Friendly Hills Elementary School

Other Rules, Guidelines
& Discipline Policies

Smoking Policy

State law, as well as educational code, prohibits smoking on any public school property. Please help us set a good health example by refraining from smoking on the grounds of Friendly Hills and any other school property.

Dress Code

Our dress code is simply for safety and to avoid any disruptions in class. The following items are not allowed at school. Please assist us in implementing these guidelines.

Open toed or open healed sandals or thongs as they can result in serious foot injury (the toes must be covered by the make of the shoe, along with a strap securing the shoe on the back of the foot).
Hoop and dangling earrings, as they are unsafe on the playground.
Short shorts (inseam must be a minimum of 4"), spaghetti straps (straps need to be a minimum of 1" wide), crop tops (mid-section should not be exposed), extremely baggy pants, tattoos, wallet chains and body piercing are not allowed and are inappropriate school attire, as they become distractions in the classroom. Other fashion items or trends, which might create disruptions, may also be limited at the school's discretion.
Brightly colored hair of unnatural colors or unusually spiked hair are not allowed as it may cause a distraction in the classroom.
Clothing that promotes alcohol use, illegal substances, gang membership, violence or contains obscene or suggestive language or illustrations are not allowed.
We would like students to be able to wear hats if they choose, however, they need to remember to take them off inside buildings and to wear them facing forward.
Clothing that allows under garments to show should not be worn to school.
Body piercing, other than the ear, is not allowed at school.

Fieldtrip Policy

In order for students to fully benefit from the educational experience, no siblings, of any age, will be allowed on the trip.
Chaperones must be at least 25 years old or the parent of the child if under the age of 25.
Only chaperones may enter or attend the fieldtrip functions.
Only one adult, per family, may attend the fieldtrip (where chaperones are limited).
Selection of chaperones, along with the number of chaperones, will be at the discretion of the teacher and/or the guidelines set by the facility.
The teacher's disciplinary plan will be supported by the chaperone.
Allowing chaperones to drive their own vehicle is at the discretion of the teacher, based on the fieldtrip. Please note: chaperones may only transport their own child if personal vehicles are allowed. Students are not allowed to ride with parents of friends or relatives.

General Behavior Guidelines

No dangerous objects brought to school.
No drugs, alcohol, tobacco or look-a-likes brought to school.
No class or school:

disruption (acting out in class)
disrespect (talking back to adults)
defiance (not following directions)

No pushing, tripping, hitting, throwing rocks, fighting or hurting others.
No stealing or destroying property.
No bad language, threatening others or insulting others.
No lying or cheating.
No bringing of toys or other objects to school without permission.
Stay in assigned areas. Play safely.
Eat in designated areas. No chewing gum.

Bus Rules

Playground and Game Rules

Discipline Policy

The teachers and administration have developed a policy which focuses on the student and helping to change behavior when it conflicts with the instruction in the classroom. The school policy generally follows this routine:

The classroom teacher sets up class rules and procedures, including consequences for behavior.
Time is set aside for the student and teacher to discuss the problem.
If the behavior becomes serious, a parent conference may be scheduled.
The student may be referred to the principal if the regular classroom measures have not changed the behavior.
The principal may have a conference with the student. If necessary, the parent will be called and a referral sent home.
A behavior contract may be developed following a conference with the parents.
Suspension results when there is a serious infraction of Education Code 48900, which includes a number of specific infractions seen on the suspension page.
Expulsion is the most serious consequence, as it denies the student the privilege of attending Friendly Hills Elementary.

Discipline/Referral Policy

Referrals are issued for violations of Education Code 48900 (A-M) and for infractions of school rules. Students are seen by the principal for every referral. All referrals are sent home with the student. Phone calls to parents will be attempted either by the staff member reporting the violation or the principal.

The following consequence options for referrals are assigned to the student by the administrator handling the referral. We wish to use the most effective intervention: they are arranged, below by increasing seriousness. There are Education Code offenses for which students may be suspended or considered for expulsion, even on first referral.

