Expectations for Student Conduct

Expectations of Student Behavior

The following criteria apply at school and to all school related activities:
Each student has the right to learn.
Each teacher has the right to teach.
Students, staff, and parents have a responsibility to support learning.

School wide Discipline Rules

     Respect the rights and property of others.
     Follow directions from staff members the first time.
     Dishonest behavior (lying, cheating, and forgery) is not tolerated.
     Appropriate language must be used at all times.
     Maintain a safe and clean environment.
     Gang like behavior or apparel is unacceptable.
     Students should be in their assigned classroom when the tardy bell rings.
     No gum chewing on campus. Students who chew gum will be issued an after school detention.
     Students may not sell any items on campus.
     The Black Mountain Middle School parents, students, and staff adopted the following guidelines in an effort to maintain a safe learning environment that preserves instructional time.

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Phones

•  Phones must remain off and concealed during school hours, 8:00am-2:45p.m. (including field trips) and when students are on a school bus.
•  Cell phones may be used only before/after school hours outside the main gates.
•  Violation of the cell phone policy will result in confiscation of phone by school staff. The phone will be held for parent/guardian pick-up. A referral will be made to the Assistant Principal for each offense. Progressive discipline will be used for repeated offenses. Repeated violations of phone policy may result in permanent loss of phone privileges on campus. Refer to Progressive Discipline chart.
•  Owner will maintain financial responsibility for loss or damage of cell phone.
•  If phone has camera, please refer to page 13 "Prohibited Items".

Messages to Students/Parents (Emergency Phone Calls) 

Students needing to make an emergency call home must ask permission from the front office. There are phones available for students to use in the front office. Students should ask for a pass from their teacher. Phone calls are not an excuse to be late to class.
Only emergency telephone messages for student(s) will be taken, please discuss medical appointments, pickup times, and other nonemergency information with your student(s) before school.

Academic Honesty Policy

The Governing Board believes that academic honesty and personal integrity are fundamental components of a student's educational experience. The expectation of all Black Mountain students is for work to be completed independently unless a teacher directs otherwise. The Board expects that students will demonstrate acts of academic honesty at all times and will not engage in acts of:

     cheating on tests
     fabrication/falsification
     forgery
     unauthorized collaboration
     plagiarism
     theft/alteration of materials or equipment
The Board intends that the District data network, Internet, and other online resources provided, be used to support the instructional program and further student learning. Users of the District's computing and network resources are required to use such resources responsibly, ethically, and in compliance with usage agreements outlined in District policy.

Disciplinary actions for violations of the rules of the academic honesty policy are as follows:
1st Offense will result in:
     Referral to assistant principal.
     Parent conference/contact by teacher.
     '0' on the assignment or test.
     "Unsatisfactory" grade in citizenship.
     Student is ineligible for 6 weeks.

2nd Offense will result in:
     Referral to assistant principal.
     Parent conference with teacher and assistant principal.
     '0' on the assignment or test.
     "Unsatisfactory" grade in citizenship.
     Student is ineligible for 6 weeks.
     Removal from any and all elected or appointed leadership positions for the remainder of the school year.

3rd Offense will result in:
     Referral to the assistant principal.
     '0' on the assignment or test.
    "Unsatisfactory" grade in citizenship for the remainder of that progress notice and trimester grade.
     ISS/Suspension.
     Student is ineligible for 6 weeks.
     Parent/teacher conference with an administrator.

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Fighting at School and/or Promoting a Fight

Students may be suspended for fighting. It is important to know that students who provoke other students to fight will also be disciplined. This may include students "cheering" students they see fighting, filming or pressuring another student to fight. If a student sees a fight about to erupt or in progress, the student should find a staff member or adult to help.

Littering

Students caught littering will be assigned trash cleanup detail, lunch detention, after school detention, or In School Suspension.

Lunch Rules:

•   Lunch Rules: Always walk.
•   Use good table manners; leave area clean and neat.
•   Respect boundaries; stay within red lines.
•   Keep food and drink inside red line areas.
•   Lockers are off limits during the lunch periods.
•   Quietly, wait your turn in lunch lines.
•   Use restrooms boys 300 & girls 400.

Gambling

Gambling in any form is prohibited by law. Therefore, card playing, pitching coins, and any other form of gambling will result in disciplinary action.

Illegal Substances

Illegal substances are forbidden on campus. Students found in possession of, using, or transferring drugs, alcohol, or controlled substances are subject to discipline consequences according to School Board policy and CA Ed. laws.

