STUDENT MANAGEMENT
DISCIPLINE
At Riverhead High School, it is recognized that discipline is
an integral part of the total development of students as they
progress through school. A major goal for the staff is to provide
a safe and healthy learning environment for the students in our
charge. Students have the responsibility to examine the behavior
choices they make and to be participants in a structure that rewards
and sets consequences for behavior. The following Discipline Code
will be in effect and will be reviewed regularly by faculty, staff,
parents, and students.
Education Law #3214 (3-a) provides teachers with the power to
remove both substantially disruptive students and violent students
from their classes. A student who is disruptive in a class must
be told that they are being disruptive and given the opportunity
to explain or stop this behavior. A disruptive student is defined
as a student who substantially interferes with the learning process
in a classroom.
SCHOOL-WIDE
RULES
The atmosphere of our school is, in largest part, determined by
the conduct of students in the public or common areas. These rules
are, therefore, presented for the following areas:
The following behaviors are expected in the hallways, lobbies,
cafeteria and campus grounds of Riverhead High School:
1. cooperation with other students, faculty, and staff
2. courteous and moderately-toned conversation
3. respect for school property and the property of others
4. punctuality
5. politeness and good manners
The following behaviors are NOT acceptable at Riverhead High School:
1. fighting and horseplay
2. foul and abusive language
3. destruction of school and/or personal property and littering
4. loitering and/or lateness
5. disrespect for others, including harassment and discrimination
based upon race, religion, and disability and age.
6. no student has the right to disrupt the learning process in
a classroom, etc.
In the auditorium during assemblies, these behaviors are expected:
1. entering in an orderly manner
2. taking a seat promptly
3. being quiet and attentive to the speaker and/or performers
4. applauding politely – the appropriate manner for demonstrating
appreciation of an assembly performance
5. keeping food and/or drinks out of the auditorium
THE ADMINISTRATION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR EXCEED ANY
OF THE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS BASED UPON THE NATURE OR SERIOUSNESS
OF THE OFFENSE.
Parents will be contacted when students are suspended from school
and may be required to meet with an administrator during the school
day.
Any student assigned to ISS or out-of-school suspension is not
permitted to participate in any after-school activity on that
particular day(s).
Students assigned to the Alternate 5-7 High School for disciplinary
reasons are not permitted in or attend after school/evening activities
at Riverhead High School.
Violations of state or federal law will be reported to the police
for their disposition beyond the sanctions imposed by the high
school for such offenses.
FIELD TRIPS
All students attending field trips must have a district permission
slip signed by parents in order to participate.
STUDENT
POLICY DRUGS, ALCOHOL USE, POSSESSION OR DISTRIBUTION
To insure a safe and orderly environment in our school, the use,
possession, or distribution of any substance, which has the potential
to impair a student’s ability to function, is not permitted
on school property.
Should a student violate or disregard this regulation, school
board policy authorizes the high school administration to immediately
remove this student from the premises to suspend the student from
school for five days, and to prosecute the individual to the fullest
extent of the law. In addition, a Superintendent’s Hearing
will be held which may result in an extended period of suspension,
change of placement, or expulsion from school.
THE FOLLOWING OFFENSES WILL AUTOMATICALLY RESULT IN A
FIVE (5) DAY SUSPENSION FROM SCHOOL AND SUPERINTENDENT’S
HEARING. THESE INFRACTIONS WILL ALSO INCUR THE FOLLOWING DISCIPLINARY
ACTIONS:
DRUGS AND/OR ALCOHOL:
(including alcohol) Sale (Dealing) – suspension up to one
semester. Possession – suspension up to ten weeks.
A) Police are called
B) An evaluation by a counselor is required. If counseling is
mandated, it becomes a condition of re-entering/staying in school
C) Depending upon actions and amounts involved and age of student,
a drug or alcohol infraction could lead to arrest, Juvenile Delinquent
status, probation, PINS (Person In Need of Supervision) status
and court involvement and possible jail time.
WEAPONS:
Firearms – suspension up to a year. Explosives- (ammo, fireworks,
etc.) up to one semester. Cutlery - (including box knives) suspension
up to ten weeks.
