehicle registration, proof of insurance, and are compliant with NYS V and T law article 14 and 15 may be granted this privilege from the school administration. Students are required to complete a Student Driving Application prior to driving to school and must have a valid parking permit displayed in the window.
Student drivers must abide by the following regulations:
1. Student drivers are to report to school ON TIME. 3 times late in one marking period will result in a loss of two weeks of driving privileges. Second and third offenses will add an additional two weeks for each infraction – 6 times = 4 weeks, 9 times = 6 weeks. 2. The speed limit (10mph) in the parking lot is to be followed at all times. 3. School buses are not to be passed while they are stopped for delivery or pickup of students. 4. Vehicles are off limits during school hours 8:00 to 2:56 without permission from the office. 5. Students are not to leave school in their private car without prior approval. Vehicles are NOT to be used as a “locker.”
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6. Student drivers are not to take unauthorized passengers with them. 7. Parking and driving on the grass are prohibited at all times. 8. Reckless and/or dangerous behavior is prohibited at all times.
VIOLATIONS OF THE ABOVE GUIDELINES WILL RESULT IN THE LOSS OF DRIVING PRIVILEGE. Duration of the loss of privilege will be determined by the seriousness and/or frequency of the violation but will be a minimum of ten (10) consecutive school days.
Student use of a motor vehicle on school property is a privilege. Motor vehicles driven onto school property by students are subject to search by school officials without notice or consent, if the school official reasonably suspects that the student or his/her passenger has engaged in activity which is in violation of school rules and/or is illegal, or that the contents of the motor vehicle may present a threat or potential threat to the health, safety, or welfare of students, staff, or the school in general.
LOCKERS Every student is assigned a locker for the storage of books and equipment. It is his/her responsibility to keep lockers clean and orderly at all times. Backpacks, bags, and purses must remain in the locker throughout the day.
Locker combinations are to be kept confidential for the student's own protection. No one should leave class or study hall to go to his/her locker except with special permission and a pass. The school provides the locker, but students are responsible for their own security.
The school will not be responsible for misplaced or stolen articles. No personal locks are to be put on school lockers. Unauthorized locks will be cut off. Lockers are property of the school and are loaned for student use; they may be searched at any time.
TEXTBOOKS Textbooks are furnished to students by the school district and books are always readily available for use. Students are expected to take care of textbooks at all times. The student is responsible for each textbook and is responsible for replacement due to damages beyond reasonable wear or loss.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Students moving to a new location in the district should notify the main office of new address and phone number with proof of residency. SCHOOL CLOSING & DELAYS The primary consideration in a school closing is the safety of students. Factors relevant to safety include pandemics, icy roads, reduced visibility, drifting snow, chill factor, flooding, high wind, and mechanical and health hazards at the school. If school is closed or delayed because of an emergency, the district will use our Rapid Connects phone system to notify student households in addition to posting on our website at www.svecsd.org, our district Facebook page, as well as broadcasting on the television and radio stations listed below. Please be sure to provide your child’s school office with your updated “crisis/emergency” contact information to ensure that you receive our calls.
In the event of a one or two-hour delayed school opening, buses will arrive at stops one hour (or two hours) later and school will begin one hour (or two hours) later than usual. PLEASE DO NOT CALL your child’s school or the bus garage to ask if schools are closed or delayed. Instead, check our website and Facebook page, or tune in to one of the television or radio stations below. Television Stations: WBNG-TV, WETM-TV, WENY-TV, WICZ-TV, WIVT-TV and WSYR-TV.
FM Radio Stations: WAAL (99.1), WAVR (102.1), WHCU (97.3), WHGL (102.9), WICB (91.7), WINK (106.1), WLTB (101.7), WMXW (103.3), WQNY (103.7) and WYXL (97.3).
CAFETERIA The cafeteria serves lunch and breakfast daily. Students may buy a complete lunch or bring their lunch and purchase milk and/or ala carte items (due to COVID Regulations, Ala Carte items will not be available unless regulations change).
Expectations for cafeteria behavior: 1. Students must wear a mask in the cafeteria and can only remove it when eating and socially distanced of 6 feet or more. 7
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2. Students without c-passes must report and remain in the cafeteria during their designated lunchtime. 2. Students are to leave their table and floor areas clean. 3. Students must show respect to the staff 4. Students must place trays and trash respectfully in designated areas.
BUILDING EVACUATION INSTRUCTION 1. Teachers will give directions, which are posted for each classroom, on the proper exit route from the classroom. 2. The fire alarm will ring and students will walk quickly and quietly out of the closest exit. 3. Students will report to their first period class in the designated area in the front parking lot. 4. Attendance will be taken outside. 5. Students on C-Pass will exit the building and report to the designated area for their 1st period class. 6. Students and staff will remain outside until the Principal or designee clears the building for re-entry.
GUIDANCE Guidance services are an important part of the Spencer-Van Etten School system and are planned to help students make wise academic and personal choices. Counselor help students to solve immediate problems and assist in long- range planning.
Good high school planning is essential for students who want to make the best use of their high school years. Each year students will work with parents/guardian and counselor to discuss their high school program.
Planning for post-high school years is another very important guidance activity and should start tentatively in junior high. Students should begin to make specific plans early in their junior year and investigate extensively the post-high school opportunities. Students are strongly encouraged to plan further education or training after high school.
The guidance office is ready to help students with other concerns. Low marks, difficulties in getting along with others, poor study habits, and problems in adjusting to school requirements are just a few of the reasons for coming to the guidance office for help.
HEALTH SERVICE Illness The school nurse/health office is available during regular school hours for any student who becomes ill during the day. Students should report to their classroom and obtain permission from their teacher before reporting to the health office. Emergency situations are the exception.
Medications Aspirin, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, over-the-counter and prescription drugs will be given by the school nurse only with parental permission and a note from a physician. Students are not permitted to possess their own medications. They must be given to the nurse with a note from the physician and will be dispensed by the nurse. Students found in possession of any medications are in violation of the Code of Conduct and will be disciplined accordingly.
TELEPHONES School telephones are for business purposes only; please do not request their use unless you have school business or an emergency.
Cell Phones: Students are permitted to use their personal cell phones in non-instructional areas during school hours only if a Mobile Communication Device School Use Privilege Application is completed and approved.
The use of mobile communication devices is prohibited in all instructional areas unless it is utilized for educational reasons and authorized by the supervising staff member. The devices are to be turned off and students should keep these items in their backpacks, pockets or purses.
Violations of the privilege and/or use of a device which constitutes a violation of other discipline policies will result in disciplinary action. This may include confiscation of the device, retrieval by appointment (parents only), loss of privilege, and/or possible further disciplinary actions up to and including suspension from school.
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The use of a device to video record/ take pictures of inappropriate behavior or recording in private areas is strictly forbidden. Private areas include locker rooms, restrooms, dressing areas, and offices. This violation may result in the immediate confiscation of the recording device and additional consequences may be imposed. Such use may also be in violation of the criminal code.
The administration reserves the right to make the final determination in each case.
Any and all electronic devices, including but not limited to cell phones, i-pods, tablets, or any other type of mobile electronic device, have a reduced expectation of privacy once they enter any school zone and may be subject to confiscation and/or search should school violation be suspected.
Possession and/or use of any personal electronic device is a privilege, not a right, that is extended to the student, which, at the discretion of the school, may be revoked should circumstances warrant.
The S-VE School District accepts no liability for lost, damaged or stolen devices. We require the student’s mobile number be on record in the office in order to assist us with the implementation of this policy.
Since there is limited access to phones within the school environment, parents should continue to call the school office (589-7140) for any emergency situation and the school will contact the student.
PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES Personal electronic devices such as (but not limited to) laptops, MP3 players and e-readers are strongly discouraged from being brought to school. If a student chooses to bring such a device to school, it is at that students’ own risk and the school assumes no responsibility for the device if it is lost or stolen. In the event that such a device is at school, the device may be used only in NON ACADEMIC settings and WITH the supervising staff member approval. To maintain a safe and orderly environment, MP3 players (and like) will be used in approved area with ONLY one “ear piece.” Sound from MP3 players and other electronic devices should not be heard by others.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Student groups may request an announcement over the public address system with principal permission. Announcements will be made at the beginning of first period and advisory period. Permission must be obtained from the principal before posters may be displayed or leaflets distributed within the school or on school property.
DISTRIBUTION & DISPLAY OF MATERIALS Any information or materials, regardless of source, that are to be displayed or distributed on school grounds must be approved in advance by the building administration. Information and materials may be displayed and distributed for no more than two school days during any semester, only during lunch periods or before and after the regular school day, and only at locations on the school grounds as designated by the building administration from time to time. Students may not miss any instructional time to display or distribute information or materials
VISITORS/ VOLUNTEERS Due to COVID and limiting student exposure, visitors will not be permitted in the building and volunteers will not be utilized at Spencer-Van Etten Central School District during the 2020-21 school year. Looking ahead, we have increased our safety protocols and when volunteers are permitted again, we will require all volunteers to fill out an application, obtain fingerprints at your cost through the New York State Education Department, and complete a background check prior to volunteering in our district. These changes will be implemented to ensure our staff and student safety. If items need to be dropped off for a student, there will be a “drop box” located by the front door.