Profanity, Vulgarity, or Obscenity

Use of profanity, vulgarity, negative name calling or obscenity is offensive and will not be accepted or tolerated at school or at a school activity.

These actions are a statement of disrespect and because they often precede serious conflict, such behavior is not tolerated at Black Mountain Middle School. Disciplinary action will result should a student use this type of language.

Prohibited Items 

All electronics such as cameras, video cameras, iPODs, MP3 players, as well as rollerblades, skateboards*, bikes*, laser pens, aerosols, liquid correcting fluid, are prohibited on campus. Items will be confiscated and available for pickup in the Assistant Principals office by the parent. Repeat offenders will be subject to disciplinary action.

*Bicycles and Skateboards are to be locked up and are not to be ridden on campus.

Smoking

State law prohibits students from smoking or using any tobacco or nicotine products on school grounds or while under the supervision of school authorities. Possession of tobacco and/or nicotine products is also a prohibited act. First violation will be suspension; second violation suspension and fine. Lighters and matches are also prohibited; students in possession will be disciplined.

Theft and Property Destruction

Theft and property destruction may result in police action and possible prosecution. Restitution must be made and disciplinary action will be taken. The parent or guardian is legally responsible to pay for any losses due to proven theft by the student or damage of public property caused by the student. District programs and activities shall be free from discrimination with respect to gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ethnic group, marital or parental status, and physical or mental disability. Character defamation and racially oriented offenses will not be tolerated and are subject to strict discipline.

Hazing

California State Law strictly forbids hazing or any form of initiation, which is degrading. No student shall conspire to engage in hazing, participate in hazing, or commit any act that causes or is likely to cause bodily danger, physical harm, or personal degradation, or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm to any fellow student or other person. Persons violating this policy shall be subject to district discipline, misdemeanor penalties and forfeiture of entitlements.

Hate Harassment or Hate Motivated Behavior

The District and State of California define hate motivated behavior as actions or statements that are hostile or threatening toward another person based on their:

• Race
• Ethnicity
• National Origin
• Immigrant Status
• Gender
• Disability Sexual Orientation
• Religious Beliefs
• Cultural Characteristics
• Age
• Physical Condition

   

How do you know if it is Hate Motivated Behavior?

• If the victim perceives or feels it is threatening or hate motivated.
• If someone who witnesses the act or hears the statement has reasonable belief that it was hate motivated.
• Are there different types or levels of Hate Motivated Behavior? Are the consequences different for each one?
• The District's Hate Behavior policy outlines 3 different levels of behavior that are unacceptable.

Hate Violence

These behaviors include any actions that cause harm, attempting to cause harm, or threatening to cause harm based on someone's characteristics or status. It also includes any threats of hostility that have historical significance such as burning crosses, swastikas, or images that threaten to cause harm. Racial slurs, name calling, and bigoted epithets along with a threat to cause harm are also considered Hate Violence. Consequences are suspension and/or expulsion as well as police notifications and arrest. Hate Violence is the most serious offense because it not only breaks school rules, it is also against the law.

Hate Motivated Intimidation or Harassment 

These are actions, remarks or statements that create a negative or hostile learning environment but do not include physical harm or threat. Examples are name calling, racial slurs, demeaning jokes, physical or verbal harassment, offensive drawings or word(s) used in graffiti, paintings or on clothing. Hate Motivated Intimidation can also be the repeated use of insensitive language or inappropriate remarks as well as defacing or destroying posted materials or information about protected groups on campus. Consequences of Hate Motivated Intimidation depend on the seriousness and frequency of the offense and may include suspension and expulsion when other means of correction have failed to change the behavior. In cases when the victim feels they are being harassed, police notification may result in arrest.

Insensitive or Inappropriate Remarks and Behavior 

These types of acts do not threaten or are absent of hostility. These include demeaning or degrading statements or phrases between students who are not doing it to be harmful or hateful. Consequences for Insensitive or Inappropriate Remarks or Behavior may include counseling, detention, parent phone calls or conferences, behavior contracts, etc. Students may be suspended for repeated offenses that have been addressed but continue to occur.

What do I do if I am a victim of a Hate Motivated Behavior or Hate Harassment?
If you or someone you know is a victim of Hate Motivated Behavior or Hate Harassment, you need to REPORT it immediately to a teacher, counselor or administrator. Even if you are not the victim, it is important you report anything that is considered Hate Motivated or Hate Behavior.

