Patriot high school

The school must seek to protect the rights of all young persons to an education and provide safeguards for the health, safety, and rights of the individual student. In establishing an orderly school environment, the school has the right to expect reasonable and self-disciplined behavior from each student. Students will assume the responsibility for learning and will exhibit conduct that does not infringe upon the rights of another. The Prince William School Board holds all students responsible for appropriate conduct as defined in the Prince William County Public Schools “Code of Behavior.”

All students are oriented to the “Code of Behavior” and are able to access the document via the internet on www.pwcs.edu. Parents should read the “Code of Behavior” to view the complete description/explanation of infractions and student conduct. A limited number of paper copies are received by each school.

Student Removal from Class (Temporary or Permanent)

A staff member with documented attempts of correction may request administration remove a student who is repeatedly disruptive from that particular class. The process for removal from class is on a case-by-case basis. Resolution will be determined in a collaborative manner by staff and administration.

Morning Detention

Morning detention will be held on Wednesdays from 6:45 until 7:24 a.m. and is a consequence for repeated tardiness to school. In some cases, the day of the week may change due to unforeseen circumstances (i.e. weather related delays/cancellations).

After School Detention

Detention will be held on Wednesdays from 2:15 until 4:15 p.m. Students must arrange for transportation home from detention. In some cases, the day of the week may change due to unforeseen circumstances (i.e. weather related delays/cancellations).

Saturday School Detention

Detention will be held on Saturdays from 8 to 11 a.m. throughout the school year.

Social Probation

Students who violate school policies may be placed on social probation. Social probation prohibits students from attending/participating in after school and/or extracurricular activities without prior approval from his or her administrator. This probation is assigned by the administrator on a case-by-case basis for varying lengths of time.

Out-of-School Suspension

A student who violates school rules and/or procedures may receive out-of-school suspension. The student may not be on any Prince William County School property, including after school activities, during the suspension period.

Long-Term Suspension

This is an out-of-school suspension, which must be assigned by a Prince William County Schools Hearing Officer after a long-term suspension hearing has been held.

Expulsion

A student may be permanently denied the right to attend Prince William County Public Schools. This discipline is the result of School Board action.

Students are required to attend school unless excused by a parent or guardian for the reasons listed below. Parents must submit an excuse to attendance within 5 days. This can be done by either dropping off a handwritten note or sending one electronically to the following email: PatriotAttendance@patrioths.com

Any student who misses 10 or more days of school, excused or unexcused, may be required to provide further documentation (e.g. doctor’s note, court subpoena). A student who misses 10 or more class periods for a particular class is subject to possible failure for the year if little to no make-up work is completed, seat time requirements are not fulfilled, and those students may be referred to the attendance officer.

Reasons for absence from school—all day, tardy, or early dismissal—excused:

• Personal illness of the student
• Medical and dental appointments for the student
• Death of an immediate family member
• Observation of a religious holiday
• Emergency conditions at the student’s home requiring the student’s assistance
• Student participation in school sponsored activities occurring during school hours
• Senior visiting a college with prior approval by the principal or designee
• Court appearance
• Approved pre-arranged absence
• Reasons of extenuating circumstances to be judged by the principal/designee for all requests for pre-approved absences. Family trips will not be excused unless accompanied by extraordinary circumstances. Impact of the absence on the students’ academic progress will be considered in determining whether a pre-arranged absence is approved.

Reasons for absence from school—all day, tardy, or early dismissal—not excused:

• Truancy from school
• Class truancy
• Missing the bus or ride to school
• Traffic delay for student drivers
• Absences for family vacations or events
• Failure to produce an appropriate explanation for absence in a timely manner

Tardiness

Tardy to School

Students who are not seated and ready for class by 7:20 am or arrive late to school will scan his or her student ID at door #1 and then report to the attendance office before going to class. A valid note including the reason for the tardy, date, student’s name, telephone number, and preferably the student’s estimated time of arrival will be required for an excused tardy. If no note is turned in, the tardy is unexcused. In all cases, it is not acceptable in any circumstances for a student to sign their parent’s signature to a note.

Tardy to school consequences per quarter:

1-3 unexcused tardies: warning

4-5 unexcused tardies: morning detention and possible loss of parking pass

6-8 unexcused tardies: Saturday school, loss of parking pass for up to 30 days

9+ unexcused tardies: Saturday school, loss of parking pass for 1 semester

15+ unexcused tardies: loss of parking pass for full school year

Tardy to Class

Students who are not seated and ready for class when the bell rings will be marked tardy in SMS by that classroom teacher. Consequences for class tardies will be cumulative per class per quarter.

