RESPONSIBILITY ROOM

The responsibility room is for students who exhibit disruptive behavior that is beyond the usual classroom management issues. Students will remain in the responsibility room for the remainder of the class period. For serious or dangerous infractions, the principal will be called in to assess the situation. Students are directed to write their version of the incident on the discipline form.  A meeting with administrator, parent and teacher may be requested.

IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION

When the discipline codes call for it, a student who would otherwise be subject to a suspension from attendance as the result of a disciplinary infraction may be placed on in-school suspension for a period not to exceed five school days.

The student’s teachers will be notified that assignments for the period of suspension should be sent to the suspension room. The student suspended shall report, at the beginning of the scheduled suspension day. While in ISS students must observe the following rules:

1. You must be in your seat by the beginning of first period   (fifth period for afternoon half day ISS).

2. You must be prepared to work by bringing textbooks, notebooks, paper and pen.

3. You must sit forward, facing the front, with both feet on the floor and no turning around

4. All book bags, duffel bags, sacks, etc. are to be left near the ISS monitor's desk.

5. You are not allowed out of your seat unless the monitor grants permission.

6. You are to raise your hand to be recognized by the monitor.

7. Being insubordinate or refusing to do assignments will result in further administrative consequences.

8. You may not sleep or put your head down on the desk.

9. No outside magazines or newspapers are allowed unless assigned by a teacher.

10. You are not to talk, make disturbing noises, write or pass notes.

11. You must have a pre-signed pass to leave ISS for guidance, or other classes (Passes must be verified by phone by the ISS monitor).

12. Full day students will be escorted by the monitor to the cafeteria to eat from 11:15-11:35. You may bring lunch from home or buy lunch from the cafeteria.

13. Bathroom privilege is not to be abused. You must use the bathroom in the ISS room only.

14. You must use ISS time to do assignments. The monitor will help if you desire.

15. If you have completed all work it is you responsibility to remain busy doing:

a. extra work assignments

b. review past work

c. read approved books/periodicals

16. All other school rules and procedures must be followed.

17. Writing on furniture or walls will not be allowed. Desks are checked daily.

18. Students assigned to ISS for three or more separate offences in any quarter will be referred to the child study team.

19. Violation of the above rules will be reported to the administration resulting in additional consequences including possible out of school suspension.

20. Students on suspension either in-school or out-of-school may not attend or participate in any school related activity on the day(s) of their suspension.

 

OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSION 

When the discipline codes call for it the superintendent will suspend a student for up to five days. The superintendent will hold an informal proceeding to ascertain the facts of the incident or incidents. A decision will then be made based on the facts. The parents of the student will be notified of the reason for the suspension.

During the period of suspension, the student is not allowed on school grounds, nor will that student be allowed to participate in or attend any school activity. The student is however, responsible for making up any work missed during his/her suspension.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE REGULATIONS

The Willsboro Central School District recognizes the importance of regular daily attendance in the academic progress and success of all students. To this end, the Superintendent will, in cooperation with a committee of District stakeholders, create a process and accompanying procedures to monitor and encourage student attendance.

Student/Pupil – Any individual duly enrolled in the Willsboro Central School

Absence - Any failure to be present for a scheduled day of school or a scheduled class period (see tardy)

Tardy - Arrival at school or class after the scheduled beginning time of that school day or class period. Students arriving more than five (5) minutes late, unexcused, for a class period will be considered absent for purposes of course credit and discipline consequences.

Attendance - Students must be present for at least 75% of the class time to be considered in attendance.

Students in grades seven to twelve will be denied course credit, should they exceed 26 absences in a full credit course and 13 absences in a half credit course.
Students in grades Pre-K to six will be referred to the child study team should they exceed 19 absences.

