VI.  CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE

 

INTRODUCTION


Department of Defense Education Activity Regulation 2051.1, Disciplinary Rules and Procedures, states that “management of student behavior is a responsibility shared by parents, the school and the community…” The Tri-Base community commander and school administrators have collaborated closely on the Tri-Base Community/DoDDS Discipline Policy (attached at the end of this handbook). The Table of Consequences outlined in this policy helps guide decisions when disciplinary procedures are necessary.  Please review the following guidance closely and contact the principal if you have any questions.

 

ARSON


Any student setting an unauthorized fire will be expelled from school.


BEHAVIOR


In order to establish and maintain an environment in which students may grow, appropriate policies on behavior and discipline are essential.  Students are expected to follow these policies, parents are expected to support them and school personnel are expected to implement them.

 

Conduct:  Students have the responsibility for conducting themselves in a manner that does not violate the rights of other people.  They share with the administrators and teachers the responsibility of developing a climate within the school that is conductive to productive learning.

School Policies for Student Behavior:  Students will

 

·        Remain on school grounds unless permission to leave is granted by school administration.

·        Walk quietly in the halls.

·        Use the playground and its equipment in a safe manner.

·        Obey the rules of proper conduct while using the school buses or walking to or from school.

·        Respect school property and other people’s private possessions.

·        Bring to school only necessary school materials and leave unsafe or expensive items at home.

·        Treat people the same way he/she likes to be treated.

·        Conduct themselves in a quiet orderly manner while in the cafeteria and lunch line.

·        Help to keep the school and campus free of litter.

 

Discipline Procedures:  It must be noted that no hard and fast rule could ever be developed that applies in all situations.  Aspects that must taken into consideration include the child involved; the offense; events which previously occurred involving the child, teacher, and/or parents; and the specific circumstances involved in the immediate situation.  As such, the following directives and guidelines apply:

 

Directives:   -  School personnel will not administer corporal punishment. 

 

  -  Suspension from school will be accomplished only by an administrator

      and only in extreme cases as defined by the principal.

 

Guidelines:  The entire staff is responsible for insuring students follow appropriate standards of conduct on the school campus, within the classrooms, during school sponsored activities (e.g., special programs, assemblies), and during non instructional break time during the school day (recess and lunch break).

 

Except in those rare instances when the child behaves in such a manner as to possibly injure himself or another individual or when the child continually disturbs or interferes with the class or activity, the classroom teacher is expected to take the following actions:

 

·        Confer with the student

·        Contact the parents to inform them of the behavior

·        Contact the principal and help decide if a conference between the teacher, parents and others (i.e. administration, counselors, etc.) needs to be held.

 

Suspension:  A student who persistently violates school rules and regulations or is considered to have committed a serious breach of conduct may be suspended from classes by the principal.  In such cases, parents will be notified or conferred with and conditions set down for a student’s return to class.  The Tri-base/DoDDS discipline policy states that all suspensions will be in-school with the sponsor or a parent accompanying the child on the days of suspension.

 

On all offenses involving a suspension, a letter will be sent to inform the sponsor of the incident and details of the suspension.  A copy will also be sent to the sponsor’s Commander/First Sergeant, the Base Commander and District Superintendent.

 

PLAYGROUND BEHAVIOR


Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that encourages a sense of responsibility, safety, and well being for all children on the playground.  Students will respect the requests and directions of the adults on duty at all times.  The following behaviors are not allowed:

 

·        Spitting on the playground

·        Jumping off any playground equipment or jumping up and down on bridge

·        Slam dunking and hanging from the basketball rims

·        Pushing, fighting, arguing, obscene gestures, or bad language.  These constitute severe behavioral infractions and may result in suspension from school

·        Bullying of any sort

·        Chicken fighting

·        Leaving the playground for any purpose without permission from a teacher or monitor

·        Running to or from the playground

·        Eating on the playground (except for special activities such as popcorn day or carnival).

 

Recess is over when the bell rings.  Playing stops and students line up at their designated areas or return to their classrooms in an orderly manner.

 

BICYCLES

 

Children may ride their bikes to school; however, riding on the campus is prohibited.  Students must dismount and push their bikes to the bike rack.  Riding bikes in or around the buses is prohibited.

 

BOMB THREATS

 

Bomb threats are serious crimes and will be dealt with severely.  The Security Police will routinely assume authority over a bomb threat suspect.  If it is determined a student has initiated a bomb threat to a school, the school will immediately begin expulsion proceedings.  The student will be suspended until the expulsion process is complete.


BULLYING
  (SEE SAFE SCHOOLS, PAGE 28)

 

DRESS AND GROOMING

 

Student dress and grooming will be the responsibility of the individual and his or her parents within the following guidelines:

 

·        Dress and grooming will be clean and in keeping with health, sanitary, and safety requirements.  There will be no tank tops, mesh shirts, muscle shirts, spaghetti strap tops, revealing clothing, crop tops, bare midriffs, severely sagging pants, short shorts or  other inappropriate clothing.

·        There will be no t-shirts picturing or advocating drug use or displaying obscene language.