Class tardiness consequences per class per quarter:

1-3 unexcused tardies: warning

4-5 unexcused tardies: after school detention

6+ unexcused tardies: Saturday School

Patriot High School is committed to creating an environment in which students are free from bullying. Students are strongly encouraged to report incidents of any bullying to include in person, over the internet, using social media, or using cell phones, to the school administration. Cyber bullying includes transmission, receipt, or display of electronic messages and/or images that threatens a student or contains deliberately hostile hurtful messages. This includes posting sensitive and private information about another person or pretending to be someone on social media intending to make that person look bad. Cyber bullying which occurs off school grounds may result in disciplinary action if it causes or likely to cause a disruption to the operation of the school, threatens the safety or mental/physical well-being of students or staff, or threatens the safety of the school or surrounding property. You may also use the form in the “Code of Behavior” to report incidents of bullying. Violators are subject to corrective action up to and including suspension and expulsion. Any attempt of retaliation will be addressed by corrective action, up to and including expulsion.

A student is requested to take appropriate care of and not damage or deface school property or personal belongings of others, such as, but not limited to lockers, books, furniture, tools, computers and other electronics, cabinets, etc. A student who loses or damages school property or equipment will be required to pay, correct, or replace lost or damaged items. Verified acts of vandalism could result in school and/or court action, as well as a request for restitution.

Students are responsible for neither giving nor receiving assistance, written, oral, electronically or otherwise, in any assignment to be graded as the work of a single individual. Students are responsible for giving due recognition of sources from which material is quoted, summarize, or paraphrased. This includes persons who have provided assistance.

Examples of behavior that constitute cheating include but are not limited to: copying another student’s work, allowing another student to copy work, communicated about a test during or after test administration, accessing material which would assist in completing the assessment, plagiarizing, using an electronic device during an exam, taking pictures of assessments, air-dropping information via electronic device, or plagiarizing. Students caught cheating will receive a disciplinary referral to their administrator and may receive a zero on the assignment.

First offense: Parent notification, academic consequence, assigned detention

Additional offenses: Parent notification, academic restoration opportunity, discipline up to Principal’s Informal Conference

Students must bring appropriate materials to class and take an active role in learning. Students may not sleep, lay down their heads in class, disrupt the learning environment for themselves or other students. This includes the use of electronic devices during class time when not instructed to do so by the teacher.

A school nurse is available for students to check in medication, to contact parent if student is ill, and to help with student minor health issues. No student should remain in the clinic longer than 15 minutes or they will be considered absent from class.

Illness

The student must get a pass from the teacher and report to the clinic. Parents will be contacted if the student needs to go home. A student who leaves school without permission is subject to disciplinary action.

Medication

Students may not keep prescription or nonprescription medication on their person or in their locker. Medication will be kept in the clinic and dispensed by authorized school personnel. No medication may be administered without a parent’s and/or authorized physician’s signature on file on the medication form. Any medication must be in the original container, unopened, if applicable, and not past the expiration date. Should the student need to carry the medication (e.g. prescription inhalers, epinephrine) with him or her, the school nurse should be contacted immediately.

Students must adhere to standards defined by Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) Policy 295, Standards for Use of Telecommunications and Internet Technologies, Regulation 295-1, Computer Systems and Network Services- PWCS Acceptable Use and Internet Safety Policy, and Regulation 295-2, Web Site Development and Implementation. Further information is defined in the “Code of Behavior” and by Patriot HS administration. This information may be found at pwcs.edu.

Any delivery to a student including but not limited to lunch from an outside source, balloons, and/or flowers, will have a message sent to the student when it will not conflict with instructional time, even when brought in by a parent/guardian. Any student who brings in an outside source of beverages and/or food, while arriving tardy- whether excused or unexcused- will be asked to either consume the outside food/beverage source before going to class or retrieve the item(s) when the student goes to lunch. Patriot High School and Prince William County Public Schools strive to provide a healthy, instruction-oriented school setting. Parents and others are encouraged to support the school and the school system in this endeavor. Students should only bring water in a clear water bottle to class.

Inappropriate display of affection will be handled at the discretion of an administrator.