A) Police are called
B) Depending on action and age of student, weapons infraction
could lead to arrest, Juvenile Delinquent status, probation, PINS
status, court involvement and possible jail time.
FIGHTING/ENDANGERMENT:
Predatory/Extortion – Suspension up to one year.
Negative physical contact between students – suspension
up to ten weeks. Negative physical contact with staff –
suspension up to fifteen weeks. Attack/injury regarding suspension
staff – up to one semester.
A) Same as for weapons with the additional possibility that one
of the combatants may choose to prefer charges against the other
and have the matter settled in a court of law.
Please feel free to contact the high school administration for
further information or if you have any questions.
COMPUTERS
AND COMPUTER RELATED OFFENSES:
1. Destruction of malicious damage to, or
theft of mice or other similar devices or parts thereof –
suspension of computer use up to ten weeks plus revocation of
computer privileges.
2. Destruction of, damage to, or theft of,
any other computer equipment, device or program – suspension
of use up to one semester plus revocation of computer privileges.
3. Deliberate introduction of any computer
virus, Trojan horse or other malevolent computer program –
suspension up to one year plus revocation of computer privileges.
4. Deletion, destruction, or unauthorized
reconfiguration or alteration of the content of any program or
interface – suspension up to one year plus revocation of
computer privileges.
5. Any violation of the Acceptable Use Policy of Computer
Security Policy not explicitly stated about – suspension
up to one semester plus revocation of computer privileges.
WEAPONS/MACE- LASER POINTERS
To insure a safe and orderly environment in our school, weapons
of any kind, and mace like substances are not permitted on school
property nor are they permitted to be in the possession of any
person on our premises. (A weapon is defined as any dangerous
instrument capable of inflicting bodily harm.)
Should a student violate or disregard this regulation, school
board policy authorizes the high school administration to immediately
remove this student from the premises and to prosecute the individual
to the fullest extent of the law. In addition, a five-day suspension
and a Superintendent’s Hearing, with a recommendation for
exclusion from school, will then be made by the high school administrator
to the Superintendent of Schools.
Laser Pointers are not to be in the possession of any student.
The items will be confiscated and anyone caught in possession
of or using these pointers will be subject to an automatic five-day
suspension and Superintendent’s Hearing.
GUIDELINES FOR APPROPRIATE
ATTIRE
1. No bandanas of any color are to be worn or displayed.
2. Exposure of midriff, back, or chest area is not acceptable.
7. Extremely short skirts, shorts, or dresses are not acceptable.
8. See-through garments are not acceptable.
9. Appropriate footwear is expected.
Any staff member that determines a student is inappropriately
dressed should refer that student to the appropriate grade level
administrator. If an administrator deems the student’s dress
to be inappropriate or distracting to the educational process,
he/she will be requested to change. If the student refuses to
comply, he/she will be sent home.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
The Board of Education is committed to safeguarding the right
of all students within the school district to learn in an environment
that is free from all forms of sexual harassment. Conduct of a
sexual nature is deemed to be sexual harassment when the recipient
perceives such behavior as unwelcome. It is irrelevant that the
harasser had no intention to sexually harass the person. The Board
recognizes that sexual harassment of students can originate from
a person of either sex against a person of the opposite or same
sex and from peers as well as employees, or
any individual students on school grounds or at school sponsored
activities. When an alleged sexual harassment occurs and the district
knows about it, they shall take immediate and appropriate corrective
action.
The Board, consistent with State and Federal law, therefore condemns
all unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature which may impose a requirement
of sexual cooperation as a condition of academic advance, or which
may have the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile,
or offensive teaming environment. The board also prohibits any
retaliatory behavior against complainants or any witnesses.
Any student who believes that he or she has been subjected to
sexual harassment should report the alleged misconduct immediately
so that appropriate corrective action may be taken. The complainant
shall not be discouraged from reporting an incident of alleged
sexual harassment. In the absence of a victim’s complaint,
the Board, upon learning of, or having reason to suspect, the
occurrence of any sexual misconduct will ensure that an investigation
is promptly commenced by appropriate individuals.
