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1. Students will not use or
have in their possession weapons or look-alike weapons including
explosives because these devices create an unsafe environment
for all students and staff at Joseph Kerr Middle School.
DEFINITIONS:
Weapon any object which is designed as or used
as a device to do harm to others.
Explosives any object or material designed to be
detonated or exploded.
Look-alike weapon a representation of a weapon
Possession having on your person or in your belongings.
EXAMPLE: including but not limited to guns, toy guns,
knives, chains, razor blades, clubs, mace, pepper spray, switch
blade knives and combs, pipe, rocks, incendiary devices, firecrackers,
bombs, bomb look-alike, bullets etc.
NON-EXAMPLE: PVC pipe being brought into school as part
of a science project; bamboo stick being brought to school as
part of a school project; rock collection as part of a science
project.
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 6
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2.
Students will not use or have in their possession, or supply
drugs, alcohol, look-alike substances, any other harmful or illegal
substance, or paraphernalia associated with such use, or controlled
substances such as prescription drugs or over the counter drugs
because it interferes with the right of students to a
safe and healthy environment for receiving a quality education;
such behavior is a crime
EXAMPLES: Bringing or being under the influence of alcohol,
marijuana or any other illegal or harmful substance; bringing
a baggie of oregano and telling other students that it is marijuana;
possessing a marijuana pipe; products used as inhalants. Supplying
prescription drugs to another student.
NON-EXAMPLE: Bringing a doctor prescribed drug which is immediately
checked into the office before school. Prescribed asthma inhalers
carried by the student which are reported to the office.
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 6
(Except for the first time possession of not more than one ounce
of marijuana; Consequence begins at Step 5)
LEVEL 2: Carrying controlled substances such as prescription
drugs. Carrying or supplying over the counter made drugs.
NON-EXAMPLE: Bringing Tylenol or aspirin with Dr.'s note
and checked into the office. Cough drops.
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 3
W/S
OPTION POSSIBLE
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3.
Students will not use or have in their possession tobacco products
because such products are unhealthy and are illegal for minors.
EXAMPLES/DEFINITION: Cigarettes, cigars, snuff, chewing
tobacco, dip, etc.
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 4
W/S
OPTION POSSIBLE
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4.
Students will not fight because injury may occur and fighting
creates an unsafe environment.
DEFINITION: Any physically aggressive, or harmful behavior
between students.
EXAMPLES: Hitting, mutual combat, kicking, biting.
NON-EXAMPLES: Horse-play such as chasing, hanging on someone's
backpack.
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 4
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5. Physical
assault is not permitted because all students have a right
to feel safe and be safe at school, and conflicts among students
cause distractions from learning and waste time and energy of
students and staff.
DEFINITION: Any deliberate act of bodily contact directed
toward another person with the intent to do physical harm or
intimidate.
EXAMPLES: Hitting, punching, slapping, kicking, spitting,
or throwing objects at someone.
NON-EXAMPLES: Accidental tripping or bumping.
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 4
LEVEL 2: The difference in a level two assault is in the
extent of harm and potential harm this act causes. Some consideration
is also given to the degree of intent to do physical harm.
CONSEQUENCE:
STEP 3
W/S
OPTION POSSIBLE
EXAMPLE: a kick under a table; a shove; tossing objects
at someone.
NOTE: mutual kicking, shoving or tossing constitutes a
pre-fight.
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6.
Students will not engage in sexual harassment because
all students have the right to protection from unwanted and/or
unsolicited advances of a sexual nature.
DEFINITION: Language and or physical contact or any act
that can be construed as sexually offensive; remarks; inappropriate
touching.
EXAMPLES: Dancing inappropriately, such as freak dancing;
suggestive statements to students of the opposite sex; derogatory
statements about the opposite sex; displaying sexual explicit
materials.
NON-EXAMPLES: Accidental bumping in crowds or lines.
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 4
LEVEL 2: The difference in a level two assault is in the
extent of significant intent and purposeful actions vs. lesser
or lack of intent and less offensive actions.
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 3
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7.
Students will not vandalize student, staff, or school property
because it diminishes school pride and the cost of repairs
takes funds away from school activities and equipment.
DEFINTION: Vandalize to deliberately destroy or
alter property.
EXAMPLES: Breaking, tearing, disfiguring, scratching,
carving, writing on, or causing water or fire damage to the property
of others; pulling fire alarm; vandalism to restrooms, activating
stink bombs.
NON-EXAMPLE: Accidentally breaking a window when playing
baseball; writing on another person's backpack with their permission.
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 4
AND
INCLUDE RESTITUTION
W/S
OPTION POSSIBLE
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8.
Students will not commit theft because it breaks down
trust within the learning environment, costs families and the
school both time and money, disrupts student concentration, and
takes away class time.
DEFINITION: Taking of school or personal property without
the owner's consent.
EXAMPLE: Taking something from someone's desk, backpack,
locker or purse without his/her knowledge or permission.
NON-EXAMPLE: Borrowing another person's belongings with
his/her prior consent.
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 3
AND
INCLUDE RESTITUTION
W/S
OPTION POSSIBLE
LEVEL 2: Level two theft is the taking of another person's
property which is valued at less than one dollar.
EXAMPLE: a pencil, a sucker, a tootsie pop.
