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School Policies & General Information

 <<The following information is printed in the Student Planner. Topics are listed alphabetically.>>

Students shall not disrupt school activities in a way that impedes the learning of others or interferes with the normal operation of the school.

Discipline at Slater can be described as fair, but firm. Students are expected to abide by school rules. If discipline is required, it will be “progressive” in nature which means that consequences become greater if and when offenses are repeated. In the event that students choose to violate school rules, they can expect consequences as a result of unacceptable behavior. Consequences may include, but are not limited to: pride page marks, brunch/lunch and after school detention, Monday school, counseling, restorative practices, suspension or expulsion.

BICYCLES & BOARDS

Bicycles/boards are only to be used for travel between home and school. Bicycles/boards must be walked on campus. Bicycles should enter and exit through the Carley Rd. or Sonoma Ave. gates only. Bicycles must be placed in the racks provided for student use. All bicycles should be locked.  Bicycles should not be locked together. Boards should be stored in the main office. Students riding bicycles/boards MUST wear helmets. 

BULLYING POLICY

Bullying is not tolerated at Herbert Slater Middle School. Any student who engages in bullying will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including recommendation for expulsion.

Bullying is ongoing and deliberate, hurtful behavior. It can be defined as using one’s strength or status to intimidate, injure or humiliate another person. Bullying can be physical, verbal or social. Some examples are: name calling, spreading rumors, threatening, insulting, isolating, teasing or physically hurting. Cyberbullying is bullying via the internet or other electronic devices. 

BUS REGULATIONS

Students requiring school bus transportation must register for a bus pass and must carry the pass to ride the bus. Information about bus schedules is available through West County Transportation. Please visit www.schoolbusing.org or call (707) 206-9988 x 219. All students who ride the bus will be required to sign a contract which outlines rules and consequences for infractions. Students can only ride on the bus to which they are assigned. Any special arrangements need to have a written note signed by parent and submitted to the Main office one day prior. You cannot ride the bus if you are not a regular bus rider. Riding the bus is a privilege which can and will be revoked if a student does not behave in a manner that assures everyone’s safety.

CELL PHONES, AIRPODS/EARBUDS &  ELECTRONIC DEVICES

During school hours (8:15 am - 2:10 pm), all cell phones and airpods are to be turned off and stored in the student’s backpack. Students who want to contact their parents should come to the office and use the office phone. Please be advised, the school is not responsible for the security of personal electronic devices. Cell phones may not be used during brunch, lunch, in Detention, Monday School or Homework Club. The use of cell phones for text communication or for photo-taking purposes is strictly forbidden. 

Students who violate the HSMS Cell Phone policy will have their device confiscated, powered off, and delivered to the main office for parent pick up.

Discipline consequences:  

  • 1st offense: Parent pick-up required, pride page marked. 

  • 2nd offense: Parent pick-up required, pride page marked, and detention. 

  • 3rd offense: Parent pick-up required, pride page marked, detention and may result in further consequences.  

CLEAN CAMPUS

During brunch and lunch students are required to eat and spend their brunch and lunch time in the designated areas. These areas will be marked by painted lines. Students who do not stay in the designated areas will receive consequences.

All food and beverages must be consumed in the following designated eating areas ONLY.

  • Cafeteria

  • Spartan Dome (covered snack bar area)

  • Patio areas outside the Cafeteria and Drama Room designated by the yellow lines.

Students are required to dispose of their trash in the gray containers and to recycle aluminum and plastic bottles in the large blue containers provided. 

No glass containers.

No permanent ink markers are allowed to be used for any kind of writing or on campus.

CUTTING CLASS

Students shall attend all scheduled classes and activities each day unless kept at home by parents or excused beforehand by the Main Office. Students who are cutting one or more periods will receive one or more of the following consequences:

  • Monday School

  • Have a parent notified

  • Be referred to student attendance workers for truancy

  • Be referred to the Student Attendance Review Board

DETENTION

Students will be assigned detention for breaking school rules. Detentions are after school for approximately 45 minutes, or at lunch  Monday – Friday. Parents are responsible for transportation. Detention is an alternative to suspension; if it is not served, the student may be subject to suspension. One unexcused no-show for detention will result in the assignment of two additional detentions and/or after school campus beautification.