Unauthorized persons will be reported to the principal and asked to leave. Loitering or trespassing on school grounds is a violation of the penal code and the police may be called if warranted.
LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER POLICIES AND PROCEDURES The Library Media Specialist and staff are always available for individual guidance or group assistance. Access to the library is through a study hall or with a pre-signed pass from the Library Media Specialist or other staff member.
Students may come to the Library to: 1. Read 2. Sign out a book 3. Do research 9
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4. Study 5. Use computers and other technological equipment
Students who come to the library for other reasons will be asked to leave. Eligibility rules apply to library usage.
C-Pass students may use the LMC during periods when they are not assigned to a class. LMC policies and procedures apply to all students.
Students are responsible to sign-in, be prepared to work quietly, and stay for the entire period.
WORKING PAPERS Anyone under 18 years of age needs working papers for jobs other than babysitting or working on the family's own farm. Working papers can be obtained in the main office. A health certificate from a doctor is required before working papers can be granted. . GUIDED STUDY HALLS THE PURPOSE OF STUDY HALLS: To provide students with a quiet place conducive to reading, studying and doing homework.
PRIVILEGES ARE EARNED: To earn (and keep) privileges: 1. Maintain eligibility 2. Complete all assignments 3. Comply with the Code of Conduct
GUIDED STUDY HALL PROCEDURES: 1. Report to Guided Study Hall (GSH) and attendance will be taken 2. Students who are part of the GSH list must remain in GSH for the entire class period. Students on the GSH list may only leave the GSH with a pre-signed pass from a staff member. 3. Students who are not listed on the GSH list may go to the library to “lounge” and are expected to follow all library rules. 4. Students are responsible to bring all work with them to GSH. Books and computers are available in the room for student use during the class period.
CITIZENSHIP PASS PHILOSOPHY (C-PASS) Guidelines and Expectations
The Citizenship Pass (C-Pass) is given to students in recognition of outstanding academic performance and good citizenship (character) in school. During unscheduled periods on school days, students with a C-Pass are given the freedom to work in areas other than supervised study halls. It is expected that these students will model appropriate study habits and behavior and be ambassadors of the high school in their interactions with staff members, students, and visitors to the Spencer - Van Etten High School.
Earning a C-Pass
A C-Pass is awarded to students following each marking period during the school year. In September, the C-Pass is awarded based on the final marking period of the previous school year. The C-Pass is awarded based on the following criteria: 1. An overall average of 86.5 or higher. 2. No failures or incompletes. A C-pass will not be given at all during the marking period when a failure or incomplete is earned. If the incomplete is rectified and the average is an 86.5 or greater, a C-pass will still not be given. 3. Maintain at least 6 academic classes per semester 4. Good Citizenship, including: • Excellent class attendance • Exemplary conduct (no detentions, in-school or out-of-school detentions or suspensions) • Positive attitude
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Freshmen are eligible for a C-Pass after the first marking period of the school year. Transfer students may receive a C- Pass upon enrolling in our school if their transcripts show they have met the C-Pass expectations in their former school.
Responsibilities of C-Pass Holders
Students with a C-Pass are responsible for the following: • Reporting to the Library for attendance at the beginning of the period. • Demonstrating appropriate behavior. • Maintaining a safe and orderly environment. Keep all outside doors locked and secured. No student or visitor may enter through these doors. • Keeping their area clean. Pick up papers and garbage. • Remain in the building. If it is necessary to leave the building, students with a C-Pass must get permission from the office. • Attending classes. Cutting class will result in the immediate loss of the C-Pass. • Arriving to school on time. Students who have C-Pass first period must still report to school on time. • Showing appropriate respect to all faculty, staff, students, and visitors to the building. • Possessing the C-Pass while on C-Pass time. Students who are not in possession of their C-Pass when requested will be reported to the office and sent to the Guided Study Hall. • Reporting to the appropriate location during a fire drill. • Gym lobby - exit the building through the gym lobby doors and report to your homeroom location. • Auditorium lobby - exit the building through the auditorium lobby doors and report to your homeroom location. • Area with a staff member - follow the directions of the staff member. Students who have C-Pass during FIRST PERIOD must report to the Library, sign in, remain through the morning announcements, and then move immediately to the approved location of their choice for the remainder of the period. C-Pass Locations
Student with a C-Pass may spend their free periods in the following areas: • Auditorium Lobby (INDIVIDUAL QUIET study only) • Gym Lobby • Cafeteria during serving times. • Library (with permission) - C-Pass holder must comply with all library policies and procedures. • Study Hall (with permission) – C-Pass holder must comply with all study hall policies and procedures. • Academic Classrooms (with teacher permission) *** C-Pass students may not be in hallways or at their lockers. If materials are needed from a locker (for example) a pass is available in the Main Office. C-Pass is not a time for wandering through the building. Students should try to remain in the same location throughout the period.
Revoking a C-Pass Any staff member may revoke a C-Pass if the holder is not abiding by the C-Pass philosophy and/ or expectations. There is a minimum two week period of revocation. Students who lose a C-Pass for any reason will receive a new schedule and are required to report to study hall. Failure to report to study hall will result in further loss of C-Pass privileges and other disciplinary actions may occur.
Appeals If a student believes his/her pass has been unjustly taken, he/she may appeal the loss of his/her pass to the C-Pass Review Committee. The student must complete a written statement explaining the situation. This statement will be given to the C-Pass Review committee and they will determine if the C-Pass was unjustly taken. The C-Pass Review Committee will consist of the Assistant Principal, one teacher, and 3 students (1 from Student Council, 1 from the National Honor Society, and 1 recommended by the student appealing).
Students in 9th grade will receive a C-Pass after the first marking period if the criteria is met.
The petitions will be reviewed by the C-Pass Review Committee. The committee may not provide a C-Pass to any student who lost his/her C-Pass for either disciplinary reasons or by an individual teacher for academic reasons. DANCES
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Dances will be considered as student social activities/extra-curricular activity. All dances will require approval by the administration.
Only S-VE High School students, chaperones, parents, faculty members and guests of S-VE students who are 19 years of age or less may attend high school dances. The prom is an exception. Guests for the prom must be 20 years of age or younger. The S-VE host will assume all responsibility for the action and behavior of his/her guest. The guest must be signed up in advance and have a guest form completed and turned into the Principal. Guests will not be permitted entrance to a dance without proper identification and proof of age. Guest must be signed up and guest forms must be completed for each dance. All students must be academically and behaviorally eligible (NOT failing two or more subjects and have not been suspended or received detention during the week of the dance) and in regular class attendance the day of the dance to attend the dance.
The doors will be locked half way through the dance and no one else will be allowed to enter. Once a person leaves, he/she will not be allowed to re-enter.
Chaperones - There will be at least four members of the teaching staff and parents at each dance. The organization hosting the dance is responsible to secure the chaperones.
A police officer will be on duty and he/she will be responsible for both outside areas and the dance area.
BUS CODE OF CONDUCT 1. Always be prompt. (Arrive 5 minutes early.) 2. If a student feels unsafe at the bus stop, he/she must notify the bus driver and/or principal. 3. Do not damage property at or near bus stop. 4. Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before you attempt to approach the bus. The driver will signal when it is safe to approach. 5. Always pass in front of the school bus when getting on and off. 6. When you board the bus you should promptly find a seat, if one is not assigned, and sit down. (Keep all possessions inside your backpack.) 7. Stay in your seat until the bus stops completely. 8. School discipline policies in effect in the classroom also apply on the bus. 9. Do not distract the bus driver while he/she is driving. 10. Be courteous to your bus driver. 11. Be cooperative and friendly to other students on the bus. 12. Please help your bus driver to keep your bus neat and do your part to make his/her driving safe. 13. Bus drivers will report violations or irregularities to the appropriate principal who may deny the student or students the privilege of riding the bus. 14. Students need to wear safe clothes (avoid long pants that are too long, drawstrings or other clothing that could get snagged in the bus door).
TRANSPORTATION CHANGES Due to COVID-19 and to limit exposure, multiple transportation plans will not be allowed during the 2020-2021 school year. We understand that changes to your submitted transportation plan may be necessary. Please reach out to the transportation department at 589-7160 with any change requests.
COURSE LOAD Students are required to carry a schedule of at least 6 credits except those with a schedule approved by the guidance office. A C-Pass will NOT be issued to students not carrying a full load.
HONOR ROLL A student must have an 86.5 average or above and no failures or incompletes to be placed on the honor roll, an average of 89.5 and no failures to be placed on the high honor roll, and an average of 94.5 with no failures to be placed on the Scholars List. MUSIC LESSONS 1. When a student has a lesson, he/she must inform the classroom teacher prior to the lesson. If the student fails to do this, he/she is required to report to the class first and inform his teacher. The student is responsible to make up any missed work from class. 12
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2. A student is required to take any of the period long exams. As these are announced in advance (at least three days), it becomes the student's responsibility to make alternate arrangements with his/her music teacher and classroom teacher. 3. The student should not miss any one class more than twice in a ten-week rotation.