Sexual Harassment

PUSD recognizes that harassment on the basis of sex or gender is a violation of Federal and State discrimination laws as well as District Policy and Administrative Procedures. The District is committed to providing students with an academic environment free from sexual harassment, and will not tolerate such conduct on the part of any District employee, student, or other person at school or at a school sponsored activity.

Any person with a complaint of sexual harassment suffered by a student should implement the complaint process contained in the administrative procedures. Retaliation or reprisals for reporting any incidents of sexual harassment, making any complaints, or being involved in the investigation process, are not permitted and will not be tolerated.

PUSD strictly prohibits harassment based upon gender or sex, against any student in the educational environment. Prohibited sexual harassment includes unwelcome conduct based upon sex or gender by someone who is of the opposite or same gender, a fellow student, a teacher or other employee of the District, a District administrator, or any other person, within the school, school environment or school sponsored activity.

The law defines "sexual harassment" to mean unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature, made by someone from or in the educational setting, under any of the following conditions:

• Submission to the conduct is explicitly or implicitly made a term or condition of an individual's academic status or progress; or
• Submission, or rejection of, the conduct by the individual is used as a basis of academic decisions affecting the individual; or
• The conduct has the purpose or effect of having a negative impact upon the individual's academic performance or of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment; or
• Submission to, or rejection of, the conduct by the individual is used as a basis for any decision affecting the individual regarding benefits and services, honors, programs or activities available at or through the educational institution. Examples of unwelcome conduct which may be sexual harassment include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Deliberate written or oral comments, gestures, or physical contacts of a sexual nature or demeaning to one's gender which are unwelcome or interfere with school productivity;
• Implicit or explicit sexual behavior by a fellow student, District employee, or other person within the school environment which has the effect of controlling, influencing, or otherwise affecting the school environment;
• Unwelcome suggestive, vulgar, or obscene letters, notes, posters, calendars, or other visual products, or derogatory comments, slurs, and/or jokes of a sexual nature.

 Consequences for Inappropriate Behavior and Detention

Detentions are after school and/or at lunch, and are usually served the following day it is given. Failure to serve detentions will result in more serious consequences.

Under California law, California schools may detain a student for up to one-hour (60 minutes). Reference California Education Code Section 44807.5 and California Administrative Code Title 5, Section 353.

Other Consequences

Other consequences may be invoked when deemed appropriate including the following:

• Student initiated call to parents informing of referral.
• Student sent to another teacher's classroom.
• Exclusion from school activities.
• Referral to school counselors.
• Guidance council or Academic Performance Council.
• Parent accompanying student to class.
• Program reevaluation.
• Referral to School Attendance Review Board (SARB).
• SDPD Contact.
• Extended After School Detention
• In School Suspension.
• Suspension. Expulsion.

Classroom Discipline Policies

Teachers have standard classroom discipline plans in their classrooms stating classroom rules and consequences for positive and negative behavior. Each teacher at the beginning of the school year reviews this plan with students.

The student dress code is mandated to provide a safe distraction free learning environment. Clothes should not contain images that promote guns, violence, alcohol, gangs or drugs. Boys pants should fit around the waist, No Sagging. Straps on girls tops should be two inches wide. Skirts should be long enough that they reach the tips of your fingers when arms extended. Shorts should reach the fingers of a closed fist with the arms extended.

Each year Black Mountain Middle School plans a variety of co-curricular and extracurricular activities in which we encourage students to participate to develop a personal sense of "connectedness" to school. Activities include, but may not be limited to, assemblies, dances, club events, field trips and end of the year activities. Students must meet the eligibility standards listed below to participate in activities.

Students are eligible if:

• All citizenship and work habits marks on progress reports/report cards are "N" or better.
• Discipline record meets standards set below.

Academic and Behavior Standards

• Any "U" in "citizenship" and/or "work habits" on progress reports or report cards will forfeit student eligibility for the next grading period. Academy students will be ineligible for N's or U's.
• Any discipline referral resulting in four or more consecutive After School detentions, In School Suspension, Extended After School Detention or Suspension will forfeit student eligibility (loss of privileges) for the current six-week grading period.
• All financial obligations are to be paid in full for students to remain eligible.
• Any student receiving a "U" on the third trimester report card may be placed on the ineligibility list for the first grading period of the next school year. A student receiving a discipline referral at the end of the third trimester resulting in four or more consecutive After School detentions, In School Suspension, or Suspension may be placed on the ineligibility list for the first grading period of the next school year.