The Superintendent of Schools or his designee shall be responsible
for investigating and remedying allegations of sexual harassment.
The following are examples of sexual harassment:
1. unwanted sexual behavior, which may include touching,
verbal comments, sexual name calling, spreading sexual rumors,
gestures, jokes, pictures, leers, overly personal conversation,
cornering or blocking student’s movement, pulling at clothes,
attempted rape and rape;
2. a female student in a predominantly male class subjected to
sexual remarks by students or teachers who regard the comments
as joking and part of the usual classroom environment;
3. impeding a girl’s progress in classes, such as industrial
arts,
by hiding her tools, questioning her ability to handle the work
or suggesting she is somehow, “abnormal” for enrolling
in such a class;
4. purposefully limiting or denying any students access to
educational tools, such as computers; and
5. teasing a male student about his enrollment in a home
economics class.
DETENTION
Detention, when assigned by either the classroom teacher and/or
the administration, is mandatory.
After-school detention will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 3:50 p.m.
It is a quiet study period and the time is to be used for silent
work. Students assigned to after-school detention for a violation
of the Discipline Code will be given the courtesy of 24 hours
notice by the teacher or administrator. Once assigned a detention,
it is then the student’s responsibility to adjust his/her
personal schedule so he/she may fulfill this commitment. Detention
will take priority over any school activity, including athletic
practices or contests, play rehearsals, or club meetings. Employment
or other after school responsibilities will not be considered
acceptable excuses for either missing detention or having the
detention reassigned. Failure to attend detention will result
in further disciplinary action.IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION (ISS)
1. Students may be sent to ISS only by the high school administration.
2. Assignment to ISS will be recorded on a student’s permanent
record as a suspension
3. The daily absentee list will include those students in ISS.
4. Suspension letters regarding ISS will be sent to parents.
5. Students will be required to complete all assignments sent
to ISS by the classroom teacher and the narrative portion of the
ISS report.
6. Any student who fails to report to ISS and/or is uncooperative
in the ISS room will be subject to additional disciplinary action
by the high school administration.
7. Absence from school will not negate placement in ISS. Students
legally absent while placed in ISS will make up assigned time
beginning with the first day of their return to school.
8. Any student placed in ISS on multiple occasions during the
academic year will be referred to the principal for a conference.
Continued subsequent placement in ISS will result in a Superintendent’s
Hearing.
9. Students placed in ISS will not be permitted to leave the room
by themselves at any time.
a. Students will eat their lunches in the ISS room. Lunches may
be brought from home or students may purchase school lunches.
b. ISS personnel will escort students to the lavatory.
10. Students assigned to ISS for failure to attend detention will
still be required to serve the detention days originally assigned.
11. Students assigned to ISS will not be permitted to participate
in any school-sponsored activity and/or sport during the duration
of the suspension.
OUT - OF - SCHOOL SUSPENSION
Serious infractions may result in out-of-school suspension. A
student who receives an out-of-school suspension is not permitted
on school property during the suspension period and is responsible
for completing the schoolwork that is missed. A suspended student
has the right to attend the 5-7 tutorial program for the duration
of his/her suspension. Students returning to school during his/her
suspension without authorization may be charged with trespassing
by a school administrator and consequently arrested by the local
police.
CLASSROOM RULES
In the classroom, students are expected to conduct themselves
in accordance with the school-wide rules. Additionally, every
subject has its own requirements and concerns and every teacher
has the right to set particular classroom rules. At the core of
all classrooms educational experiences are the following expectations:
1. arrive to class on time, prepared to work
2. follow directions the first time given
3. act courteously and cooperatively
4. behave in a way which does not interfere with or threaten the
education of others
IN-CLASS CONSEQUENCES
To maintain the appropriate classroom environment, it is sometimes
necessary for teachers to discipline students who misbehave. While
each teacher has the right to maintain order according to his/her
own model of classroom management, offending students may expect
to face any of the following consequences:
1. verbal warning
2. teacher suspension
3. parental contact
4. assignment to after-school teacher detention
5. referral to administration for further action
Students are responsible for work missed as a result of misbehavior,
lateness or absence.