UNIT FAIL 9th grade students repeating an eighth grade course are allowed to leave the repeated subjects with a passing grade at 20 weeks plus the passing of the course final exam.
ELIGIBILITY/ PROBATION In order to be academically eligible, students must be passing all subjects at the end of each six week marking period. 1. At the end of any six week marking period a student who is failing two (2) or more subjects will be ineligible. The student will be ineligible for any release from supervised study periods unless the student presents a PRESIGNED pass from one of the student’s CURRENT ACADEMIC teachers. A student may become eligible again after TWO weeks if a form is presented to the office that shows the student passing all classes. Otherwise the student will remain ineligible until the next six week marking period provided he/she is not failing any courses. 2. Students who receive an incomplete must rectify the incomplete within two weeks of receiving the grade or they will be ineligible for the remainder of the marking period. 3. At the end of any six week marking period a student who is failing one class will be placed on probation. The student will be ineligible for any release from supervised study periods unless the student presents a PRESIGNED pass from one of the student’s CURRENT ACADEMIC teachers. A student may become eligible again after ONE week if a form is presented to the office that shows the student is passing all classes. Otherwise the student will remain on probation until the next six week marking period provided he/she is not failing any courses.
DROPPING OF COURSE 1. Students in senior high may drop courses up to the first three weeks without penalty. 2. After three weeks, the grade of any dropped course will be computed in the average on the subsequent report card. Even so, to drop after three weeks, will require a note from a parent and initials from the classroom teacher. 3. Transfers within our home school may not be made into half year courses after two weeks or into full year courses after four weeks. 4. If a student requests to drop a class and no other class is available, the request to drop a class may be denied if the student's schedule is not a full load.
RETAKING REGENTS EXAMS A student may re-take any regents exam. If a higher score is obtained, the new exam score as well as a recalculated course average will become part of the official transcript. If the student is retaking the class and the exam, the new exam average will only be calculated into the CURRENT course average.
REPEATING A COURSE Any course that has been taken to completion and failed may be repeated for one half a year. At the end of the semester, the student must have a passing average AND pass a summative exam.
GRADING AND DISCIPLINE 1. Discipline may be reflected in grades in connection with credit lost for cheating, not doing homework, lateness of assignments, failure to bring materials and unexcused absences. 2. A student must have a teacher's permission to be absent from class, in advance, for any reason when present in school. Absence without teacher permission will be considered a cut. Teachers will excuse students for music lessons except on days of major exams. 3. Extra credit assignments are not permitted unless all regular work is up-to-date.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION POLICY All S-VE students will have to pass physical education classes in order to graduate. 1. Any student who fails physical education will be required to repeat until 20 weeks and a passing grade - or for all the following year, if the grade is not passing at 20 weeks. 2. Physical education is a graduation requirement and passing it will be treated the same as any other subject. 3. Any student who has been excused from gym class with a doctor's note will have the graduation requirement for 13
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gym waived. (Student must report to gym class for attendance.)
INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS REGULATION
1. Sport Physical Examination: All students who participate in interscholastic athletics must have an annual physical by a physician. Annual physicals will be provided by the school during the month of May. Any student may choose to be examined by their own physician but must meet the standards of the school physical. Any physical not completed by the school physician will be at the family’s expense. 2. Parental Consent: Each student who participates in Interscholastic Athletics must have the written consent of their parent or guardian prior to the start of each sport season. A standard form of consent can be found on Family ID. Parents and athletes must sign in order to register for sports. Parents will be expected to attend a team meeting called by the coach or Athletic Director of each sport prior to the start of the practice each season. 3. Academic Expectations: Participation in interscholastic athletics will be based on the following academic standards: • Student athletes must be enrolled in at least six (6) subjects including physical education. • The following academic eligibility standards must be met: 1. In order to be fully eligible, students must be passing all subjects at the end of each six week marking period. 2. At the end of any six week marking period a student who is failing one (1) subject will be placed on probation for two weeks and will follow the school probation guidelines.
** At the end of the two weeks, if the student is not passing the subject, the probationary period will be extended to the full six week marking period and the student must attend an after school study hall or face ineligibility.
3. At the end of any six week marking period, a student who is failing two (2) or more subjects will be ineligible to participate in any interscholastic athletic contest for a minimum period of 2 weeks from the effective date of the Eligibility List. If the student attends the after school athletic study hall during the ineligibility time period, the student may participate in contests as long as the student follows all guidelines for the athletic study hall. 4. It will be the requirement for each ineligible student to complete the appropriate form to document their progress to determine eligibility. This form can be acquired in the main office and must be completed. 5. Students ineligible for an entire sports season will not receive credit for that sport. All ineligibility begins the first Wednesday after the end of the marking period. 4. Behavior Expectations: Students who participate in interscholastic athletics must: 1. Demonstrate good citizenship -This shall include following all established rules of the school. Violation of the rules, resulting in the following punishments shall also effect participation in athletic contests in the following manner: st nd • Detention 1 and 2 offense: coach’s discretion. rd • Detention 3 offense: loss of one contest. • In school suspension (half or full day): loss of one contest. • Out of school suspension: loss of all contests during time of suspension in addition to the loss of one contest upon return to school.
2. Attend School – Athletes are required to attend school to be eligible to participate in an athletic event unless they are excused for a reason specified in policy section 5280-R - Interscholastic Athletics Regulations. It is expected that students be in attendance for at least half the day (11:30 a.m.) with an excused reason to participate in practice or a contest. 3. Follow all training rules - It is expected that all members of interscholastic athletic teams will abide by all training rules established by the coaching staff for that sport. 4. Attend all practices and games - It is the responsibility of the student to notify the coach if they cannot make practice. Unexcused absences from practice or contests will result in loss of playing time at the next scheduled contest.
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a. Students who choose to quit a sport before the end of the season must present written parental permission to the coach. • Without formal approval from the Athletic Director and Building Administrator, any student quitting a team after the season begins will be ineligible to participate in the next sport season. 5. Use school transportation - A student who fails to do so will be suspended from the practice or contest. The only exception will be when prior written arrangements have been made between the athlete, parents or guardians, and the coach. Permission may be granted by the coach for a student to ride home from a scheduled away contest with his or her parents if written permission is granted by the parents. 6. Provide proper care for equipment issued - All equipment issued by the school must be returned in acceptable condition at the end of the sport season. It is the responsibility of the student to keep the equipment secure from loss. Failure to return equipment will result in a charge to the student and his/her family. 7. End a season in good standing - A student who has been removed from a team or who does not end the season in good standing, will not receive credit for participation in that sport and will be ineligible for any awards or participation in any recognition program. 8. Curfews: Athletes are expected to abide by the following guidelines: • Sunday to Thursday: 11 p.m. • Friday and Saturday: 1 a.m. • Any night before a contest: 10 p.m. 5. Substance Abuse: In addition to any penalties established by other policies of the school, participants in interscholastic athletics shall be subject to the following loss of participation for any possession+, consumption, distribution, exchange, or sale of alcohol, tobacco products or simulations of, or controlled substances, prescription, or over the counter drugs, and paraphernalia, regardless of the time or location: st • 1 offense: a MINIMUM contest ineligibility* of 20% of entire scheduled contests for that season.** nd • 2 offense: a MINIMUM contest ineligibility* of 40% of entire scheduled contests for that season.** rd • 3 offense: may be a MINIMUM contest ineligibility* of 1 year, pending an administrative review. ** Any decimal of a game suspension will result in a full contest suspension. For example, 20% of a season with 16 scheduled regular season games results in a 3.2 game suspension which in actuality will be a 4 game suspension. Disciplinary measures will continue into the next complete interscholastic season in which the student-athlete participates. Example scenario is: athlete A receives a first infraction with one game left in the football season. 20% of a 9 season game is 1.8 games. Athlete A would sit the final game of the football season. They only have been disciplined for half of the 20% penalty. The remaining 10% would be incurred during the basketball season. The basketball season has 20 games. Athlete A would be suspended for the first two (2) contests of the basketball season (10% of the basketball season) to make up the remaining 10% from football season.
*Offenses will accumulate for the duration of the student’s high school athletic years (all JV and Varsity seasons).
*Contest ineligibility – the student may participate in practices and will remain part of the team. However, he/she may not participate in contests but, will be required to be in attendance on the bench in street clothes. Contest ineligibility begins when student returns to school after school suspension.
+Possession: – could include, but not limited to: having on your person, bags and purses, book bags, backpacks, lockers, sports bags, and having on your person in pictures.
**** Being in attendance with others who are violating the above rules privately or in a social gatherings may constitute violation of the rules dependent on the outcome of an administrative investigation.****
• Any athlete in violation of the substance abuse policy may not be eligible to receive an end of the year award.