Parent Contact: Phone call, or if unable to reach anyone, a message or note may be sent home with the student. If no response is made a letter will be mailed home.
Essay: Student will write a brief essay regarding the infraction. Students spend recess time completing the assignment. They are supervised by a school empoyee. If students misbehave during this consequence, teachers are notified. If misbehavior continues on subsequent days, referral may be written.
Lunch Detention: Lunch is eaten quietly in a restricted area of the cafeteria/MPR under close supervision of an employee. Students are to have no contact with others. They remain in this area while their class mates are dismissed to the playground. If students misbehave during this consequence, they may be asked to pick up trash in the cafeteria or referral may be written.
"Time Away": Relocation of a student to another teacher's room for the balance of the day or for the duration of a particular activity. The student follows the schedule of the room to which he or she is relocated. This may occur with or without referral. If a referral is written, this consequence is called "in-house suspension". If a student misbehaves during this consequence, additional restriction will occur, suspension or a parent may be asked to pick up his/her child early.
Teacher Suspendion: Suspension of a student to the office, with work, for the balance of the day. A teacher suspension is governed by Education Code, Section 48910, and may be extended for a second day if the teacher is able to conference with the parent. If the student is disruptive and defiant in the office, parents may be asked to pick up the child early.
Campus Beautification: Students are asigned to sweep sidewalks or pick up campus litter after they have finished eating lunch. The noon supervisor verifies that the child performed the work. If a student misbehaves during this consequence, further restriction will be assigned.
Alternative Classroom Restriction: Students come to the office as soon as they arrive before school. They are encouraged to bring a book to read. They sign in and remain quietly in the office until dismissed. During recess and lunch, students are assigned to a lower grade classroom where they may work as a tutor. This option is used when a majority of a student's misbehavior occurs on the playground, going from place to place, or in the cafeteria. If a student misbehaves and disrupts the office of the classroom during this consequence, he/she may be suspended.
Suspension: A suspension is removal from school for up to 5 days at a time. They are earned for violations of Education Code 48900. Suspensions are formal, legal documents and my only be imposed for up to 20 days in one school year. There are 5 areas for which students may be suspended on the first offfense. Suspensions may not be appealed, but a conference may be requested of the parent. State law requires parents to attend such a conference for each suspension.
Behavior Contract: When detention, conferencing, restriction and suspension have failed to bring about the desired improvement in behavior, these contracts are used by administrators as a last resort before placing a student before the Board of Education for expulsion. These are signed by both the student and the parent and may be part of an SCT process. Usually full campus restriction is an automatic part of such a contract. This document may also be used in a limited fashion when adults see a pattern of continued aggression developing between two students. Students are asked to agree that they will have on contact with each other.
Expulsion: Expulsion is the removal of a student from the school district for up to one year for serious or continued violations or Education Code48900. these occur after a formal hearing before the Board of Education. Expulsions may be appealed to the County Board of Education.

Discipline Matrix (Grades K-6)

In general, the goal of Friendly Hills is to fit the consequence with the misbehavior, however, when students continually misbehave at school, they become a disruption to the learning process and further steps may need to be taken. The following is a general guideline for the process that the school will follow in cases of ongoing discipline problems. All referrals will result in an attempt to contact parents or guardians. A serious offense may require a stronger consequence than listed below.

First Referral-

Second Referral-

Third Referral-

Fourth Referral-

Fifth Referral-

Sixth Referral-

Seventh Referral-

Eighth Referral-

Nineth Referral-

Student conference, essay or recess restriction

One day In-house restriction

One day In-house restriction

One day out of school suspension

One day out of school suspension

Threee days out of school suspension

Five days out of school suspension

Five days out of school suspension

Five days out of school suspension and a recomendation for expulsion

For Grades 7-8, the discipline matrix will include a student conference, essay or restiction for the first referral. Referral #2-7 will include days of suspension as deemed appropriate by the administration. Referral #8 will include a recommendation for expulsion and/or removal of student from Friendly Hills. The "Clean Sweep" policy will be in affect, as well. (A copy of the "Clean Sweep" citation is included in the printed handbook). If a student is issued a "Clean Sweep" citation, the student and his/her parent will be required to appear before a court appointed judge where a fine will be required.

When students have avoided a referral for a period of 6 months, the principal may reduce the next consequence at his her discretion.

Violation	First Offense	Second Offense	Third Offense
Fighting	1 day suspension	3 days suspension	5 days suspension
Swearing	Conference and call	Essay and recess detn.	1 day suspension
Sexual Harassment	Conference and call	1 day suspension	5 days suspension
Dangerous Object	1 day suspension	3 days suspension	5 days suspension/expulsion
Theft	5 days suspension/sheriff notification/"Clean Sweep"
Weapon ossesion	5 days suspension/expulsion/sheriff notification/"Clean Sweep"
Drug or Alcohol	5 days suspension/expulsion/sheriff notification/"Clean Sweep"

Suspension Out-Of-School

Suspension out-of-school means temporary removal of a student from attendance at school and at all school-related activities in order to limit the extent of distractions to the orderly operation of the school, and/or to provide the student and opportunity to improve his/her behavior. The length of out-of-school suspension shall be from one (1) to five (5) days, as determined by the principal or designee based on the nature and severity of the offense. While suspended out-of-school, the student:

Is not to be on school campus at anytime for any reason unless accompanied by his or her parent/guardian.
Is not to participate in, nor attend any school extra curricular activity of any kind.

In accordance with Board Policy 5121.1, students suspended out-of-school are expected to make up any assignments or tests missed while suspended out-of-school. Students shall be given at least one (1) school day to make up work missed for each day of suspension. Upon satisfactory competion of work missed, student shall be given full credit for the work.

Only the principal of the school, the lead teacher or the superintendent of schools may place a student on out-of-school suspension.

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