I.  Excused Absences from School/Class - The following absences are considered excused absences from class if appropriate documentation is provided and shall not count toward the 26/13 maximum absences:

a. School scheduled music lessons
b. School scheduled field trips
c. Pre-approved changes in schedule
d. Additional time with another teacher with signed pass.
e. Pre-approved visitations to the nurse, school psychologist, counselor or office
f. State testing
g. College visitations
h. Medically excused that requires tutoring
h. In-school suspension or out-of-school suspension

It is the parent/guardian's (or teacher's, if appropriate) responsibility to provide a note when a student is absent, tardy or dismissed.  All other absences from class are considered to be unexcused and shall count toward the 26/13 maximum absences.

II.  Recording and Maintaining Student Attendance:

1. The school attendance officer will create a database of student information to contain the following data for each student:

a. Name
b. Date of birth
c. Full names of parent(s) or guardians
d. Address where student resides
e. Phone number of parent/guardian (home/work/cell)
f. Emergency contact in lieu of parent/guardian
g. Date of student’s enrollment at WCS
h. Record of the student’s daily attendance
i. Other student information as required by state/federal regulations

2. First period teachers/supervisors will take daily attendance of all students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve

a. Each first period teacher/supervisor will be provided, each morning before the beginning of school, with a daily attendance packet including attendance registration information for each student scheduled for the class
b. Each first period teacher/supervisor will identify and record the attendance of each student scheduled for the class
c. The completed packets will be collected by the school attendance officer designee and properly recorded
d. When compiled, the attendance officer will provide a daily attendance report to all teachers/supervisors in the school and will contain the following information:

1. Students who are absent
2. Students who are tardy
3. Students who are to be excused during the school day and the time they are to be excused
4. Students who are suspended out-of-school or in-school

3. Classroom teachers and/or supervisors will take period-by-period attendance for each student in grades seven through twelve

a. Each teacher/supervisor will be provided an attendance sheet daily to record the attendance of each student in grades seven through twelve each period during each day
b. Period-by-Period attendance sheets will be submitted to the central office at the end of each school day
c. Teachers/Supervisors will contact the central office any time during the day when a student is missing or unexcused from class
d. The central office will maintain the period-by-period attendance sheets for a period of one school year and will see that they are destroyed
e. The central office will, upon notification by a teacher/supervisor that a student is missing, commence a search of the building and grounds to determine the location of the missing student
f. Should it be determined that the student is not on school grounds, the central office will notify the parent/guardian 
g. Students failing to attend a regularly scheduled class and/or leaving school grounds, without being properly excused, will be referred to the school discipline officer for consequences according to the handbook

Students violating the regular attendance and tardiness requirements will be assigned consequences according to the District’s discipline code published in the Student Handbook provided to each student and parent.

The District recognizes that there are many conditions that can affect the regular attendance of students. To assist students in maintaining regular attendance the District will implement the following interventions:

a. After 10 absences (5 for half credit courses)
     1. Verbal warning from teacher
b. After 16 absences (8 for half credit courses)
     1. A certified letter is sent home
     2. Student/Teacher conference
     3. Phone call home
     4. Conference with School Counselor/Parent to  develop    plan (conference will occur only after the first class that the student reaches 16 absences)
c. After 22 absences (11 for half credit course)
     1. A certified letter is sent home
     2. Student/Teacher/Parent/Superintendent    conference (conference will occur only after the first class that the student reaches 22 absences).  At the conference, parents may appeal the number of absences by presenting documentation of the legitimacy of the absences.  A decision made by the Superintendent as to whether to excuse some or all of the absences will be final.

Course credit is awarded based on regular attendance and achievement. To fulfill the course requirements and thereby be awarded credit, a student must not exceed:

a. Full year classes - 26 unexcused absences from class 
(Part I)
b. Half year classes - 13 unexcused absences from class (Part I)

Any student that exceeds the allowable number of non-school function related absences will be denied credit for the year.  After a student reaches the maximum allowable number of absences, he will be given an INCOMPLETE on the Progress/Report Card.  The student will then:

a. Be removed from class and not allowed to attend summer school.  If a student is removed from class, a grade of 50 (F) is placed on the final report card Or,
b. Remain in class and attend summer school if ia minimum grade of 65 is achieved