No student shall show disrespect towards a staff member or another student. Disrespect included abusive language towards staff members and students. Any student who disobeys a reasonable request, including refusing to gives a staff member an electronic device when that electronic device was being used during the school day, or refusing to give a staff member one's name, or any student who openly defies a school staff member shall be subject to out-of-school suspension with possible recommendation for expulsion.

No student shall behave in such a way that he or she disrupts the environment of the school. Conduct occurring off school grounds which causes disruption to the school, the educational process, or the rights of students or staff may also result in corrective action at school.

Clothing that exposes private areas or an excessive amount of bare skin is prohibited.

Examples of prohibited clothing include, but are not limited to: visible undergarments, sheer garments, non-medical or non-religious head-coverings, sleepwear, beachwear, gang related clothing, clothing depicting inappropriate imagery.

Students found to not be dressed appropriately may call home for a replacement garment to be brought in or they may borrow appropriate clothing from the main office. Repeated violations of appropriate dress will lead to further disciplinary action.

• Students may not use cellular phones, iPods, and other electronic devices during the regular school day (7:24-2:10) These items must be turned off and out of sight.
• Students may not have earbuds in, on, or around their ears during the school day, including in the hallways.
• Electronic devices should not be used during class unless teacher has approved use for instructional purposes.
• Students must abide by the policies and regulations set forth in PWCS Regulation 295-1, Computer Systems and Network Services—PWCS Acceptable Use and Internet Safety Policy.

With every electronic device violation, the following consequences will occur with additional consequences based on the nature of the event:

First offense: confiscation, phone may be picked up by the student at end of school day

Second offense: confiscation, phone picked up by parent

Third offense: confiscation, 2-hour after school detention, picked up by parent

Additional offenses: 3 hour Saturday school up to out-of-school suspension

During the school day, parents are expected to contact their children through the school office telephone in order to limit disruptions to classroom and instruction, and to allow for the appropriate supervision of student while on phone and further promote effective communication between the school and the parent.

Any student needing to use the elevator should bring a signed physician's note stating the student's name and the length of time the elevator will be needed to the clinic.

During emergency evacuations, students must report to and remain with their teacher. Evacuation routes and instructions are posted.

Students who are unavailable to take a final exam when regularly scheduled must have the administrator’s approval before the testing. Taking the final exam will be at the administrator’s discretion. If students are in testing of any kind, and report to school after 20 minutes of the testing start time, the student will check-in and report to a designated area.

SOL Testing

Virginia SOL tests are administered during the month of May and the bell schedule may be adjusted during this time. Students are expected to attend school all day, every day and early dismissals will be limited. It is imperative that students arrive to school on time each day and remain through the end of the day.

Physical abuse involving more than one person is considered fighting. Students are responsible for settling confrontations in a peaceful manner and without the use of violence. When students feel that they are unable to settle disagreements in a peaceful manner, they should seek assistance from school personnel, such as a teacher, counselor, principal, security personnel, or the SRO. Students are subject to corrective actions for behavior which they may not consider to be serious or threatening (horseplay, wrestling, etc.) when the behavior could lead to injury, discomfort, or disruption. Students who by their presence and/or actions, encourage disruption, fights are subject to corrective action. This includes but is not limited to students who refuse to move or to follow other directions of school staff during disruptions or fights. This also includes encouraging or filming a fight.

Flex block is used for additional opportunities for instruction, remediation, or differentiation in a student’s class. The block counts as instructional time for each class and rotates to give teachers an additional 40 minutes of class time on a rotating basis. Before traveling to another class, the student should report to his/her assigned class first, have a pre-arranged pass, and sign-out before going to another class during Flex.

Food and drink should be consumed in the cafeteria. Students who are late to school or class because they are securing food from outside sources and/or vending machines may be asked to dispose of food items and/or be subject to additional disciplinary consequences. When food from outside source is brought in by a parent, a pass will only be sent during the student’s lunchtime. Students should only bring water in a clear water bottle to class.

Any falsifying of information (e.g. documents, signatures) will result in disciplinary consequences.

Words, gestures, symbols, or physical contact that offends, intimidates, threatens, or persecutes others will not be tolerated and should be reported to school officials. This includes such behavior as non-physical intimidation, posturing, electronic harassment, or stare-downs. Harassment of students or staff for any reason is prohibited. Among other types of harassment, this includes sexual harassment as stated in Regulation 733-3. Consequences for harassment range from detention to out of school suspension.

