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Student Handbook » General School Safety

General School Safety

GENERAL SCHOOL RULES

Bus Safety—Bus rules and procedures should be followed at all times. Students are to follow the transportation guidelines as stated in this manual. The bus driver is responsible for all students’ safety and has the authority to enforce bus rules and refer any misbehavior to the transportation director and to the school principal. Infractions may result in the student losing district transportation privileges. Parents: please do not remove your child from the bus once they have boarded.

Personal Property—Do not bring valuable personal property or large sums of money to school. The school is not responsible for the loss or theft of personal property.

Cell Phones and Toys—cell phones, all electronic devices, jewelry, or other toys should not be brought to school. These items will be confiscated and returned only to parents after one to two weeks. Cell phones must not be used during school hours and be turned off at all times.

Rough Play—Dangerous play activities such as rock throwing, roughhousing, hitting, kicking, tackle football, dodge ball, choking, etc. are not allowed on the school grounds.

Chips, Gum, Candy, and Drinks—Students are not allowed to bring chips, gum, candy, or flavored drinks to school per adopted Arizona Wellness Policy. We are helping to promote a healthy lifestyle. Gum and candy is not allowed anywhere on campus. Students purchasing food at school must eat and drink in designated areas. Food and beverages are not to be removed from the cafeteria without prior teachers’ arrangement/permission.

School Parties/Birthdays—Classroom parties will be planned by school staff and require prior approval by the school principal. A list of acceptable snacks for school is available upon request as per Arizona Wellness Policy.

Fighting – Fighting during school hours, at any time on the school ground, on the bus or at the bus stops, or at any school activity will not be tolerated and disciplinary action will be taken.

Damage to School Property– Students will respect and care for their school and its fixtures. Intentional destruction of books or equipment, writing or marking on walls, desks, or other fixtures, and damage to any property of the school or anyone else’s property on the school grounds will have disciplinary action. This includes books from the library that have been lost and damaged.  Students will have to pay for any damage made to school property.

Students should not bring markers or white-out to school. It will be confiscated.

Illegal Controlled Substances/Possession of Paraphernalia – Students using, possessing, selling, or being under the influence of any illegal drug, alcohol, or any intoxicant of any kind shall be suspended from school pending a hearing before the Governing Board of the Gadsden Elementary School District for long-term suspension or expulsion.

Smoking – Smoking or possession of cigarettes or any other tobacco product at any time on the school grounds or at any student activity will result in disciplinary action.

Cheating – When a student is guilty of cheating, the teacher will collect the student’s work, mark a zero for the work, and notify the office of the incident. The office will contact the parents to arrange a conference to discuss the problem.

Closed Campus–Once you arrive at school you must remain on school grounds until regular dismissal time. If you must leave school early your parents or guardian must come to the office personally. Students who leave campus without permission will be subject to disciplinary action. Breakfast and Lunch are provided for the students at the Cafeteria.

7-8th grade Tardiness – Students accumulating four tardies for arriving late to school will be assigned lunch detention. Students are to be in their seats and ready to work when the bell rings. Students accumulating 4 tardies will receive lunch detention. Excess tardies with multiple teachers will incur to a one day in ISS.

Public Display of Affection– Inappropriate displays of affection such as hugging, kissing or holding hands on school grounds is not allowed.

 

GANG ACTIVITY OR ASSOCIATION (JICF)

 

Gangs that initiate, advocate, or promote activities that threaten the safety or well-being of persons or property on school grounds or disrupt the school environment are harmful to the educational process.  The use of hand signals, graffiti, or the presence of any apparel, jewelry, accessory, or manner of dress or grooming that, by virtue of its color, arrangement, trademark, symbol, or any other attribute indicates or implies membership or affiliation with such a group is prohibited because of the disruption to educational activities that results from such activities or dress.  It is the District's position that such activities and dress also present a clear and present danger to other District students and to District staff members. Any activity involving an initiation, hazing, intimidation, assault, or other activity related to group affiliation that is likely to cause or does cause bodily danger, physical harm, or personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm to students or others is prohibited. Any student wearing, carrying, or displaying gang paraphernalia and/or exhibiting behavior or gestures that symbolize gang membership, or causing and/or participating in activities that intimidate or adversely affect the educational activities of another student, or the orderly operation of the schools, shall be subject to disciplinary action.


Gang related dress, grooming, language, and behavior on school property and at school events is disruptive to the education mission and purpose of the school and therefore is prohibited where they:

  • Threaten the health/safety of persons or the security of property.
  • Create an atmosphere of threat, intimidation or influence.
  • Disrupt or may disrupt the educational/process or interfere with curriculum goals or education objectives.

Evidence of such gang-related dress, grooming, language and or behavior may include but is not limited to:

  • Tattoos, clothing, or paraphernalia that is associated with a group or gang.
  • Gestures and drawing or gang graffiti including symbols, or emblems.
  • Gang-related language, this includes any claim of gang membership and threatening.

The principal and vice principal will determine what gang dress, grooming language, and or behavior is under this policy. Students who violate this policy are subject immediate to disciplinary action.

 

HARASSMENT

 

Harassment, GESD#32 Policy #ACA, sexual harassment includes unwelcomed verbal or physical conduct made to another student or staff member. Either type of harassment will not be tolerated and are subject to immediate disciplinary actions.

 

INTIMIDATION

Intimidation is a behavior not desired by someone. Some characteristics of this behavior include:

  • Trying to exercise control over another person.
  • Trying to hurt or torment someone else: physically or verbally.
  • Attempting to humiliate another person.
  • Trying to hurt someone else: emotionally or psychologically.

San Luis Middle School does not tolerate intimidation and will continue the policy of the Administrative Board. The expectation of our district is that all are treated with respect.

 

BULLYING

 

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.

 

In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:

 

  1. An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.

 

  1. Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.

 

Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.

 

  • Bullying is any attempt to exercise power over another person.
  • Bullying is any behavior aimed to hurt another person: physically or verbally.
  • Bullying is any behavior aimed to humiliate another person.
  • Bullying is emotional or psychological in intent.

 

Our district has a zero tolerance policy for individuals who bully others and will follow the governing board policy. Our expectation is for all individuals to treat others with respect.