Expectations for Student Behavior
Character Education
Beginning in child development, students are taught the behaviors expected when interacting with others at home, school, and in the community. These include: trustworthiness; active listening; truthfulness; no putdowns; and doing your personal best. A set of character education skills helps students to evaluate their own behavior, the behavior of others and how behavior impacts success in social and academic settings.
These Character Education Skills are:
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Integrity - To act according to what's right and wrong;
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Initiative - To do something that needs to be done without waiting to be told;
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Flexibility - To be willing to make changes to plans when necessary;
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Perseverance - To keep trying regardless of how hard something might be;
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Organization - To keep things in order and ready to use;
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Sense of Humor - To laugh and be playful without hurting others;
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Effort - To do your best;
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Common Sense - To use good judgement;
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Problem-Solving - To seek solutions in everyday problems;
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Responsibility - To be accountable for your actions;
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Patience - To wait calmly;
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Friendship - To make and keep friends through mutual trust and caring;
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Curiosity - A desire to learn about the world;
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Cooperation - To work together toward a common goal or purpose;
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Caring - To feel or show concern for others;
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Courage - To act according to your beliefs even when you are afraid;
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Pride - The joy you feel when you have done your best; and
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Resourcefulness - To respond in creative ways when faced with a problem or an opportunity.
Rules of Conduct
A safe and orderly environment is necessary for students to learn. The district has rules of conduct that outline the consequences of disruptive and unsafe behaviors. Disciplinary matters are best handled at the lowest supervisory level possible and in the most reasonable manner possible. A sequence of supervisory levels could be the teacher, assistant principal, principal, and district administrator. No disciplinary action will be taken without due process, an appropriate hearing, and the opportunity for review.
Each school has a discipline plan that is aligned with District policies. These individual school plans are available at each school site. Schools may "add-to", but not “take-away” from District rules of conduct. Conduct violations and consequences are categorized in three levels:
Level 1 - Disorderly Conduct is defined as activities that impede orderly classroom procedures, instructional activities, operation of the school, or frequent and/or serious disturbances. Acts of disorderly conduct may include, but are not limited to, the following: cutting school and/or class, lying, forged notes, profanity, dress code violations, disturbing class, being tardy to school and/or class, and cheating. See page 58 in the Parent/Student Handbook for a complete list.
Level 2 - Disruptive Conduct is defined as those activities engaged in by a student which are directed against persons or property, and/or the consequences of which tend to endanger the health or safety of oneself or others. Acts of disruptive conduct may include, but are not limited to, the following: abusive language to staff, bullying, computer violation, tobacco violation, refusal to obey staff, bus violation, threats to students, and stealing. See page 59 in the Parent/Student Handbook for a complete list.
Level 3 - Criminal Conduct is defined as those activities engaged in by a student which result in violence to oneself or to another's person or property, or which pose a direct and serious threat to the safety of oneself or others. These activities usually require administrative actions that result in the removal of the student from the school, the intervention of law enforcement authorities, and/or action by the Board. Acts of criminal conduct may include, but are not limited to, the following: bomb threats, false fire alarms, aggravated assault, threat to staff, simple assault/fighting, possession of weapons, hazing, computer crime, and drug possession. See page 59 in the Parent/Student Handbook for a complete list.
Cell Phones, Pagers, & Other Electronic Devices
Students may not use cell phones, pagers or other electronic devices to interfere with instruction or school activities, or send inappropriate messages, recordings, broadcasts, or images. All of the above mentioned equipment must be turned off and be out of sight while at school. Devices must remain off and out of sight until students are dismissed and are never to be used in any area in which an individual has a reasonable expectation for privacy including, but not limited to, restrooms, locker rooms, and showers. In the event of a violation, school personnel are authorized to take the device from the student but will return the device to the owner. First violations generally are considered to be Level I offenses (disorderly conduct); repetitive or serious offenses will result in more serious consequences which could include out-of-school suspension, revocation of the right to bring the device on campus, or immediate suspension pending an evidentiary hearing. Consequences for violations are on page 58 in the Parent/Student Handbook.
Hazing
Hazing means, but is not limited to, the wrongful striking, laying open hand upon, threatening with violence, or offering to do bodily harm by a superior student to a subordinate student with intent to punish or injure the subordinate student, or other unauthorized treatment by the superior student of a subordinate student of a tyrannical, abusive, shameful, insulting, or humiliating nature. Incidents of hazing are Level II or Level III offenses. Level II offenses involve planning hazing and/or preparing to engage in hazing, or being present when others are planning hazing and/or preparing to engage in hazing. Level III offenses involve engaging in hazing and/or being present when others are engaging in hazing.
Bullying
Acts of bullying, harassment, or intimidation are unacceptable disruptive conduct and are a Level II offense. These acts could be defined by a gesture, an electronic communication (text-messages, e-mail messages, postings to blogs, chat rooms, electronic personal pages, etc.), or a written, verbal, physical, or sexual threat or act. These acts can cause physical or emotional harm, damage student property, and create hostile environments that make students fearful. Bullying, harassment, or intimidation also involves insulting or demeaning an individual or group of students and disrupts or interferes
with the operation of the school. Students who witnesses or have reason to believe that another student has been a victim of bullying, harassment, or intimidation, are asked to inform the school principal or the HCS Executive Director for Student Affairs, James Bradley, at 488-6771 or jbradley@horrycountyschools.net. See page 59 in the Parent/Student Handbook.
for additional information, including the consequences for committing acts of bullying, harassment, or intimidation or falsely accusing another person of these behaviors.
Possession and use of tobacco products
The South Carolina Youth Access to Tobacco Prevention Act of 2006 says that a minor under the age of 18 must not possess a tobacco product. While it has been against school and District rules for students to have or use tobacco products for years, this new act means that the offense is now a violation of the law. Students will be subject to consequences for their behavior by the school and may have to appear for a hearing before a municipal or magistrate's court.
Dress Code
Students are responsible for dressing in an appropriate manner at all times while on a school campus or while involved in school activities. Generally, student attire is considered appropriate as long as it does not, or could not, interfere with the educational process, cause disruption, or damage school property. In addition to clothing, hats, and shoes, student attire includes any jewelry, emblem, badge, symbol, sign, comment, or other items worn or displayed by an individual. The following guidelines help to define appropriate dress:
- Attire must comply with requirements for health and safety;
- Attire must not be immodest, obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, indecent, or offensive;
- Shorts, skirts, and dresses should be of adequate length to assure modesty when the student is seated or engaged in school activities;
- Undergarments must be worn at all times;
- Outergarments must conceal undergarments;
- Tops with "spaghetti straps" are inappropriate, as are tops that reveal cleavage;
- Hats are not to be worn in school (unless needed for a health condition);
- Tight "spandex" clothing is inappropriate;
- Attire must not evidence membership or affiliation with a gang in any negative sense of the term;
- Attire must not display any information about, representations of, or advertisements for alcoholic beverage(s), tobacco, controlled drugs, illegal drugs or paraphernalia associated with the foregoing.
Additional guidelines may be established by the school principal. Each school is responsible for requiring students to comply with the dress code and taking disciplinary action if needed.
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