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6. Sportsmanship: Spencer-Van Etten athletic teams host and visit numerous schools throughout the school year. In many cases the only opinion formed of the Spencer-Van Etten Schools and its students is based upon the impression made by our athletic teams. Athletes dressing neatly, showing good sportsmanship, respecting other schools’ facilities and equipment, demonstrating good manners and acceptable language will present a positive image to other schools. Each athlete is responsible for living up to those expectations as they are participating as representatives of Spencer-Van Etten Schools. 1. The sportsmanship of athletes is measured by their: • Speech and actions on the street or about the school of the town their team visits; or when at home, their hospitality toward the visitors; • Responsible conduct in the dressing room; • Respect for the property of the school of their opponents; • Respectful attitude toward officials and their decisions; • Courteous attitude toward the opposing players; • Cooperation with their teammates; • Courage and fair-mindedness in defeat; • Modesty in victory; • Self-restraint in language on and off the field of play; 2. Student athletes in violation of these standards will be withheld from participation in contest by the coach, athletic director or principal. Repeated violations may result in removal from the team. 3. Removal from a contest for unsportsmanlike conduct as defined by Section IV will result in suspension from the next contest. 7. INSURANCE INFORMATION FOR PARENTS....PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: S-VE provides supplemental insurance: The steps to submit a claim are as follows: 1. Students report injury to coach or school nurse and an accident report is filed. 2. The school nurse notifies the insurance company of possible impending claim. 3. Doctor and hospital bills are submitted to parent’s insurance. 4. After final settlement is made by parent’s insurance, if there is still a balance due, the claim is then submitted to the supplemental insurance. To turn in a claim the following items must be submitted: 1. Completed claim form 2. Copies of itemized bills 3. Copies of what has been paid or rejected
In conclusion, we must again emphasize that the school insurance is ONLY SUPPLEMENTAL. Parents are expected to carry family insurance coverage on your child. 8. SOCIAL MEDIA – HAZING – BULLYING: • Using social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snap Chat, or the like to criticize or berate teammates, coaches, other players, game officials, opponents, or other school personnel may lead to consequences including, but not limited to, suspension from practice and/or games, or even dismissal from the team. • Hazing athletes by teammates or by coaches is not allowed. Any actions that are deemed as hazing will receive an appropriate consequence based on administrative discretion. • Bullying is not tolerated. All reports of bullying, whether in school, in practice, or in a game will be investigated by the administration. Appropriate consequences will be administered accordingly.
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY Membership in the National Honor Society is an honor bestowed upon a student. Membership is granted only to those students selected by the Faculty Council after review of their Student Activity Information Forms. Membership in the NHS is both an honor and a responsibility. Students selected for membership are expected to continue to demonstrate the qualities of scholarship, service, leadership, and character used as the basis for their selection.
COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCES The Board of Education believes it necessary that students be made aware of the behavior that is expected as outlined in school district policy on school conduct and discipline. They shall also be given an opportunity to be heard on complaints and grievances they may have.
A student filing a complaint or grievance alleging that there is an action affecting them which is prohibited by Title IX 16
Student & Parent Handbook 2020-21 and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act shall be provided with information regarding the prompt and equitable resolution of the complaint or grievance. Furthermore, a student shall have the right to present complaints and grievances in accordance with the procedure free from coercion, interference, restraint, discrimination or reprisal.
Building Principals are responsible for ensuring that appeal procedures are incorporated into discipline codes, explained to all students, and provided to all parents on an annual basis. A copy of this regulation must be posted in every school.
Individual complaints and grievances shall be handled in accordance with the following guidelines: 1. For informal conciliation, students should confer with the appropriate teacher or school personnel to achieve prompt resolution. Students may appeal to the highest authority in the school building, i.e., the Building Principal, who has the final determination on all such matters. 2. For resolution of matters where appeal procedures are prescribed by statute, i.e., student suspensions, the prescribed course of action will be followed. 3. On issues affecting the student body, students may address the student government or student council in order to resolve such matters. Students may be afforded a conference with the Building Principal in accordance with the rules and procedures established by the student government. 4. The resolution of student complaints alleging any action prohibited by Title IX and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act shall be dealt with through the Special Projects Coordinator's office.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY The Board of Education, its officers and employees, shall not discriminate against any student, employee, or applicant on the basis of race, color, creed, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, gender, sexual orientation, sex or disability.
This policy of nondiscrimination includes: access by students to educational programs, counseling services for students, course offerings and student activities, recruitment and appointment of employees and employment pay, benefits, advancement and/or terminations.
SOCIAL MEDIA The Spencer-Van Etten Central School District believes in the importance of sharing school communications with our community. Public-contributed comments on social medial pages are understood to be solely the opinion of the author, and do not represent the Spencer-Van Etten Central School District. The Spencer-Van Etten Central School District abides by the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities for each social media platform, and the school district asks its social media followers to do the same. The Spencer-Van Etten Central School District reserves the right, but is not obligated, to remove comments that contain inappropriate content, or that otherwise violates the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities for each social media platform.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT Spencer-Van Etten Central School District is committed to maintaining an environment free from sexual harassment, which includes protection of sexual orientation. All complaints or information about suspected sexual harassment will be investigated, whether that information was reported in verbal or written form. Investigations will be conducted in a timely manner and will be confidential to the extent possible. Sexual harassment is not only prohibited by Spencer-Van Etten Central School District, but it is also prohibited by state, federal, and, where applicable, local law. The full district policy 0110 can be found on our website. http://policies.svecsd.org/Shared%20Documents/0000%20- %20Goals%20and%20Objectives/0110-R-Sexual%20Harassment%20Reg.pdf
FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA) The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requires that the school district, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records. However, the district may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent unless you have advised the district, in writing, that you object to the release of such information. The primary purpose of directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, is to allow the district to include this type of information from your child’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include: A playbill, showing your student’s role in a drama production; The annual yearbook; The Honor Roll or other recognition lists; Graduation programs; 17
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Sports activity sheets, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members. If you do not want the district to disclose some or all directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the district in writing by the end of the second week of school each September. The district has designated the following student information as directory information: name, address, telephone number, date of birth, major course of study, participating in school activities or sports, weight and height if a member of an athletic team, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, grade level, photograph, email address and enrollment status. In addition, New York State Education Law and federal laws require school districts to provide military recruiters, upon request, with high school student names, addresses and telephone listings; however, parents have the right to request that the district not release their child’s contact information to military recruiters without their prior written consent. Also, under FERPA, parents and student over 18 years of age have a right to inspect and review their child’s education records or to request amendment of records believed to be inaccurate or misleading. Student records are private unless the parent or student older than 18 consents to disclosure of personally identifiable information. Parents of current students may review their child’s school records by contacting the principal.
PROTECTION OF PUPIL RIGHTS AMENDMENT Parents have the opportunity to opt out (remove) their child from participating in the following activities: · Activities involving the collection, disclosure or use of personal information collected from students for the purpose of marketing or for selling that information, or otherwise providing that information to others for that purpose. This includes all third-party vendors. · The administration of any survey containing one or more of the specified eight items of information pursuant to the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). · Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening that is required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school, and scheduled by the school in advance, and is not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of the student or other students. This law does not apply to any physical examination or screening that is permitted or required by State law, including such examinations or screenings permitted without parental notification.
CODE OF CONDUCT Summary
5300.01 INTRODUCTION The district has a long-standing set of expectations for conduct on school property and at school functions. Unless otherwise indicated, this code applies to all students, school personnel, parents and other visitors when on school property or attending a school function.