Any student in the hallways during instructional time should have a pass; no exceptions. Hall passes (student agenda) will only have one student’s name, destination, time and date listed with a staff member’s legible signature. Students will be in areas only as designated on their pass. Loitering in restrooms and using the phone during class time is not permitted. Hall passes and/or aide badges should be visible for confirmation. Students who do not have a pass will be escorted to class to obtain one. Forgeries, abuse of privileges, or unauthorized use will result in disciplinary consequences.

Assignments and assessments will vary in quality and quantity by subject areas. Formative (for learning) and summative (of learning) assessments will be utilized to evaluate ongoing and cumulative learning.

Make-up Work

Make up work includes any assessments given during the absence. If a student has an unexcused absence, the late work policy for each class will be used as guidance for make-up work. A student who has an excused absence will be responsible for contacting the teachers within two business days of their return to school for missed assignments. Respective arrangements between student and teacher will be determined upon this contact. Student are still expected to meet deadlines for long-term assignments. These assignments and deadlines are communicated well in advance of a due date and should not be affected by student absence. A student or parent should contact the respective teacher if there are concerns with meeting deadlines for long-term assignments due to absence. For students who have been or will be out for three or more consecutive days, the parent can request assignments through guidance, which will be provided within forty-eight hours and picked up in the counseling department. It is expected that students will utilize online resources when absent or when school is out of session for inclement weather.

Late Work

Late work will be assessed according to the teacher’s late-work policy, which will be clearly outlined in the syllabus and posted on the class website. Late work policies could include a loss of retake opportunities.

Retakes

At Patriot High School, it does not matter when a student masters the material in a specific course. What is important is for them to demonstrate mastery of the standards for the course.

1. For all students, there must be a clearly spelled out procedure at the beginning of the course and documented in each syllabus which explains the process for securing an assessment retake.  It should also be posted to the teacher’s school based webpage.
2. Due to certain curricular restrictions in some courses (the ability to replicate a primary source document, for example) some courses may not offer a retake, but will provide other opportunities for students to demonstrate mastery of standards. 
3. Retakes are a privilege, not a right at Patriot High School.
4. Students should allow 24 hours to elapse between the return of the assessment and the request to the teacher for a retake.
5. In some courses, retake procedures can vary or be limited by grade level with 9^th graders being provided more frequent opportunities. 
6. Teachers may not accept retake work or provide a student with a retake during the last week of the grading period.
7. Teachers must provide an assessment analysis activity prior to a retake based on the nature of the curriculum or course.
8. The retake assessment will not necessarily be the same format, version, or length as the original assessment.
   1. If the teacher notices a repeat pattern of retakes or behavior which suggests and abuse of the retake process, a notification will be made to the parent, and the ability to participate in a retake may be suspended.
   2. In certain situations, a parent teacher conference will be required.
   3. A teacher has the right to refuse a request for a retake. 
9. The grade earned on the retake assessment will not be averaged with the first assessment grade.  The best score will be recorded in the teacher’s gradebook.
10. Further questions about specific retake procedures and this process should be referred to the student’s alpha administrator.

Lockers will be assigned to students upon request and the receipt of the student’s emergency card. The emergency card will be completed and signed by both the student, who signs on the back and the parent, who signs on the front and the back. Lockers are the property of Prince William County Public Schools and may be opened at any time. Students should refrain from leaving perishable items in the locker. Personal locks are not permitted on school lockers. The School Division is not responsible for items stored in the lockers and students should use good judgment in bringing valuables to school. Should a problem occur with your locker, please contact security or administration.

Students may not loiter on school grounds. Students should be under the direct supervision of a sponsor, coach, or staff member while on campus. This is in effect on school days as well as weekends. Students that remain at school after hours who are not under the direct supervision of a sponsor, coach, or staff member may be issued a trespass notice and subject to school disciplinary procedures.

Parents should not contact students during instructional time. Instead, parents should call the receptionist (703.594.3020) and ask that a message be sent to their child. Students are able to contact parents/guardians from an office (main or annex) phone(s). Students should report to their appropriate administrator’s office to ask to call their parent/guardian if they are requesting an early dismissal.

Students are expected to identify themselves to any staff member requesting that information. The penalty for not doing so is one (1) day of OSS.

Students will be held responsible for items that they have at school and at school related activities. Student desks and lockers are the property of the school, and school officials reserve the right to search them. Lockers or desks may be searched to repossess school property or to locate contraband, which is not permitted at school. The Prince William County School System reserves the right to use trained dogs in searches. Students and their belongings, including personal electronic devices, may be searched under certain circumstances as described in Regulation 737-1. The student’s individual right to privacy and freedom from unreasonable search and seizure is balanced by the school’s responsibility to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all persons within the school community.