VII. Incentives for Exceptional Attendance

The District acknowledges the importance of recognizing excellent attendance as a means of encouraging students to attend. Therefore, the District will provide public recognition to those students achieving perfect attendance through the following:

a. Displayed in the school achievement display case
b. On the school web page
c. In the weekly District newsletter
d. Through the regular public media

 

STUDENT EARLY DISMISSAL REGULATIONS

If a student must be excused from school for a reason other than illness, a note signed by the parent/guardian must be provided to the OFFICE before the beginning of first period, to be verified.  This note must specify the following:

1. The time of departure
2. The reason for early dismissal
3. A telephone number to be used to verify the note
4. The name of the individual who will be picking the student up (note: this must be the parent/guardian or, if necessary, the emergency contact)

The student will be released when the parent, guardian or emergency contact has signed him/her out.  No student will be allowed to leave the building without written permission.  All students must also sign out before leaving the building.  Failure to follow this procedure will result in disciplinary action. 

 

 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICY

It is the policy of the Willsboro Central School district not to discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, national origin, or handicap in the educational programs or activities which it operates. Furthermore, the Willsboro Central School district is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, respectively, not to discriminate in such a manner. Inquiries concerning this policy may be referred to the superintendent.

The Willsboro Central School district does not tolerate harassment of any kind and has a policy to deal with it. The following are some of the actions which the district considers harassment and are therefore prohibited: physical assault (including hitting, pinching, slapping, poking, and squeezing) and intentional physical conduct of a harassing nature of any kind (including obstructing a person’s freedom of movement, stalking, and staring), derogatory or demeaning gestures, noises, remarks, jokes or comments about a person’s color, race, ancestry, religion, national origin, age, sex, physical appearance, physical or mental handicap or medical condition. Any form of sexual harassment is also prohibited.  Any person who believes that he or she has been subjected to harassment in violation of this policy or federal and state laws may bring a complaint to the designated Title IX Compliance Officer or the school’s Superintendent. The district’s full Anti-Harassment policy is on file in the main office.

Any time it is necessary for a student to be outside of a classroom during class time, he/she must have a pass. If he/she is outside of class without permission, disciplinary action may be taken.

1. Students may only use the bathroom and drinking fountain closest to the class they are in.
2. Students may use the bathroom at the discretion of their teacher/monitor.
3. In case of illness or emergency, students may be sent to the nurse.
4. When students are late for class, a pass from the previous teacher is required.
5. Students leaving class with a pass must return to class before the end of the period.

 

STUDY HALL RULES

1. Reasonable silence for a working environment is expected.
2. Students will be given assigned seats.
3. Students will be in their assigned seats, not on desks, window sills, heaters, etc.
4. Students must have academic work to do. (Even if all assignments have been done, every student must bring work to do or a book to read.)
5. Students will not be allowed to go to their lockers during studyhall/seminar.
6. No stereo walkmans, board games, cards, TVs, etc.
7. Attendance will be taken prior to any students being allowed to leave.
8. Students leaving with a pre-signed pass must have the studyhall monitor’s initials and departure time on the pass.
9. Students will keep the pass in his or her possession until reporting to the next supervising teacher.
10. The studyhall monitor can not issue passes (except to the bathroom). Students must have a pre-signed pass for the teacher they want to see.

 

CAFETERIA RULES

1. Students are to eat in the cafeteria only at the time assigned. Students are to report to the cafeteria at the beginning of their lunch period and stay until the end of the period.  Students who do not follow this rule will be referred for discipline.
2. It is expected that all students will eat at school and remain in the cafeteria for the full lunch period assigned. Any change for this must be approved by the Superintendent or dean.
3. State health requirements restrict the kitchen area and behind the serving line to kitchen personnel only. Do not enter the kitchen area as accidents and burns may result.
4. LUNCH CHARGING: Students are expected to pay for breakfast and lunch in full each day. Students may pay each day for their meals or parents may send a check made out to WCS School Lunch Program prepaying on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. Monies will be used for breakfast and lunch only (no snacks unless otherwise specified by parent).  Students who are prepaid and then are absent from school will be given a credit for another breakfast or lunch. No money will be given back to the student and they may not use their breakfast or lunch money to purchase double or snacks. In the event that money is left over in a student's account at the end of the year, the money will be sent home to parent(s).  In the event that a student does not have funds to purchase a meal the following will be done:

• In emergency situations, students will be allowed to charge their meal.  However, charges will be limited to a maximum of $7.50.
  