·        Headcovers (hats, headbands and bandanas, etc) are not allowed in the school.  They are to be removed upon entering the school.

 

The administration and staff of Alconbury Elementary School believe that every student will get the best education possible if:

 

·        Students come to school prepared to participate in the learning activities.

·        Students respect the teachers.

·        Teachers respect students.

·        Teachers communicate often with parents.

·        Parents communicate with the teachers and principal.

·        Parents see that students get adequate rest and nutrition.

·        The principal facilitates the educational program and supports the teachers.

 

PROHIBITED ITEMS

 

DoDDS enforces a no weapons policy.  Students and parents are hereby notified that possession of weapons (see ‘Weapons’ section below) or replicas of weapons can result in expulsion from school.

 

In addition to weapons, students are not allowed to bring knives, matches, lighters or other dangerous objects to school.  Toys, radios and cassette players, chains, (even on wallets or keys) CD’s, cell phones, and water guns should not be brought, as they tend to distract children from their learning tasks.  Possession of tobacco in any form and alcohol will not be tolerated.  Gum is not allowed in school. Slam books are not allowed.  This list is not all-inclusive.  If you have any doubt about bringing an article to school, consult the school office.  Nuisance items, which are dangerous to the safety of others or have the potential to cause damage to personal or school property such as fireworks, smoke & stink bombs, eggs and shaving cream will be confiscated and not returned.  When appropriate these items will be given to the Security  Police.  Prohibited items will be confiscated and released only to the sponsor.

 

It should be noted that possession or use of a weapon or prohibited items on DoD property is a crime and will be reported to security officials.  Disciplinary action may include suspension or expulsion.  DoDDS supports a no tolerance policy for weapon possession.

 

SKATEBOARDS, ROLLERBLADES AND SCOOTERS

 

Skateboards, roller blades and scooters are not allowed on campus during the school day.  They pose a safety problem due to possible tripping hazards and lack of appropriate space to store.

 

TOBACCO AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS


AES does not condone the use of tobacco or tobacco products by students either on or off campus while under our supervision.

Students are prohibited from possessing or using tobacco products during the school day on or off school property, on school-owned and operated buses or on chartered buses, or when participating in school-sponsored or school-supervised activities on or off campus. 

Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action/consequence to be determined by the principal which may include referral to counseling or appropriate authority for any student found to be smoking or in possession of tobacco products during the school day whether on or off campus.

There will be not designated smoking areas defined or condoned by DoDDS-E schools.


WEAPONS


Possession of knives, sharp or pointed objects, guns, clubs, explosive devices or ammunition or any other dangerous item will result in immediate disciplinary action and reporting to the Base Commander, Security Police, DoDDS District Superintendent, DoDDS Area Superintendent, and the sponsor’s major unit commander.  Disposition of weapons and prohibited items is at the discretion of the administration and the security police.  Incidents involving weapons are very serious. Any item when carried in a concealed manner, or if displayed openly, brandished or used in a threatening manner, or carried in the presence of other persons in a manner likely to make reasonable persons fear for their safety, can be considered a weapon.  Realistic look-alike items will be included in this category.  DoDDS-Europe has a ZERO TOLERANCE weapons policy.  Violations will result in suspension and the commencement of expulsion proceedings.

 

The following lists of weapons are provided as examples of prohibited items by USAREUR Reg. 190-6 and USAFE Reg. 125-17.  This is not a complete listing; in the case of situations not specifically addressed, please contact your local security police.

·        Guns of any type

·        Switchblade knives, any length locking blade knives, other knives with blades 3 inches or longer

·        Club-type hand weapons (for example, blackjacks, brass knuckles, kunchaku)

·        Ammunition

·        Sling shots

·        Any of the following, if carried in a concealed manner, or if displayed openly, brandished or carried in the presence of other persons in a manner likely to make reasonable person fear for their safety:

ú         Straight razor, razor blades, or weapons made from razor blades

ú         Authentic appearing replica of a firearm (for example, toy guns, bb guns)

ú         Blank cartridge pistols

ú         Any other object that might be used readily to inflict bodily harm (for example, those designed to injure through strangulation, barbed wire flails, chains on wallets or keys of any type including those in wallets or keys, bicycle chains, canes with sharp points, broken bottles or glasses, small knives with retractable blades

ú         Tanto, kama, tonfu, yawara or other like martial art weapons or practice devices

 

To ensure the safety of DoDDS students and staff, any incident that occurs in a DoDDS–Europe school, on school grounds or during a DoDDS sponsored activity that involves a weapon or prohibited item will be immediately reported to the local security police and the students’ sponsor.  Within 24 hours, the Community commander, the District Office, the Area Office and DoDEA will also be notified through the completion of a serious incident report.

 

Below are important details regarding student behavior:


 

TRI-BASE COMMUNITY/DoDDS DISCIPLINE POLICY

TABLE OF CONSEQUENCES

Category

Examples of Infractions

First

Referral

Second Referral

Third Referral

Fourth Referral

 

 

 

 

 

 

A