5300.05 DEFINITIONS "Disruptive student" means an elementary or secondary student under the age of 21 who is substantially disruptive of the educational process or substantially interferes with the teacher's authority over the classroom. "School property" means in or within any building, structure, athletic playing field, playground, parking lot or land contained within the real property boundary line of a public elementary or secondary school, or in or on a school bus, as defined in Vehicle and Traffic Law §142. "School function" means any school-sponsored extra-curricular event or activity. "Violent student" means a student under the age of 21 who: 1. Commits an act of violence upon a school employee or attempts to do so. 2. Commits, while on school property or at a school function, an act of violence upon another student or any other person lawfully on school property or at the school function or attempts to do so. 3. Possess while on school property or at a school function, a weapon. 4. Displays, while on school property or at a school function, what appears to be a weapon. 5. Threatens, while on school property or at a school function, to use a weapon. 6. Knowingly and intentionally damages or destroys the personal property of any school employee or any person lawfully on school property or at a school function. 7. Knowingly and intentionally damages or destroys school district property. 8. A weapon is defined as any instrument capable of firing a projectile, the frame or receiver of any such weapon, a firearm muffler or silencer, any explosive device or any other instrument capable of inflicting bodily harm. 18
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5300.10 STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES A. All district students have the right to: 1. Take part in all district activities on an equal basis regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender or sexual orientation or disability unless suspended from instruction and participation for legally sufficient cause. 2. Present their version of the relevant events to school personnel authorized to impose a disciplinary penalty in connection with the imposition of the penalty. 3. Access school rules and, when necessary, receive an explanation of those rules from school personnel. 4. Not submit to a survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals information concerning: a. political affiliations; b. mental and psychological problems potentially embarrassing to the student or his or her family; c. sexual behavior and attitudes; d. illegal, antisocial self-incriminating and demeaning behavior, e. critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationship; f. legally recognized privileged and comparable relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians and ministers; or g. income (other than required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program) without the prior consent of the student, if over 18 years of age, or without the prior written consent of the parent/guardian for those students under 18 years of age. B. All district students have the responsibility to: 1. Contribute to maintaining a safe and orderly school environment that is conducive to learning and to show respect to other persons and to property. 2. Be familiar with and abide by all district policies, rules and regulations dealing with student conduct. 3. Attend school every day unless they are legally excused and be in class, on time, and prepared to learn. 4. Work to the best of their ability in all academic and extracurricular pursuits and strive toward their highest level of achievement possible. 5. React to direction given by teachers, administrators and other school personnel in a respectful, positive manner. 6. Work to develop mechanisms to control their anger. 7. Ask questions when they do not understand. 8. Seek help in solving problems that might lead to discipline. 9. Dress appropriately for school and school functions. 10. Accept responsibility for their actions. 11. Conduct themselves as representatives of the district when participating in or attending school- sponsored extracurricular events and to hold themselves to the highest standards of conduct, demeanor, and sportsmanship. 5300.15 ESSENTIAL PARTNERS A. All parents are expected to: 1. Recognize that the education of their children is a joint responsibility of the parents and the school community. 2. Send their children to school ready to participate and learn. 3. Ensure their children attend school regularly and on time. 4. Ensure absences are excused. 5. Insist their children be dressed and groomed in a manner consistent with the student dress code. 6. Help their children understand that in a democratic society appropriate rules are required to maintain a safe, orderly environment. 19
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7. Know school rules and help their children understand them. 8. Convey to their children a supportive attitude toward education and the district. 9. Build good relationships with teachers, other parents and their children's friends. 10. Help their children deal effectively with peer pressure. 11. Inform school officials of changes in the home situation that may affect student conduct or performance. 12. Provide a place for study and ensure homework assignments are completed.
B. All district teachers are expected to: 1. Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity, which will strengthen students' self-concept and promote confidence to learn. 2. Be prepared to teach. 3. Demonstrate interest in teaching and concern for student achievement. 4. Know school policies and rules and enforce them in a fair and consistent manner. 5. Communicate to students and parents: a. Course objectives and requirements b. Marking/grading procedures c. Assignment deadlines d. Expectations for students e. Classroom discipline plan. 6. Communicate regularly with students, parents and other teachers concerning growth and achievement. C. School Counselors 1. Assist students in coping with peer pressure and emerging personal, social and emotional problems. 2. Initiate teacher/student/counselor conferences and parent/teacher/student/counselor conferences, as necessary, as a way to resolve problems. 3. Regularly review with students their educational progress and career plans. 4. Provide information to assist students with career planning. 5. Encourage students to benefit from the curriculum and extracurricular programs. D. Principals 1. Promote a safe, orderly and stimulating school environment, supporting active teaching and learning. 2. Ensure that students and staff have the opportunity to communicate regularly with the Principal and approach the Principal for redress of grievances. 3. Evaluate on a regular basis all instructional programs. 4. Support the development of and student participation in appropriate extracurricular activities. 5. Be responsible for enforcing the code of conduct and ensuring that all cases are resolved promptly and fairly. E. Superintendent 1. Promote a safe, orderly and stimulating school environment, supporting active teaching and learning. 2. Review with district administrators the policies of the Board of Education and state and federal laws relating to school operations and management. 3. Inform the Board about educational trends relating to student discipline. 4. Work to create instructional programs that minimize problems of misconduct and are sensitive to student and teacher needs. 5. Work with district administrators in enforcing the code of conduct and ensuring that all cases are resolved promptly and fairly. F. Board of Education 1. Collaborate with student, teacher, administrator, and parent organizations, school safety personnel and other school personnel to develop a code of conduct that clearly defines expectations for the conduct of students, district personnel and visitors on school property and at school functions. 2. Adopt and review at least annually the district's code of conduct to evaluate the code's effectiveness and the fairness and consistency of its implementation. 3. Lead by example by conducting Board meetings in a professional, respectful, courteous manner. 4. Provide the following types of materials and activities to assist staff with their concerns for disciplinary problems a. related literature in the professional library
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b. professional conferences and meetings c. in-service classes to train staff in present trends and research d. school visitations e. peer observations and mentorships and/or f. consultants to those members of the staff needing specific techniques in maintaining control in the learning environment g. conference day training on violence prevention. 5300.20 STUDENT DRESS CODE A student's dress, grooming and appearance, including hair style/color, jewelry, make-up, and nails, shall: 1. Be safe, appropriate and not disrupt or interfere with the educational process. 2. Recognize that extremely brief garments such as bare midriffs and see-through garments are not appropriate. 3. Ensure that underwear is completely covered obscured with outer clothing. 4. Include footwear at all times. Footwear that is a safety hazard will not be allowed. 5. Not include the wearing of hats in the building except for a medical or religious purpose. 6. Not include items that are vulgar, obscene, libelous, or denigrate others on account of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability. 7. Not promote and/or endorse the use of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs and/or encourage other illegal or violent activities.
5300.25 PROHIBITED STUDENT CONDUCT Students may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including suspension from school, when they: A. Engage in conduct that is disorderly. Examples of disorderly conduct include: 1. Running in hallways. 2. Making unreasonable noise. 3. Using language or gestures that are profane, lewd, vulgar or abusive. 4. Obstructing vehicular or pedestrian traffic. 5. Engaging in any willful act which disrupts the normal operation of the school community. 6. Trespassing. Students are not permitted in any school building, other than the one they regularly attend, without permission from the administrator in charge of the building. 7. Computer/electronic communications misuse, including any unauthorized use of computers, software, or internet/intranet account; accessing inappropriate websites; or any other violation of the district’s acceptable use policy. B. Engage in conduct that is insubordinate. Examples of insubordinate conduct include: 1. Failing to comply with the reasonable directions of teachers, school administrators or other school employees in charge of students or otherwise demonstrating disrespect. 2. Lateness for, missing or leaving school without permission. 3. Skipping detention.
C. Engage in conduct that is disruptive. Examples of disruptive conduct include: 1. Failing to comply with the reasonable directions of teachers, school administrators or other school personnel in charge of students. 2. Inappropriate sexual contact. 3. Display or use of personal electronic devices, such as, but not limited to, cell phones, I-pods, digital cameras, in a manner that is in violation of district policy. D. Engage in conduct that is violent. Examples of violent conduct include: 1. Committing an act of violence (such as hitting, kicking, punching, and scratching) upon a teacher, administrator or other school employee or attempting to do so. 2. Committing an act of violence (such as hitting, kicking, punching, and scratching) upon another student or any other person lawfully on school property or attempting to do so. 3. Possessing a weapon. Authorized law enforcement officials are the only persons permitted to have a weapon in their possession while on school property or at a school function. 4. Displaying what appears to be a weapon. 5. Threatening to use any weapon. 6. Intentionally damaging or destroying including graffiti or arson, the personal property of a student, teacher, administrator, other district employee or any person lawfully on school property. 7. Intentionally damaging or destroying school district property. E. Engage in any conduct that endangers the safety, morals, health or welfare of others. Examples of such conduct include: 1. Lying to school personnel. 21
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2. Stealing the property of other students, school personnel or any other person lawfully on school property or attending a school function. 3. Defamation, which includes making false or unprivileged statements or representations about an individual or identifiable group of individuals that harm the reputation of the person or the identifiable group by demeaning them. 4. Discrimination, which includes using race, color, creed, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, sex, gender (identity and expression), sexual orientation, weight or disability to deny rights, equitable treatment or access to facilities available to others. 5. Harassment, which includes a sufficiently severe action or persistent pervasive pattern of actions or statements directed at an identifiable individual or group which are intended to be, or which a reasonable person would perceive as ridiculing or demeaning. Harassment is also the creation of a hostile environment. (See policy, 0115, Student Harassment and Bullying Prevention and Intervention for a more complete definition.) 6. Intimidation, which includes engaging in actions or statements that put an individual in fear of bodily harm. 7. Bullying, which may be a hostile activity which harms or induces fear through the threat of further aggression. (See policy 0115 for a more complete definition.) 8. Hazing, which includes any intentional or reckless act directed against another for the purpose of initiation into, affiliating with or maintaining membership in any school sponsored activity, organization, club or team. 9. Selling, using or possessing obscene material. 10. Using vulgar or abusive language, cursing or swearing. 11. Vaping or smoking a cigarette, cigar, pipe or using chewing or smokeless tobacco. 12. Possessing, consuming, selling, offering, manufacturing, distributing or exchanging alcoholic beverages or illegal substances, or being under the influence of either. "Illegal substances" include, but are not limited to, inhalants, marijuana, cocaine, LSD, PCP, amphetamines, heroin, steroids, look-alike drugs, and any synthetic version thereof, whether specifically illegal or not, commonly referred to as "designer drugs" which are substances designed and synthesized to mimic the intended effects and usages of, which are chemically substantially similar to, illegal drugs, which may or may not be labeled for human consumption. 13. Inappropriately using or sharing prescription and over the counter drugs. 14. Gambling. 15. Indecent exposure, that is, exposure to sight of the private parts of the body in a lewd or indecent manner. 16. Initiating a report warning of fire or other catastrophe without valid cause, misuse of 911, or discharging a fire extinguisher. F. Engage in misconduct while on a school bus. It is crucial for students to behave appropriately while riding on district buses, to ensure their safety and that of other passengers and to avoid distracting the bus driver. Students are required to conduct themselves on the bus in a manner consistent with established standards for classroom behavior. Excessive noise, pushing, shoving and fighting will not be tolerated. G. Engage in any form of academic misconduct. Examples of academic misconduct include: 1. Plagiarism. 2. Cheating. 3. Copying. 4. Altering records. 5. Assisting another student in any of the above actions. H. Engage in off-campus misconduct that interferes with or can reasonably be expected to substantially disrupt the educational process in the school or at a school function. Examples of such misconduct include, but are not limited to: 1. Cyberbullying (i.e., inflicting willful and repeated harm through the use of electronic text). 2. Threatening or harassing students or school personnel over the phone or other electronic means.