• Any funds provided will be applied to the negative balance before other purchases may be made.  When a negative balance occurs parents will be notified.

5. Parents are encouraged to call the school cafeteria to request an application form for free or reduced cost breakfast and lunches at any time during the school year.
6. Breakfast is available to students, however all students must report to their homeroom teacher prior to going to breakfast.
7. Students will enter the cafeteria and proceed through the lunch line in an orderly fashion.
8. While in the cafeteria, all students will take a seat and remain seated during their assigned lunch period.
9. Students will be allowed to leave their seats to dispose of lunch trays and purchase snacks.
10. Students will refrain from using offensive language or gestures, fighting, shouting, pushing, disrespectful remarks and throwing items.
11. Students may bring food or drink from home for their personal consumption only.  However, these items must be ready to eat, as the cafeteria will not cook, heat or prepare these items.  Bringing inappropriate items or sharing of food is not allowed and may cause the privilege to be revoked.
12. Students should keep their hands off other students and property not belonging to them.
13. If the cafeteria monitor assigns a student a specific seat due to repeated violations of this code, the student will sit in the assigned seat until told otherwise.
14. Students will follow all instructions of the cafeteria monitor.

VIOLATION PROCEDURES
If a student chooses to violate the cafeteria code of conduct, the following actions will be taken at the discretion of the cafeteria monitor.

1. A student may be assigned a specific seat.
2. A student may be sent to the responsibility room for lunch. In addition, a copy of the incident report will be sent home.
3. Repeated or severe violations may result in referral to the office for further consequences.

 

CONSUMPTION OF FOOD OR DRINKS

Food or drink will only be allowed in the cafeteria area unless specifically authorized by administration. There will be no consumption of food or drink in the hallways or classroom. Possession of open containers of any type will not be allowed, at anytime, in the school other than in the cafeteria, except by administrative approval.  Students may not order food from off-campus food services and have it delivered during the school day.

SCHOOL BUS RULES

The following are the basic rules of conduct expected of students while riding a bus either to and from school or while on a sports event or field trip.

1. Students will enter and exit the bus in an orderly fashion with no pushing or running.
2. When on the bus, all students will take a seat and remain in that seat until it is time to get off the bus either at their stop or at school. The only exception to this is when the bus is near capacity and the driver instructs the student to stand until a seat becomes available. In this instance, the older students should give their seats to the younger ones and take the standing position.
3. If a driver assigns a student a specific seat, that student will sit in the assigned seat until told otherwise.
4. While on the bus, students will face forward and keep their feet out of the aisle, their book bags on their lap and their voices down to a normal level with no shouting at all.
5. Students will not fight and they will keep their hands off other students and property not belonging to them. They will also refrain from using obscene language while on the bus.
6. Students will not touch the emergency doors or windows unless instructed by their driver. They will also not deface the bus in any way.
7. Students will not shout or extend anything out of the window such as arms, hats, etc.
8. There is no smoking, use of matches, eating or drinking allowed on the bus. This includes candy and gum. On long trips, games, or special runs, if the driver gives permission, eating may be allowed, but it is the coach or chaperone's responsibility to make sure the bus is clean at the end of the trip.
9. Students will obey the drivers's requests at all times.
10. No stereos are allowed on the bus.

Codes:

• VW    = Verbal Warning

• DET   = Detention

• PPH    = Parent Phone Contact

• PC      = Parent Conference

• ISS   = In-School Suspension

• OB     = Off Bus

Disciplinary Consequence for School Bus Misbehavior