CONSEQUENCE:
STEP 2
W/S
OPTION POSSIBLE
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9. Students
will not be defiant because it distracts from learning
and may inhibit safety.
DEFINITION: Open disregard or bold resistance to a directive
from school personnel.
EXAMPLE: Student refuses to give his/her name to school
personnel when asked.
NON-EXAMPLE: Student does not immediately follow a direction
for a legitimate reason; i.e., student does not dress for P.E.
because of a medical excuse documented by a note.
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 3
LEVEL 2: The difference in level two defiance is that the
refusal to comply with staff directions is not bold and aggressive,
but rather is of a more passive nature.
DEFINITION: Not following directions when repeatedly being
told to do so. Not showing up for lunch detention after a warning.
EXAMPLE: Sharpening a pencil when being told not to do
so.
CONSEQUENCE:
STEP 2
W/S
OPTION POSSIBLE
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10.
Students will not be disrespectful towards staff because
all people at Joseph Kerr Middle School deserve to be treated
with dignity.
DEFINITION: Written/verbal abuse or inappropriate body
language directed toward school personnel.
EXAMPLE: Student directs profanity or insults towards
staff. Blatant, aggressive posturing or gesturing directed towards
staff as an insult.
NON-EXAMPLE: If a student is assertive with a staff member
without being impolite.
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 3
LEVEL 2: The difference between level one and level two is
a matter of degree. Level two disrespect is less blatant and
less directed at staff.
CONSEQUENCE:
STEP 2
W/S
OPTION POSSIBLE
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11.
Students shall not leave the campus or be in unauthorized areas
on campus because it creates an unsafe situation.
DEFINITION: An unauthorized area is any area which is
declared and/or marked out-of-bounds for the purpose of enabling
staff to supervise and ensure a safe and secure campus.
EXAMPLE: Student leaves campus during school day without
permission.
NON-EXAMPLE: Leaving campus with parent permission and
office authorization.
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 3
W/S
OPTION POSSIBLE
LEVEL 2: Student in an unauthorized area on campus
CONSEQUENCE:
STEP 2
W/S
OPTION POSSIBLE
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12.
Students will not threaten or verbally abuse others because
such behavior leads to intimidation, fear, and denies the right
for students to learn in a safe environment.
DEFINITION: Any written or verbal statement that provokes
fear or harasses another student including all forms of sexual
harassment.
EXAMPLES: Student makes statement: "Wait until I
get you after school." (Physical harm); Student engages
in racial slurs, harassment or rumors; Repeated name-calling/inappropriate
statements in reference to gender, ability, appearance.. Inappropriate
physical advances.
NON-EXAMPLES: A minor indiscretion such as a "put-down."
(Note: These behaviors are unacceptable and will be corrected
but do not constitute a "threat" or "verbal abuse."
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 3
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13.
Students shall not bring prohibited items to school because
they interfere with the learning environment and may be a threat
to student safety.
EXAMPLES: Prohibited items include, but are not limited
to, smoke bombs, stink bombs, shocking devices, etc.
NON-EXAMPLES: Baseball cards.
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 3
W/S
OPTION POSSIBLE
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14.
Students will not pre-fight because it can lead to fighting
and creates a threatening, stressful, and insecure environment.
DEFINITION: Any display of physical or verbal intention
or behavior which may be construed as promoting a fight. Any
action or behavior with the purpose of instigating a fight or
physical aggression.
EXAMPLES: Taunting, threatening, tripping, shoving, using
racial and sexual slurs, profanity directed towards other students;
encouraging a fight; instigating a fight; watching a fight and
refusing to disperse
NON-EXAMPLES: Incidental profanity not directed at others
(Note: This behavior is not acceptable and will be corrected,
but does not constitute a pre-fight).
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 3
W/S
OPTION POSSIBLE
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15.
Students will not use obscene language, swear, curse, or make
derogatory statements about other students which may include
reference towards sexual orientation, or bring sexually explicit
material to school because all students and staff at Joseph
Kerr deserve to learn and teach in a wholesome and respectful
environment.
EXAMPLES: A put-down of another student using curse words
and/or sexually explicit terms: "Shut up you ___ ____,"
or possessing sexually explicit materials.
NON-EXAMPLES: Words said in frustration or anger but within
acceptable boundaries: "Knock it off, Charley!"
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 2
W/S
OPTION POSSIBLE
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16.
Students will not disrupt class because such behavior
interrupts teaching and learning for other students.
DEFINITION: Disrupt to interfere with teaching
and learning.
EXAMPLES: Shouting out comments, walking around the
room without permission, excessive tardies, etc.
NON-EXAMPLES: Student answers question forgetting to
raise hand.
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 1
NOTE: Except in instances in which the violation is
blatant, the student will be corrected before being given a referral.
CONSEQUENCES
BEGIN AT STEP 1
AFTER THE FOURTH VIOLATION PER QUARTER, CONSEQUENCES PROCEED
TO STEP 2
W/S
OPTION POSSIBLE
These sixteen rules comprise Joseph Kerr
Middle School's Essential Rules. Students are expected to know
and thoroughly understand each of these rules and their consequences.
These are the most common causes for interruption of the instructional
process at Joseph Kerr Middle School. All other behaviors prohibited
in the California Education Code and Penal Code will be enforced
when necessary.
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