Student Code of Behavior & Discipline
STUDENT CODE OF BEHAVIOR & DISCIPLINE
One of the most important lessons that education should teach is discipline. Although it does not appear as a subject, it underlies the whole educational structure. With effective discipline, the classroom operates efficiently and student achievement soars. Therefore, Waterville has chosen to be a School Wide Positive Behavior Support School. With SWPBS we have adopted three expectations. Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Ready. We will explicitly teach those expectations to the students and reward them frequently with positive notes and prizes for their great behavior. The expectations for all student behavior will be clear throughout our building. We will provide a common language for everyone in our building, including students, teachers, front office staff and our paraprofessionals. We believe that by helping students practice good behavior, we will build a school community where all students have an environment where they can succeed and grow.
- Students will attend school regularly and will be on time.
- Students will be respectful and courteous to teachers, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, and other adults and students on campus and the bus.
- Students will walk quietly in the hallways and will respect school property.
- Students will be respectful of each individual's rights and will refrain from fighting and other disruptive behavior.
- Students will leave toys, playing cards, electronics, knives, and other items of similar nature at home.
- Students will refrain from using or possessing tobacco products, vapes, alcohol, drugs, or chewing gum on school campus or school buses.
- Students will observe all classroom, playground, cafeteria, and bus-duty rules, as well as rules adopted by the Bradley County Board of Education.
Bullying/Intimidation
Students shall be provided a safe learning environment. It shall be a violation of this policy for any student to bully, intimidate, haze, or create a hostile educational environment for another student. Harassment, bullying, hazing and intimidation occurs if the act takes place
on school grounds, at any school-sponsored activity, on school provided equipment or transportation or at any official school bus stop, if the act either physically harms a student or damages his/her property, or knowingly places the student in reasonable fear of such, causes emotional distress to a student or students, or creates a hostile educational environment. If the act takes place off school property or outside of a school-sponsored activity, the act shall be considered harassment, bullying, hazing or intimidation if it is directed specifically at a student or students and has the effect of creating a hostile educational environment or otherwise creating a substantial disruption to the education environment or learning process. These acts may also take place through electronic means. Electronic devices include, but are not limited to, telephones, cellular phones or other wireless telecommunication devices, text messaging, emails, social networking sites, instant messaging, videos, websites or fake profiles.
Alleged victims of the above-referenced offenses shall report these incidents immediately to a teacher, counselor or building administrator. Any allegations shall be fully investigated by a complaint manager (as set forth in Student Concerns, Complaints and Grievances 6.305).
The privacy and anonymity of all parties and witnesses to complaints will be respected. However, because an individual's need for confidentiality must be balanced with obligations to cooperate with police investigations or legal proceedings, to provide due process to the accused, to conduct a thorough investigation or to take necessary action to resolve a complaint, the identity of parties and witnesses may be disclosed in appropriate circumstances to individuals with a need to know.
A discrimination/harassment/hazing statement referencing this policy shall be distributed to students annually through the parent/student handbook and/or posted to each school's website.
Building administrators are responsible for educating and training their respective staff and students as to the definition and recognition of discrimination/harassment.
Coaches and other employees of the school district shall not encourage, permit, condone or tolerate hazing activities.Bradley County Policy 6.304/T.C.A. 49-6-4501
ZERO TOLERANCE
In order to ensure a safe and secure learning environment, the following offenses will not be tolerated. A student cannot bring:
- Weapons and Dangerous Instruments
- Firearms (as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921)
- Drugs
- Assault
- Electronic Threats
- Battery against a school employee or a school resource officer.
A student who commits one of the above offenses can be expelled for a period of one calendar year. Only the director of schools shall have the authority to modify this expulsion.
INAPPROPRIATE ITEMS
Items such as smart watches, skateboards, electronic devices, radios, cameras, trading cards, fidget spinners, toys, laser pointers, etc. are not necessary to the instructional program and may be disruptive and therefore should be left at home. If these items or others not essential to the educational process are brought to school, they will be confiscated and returned only to a parent or guardian who comes to pick them up.
Repeated offenses may result in harsher consequences.
CELL PHONES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Students may have a cell phone at school. It must be turned off and kept in the student’s backpack. Cell phones may be confiscated if not in compliance. Students may use the school phone with permission from a school employee. Smart watches should also be turned off and kept in backpacks or left at home. School Board Policy states “Sexting, the electronic transmission or ‘reception and retention’ of pornographic pictures, if found on a device in the possession of a student on school property or at a school-related event, will result in suspension/expulsion. Sexting events that occur off campus are subject to review by school officials to determine whether or not bullying or harassment is involved. In the event the picture exploits a minor, all students involved will be reported to law enforcement authorities.” Buses are an extension of the school, which means that cell phones are not to be used on buses, either.
WEAPONS AND THREATS
Threats to students or staff will be taken seriously and will not be tolerated. This includes harassment of younger students by older students at school, on the bus or bus stops, or any school-related function. No type of gun or knife (even play) can be brought on school campus and could be considered a weapon; this could lead to a zero-tolerance violation and could be grounds for up to a year suspension.
Waterville Community School recognizes violence as any inappropriate word, look, sign, or act that hurts a person’s body, self-worth, or things. We also recognize bullying as atype of violence that occurs when someone uses his or her power unfairly and repeatedly to hurt someone else. To make our school violence-free and safe from bullying, we pledge: not to tolerate bullying, to intervene in incidents of bullying and strictly enforce rules against bullying, and to empower students to report bullying behavior and to treat one another with respect.
DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS – POLICY 6.307
In order to protect the rights of students, to safeguard the learning environment, and to contribute to a “Drug Free” community, compliance with this policy is mandatory.
Students will not consume, possess, use, sell, distribute or be under the influence of illegal drugs or alcoholic beverages in school buildings or on school grounds at any time, in school vehicles or buses, or at any school sponsored activity, function or event whether on or off school grounds. This includes but is not limited to abuse of inhalants and prescription drugs.
Disciplinary sanctions will be imposed on students who violate standards of conduct required by this policy. Such sanctions will be consistent with local, state and federal laws, up to and including suspension/expulsion as well as referral for prosecution. Completion of an appropriate rehabilitation program may also be recommended.
PHOTO, VIDEO, AND DIRECTORY INFORMATION RELEASE
Bradley County Schools may photograph, video, or publish directory information about students for instructional, promotional, and public relations purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, classroom activities, school events, yearbooks, newsletters, websites, and social media platforms.
Parents/guardians who do not wish for their child’s photograph, video image, or directory information to be used or released must notify the school in writing each school year.
Opt-Out Procedure:
- Complete and return the Photo/Video and Directory Information Opt-Out Form available in the school office
- Submit the form to Waterville Elementary. .
Without a signed Opt-Out Form on file, the school will assume permission is granted for the current school year.