Each student is responsible for following three basic rules established at the beginning of the school year:
- Respect yourself
- Respect others
- Obey any reasonable request by a staff member or adult volunteer in the school
Introduction
In all discipline cases the administration reserves the right to determine disciplinary consequences. In addition, host nation authority will prevail when students are involved in potential criminal matters to include, but not limited to: bullying, harassment, theft, vandalism and the possession of illegal substances or weapons. School administrators have the authority to conduct random and periodic searches of school property and to seize contraband items belonging to students. Administrators also have the authority to search student possessions and person when there is a reasonable suspicion that a student is in possession of prohibited items. Students may be disciplined based on evidence gathered through online, digital and surveillance equipment.
For discipline purposes, the school day begins the moment the student leaves their home to come to school and ends when they return.
Behavior Expectations
Teachers follow an assertive discipline plan to enforce their classroom rules. This plan generally includes:
- One‐to‐one counseling with the student
- Notification of parent; via phone or email indicating that a potential problem exists
- Arrangements for a parent conference
- Discipline referral to administration
Students who wish to clarify a situation with a staff member have an obligation to do so privately after class or after school. Students may not disrupt classrooms to settle differences of opinion, argue, or question a teacher's authority.
Each student is responsible for following four basic rules established at the beginning of the school year:
- Respect yourself
- Respect others
- Obey any reasonable request by a staff member or adult volunteer in the school
- Take responsibility for your own behavior
Detention by Teachers
Teachers may assign detention to students who disrupt or misbehave in class or fail to do the assigned classroom work. Teacher after school detention requires 24‐hour notice. Failure to attend a teacher’s detention will result in a referral to administration.
Detention by Administration
Detention may also be assigned by the administration on an as‐needed basis. Students will receive an email at the time a detention is assigned. The email will state the date of the detention and the reason for it (a copy will also be sent electronically to the sponsor). Students placed on detention must report to the assigned location with materials necessary to do assignments. The student must: (1) remain seated unless given permission to move, (2) remain silent and work the entire time. Students who miss an after-school detention will be assigned additional detentions or a Saturday school.
Suspension
Suspensions from 1 to 10 days require involvement of school administration, sponsor, and command officials. Students and parents will be notified of the reason for the student’s suspension. A letter of suspension will be sent home to the parents, the school liaison, and the district superintendent with the conditions of the suspension fully noted.
Suspensions are considered excused absences; therefore, suspended students have the privilege of making up work for credit. A condition of the suspension may be a referral to the Alcohol Substance Abuse Counselors (ASACs). Upon return to school, the student must contact his/her teachers to arrange make‐up work. As with any excused absence, students have an equal number of days to turn in the work. Parents may request work for extended suspensions. Assignments will be graded as though the student was in class.
During the time students are suspended, they may not be present at the school or attend any school‐sponsored activities. This includes weekend events that fall within the suspension period. Students who violate this prohibition from being at school or at school activities will have additional consequences. A parent conference will be requested prior to readmission. In addition, student athletes who are suspended may not participate in the next scheduled DoDEA‐E competition as stated in the DoDEA‐E Interscholastic Athletic Policy.
A formal Discipline Committee Hearing, governed by DoDEA Regulation 2051.1, will be held in the event that a student is suspended for more than ten days.
Weapons
“Weapons, including but not limited to “dangerous weapons” as defined in section 930(g)(2) of 18 U.S.C. (reference (j)), are items carried, presented, or used in the presence of other persons with the intent of threatening or harming any individual. Also included are items that are capable of causing death or serious bodily injury as defined at section 1365(h)(3) of 18 U.S.C. (reference (k)). They include, but are not limited to: guns, ammunition, knives of any blade length, swords, razors, box or carpet cutters, slingshots, nun chucks, blackjacks, brass/metal knuckles, throwing stars; any flailing instrument such as: a fighting chain, heavy studded or chain belt, or objects designed to project a missile; explosives, mace, pepper spray, or any other similar propellant; or any other object or instrument that is made or used in a manner to either inflict or threaten to inflict bodily injury or instill fear (e.g., replica/look-alike gun, baseball bat, laser pointer, letter opener, etc.).” Students are not permitted to have weapons or replica weapons in their possession at school, during school- sponsored events or while traveling on DoDEA provided transportation.