Promotion Ceremony

Students "At Risk" will participate in an Academic Performance Council meeting with their teachers, parents and administration. At the meeting a contract will be drafted and signed by all parties. The contract will be reviewed by school leadership 3 weeks prior to the promotion ceremony. If the team determines that the student has not met the contract requirements the student will not participate in the ceremony.

Students demonstrating unsatisfactory behavior may be considered ineligible for any activity at any time by administration. Individual student eligibility may undergo review at any time at administrator's discretion.

Daily Attendance

When your child is absent from school, please be sure to call our attendance hotline at 484-1300 option 1 by 9:00 a.m. on the day of each absence. This call must be made by a parent or legal guardian. Please be aware that, per district policy, 12 absences within a school year are considered "excessive". If it is suggested by a physician that your child stay home from school due to illness, please be sure to obtain a medical note and turn it into the attendance office upon the student's return to school. It is recommended that all medical notes be processed within 5 days upon your child's return to school. This will assist us in accurate record keeping. Absences that are cleared with a medical note do not count towards the district's "excessive" absence policy.

For each day of absence, the student is granted an equal number of days to make up the work. Parents should request assignments from teachers or by checking MyPlan.

Should there be a planned absence of five days or more, please see the attendance assistant as soon as possible to set up a homework contract. This contract allows the student to complete work that they would be doing if they were in class and helps the school continue to receive funding from the state. A contract should also be used for extended illnesses, planned surgeries etc. A minimum of five days is required to set up an OCIS contract; a weeks's notice or more is required. Home tutors may be appropriate for some extended medical problems. Please notify us as soon as possible if you feel your child may be eligible for such support.

Activities

Students must attend school on the day of an after school activity in order to attend/participate in the activity.

Students Tardy to School

Frequently arriving late to school ensures a student will miss valuable instructional time and will negatively impact their education. Please assist the school in ensuring your child receives the education they deserve.    Students arriving late to school must report to the Attendance Office with a note from a parent or guardian explaining the reason for arriving late. These notes are to be taken to the Attendance Office, NOT to the first period teacher. Parents may excuse up to 3 tardies per semester, additional tardies will result in additional consequences from trash pick-up to In School Suspension.

• Students have 4 minutes to move from class to class. Students are expected to be in their seats prepared to learn when the bell rings.
• Students tardy to class will be assigned a detention by the teacher to be served the following day. A detention slip is given to the student as notification to the parent with a duplicate copy sent to the office.
• Students with more than six tardies will be referred to the Assistant Principal for disciplinary action which may include additional detentions and the loss of privileges.
• Students staying after class for any reason must obtain a pass to their next class which states the exact time they left before going to their next class.

Early Release 

If you need to pick your student up from school before the end of the school day, please call the attendance hotline before school on that morning, specifying the time you will pick them up, so that we can have them in the office waiting for you. If you determine during the day that you will need to pick up your child early, please, call (858) 484-1300 ext 3906 as soon as possible. This will prevent delays for you (such as trying to find your child while he/she is running cross-country) and will help us to minimize interruptions to the classroom learning environment.

Health Office

Students must have a pass from a staff member before going to the Health Office. The health technician should be kept informed of any special health matters.  

Medication

We are not permitted to dispense any medications, prescriptions or over the counter medication, to a student without a signed note from HIS/HER PARENT & DOCTOR. All medication must be kept in the health office. After the required forms are brought to school, a parent should bring the prescribed medication in a labeled prescription container to school. Students are not allowed to bring or carry the medication with them. This applies to all over the counter medications including aspirin, ibuprofen, and cold medications. Students in possession of any medication are subject to consequences outlined on page 11. It is the responsibility of the student to come into the office and take his/her medication as needed under the supervision of office personnel. Students with minor injuries, such as scratches, may obtain bandages from classroom teachers.

Medical Excuses

Sometimes a doctor or parents will wish to request that a student be excused from class activities for medical reasons. If a student has a medical condition that prevents them from participating in school activities, please contact the Health Office at 484-1300 ext. 3908.
For additional information regarding medical excuses and P.E., please see the PHYSICAL EDUCATION section.

Do you need to get an item or message to your child?

Items dropped off by parents will be located in the front office. Students will be notified that they have an item to pick up. Notices are ONLY sent the period prior to lunch and during the last period of the day.