DRESS CODE

At Herbert Slater Middle School we want all students to focus on academic success. State law prohibits any form of attire that is obscene, offensive, dangerous or disruptive to the instructional program. Proper attire is the responsibility of the student and his/her parent/guardian. The General Student Dress guidelines help assure a safe, healthy and respectful learning environment for students, staff and parents. 

The HSMS Student Dress Code is as follows:

  • Clothing, binders, backpacks, or other personal items may not have pictures or symbols that include, but are not limited to: drugs, drug-related paraphernalia, gangs, alcohol, violence, obscene acts, suggestive words or activities, vulgar, sexual pictures, or other offensive visuals. 

  • Clothing with racist, violent, or derogatory remarks toward any group or individual are not allowed.

  • Undergarments must not be visible (briefs, boxers, bras, bralettes or bras straps). 

  • Meshed, ribbed, or see-through clothing (tops or bottoms) is not allowed.

  • Tops that expose above the belly button are not allowed. Tank tops with large arm cut outs or low side openings are not allowed. Saggy, baggy, or oversized clothing is not allowed. 

  • All footwear must have hard soles. No bare feet.

Students who violate the HSMS Student Dress Code will be given the following opportunities:

  • Change into their Physical Education clothes.

  • Call home to request appropriate clothes to be delivered to school.

  • Accept loaner clothes for the day.

Discipline consequences:  

  • 1st offense: Pride page marked. 

  • 2nd offense: Parent pick-up required, pride page marked, and detention. 

  • 3rd offense: Parent pick-up required, pride page marked, detention and may result in further consequences.

Other guidelines may be added as school officials deem necessary after obtaining information from community agencies and/or other resources. The administration will determine the appropriateness of all clothing, and all decisions are final. 

HALLWAYS

Hallways are closed during brunch and lunch. Use quiet indoor voices in hallways. Students must have a hall pass, issued by a staff member with name, date, time and destination written on it whenever they are out of the classroom. Food and drink are not allowed in hallways. No hairspray, lotions or other perfumed items in hallways or classrooms.

INAPPROPRIATE PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION 

Students showing inappropriate public displays of affection which may include pinching, pushing, grabbing, unwanted touching, and inappropriate touching and kissing will be held accountable by school rules. There will be progressive disciplinary consequences for students who choose to violate school rules on inappropriate public display of affection. Hand holding and brief hugs are the only appropriate displays of affection at Slater.

LOSS OF PRIVILEGES – LOP

During the school year students who are suspended, earn 10 or more Pride Page marks in one month, or on the LOP list for library / technology fees may lose the privilege to attend dances or other extra-curricular activities, including any end of year events. For an appeal, students need to inquire in the main office.

MANDATORY EXPULSION HEARING OFFENSES

The POLICE will be called and any student may be cited if they are engaged in any of the following illegal activities. In addition, the principal shall immediately suspend pursuant to Education Code Section 48915 and shall recommend to the governing board the expulsion of a pupil that he or she determines has committed any of the following acts:

► Possessing, selling, or otherwise furnishing a firearm except with prior written permission to possess the firearm from a certificated employee, concurred in by the principal or the designee of the principal or the designee of the principal. This subdivision applies to an act of possessing a firearm only if the possession is verified by an employee of the district. Ed. code 48915 (c)(1)

► Brandishing a knife at another person. Ed. Code 48915 (c)(2)

► Unlawfully selling a controlled substance listed in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11053) of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Cody. Ed. Code 48915 (c)(3)

► Committing or attempting to commit a sexual assault as defined in subdivision (n) of Section 48900 or committing a sexual battery as defined in subdivision (n) of Section 48900. Ed Code 48915 (c)(4)

► Possession of an explosive. Ed Code 48915 (c)(1)

NO ROAM LIST

Students who are consistently found out of the classroom during instructional time without a pass and/or students who are habitually in unauthorized areas on campus may be placed on a “No Roam List” and will not be allowed to leave the classroom and/or campus without an escort. Students will be placed on this behavior plan for a time period determined by the school administration. The length of this consequence may be determined by both academics and social performance.