5300.30 REPORTING VIOLATIONS All students are expected to promptly report violations of the code of conduct to a teacher, guidance counselor, the Building Principal or his or her designee. Any student observing a student possessing a weapon, alcohol or illegal substance on school property or at a school function shall report this information immediately to a teacher, the Principal, the Principal’s designee or the Superintendent of Schools.
Any weapon, alcohol or illegal substance found shall be confiscated immediately, if possible, followed by notification to the parent of the student involved and the appropriate disciplinary sanction, which may include
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permanent suspension and referral for prosecution.
The Principal or his/her designee must notify the appropriate local law enforcement agency of those code violations that constitute a crime and substantially affect the order or security of a school.
5300.35 DISCIPLINARY PENALTIES, PROCEDURES AND REFERRALS In determining the appropriate disciplinary action, school personnel authorized to impose disciplinary penalties will consider the following: 1. The student's age. 2. The nature of the offense and the circumstances which led to the offense. 3. The student's prior disciplinary record. 4. The effectiveness of other forms of discipline. 5. Information from parents, teachers and/or others, as appropriate. 6. Other extenuating circumstances. If the conduct of a student is related to a disability or suspected disability, the student shall be referred to the Committee on Special Education and discipline, if warranted, shall be administered consistent with the separate requirements of this code of conduct for disciplining students with a disability or presumed to have a disability. A student identified as having a disability shall not be disciplined for behavior related to his/her disability. A. Penalties/Resolutions The school personnel are authorized to impose that penalty, consistent with the student's right to due process. 1. Oral warning 2. Written warning 3. Written notification to parent 4. Detention 5. Suspension from transportation 6. Suspension from athletic participation 7. Suspension from social or extracurricular activities 8. Suspension of other privileges 9. In-school suspension 10. Removal from classroom by teacher 11. Short-term (five days or less) suspension from school 12. Long-term (more than five days) suspension from school 13. Permanent suspension from school 14. Counseling 15. Peer mediation 16. C-Pass Review Court 17. Time out 18. Referral to appropriate outside agencies B. Procedures Students who are to be given penalties other than an oral warning, written warning or written notification to their parents are entitled to additional rights before the penalty is imposed. These additional rights are explained below. 1. Detention 2. Suspension from transportation 3. Suspension from athletic participation, extra-curricular activities and other privileges 4. In-school Suspension 5. Teacher Disciplinary Removal of Disruptive Students 6. Suspension from School a. Short term (five days or less) Suspension from School b. Long term (more than five days) Suspension from School c. Permanent suspension C. Minimum Periods of Suspension 1. Students who bring a weapon to school In deciding whether to modify the penalty, the Superintendent may consider the following: a. The student's age. b. The student's grade in school. c. The student's prior disciplinary record. d. The Superintendent's belief that other forms of discipline may be more effective. e. Input from parents, teachers and/or others. f. Other extenuating circumstances. 23
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A student with a disability may be suspended only in accordance with the requirements of state and federal law. 2. Students who commit violent acts other than bringing a weapon to school Any student, other than a student with a disability, who is found to have committed a violent act, other than bringing a weapon onto school property, shall be subject to suspension from school for at least five days. 3. Students who are repeatedly substantially disruptive of the educational process or repeatedly substantially interfere with the teacher's authority over the classroom D. Referrals 1. Counseling The Guidance Office shall handle all referrals of students to counseling. 2. PINS Petitions The district may file a PINS (person in need of supervision) petition in Family Court on any student under the age of 18 who demonstrates that he or she requires supervision and treatment by: a. Being habitually truant and not attending school as required by part one of Article 65 of the Education Law. b. Engaging in an ongoing or continual course of conduct which makes the student ungovernable, or habitually disobedient and beyond the lawful control of the school. c. Knowingly and unlawfully possesses marijuana in violation of Penal Law § 221.05. A single violation of § 221.05 will be a sufficient basis for filing a PINS petition. 3. Juvenile Delinquents and Juvenile Offenders The Superintendent is required to refer the following students to the County Attorney for a juvenile delinquency proceeding before the Family Court: a. Any student under the age of 16 who is found to have brought a weapon to school, or b. Any student 14 or 15 years old who qualifies for juvenile offender status under the Criminal Procedure Law § 1.20 (42). The Superintendent is required to refer students age 16 and older or any student 14 or 15 years old who qualifies for juvenile offender status to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
5300.40 ALTERNATIVE INSTRUCTION When a student of any age is removed from class by a teacher or a student of compulsory attendance age is suspended from school pursuant to Education Law §3214, the district will take immediate steps to provide alternative means of instruction for the student. It is the responsibility of the classroom teacher to provide lessons for the person providing alternative instruction.
5300.45 DISCIPLINE OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES This code of conduct affords students with disabilities subject to disciplinary action no greater or lesser rights than those expressly afforded by applicable federal and state law and regulations. A. Authorized Suspensions or Removals of Students with Disabilities 1. For purposes of this section of the code of conduct, the following definitions apply. A "suspension" means a suspension pursuant to Education Law § 3214. A "removal" means a removal for disciplinary reasons from the student's current educational placement other than a suspension and change in placement to an interim alternative educational setting (IAES) because the student poses a risk of harm to himself/herself or others. 2. School personnel may order the suspension or removal of a student with a disability from his or her current educational placement as follows: a. For five consecutive school days and not to exceed the amount of time a non-disabled student would be subject to suspension for the same behavior. b. For up to 10 consecutive school days, if the suspension or removal does not exceed the amount of time non-disabled students would be subject to suspension for the same behavior. c. An additional suspension of not more than 10 consecutive school days in the same school year for separate incidents of misconduct. d. The Superintendent may order the placement of a student with a disability in an IAES, but not more than 45 days, if the student carries or possesses a weapon in school or to a school function, or the student knowingly possesses or uses illegal drugs or sells or solicits the sale of a controlled substance while at school or a school function. 3. An impartial hearing officer may order the placement of a student with a disability in an IAES setting
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for up to 45 days at a time. B. Change of Placement Rule 1. A disciplinary change in placement means a suspension or removal from a student's current educational placement that is either: a. for more than 10 consecutive school days; or b. for a period of 10 consecutive school days or less if the student is subjected to a series of suspensions or removals that constitute a pattern. 2. School personnel may not suspend or remove a student with disabilities if the suspension or removal would result in a disciplinary change in placement based on a pattern of suspension or removal unless the CSE has determined that the behavior was not a manifestation of the student's disability, or the student is placed in an IAES for behavior involving weapons, illegal drugs or controlled substances. C. Special Rules Regarding the Suspension or Removal of Students with Disabilities 1. The district's Committee on Special Education shall: a. Conduct functional behavioral assessments and develop or review behavioral intervention plans whenever the district is first suspending or removing a student with a disability for more than 10 school days in a school year or imposing a suspension or removal that constitutes a disciplinary change in placement; If subsequently, a student with a disability who has a behavioral intervention plan, the members of the CSE shall review the plan and its implementation to determine if modifications are necessary. b. Conduct a manifestation determination review of the relationship between the student's disability and the behavior subject to disciplinary action. 2. The parents of a student who is facing disciplinary action, but who has not been determined to be eligible for services at the time of misconduct, shall have the right to invoke applicable procedural safeguards. a. A school official imposing a suspension or removal shall be responsible for determining whether the student is a student presumed to have a disability. b. A student will not be considered a student presumed to have a disability for discipline purposes if, the district either: (1) conducted an individual evaluation and determined that the student is not a student with a disability, or (2) determined that an evaluation was not necessary and provided notice to the parents of such determination. 3. The district shall provide parents with notice of disciplinary removal. 4. The parents shall be provided with an opportunity for an informal conference. 5. Superintendent hearings on disciplinary charges against students with disabilities subject to a suspension of more than five school days shall occur. 6. Due process procedures are applicable. 7. Students with disabilities shall be provided services during any period of suspension or removal as applicable. D. Expedited Due Process Hearings 1. An expedited due process hearing shall be conducted, if: a. The district requests to place a student with a disability in an IAES where school personnel maintain that it is dangerous for the student to be in his or her current educational placement. b. The parent requests such a hearing. (1) During the pendency of an expedited due process hearing the student shall remain in the IAES pending the decision of the impartial hearing officer or until expiration of the IAES placement, whichever occurs first, unless the parents and the district agree otherwise. (2) If school personnel propose to change the student's placement after expiration of an IAES placement, the student shall remain in the placement prior to removal to the IAES. 2. An expedited due process hearing shall be completed within 15 business days of receipt of the request for a hearing. E. Referral to law enforcement and judicial authorities. 1. The district may report a crime committed by a child with a disability to appropriate authorities. 2. The Superintendent shall ensure that copies of the special education and disciplinary records of a student with disabilities are transmitted for consideration to the appropriate authorities to whom a crime is reported. 5300.50 CORPORAL PUNISHMENT Corporal punishment is any act of physical force upon a student for the purpose of punishing that student.
