STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

All district students have the responsibility to:

• Contribute to maintaining a safe and orderly school environment that is conducive to learning and to show respect to other persons and to property.

• Be familiar with and abide by all district policies, rules and regulations dealing with student conduct.

• Attend school every day unless they are legally excused and be in class, on time, and prepared to learn.

• Work to the best of their ability in all academic and extracurricular pursuits and strive toward their highest level of achievement possible.

• Follow the direction given by all members of the school community. If there is disagreement between the student and adult, the student should comply and address the issues at a later, appropriate time.

• Control their anger.

• Ask questions when they do not understand.

• Seek help in solving problems that might lead to discipline.

• Dress appropriately for school and school functions.

• Accept responsibility for their actions.

• 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.

  Act and speak respectfully about issues/concerns.

• Use non-sexist, non-racist and other non-biased language.

• Respect and treat others with tolerance and dignity regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex.

• Use communication that is non-confrontational and is not obscene or defamatory throughout all interactions including in-person and digitally.

  Students must follow the expectations laid out in the technology agreement surrounding appropriate use.

• Report acts of bullying, discrimination, harassment and other inappropriate actions that hurt others promptly to a school staff member without fear of retaliation.

• Report possession of weapons, alcohol or illegal substances on school property or at school functions immediately and without fear of retaliation.

• When learning virtually, students should participate appropriately: be on camera, awake, dressed and following the instruction of the teacher.

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

All parents are expected to:

• Recognize that the education of their child(ren) is a joint responsibility of the parents and the school community.

• Send their child(ren) to school ready to participate and learn.

• Ensure their child(ren) attends school regularly and on time.

• Ensure absences are excused.

  Insist their child(ren) be dressed and groomed in a manner consistent with the student dress code.

• Help their child(ren) understand that in a democratic society appropriate rules are required to maintain a safe, orderly environment.

• Know school rules and help their child(ren) understand the consequences of their actions.

• Convey to their child(ren) a supportive attitude toward education and the district.

• Build good relationships with teachers, other parents and their child(ren)'s friends.

• Help their children deal effectively with peer pressure.

• Inform school officials of changes in the home situation that may affect student conduct or performance.

• Provide a place for study and ensure homework assignments are completed.

• Maintain a climate of mutual respect when dealing with school personnel.

  If learning virtually, parents will support school efforts to ensure students participate appropriately: be on camera, awake, dressed and following the instruction of the teacher.

TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES

All district teachers are expected to:

• Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity for all students regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex, with the intent of strengthening students’ self- concept and promote confidence to learn.

• Be prepared to teach and effectively manage student behavior.

• Demonstrate interest in teaching and concern for student achievement.

• Know school policies and rules, and enforce them in a fair, consistent manner.

• Provide to students and parents:

  • Course objectives and requirements

  • Marking/grading procedures

  • Assignment deadlines

  • Expectations for students

  • Classroom discipline plan

• Communicate regularly with students, parents and other teachers concerning growth and achievement.

• Report to the Dignity Act Coordinator(s) any incident of harassment, bullying and/or discrimination that they witness or that is reported to them.

GUIDANCE COUNSELOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Guidance counselors are expected to:

• Assist students in coping with peer pressure and emerging personal, social and emotional problems.

• Confront issues of discrimination and harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee or any person who is lawfully on school property or at a school function.

• Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students in the school or classroom setting.

• Report incidents of discrimination and harassment that are witnessed or otherwise brought to a teacher’s or staff member’s attention in a timely manner.

• Initiate teacher/ student/ counselor conferences and parent/ teacher/ student/ counselor conferences, as necessary, as a way to resolve problems.

• Regularly review with students their educational progress.

• Provide information to assist students with academic and scheduling decisions.

• Encourage students to benefit from the curriculum and extracurricular programs.

• Properly report any incident of harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination that they witness or that is reported to them.

PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

School administrators are expected to:

• Promote a safe, orderly and stimulating school environment, supporting active teaching and learning.

• Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity for all students regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, or strengthening students’ confidence and promoting learning.

• Ensure that students and staff have the opportunity to communicate regularly with the Principal or AP and approach the Principal or AP for redress of grievances.

• Evaluate on a regular basis all instructional programs.

• Support the development of and student participation in appropriate extracurricular activities.

• Be responsible for enforcing the Code of Conduct and ensuring that all cases are resolved promptly and fairly.

• Properly report any incident of harassment, bullying and/or discrimination that they witness or that is reported to them.

(return to Jarvis Middle School Code of Conduct Index)