RESTORATIVE PRACTICES

At the core, Restorative Practices is about building and restoring relationships. Through restorative practices, members of the school community will:

  • Have opportunities to be heard

  • Form connections and stronger relationships

  • Understand the greater impact of one's actions

  • Learn and practice taking responsibility

  • Repair the harm one's actions may have caused

  • Recognize one's role in maintaining a safe school environment

  • Build upon and expand on personal relationships in the school community

  • Recognize one's role as a positive contributing member of the school community.  

Students are often referred to the restorative specialist when dealing with conflict, but may also be referred as part of a disciplinary plan.

RESTROOM USE

Restrooms are to be used between classes and during break times and not during class period. When you do use the restroom, please follow these rules:

  • Respect privacy.  

  • Restrooms are not for socializing.

  • Only one person to a stall.

  • Keep it clean.

  • No hairspray, lotions or other perfumed items in restrooms.

  • Tell an adult immediately if there is a problem.  

  • If you see something, say something.

SEARCH OF PROPERTY 

School officials may search individual students, their property and district property under their control, when there is a reasonable suspicion that the search will uncover evidence that the student is violating the law or Ed. Code. From time to time, school officials may open and inspect student lockers for health and safety inspections or maintenance reasons. 

In an effort to keep the schools free of drugs, the district may use specially trained nonaggressive dogs to sniff out and alert staff to the presence of substances prohibited by law or Board policy. BP 5145.12 The dogs may sniff the air around lockers, desks, or vehicles on district property or at district-sponsored events as long as they are not allowed to sniff within the close proximity of any students.

SMOKING / VAPING

Students who possess or use tobacco and/or tobacco products on school premises or at school-sponsored events will face possible school suspension, this includes electronic cigarette devices.

SUSPENSION

Suspension is very serious and is not taken lightly at Slater. Administrators determine how many days of suspension should be given, taking into consideration the nature of the offense, the student’s attitude and previous record. 

Students who are suspended are to remain under direct parental supervision, are not to go on, around or near any school campus, and may not participate in any school sponsored activities on or away from their campus, day or night. Failure to adhere to this rule will mean additional days of suspension.

Ed. Code 48900 allows suspension to be used as a consequence for the following behavior(s) if these take place while on school grounds, while going to or from school, while coming or going to a school-sponsored event, during lunch period, whether on or off the campus, and while on another school campus.

Cause for Suspension:

► Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person; or

► Willfully used force or violence upon the person of another, except in self defense.

► Possessed, sold, or otherwise furnished any firearm, knife, explosive, or other dangerous object unless, in the case of possession of any object of this type, the student had obtained written permission to possess the item from a certificated school employee, which is concurred in by the principal or the principal’s designee. (This includes laser pointers.)

► Unlawfully possessed, used, sold, or otherwise furnished, or been under the influence of any controlled substance, listed in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11053) of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind.

► Unlawfully offered or arranged or negotiated to sell any controlled substance listed in chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11053) of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind, and then either sold, delivered, or otherwise furnished to any person another liquid, substance, or material and represented the liquid, substance, or material as a controlled substance, alcoholic beverage or intoxicant.

► Committed or attempted to commit robbery or extortion.

► Caused or attempted to cause damage to school property or private property.

► Stolen or attempted to steal school property or private property.

► Possessed or used tobacco, or any products containing tobacco or nicotine products, including, but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, miniature cigars, clove cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chew packets, and betel. However, this section does not prohibit use or possession by a pupil of his or her own prescription products.

►Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity.

► Unlawfully possessed or unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any drug paraphernalia, as defined in Section 11014.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

►Disrupted school activities or otherwise willfully defied the valid authority of supervisors, teachers, administrators, school officials, or other school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties.

► Knowingly receiving stolen school property or private property.

► Possessed an imitation firearm. As used in this section, “imitation firearm” means a replica of a firearm so substantially similar in physical properties as to lead a reasonable person to conclude that the replica is a firearm.

► Committed or attempted to commit a sexual assault as defined in Section 261, 266c, 286, 288a, or 289 of the Penal Code or committed sexual battery as defined in Section 243.4 of the Penal Code.

► Harassed, threatened or intimidated a pupil who is a complaining witness or witness in a school disciplinary proceeding for the purpose of either preventing that pupil from being a witness or retaliating against that pupil for being a witness or both.

► Unlawfully offered, arranged to sell, negotiated to sell, or sold the prescription drug Soma.

► Engaged in, or attempted to engage in, hazing as defined in Section 32050.

► Engaged in an act of bullying, including, but not limited to; bullying committed by means of an electronic act…directed specifically toward a pupil or school personnel.

► A pupil may not be suspended or expelled for any of the acts enumerated in this section, unless that act is related to school activity or school attendance occurring within a school under the jurisdiction of the superintendent or principal or occurring within any other school district. A pupil may be suspended or expelled for acts that are enumerated in this section an related to school activity or attendance that occur at any time, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(1) While on school grounds.

(2) While going to or coming from school.

(3) During the lunch period whether on or off the campus.

(4) During, or while going to or coming from, a school, sponsored activity.

► A pupil who aids or abets, as defined in Section 31 of the Penal Code, the infliction or attempted infliction of physical injury to another person may suffer suspension, but not expulsion, pursuant to this section, except that a pupil who had been adjudged by a juvenile court to have committed, as an aider and abettor, a crime of physical violence in which the victim suffered great bodily injury or serious bodily injury shall be subject to discipline pursuant to subdivision (a).

► As used in this section, “school property” includes, but is not limited to, electronic files and databases.

► A superintendent or principal may use his or her discretion to provide alternatives to suspension or expulsion, including, but not limited to, counseling and an anger management program, for a pupil subject to discipline under this section.

► Made terroristic threats, as defined, against school officials or school property, or both. (Education Code Section 48900.7)

► Committed sexual harassment as defined in Education Code Section 21205. This conduct must be considered by a reasonable person of the same gender as the victim to be sufficiently severe or pervasive to have a negative impact upon the individual’s academic performance or to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment. (Education Code Section 48900.3)

► Causes, attempted to cause, threatened to cause, or participated in an act of hate violence as defined in subdivision (e) of Education Code Section 233. This sub-section applies to pupils enrolled in any grades 4 to 12, inclusive. (Education Code Section 48900.3)

► Uses any electronic signaling device, including, but not limited to, paging and signaling equipment while on campus, while attending any school sponsored activity, or while under the supervision and control of any district employee, except… when a student at any grade level has the prior consent of the principal or the principal’s designee. The use of cell phones or other electronic devices whether for the purpose of voice or text communication or other purposes, i.e. photo-taking, shall be considered disruptive if done during class time or during other school events and in other designated school settings. (Education Code 48901.5)

TARDIES

Students are expected to arrive on campus by 8:10 a.m. Students who are tardy more than 10 minutes, need to report to the Attendance Office for a tardy slip.

Slater’s tardy policy is as follows: Any student that is tardy to a class will receive a Pride Page mark and a 30-minute detention which must be served after school or a brunch/lunch as determined by administration. Parents have 24 hours to excuse tardiness.

TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT 

The use of computers in the library, on campus, or in individual classrooms is considered a privilege. Students who purposefully damage the computer hardware or software or, who access inappropriate internet sites, will receive appropriate disciplinary consequences, as per the signed technology agreement.