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Corporal punishment of any student by any district employee is strictly forbidden.
However, in situations where alternative procedures and methods that do not involve the use of physical force cannot reasonably be used, reasonable physical force may be used to: 1. Protect oneself, another student, teacher or any other person from physical injury. 2. Protect the property of the school or others. 3. Restrain or remove a student whose behavior interferes with the orderly exercise and performance of school district functions, powers and duties, if that student has refused to refrain from further disruptive acts. The district will file all complaints about the use of corporal punishment with the Commissioner of Education in accordance with Commissioner's regulations. 5300.55 STUDENT SEARCHES AND INTERROGATIONS An authorized school official may search a student or the student's belongings based upon information received from a reliable informant. Searches will be limited to the extent necessary to locate the evidence sought. A. Student Lockers, Desks and other School Storage Places May be subject to search at any time by school officials, without prior notice to students and without their consent. B. Strip searches In every case, the school official conducting a strip search must have probable cause. School officials will attempt to notify the student's parent by telephone before conducting a strip search, or in writing after the fact if the parent could not be reached by telephone. C. Documentation of Searches The authorized school official conducting the search shall be responsible for recording information about the search.
D. Police Involvement in Searches and Interrogations of Students Police officials may enter school property or a school function to question or search a student or to conduct a formal investigation involving students only if they have: 1. A search or an arrest warrant; or 2. Probable cause to believe a crime has been committed on school property or at a school function; or 3. Been invited by school officials. Students who are questioned will be afforded the same rights they have outside the school. E. Child Protective Services Investigations Consistent with the district's commitment to keep students safe from harm and the obligation of school officials to report to child protective services, the district will cooperate with local child protective services workers who wish to conduct interviews of students on school property relating to allegations of suspected child abuse, and/or neglect, or custody investigations. 5300.60 VISITORS TO THE SCHOOLS The following rules apply to visitors to the schools: 1. Anyone who is not a regular staff member or student of the school will be considered a visitor. 2. All visitors to the school must report to the office of the Principal upon arrival at the school. There they will be required to sign the visitor's register and will be issued a visitor's identification badge, which must be worn at all times while in the school or on school grounds. The visitor must return the identification badge to the Principal's office before leaving the building. 3. Visitors attending school functions that are open to the public, such as parent teacher organization meetings or public gatherings, are not required to register. 4. Parents or citizens who wish to observe a classroom while school is in session are required to arrange such visits in advance with the classroom teacher(s), so that class disruption is kept to a minimum. 5. Teachers are expected not to take class time to discuss individual matters with visitors. 6. Any unauthorized person on school property will be reported to the Principal or his or her designee. Unauthorized persons will be asked to leave. The police may be called if the situation warrants. 7. All visitors are expected to abide by the rules for public conduct on school property. 5300.65 PUBLIC CONDUCT ON SCHOOL PROPERTY All persons on school property or attending a school function shall conduct themselves in a respectful and orderly manner. In addition, all persons on school property or attending a school function are expected to be properly attired for the purpose they are on school property. A. No person, either alone or with others, shall on school ground and at school functions 26
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1. Intentionally injure any person or threaten to do so. 2. Intentionally damage or destroy, including graffiti or arson. school district property or the personal property of a teacher, administrator, other district employee or any person lawfully on school property, 3. Disrupt the orderly conduct of classes, school programs or other school activities. 4. Distribute or wear materials on school grounds or at school functions that are obscene, advocate illegal action, appear libelous obstruct the rights of others, or are disruptive to the school program. 5. Intimidate, harass or discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability. 6. Enter any portion of the school premises without authorization or remain in any building or facility after it is normally closed. 7. Obstruct the free movement of any person in any place to which this code applies. 8. Violate the traffic laws, parking regulations or other restrictions on vehicles. 9. Possess, consume, sell, distribute or exchange alcoholic beverages, controlled substances, or be under the influence of either on school property or at a school function. 10. Possess or use weapons in or on school property or at a school function, except in the case of law enforcement officers or except as specifically authorized by the school district. 11. Loiter on or about school property. 12. Gamble on school property or at school functions. 13. Refuse to comply with any reasonable order of identifiable school district officials performing their duties. 14. Willfully incite others to commit any of the acts prohibited by this code. 15. Violate any federal or state statute, local ordinance or Board policy. B. Persons who violate this code shall be subject to the following penalties: 1. Visitors. Their authorization, if any, to remain on school grounds or at the school function shall be withdrawn and they shall be directed to leave the premises. If they refuse to leave, they shall be subject to ejection. 2. Students. They shall be subject to disciplinary action as the facts may warrant, in accordance with the due process requirements. 3. Tenured faculty members. They shall be subject to disciplinary action as the facts may warrant in accordance with Education Law § 3020-a or any other legal rights that they may have. 4. Staff members in the classified service of the civil service entitled to the protection of Civil Service Law § 75. They shall be subject to immediate ejection and to disciplinary action as the facts may warrant in accordance with Civil Service Law § 75 or any other legal rights that they may have. 5. Staff members other than those described in subdivisions 4 and 5. They shall be subject to warning, reprimand, suspension or dismissal as the facts may warrant in accordance with any legal rights they may have. C. The Principal or his/her designee shall be responsible for enforcing the conduct required by this code. In addition, the district reserves its right to pursue a civil or criminal legal action against any person violating the code. 5300.65 ACCESS TO STUDENTS OR PERSONNEL Groups and organizations which have a program or agenda differing from law or district policy may meet with students or personnel in the school facilities only if: 1. The meeting is held after school hours 2. The students or personnel volunteer to listen to presentation 3. The Board of Education has voted unanimously to let the presentation take place 5300.70 DISSEMINATION AND REVIEW The Board will review this code of conduct every year and update it as necessary. In conducting the review, the Board will consider how effective the code's provisions have been and whether the code has been applied fairly and consistently.
The entire “Code of Conduct” is available to view or download on the district website, WWW.SVECSD.ORG. Click on the “District” link, and then “Board Policy”. The policy is 5300.
BOTTOM LINE BEHAVIORS • Possession of a weapon or potentially dangerous item. • Physical aggression. • Use/possession/sale/gift of drugs (including alcohol and tobacco) and or paraphernalia. • Inappropriately using or sharing prescription or over the counter drugs.
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• Leaving school property without permission. • Using threatening, vulgar or abusive language which is meant to incite another person. • Sexual harassment (verbal, physical, or visual). • Any other behavior/action that causes a clear or present danger to the health and or safety of self or others.
PLAGIARISM POLICY
Spencer-Van Etten High School expects all students to abide by ethical academic standards. Plagiarism - presenting the work, ideas, or opinions of someone else without properly crediting the source - is a serious offense and is dealt with severely. English teachers will inform all students about plagiarism, how to avoid it, and what consequences are imposed. A little plagiarism is still plagiarism. Plagiarism is not the same as cooperation or collaboration. Many teachers expect, even encourage, students to work on assignments collectively. This is acceptable, as long as whose work is being presented is clearly conveyed. • Collaboration is working together, with permission, in a joint intellectual effort. This means that all members of a group contribute to the creation of a single product, i.e. a paragraph response to a question, a PowerPoint presentation, etc. This differs from asking for and receiving help from someone in that, for example, two students working on the same assignment who help each other will produce two distinctly different products.