A student may be disciplined, to include removal from school (i.e., suspension, expulsion, or out of school placement) in appropriate circumstances; when a preponderance of the evidence demonstrates that the student has engaged in any of the following acts of misconduct:
Possessing, using, or transferring to another person any dangerous weapon (e.g., any firearm, knife, explosive, incendiary device, or dangerous object) at the school or at a school-sponsored activity. A minimum 1-year expulsion is required for the possession of firearms.
Expulsion
Expulsion from LHS will result from any serious offense to include, but not limited to: weapon possession and/or use, drug possession and/or use, bodily harm to another person or any criminal act. School administrators have an obligation to keep military or civilian authorities informed of serious or repeated misbehavior when it is apparent such actions contribute adversely to American reputation and position overseas.
Behavior Policies and Disciplinary Action
Active Participation
Students have a responsibility to be active participants in the learning process. Non-participation can result in student/parent conference and/or administrative referral. Sleeping or napping in class is not acceptable. Teachers will notify the nurse who can counsel the student and contact the parents for a referral for a medical evaluation if necessary.
Alcohol Use / Possession
Students may not consume, or be in possession of, alcohol during the school day nor at any school event. Suspension will result. A referral will be made to the Adolescent Substance Abuse Counselor (ASAC).
Bullying
Bullying is a pattern of aggressive, intentional or deliberately hostile behavior that occurs repeatedly and over time. Bullying behaviors normally fall into three categories, physical, emotional, and verbal. Actions may include but are not limited to: intimidation, assault; extortion; oral or written threats; teasing; putdowns; name‐calling; threatening looks; gestures, or actions; rumors; false accusations; hazing, social isolation, and cyber‐bullying.
Complaint / Investigation Procedure
Students should see an administrator to file a complaint if they believe they have been the victim of bullying behavior. School administrators are responsible for investigating each complaint, determining if the complaint is legitimate in accordance with the above definition, and taking appropriate corrective action.
Intervention / Consequences
Reports of bullying are taken seriously and shall be dealt with quickly and effectively. If a student is found guilty of bullying behavior the consequences shall depend on both the results of the investigation and the severity of the incident. Consequences may include but are not limited to mediation, a parent conference, counseling, detention, suspension, expulsion, or referral to local law enforcement agencies.
Cheating
LHS has a no‐tolerance policy regarding cheating. Students found exhibiting behaviors commonly associated with cheating will be subject to discipline. Those behaviors commonly associated with cheating include talking/cell phone/electronic device use during a test, copying answers or being in possession of answers for assignments, or giving answers for assignments to another student. Plagiarism is a form of cheating and is not acceptable. Copying information and pasting it into personal work without giving credit to the source is also plagiarism (this is not all‐inclusive). Additionally, students involved in cheating will receive a “0” grade for the assignment and the parents will be notified by the classroom teacher.
Electronic Devices
Students needing to use the telephone during the school day may use mobile phones outside while traveling between classes or during lunch. Teachers may allow students to use their mobile phones in the classroom with the teacher’s permission. If a teacher determines that a student is not following the phone policy, the teacher will issue a warning, or ask the student to hand over their mobile phone. If it is a first offense, the student will get the phone after class from the teacher. Second or following offenses will be handled in coordination with administration and will include disciplinary action that could result in loss of the item until the end of term.
Food/Drink
In order to maintain a clean attractive campus, students are expected to maintain clean hallways. Students will not be allowed to eat in the hallways or auditorium unless under the guidance of a staff member. Generally, no food is permitted in classrooms unless a teacher is holding a meeting during lunch or in conjunction with a curriculum related activity. Food sales are allowed before school and at lunch. There are to be NO sales during class time. Students will not be allowed to bring open cans and beverage cups into the hallways. Students are encouraged to stay well hydrated using water in screw top bottles. Closed bottles will be allowed in the hallways and classroom.