Middle School Disciplinary Penalties, Procedures & Referrals

STRATEGIES AND PROCEDURES − MIDDLE SCHOOL

Students are subject to the rules and regulations cited in the discipline code while appearing at or attending any school-sponsored activity even when that activity is not taking place during normal school hours or on school premises (e.g., athletic contests, field trips, co-curricular activities, student events, etc.). The referrals (penalties, consequences) set forth are only guidelines for the determinations of each case by the Administration. As it is the desire of the Board of Education, all relevant factors are to be taken into consideration in determining an appropriate consequence or penalty. Thus, the Administration, when supported by relevant facts, reserves the right to modify the consequences or penalty of the infraction. Infractions are documented using a disciplinary referral form and/or a bus conduct report which the student is expected to give to his/her parent/guardian. This is in addition to written notification to parent/guardian regarding out-of-school suspension.

Student Behavior
- Citizenship and Discipline
  
  We, in the Warwick Valley Middle School, recognize the importance of the role that discipline plays in our schools and our lives. We believe that good citizenship and discipline cannot be separated. To guarantee a good social and educational climate, it is important that students, in keeping with the level of their maturity, understand that acceptable standards of behavior are expected at all times.
  
  Warwick Valley Middle School teachers and staff want and expect students to become good citizens. It is each student's responsibility to display qualities of good citizenship. Good conduct is expected in the classroom, in the halls, in the cafeteria, on the playground, when leaving school grounds, and on buses. Discipline will be administered for misconduct and when any individual's actions interfere with the right of teachers to teach and students to learn.
- Disciplinary Philosophy
  
  We, in the Warwick Valley Middle School, believe that a preventive discipline approach facilitates and nurtures self-direction and self-control. Self-direction and self-control are an integral part of our Middle School mission. We believe that the maintenance of discipline is an ongoing process which involves more than just the establishment and execution of a series of policies and punishments. Ideally, the home, the community and the school work together to instill a network of positive, socially accepted values within each child that promotes self-direction and self-control. Pursuant to this, we believe a sound disciplinary code and process incorporates the following components:
  - Well-defined and understood rules in terms of what:
    - the school expects of that student;
    - the student expects of the school;
    - the parent expects of both the student and the school.
  - Well-defined and understood disciplinary procedures based upon:
    - recognition of levels and degrees of seriousness of student’s behavior;
    - recommended actions to be taken at each level; and
    - identification of specific personnel to be involved at each step of the disciplinary process.
  - Fair, firm, and consistent enforcement and follow-through with discipline.
  - A belief that student discipline should be treated as a positive learning experience from which students learn to accept responsibility for their action.
  - A staff commitment to promote dignity, fairness and honesty in the disciplinary process.
Disciplinary Options

Students in the Middle School are given every opportunity to make behavioral choices and decisions. Further, they are to be held accountable for their actions commensurate with their age and other factors.

Teachers, parents, students, administrators, and support personnel are to be aware of the total referral process and the scope of individual actions and responsibilities at each level. The process is progressive and the disciplinary entry level depends upon the seriousness of the offense, the habitual behavior of the student, and actions taken and results attained at previous levels.

For those students having difficulty in choosing acceptable modes of behavior, the following measures have been identified as appropriate:
- Warnings (oral or written)
- Parental contact (oral or written)
- Detention during or after school (teacher detention and office detention)
- In-school detention
- Suspension from school for 1-3 days
- Suspension from school for up to 5 days
- Extracurricular ineligibility
- Suspension from athletic participation
- Loss of social activities (e.g., attendance at a dance)
- Loss of field trip privileges
- Suspension from transportation
- Permanent suspension 58

The following are examples of student behavior(s) that will result in disciplinary actions when they occur at school or during school-sponsored activities. The penalties and consequences set forth below are only guidelines for the determinations of each case by the Administration. As it is the desire of the Board of Education, all relevant factors are to be taken into consideration in determining an appropriate consequence or penalty. Thus, the Administration, when supported by relevant facts, reserves the right to modify the consequence or penalty of the infraction and to notify local authorities.

Once it is determined that a student will receive an out-of-school suspension, the student will remain in the main office (and be assigned school work) until such time as the suspension takes effect.

The student and his/her parent also have the right to question complaining witnesses. If the complaining witness is a student, that student has the right to have a parent or guardian present.

It is important to note that the Middle School employs a progressive model of discipline. This means a consequence may reflect the number and severity of previous infractions.

A. Level One Infraction: Should be handled within the framework of class or school rules by effective action. Appropriate disciplinary responses include counseling, warning and detention.

1. Minor class disturbances
2. Pass misuse
3. Lateness to class
4. Littering
5. Inappropriate displays of affection
6. Carelessness in following class rules, school rules and/or staff directions
7. Pushing, running
8. Inappropriate dress: e.g., dress affecting health or safety
9. Violation of general classroom rules
10. Minor lunchroom/recess misbehavior
11. Unauthorized buying or selling of candy and/or other items on school property
12. Behavior disruptive of learning environment.
13. Possession, display or use of laser pointers or other disruptive items such as (but not limited to) skateboards or heelys during the school day.

Consequence for Level One Infraction #13:

First Offense/Violation – The item will be confiscated, and the students will not have the item returned until the end of the school day.

Second/Third Offense/Violation – The item will be confiscated. The student will not have the item returned until his/her parent/guardian comes to the office to claim it.

B. Level Two Infractions: Parents or guardians may be contacted. The student is to be referred to an administrator or counselor. Appropriate disciplinary responses include counseling, after-school administrative detention and in-school detention (ISD).

^{Use this link to view/download the Code of Conduct and review the WVMS discipline chart.}