• Cheating includes, but is not limited to, copying or giving a completed assignment to a student to be copied (unless explicitly permitted by the teacher). Thus, plagiarism is a form of cheating.
• Plagiarism is an act of literary theft, to steal ideas or words and pass them off as one’s own. When you use someone else’s words, you must put quotation marks around them and give the writer or speaker credit by citing the source. Even if you revise or paraphrase the words of someone else, if you use another person’s ideas you must cite the source. There are correct formats for citation, which are taught in all English classes.
Some Internet users believe that anything available online is public domain. This is not true. Ideas belong to those who create and articulate them. To use someone else’s words or ideas without giving credit to the originator is stealing.
Students found to have engaged in plagiarism shall be subject to disciplinary as well as academic penalties. Possible consequences include, but are not limited to: ➢ Teacher/student conference ➢ Documentation in student record, potentially permanent ➢ Notification of parent, administrator, and counselor ➢ Grade penalty on assignment ➢ Lunch detention ➢ Loss of c-pass ➢ Parent, administrator, counselor, and teacher conference with student ➢ Removal from honors program, which includes AP and college English courses ➢ In-school suspension ➢ Suspension or dismissal from extra-curricular activities, including social events, clubs, athletics, National Honor Society, and student government offices ➢ Out-of-school suspension ➢ Course failure
(Adapted from Academic Integrity Policy - John F. Kennedy High School)
THE DIGNITY ACT Students who experience harassment and/or discrimination may also experience problems with grade failure, behavioral problems, poor attendance, and social problems with peers because of the difficulty that they are experiencing. The Spencer-Van Etten School District takes these issues seriously and are committed to safeguarding the rights given to all students under state and federal law, as well as promoting a safe, healthy, orderly and civil school environment. The S- VE School administration, faculty, and staff are committed to creating and maintaining a safe learning environment for all of our students.
Important Aspects of DASA:
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· The New York State Dignity for All Students Act was signed into law on September 13, 2010 and is in effect for all public schools as of July 1, 2012. · The intent of the Dignity Act is to provide all students in New York State public schools a learning environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. · The Dignity Act states that NO student shall be subjected to harassment or discrimination by employees or students on school property or at a school function based on their actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex. · School property includes the school building, athletic playing fields, playground, parking lots, and school bus. School functions include school-sponsored extracurricular events and activities.
Dignity Act Coordinators for S-VE and Reporting Procedures: The Dignity Act requires that all schools have at least one staff-person designated as the Dignity Act Coordinator. The Dignity Act Coordinator is responsible for addressing reports of potential harassment and/or discrimination. If you have concerns about an incident of possible harassment or discrimination, please contact our S-VE Dignity Act Coordinators.
Coordinators: Elementary School: Mr. Matt Stroup & Mrs. Stacy Laubach Middle School: Ms. Rebecca Saggiomo & Ms. Sarah Heveland High School: Mrs. Melissa Jewell & TBD
Reports can be made in the following manner: Call the main office of the appropriate building: Elementary School: 607-589-7110 Middle School: 607-589-7120 High School: 607-589-7140
For additional information related to the NYS Dignity for All Students Act please refer to: www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact
Please also refer to the Spencer Van Etten School District Code of Conduct. Hard copies of our District’s Code of Conduct can also be obtained by contacting
STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION/ANTI-HARASSMENT This policy of nondiscrimination includes access by students to educational programs, counseling services for students, course offerings, and student activities, as well as recruitment and appointment of employees and employment pay, benefits, advancement and/or terminations.
The district shall provide every student with equal educational opportunities regardless of race, color, creed, sex, national origin, religion, age, marital status, or disability. No student will be excluded on such basis from participating in or having access to any course offerings, student athletics, counseling services, employment assistance, extracurricular activities or other school resources. The Director of Instructional Support has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the district’s non-discrimination policies. Contact information for the Director of Instructional Support is available on the district’s website. Complaints of discrimination are covered by policy 0100.
PARENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS The Spencer-Van Etten School District, in compliance with Education Law section 2-d hereby establishes the following Parent’s Bill of Rights relating to Student Data: 1. A student’s personally identifiable information will not be sold or released for any commercial purpose. 2. Legal Guardians have the right to inspect and review the complete contents of their child’s education record. Procedures for reviewing student records can be found in the Board Policy 5500 entitled Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). 3. Security protocols regarding confidentiality of personally identifiable information are currently in place and the safeguards necessary to protect the confidentiality of student data are maintained at industry standards and best practices. The safeguards include, but are not limited to, encryption, firewalls, and password protection. 4. New York State maintains a complete list of all student data collected by the State and the data is available for public review at www.nysed.gov, or by writing to 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234. 5. Legal Guardians have the right to have complaints about possible breaches of student data addressed. Complaints should be directed to the Superintendent of Schools. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or older ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:
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· The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days after the day Spencer-Van Etten Central School District receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the records they wish to inspect. The school Records Retention official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. · The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. Parents or eligible students who wish to ask Spencer-Van Etten Central School District to amend a record should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why it should be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing. · The right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests, such as an employee of the district, an attorney, therapist, and law enforcement. · The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the Spencer-Van Etten Central School District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202
COMPUTER USAGE The Spencer-Van Etten High School is pleased to offer students access to a computer network for Internet use and completion of assignments. To gain access to the Internet, all students must agree to the terms and policies set forth by the SVE technology committee and school district policy. In addition, students must have a BYOD form on file in the main office if they wish to use their own device and/or access the internet on their own device.
CAPABILITIES: Access to the Internet will enable students to explore thousands of libraries and databases. The network that Spencer-Van Etten uses has a filtering system that updates every day to block unwanted offensive material. However, families should be warned that materials that contain items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate or potentially offensive to some people occasionally slip through. While our intent is to make Internet access available to further appropriate educational goals and objectives, students may find ways to access other materials as well. An adult will be supervising students who are using the Internet. We believe that the benefits to students from access to the Internet, in the form of information resources, exceed the disadvantages. But ultimately, parents and guardians are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources. Therefore, the Spencer - Van Etten High School supports and respects each family’s right to decide whether or not to apply for access.
STUDENT E-MAIL: High School students are given a school e-mail address for all school related activities. This e-mail must only be utilized for school related functions. Students may check their personal e-mail for only school related purposes AND with direct supervision from a staff member.
EXPECTATIONS: Students are responsible for appropriate behavior on school computer networks just as they are in the classroom or a school hallway. General school rules for behavior apply.
ACCESS IS A PRIVILEGE – NOT A RIGHT and may be revoked if abused. Access to computers and technology resources is provided only to support the educational purposes of the school district. Access to network services is given to students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner. Access entails responsibility.
An individual user of the district’s computer network is responsible for his/her actions in accessing and utilizing the school’s computer resources. It is required that users will comply with district standards and will honor the agreements they have signed. When individual users access material that may be considered inappropriate, the parent or guardian will be informed.
GUIDELINES: Network storage areas are treated like school lockers. Network administrators may review files to maintain system integrity and insure that users are using the system responsibly. Users should not expect that files
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RULES: The following are not permitted (this list is not all-inclusive): Internet Games (that are not pre-approved by the teacher or supervisor), downloading or installing any software, shareware, or freeware onto network drives and disks, removing or altering any hardware, software or supplies, damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks, sending or displaying offensive or threatening messages or pictures, using obscene language, harassing, insulting, attacking or threatening others, violating copyright laws, using another person’s password, trespassing in another’s folders, work or files, intentionally wasting limited resources, employing the network for commercial purposes.
CONSEQUENCES: Be prepared to be held accountable for your actions and for the loss of privileges if the guidelines or rules are violated. Violation of the guidelines or rules will result in disciplinary action, which can range from a verbal warning, temporary or permanent loss of access privileges, up to and including suspension from school, and legal action, when appropriate.
BICYCLES AND SKATEBOARDS Students may ride their bicycles to school; however, they must walk their bicycles on school sidewalks. As soon as students arrive at school, they should park and lock their bicycles in the appropriate area. The school is not responsible for stolen or damaged bicycles.
Skateboards, roller skates, sneaker skates and rollerblades are not permitted on school property. If a student brings these items to school, they may be confiscated and held until a parent comes to school and picks them up.
ANIMALS No animals are permitted on school grounds except when authorized in advance by the school administration for specific educational purposes. Note: Seeing Eye Dogs and “Other Working Dogs” are always allowed in accordance with law.
PROHIBITED AREAS The following locations are off limits to all students during the school day and school events without direct staff supervision: - The field terraces, the ponds and connecting stream, any outer buildings, and the stadium.
CONSENT FOR USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS Throughout the school year, photographs or videotapes may be taken of students for use in District produced publications, videos, podcasts, web or news media. If you DO NOT wish your child to be photographed or videotaped, please indicate this in writing to the District Office by October 2, 2020. Email does not constitute a written request; please write/type it on paper and mail/deliver. This request must be updated annually. Photos and videos produced by the District are the property of the District and not for use or reproduction without District consent.
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