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Lockers & Locks

Lockers are issued for the convenience of students at the beginning of the year. They are the property of the school. Students may be held liable for any damage to lockers.
The school and district are not liable for articles placed within the locker. The school is not responsible for any materials lost or taken from lockers. Articles within the lockers are the sole responsibility of the individual who has been assigned the locker. Students found to be writing on or defacing lockers will be subject to disciplinary action. Defacing lockers is considered vandalism, and restitution must be made. Lockers may be searched at any time by BMMS administration.

Lockers are assigned by the front office. 
Combination locks are available for purchase from the office and may be used for the three-year period students attend BMMS. The cost is $7.00 for a new lock, $3.00 for a used, if available. 

Electronics (MP3, eReaders & Cameras)

All electronics are discouraged at school as they often end up stolen or damaged. The school and the district accept no responsibility for lost or stolen items.
Electronic books (i.e. Kindle or Nooks) may be used in classrooms if permitted by the teacher or in specific areas of the library. They are not to be out in common areas such as the quad. Electronics (including Phones and smart watches) may only be used before and after school outside the school gates. Cameras are not permitted on campus. Students using cell phone cameras will have them confiscated and held for parents to pick-up, they may also face disciplinary consequences.

Passes

Students are required to have an approved BMMS hall pass in their possession any time they are outside the classroom during class periods.

Lost & Found

All clothing articles found at BMMS are placed in a box outside the Administration building. Jewelry and other valuables are at the Front Office. All items not claimed are donated to charity at the end of every trimester.

Library

Our library provides access to a variety of print and electronic resource materials. Computers are available for student use. The BMMS Library is open daily on school days according to the following schedule:
Monday: 7:30 AM 3:30 PM 
Tuesday: 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM  
Wednesday: 8:50 AM - 3:30 PM  
Thursday: 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM  
Friday: 7:30 AM - 2:45 PM 

Students must have their current BMMS ID card in order to check out any book. A maximum of three books may be checked out to a student. There are no fines for overdue library books. Students may print out assignments from the library computers. Printing costs 10 cents for black/white and 25 cents for color.

In order to facilitate all students' use of the library, certain standards of behavior are expected and enforced.

• Students must behave in a manner that allows everyone to work productively.
• Eating or drinking (including water) is not allowed in the library.
• Students are to treat all library materials with respect and care. Fines are issued when school property is damaged or lost.
• Students with library obligations greater than 2 weeks overdue may be placed on the ineligibility list for assemblies and other activities.

Transportation

Buses: It is a privilege, not a right, to ride the bus.
Students must obey bus drivers and observe all of the following safety rules in accordance with District Policy:

• Students must conduct themselves at all times in a manner which shows respect for property and consideration for others. Actions such as littering, spitting, throwing objects at, within or out of the bus, vandalism, or harassment of others will not be tolerated.
• Behave in an orderly manner at the bus stop. When you see the bus coming, move back six feet from the stop and line up for loading. Enter/exit the bus in an orderly manner; pushing or shoving on the bus or in line for the bus is not allowed.
• Animals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects, breakable containers, skateboards, weapons, or any object that could be hazardous will not be transported. Guide dogs are allowed on the bus.
• Students must remain seated from the time they board the bus until they arrive at their destination and the bus door is opened. Seats may be assigned at any time.
• All parts of the body must be kept inside the bus.
• Eating, gum chewing, drinking, and smoking are not permitted on the bus.
• Avoid touching the emergency exit and driver operated mechanisms.
• Do not disturb the driver and/or other students. Talk quietly; make no unnecessary noise. Be absolutely quiet when approaching and crossing railroad tracks.
• Profanity, vulgarity, and obscene gestures are not permitted.
• Students must be fully attired, including shoes. Spiked or cleated shoes shall not be worn.
• Bus passes, tickets, or fees must be displayed each time a student enters the bus. Use the correct, assigned bus.
• Students are not allowed to cross behind the bus at any time.

Activity Buses

Students are not allowed on the activity bus without an activity bus pass.

•  Consequences: Failure to comply with these rules of safety may result in the following: 1st Offense: Warning
•  2nd Offense: Bus Safety School
•  3rd Offense: 5 school days bus suspension
•  4th Offense: 10 school days bus suspension
•  5th Offense: 40 school days bus suspension
•  6th Offense: bus suspension for remainder of year

Bicycles & Skateboards

Students who bring their bikes or skateboards to school must lock them in the bike/skateboard rack area. They are not to be ridden on BMMS campus or Sunset Hills campus at any time. BMMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGED OR STOLEN BICYCLES, SKATEBOARDS OR SCOOTERS.