Should illegal materials be found during a search, law enforcement officials will be notified. If a student refuses to be searched, parents and/or authorities will be contacted and the student will be subject to disciplinary action.

All Prince William County Schools are smoke free environments. An electronic cigarette or vaporizer is a handheld electronic device that works by heating a liquid controlled substance such as nicotine, generating a vapor that is then inhaled. Smoking or vaping is not permitted in any building in Prince William County Public Schools at any time. Students, regardless of age, are not permitted to smoke, vape, or be in possession of tobacco and/or nicotine products, matches, or lights on school buses, in school buildings, or on school property.

The consequences for smoking or vaping will be:

First offense: 2 days of OSS and possible referral to Focus on Tobacco

2^nd offense: 3 days OSS

3^rd offense: 3 days of OSS and Principal’s Informal Conference for repeated offenses

No student will have or use alcohol, drugs, or anything that resembles alcohol or drugs. A substance offense includes being under the influence of, possessing, distributing, or attempting or intending to distribute a prohibited substance. Prohibited substances include:

• alcohol, non-alcoholic brews, alcoholic products, or alcohol containers;
• prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and inhalant intoxicants, anabolic steroid, illegal narcotics, or look-a-likes/placebos; and
• drug paraphernalia or look-alikes.

Substance abuse offenses will routinely receive a five-day out-of-school suspension. More than one substance abuse offense will result in automatic recommendation of expulsion. Principals or their designated representative may offer first time substance abuse offenders and their parents the opportunity to voluntarily participate in the New Horizon counseling. Out-of-school suspension days will result in an immediate suspension for thirty (30) calendar days from participation in all school activities (teams, clubs, and all other school-sponsored activities).

Distribution will result in a recommendation for expulsion.

Any student who, on school property, at a school function, or while going to and from school, distributes by sale, attempted or intended sale, gift or otherwise attempts or intends to purchase/receive drugs (illegal, prescriptions, and/or over-the-counter), alcohol, non-alcohol, steroids, look-a-likes (placebos), or paraphernalia will be recommended by the principal for expulsion.

Substance abuse violations may be punishable under law and shall be reported to the police for appropriate legal action.

Under Virginia law, “School boards shall expel from school attendance any student determined to have brought a controlled substance, imitation controlled substance, or marijuana onto school property or to a school-sponsored activity. A school board may, however, determine, based on the facts of the particular case that special circumstances exist and another disciplinary action is appropriate.” Controlled substances are those drugs or other chemical substances, which are illegal for a person to possess. An imitation controlled substance is any material which resembles an illegal drug or chemical substance (including marijuana), and is represented as such. Students are subject to expulsion for possession of such substances at school, on school buses, at bus stops, and at school related activities.

Teachers issue the necessary textbooks and other books, if applicable, to the student. Students are responsible for the proper care and return of issued materials. Fees will be charged for lost or damaged materials. Outstanding monies owed can impede a student’s graduation participation.

Theft is forbidden and illegal. It also violates the rights of others, and destroys the learning environment. Any incident of theft will result in 2-5 days of out-of-school suspension, restitution, and a referral to PWC police/Security Resource Officer (SRO).

Students share the responsibility for an orderly and safe school environment. Information about drugs, weapons, or other factors that may be harmful to the school environment should be reported. Here are some suggestions for reporting such information: contact the school principal or other administrator, dial the PWCPS TIPLINE at 703.791.2921, or contact the police in cases of emergency.

Students may be in approved areas of the school building and grounds during normal school hours or after hours with the approval of a school staff member. Students who have been suspended or expelled are not permitted on any school property (including school buses) or at any school related activities without the permission of the school principal. Students are considered to be trespassing if they are at a school other than the school in which they are enrolled unless they are attending an approved school activity or have the approval of a school staff member. All visitors must report directly to the office.

If tutoring is needed in subjects, please check with the teacher about after school assistance. Should an outside tutor be needed, see the school counseling department. Beyond using the teacher as a resource, a National Honor Society student or another qualified tutor may be available for tutoring.

Students must have a written pass from their teacher to be out of the classroom while classes are in session. Students will be in areas only as designated on their pass. Loitering in restrooms is not permitted. The pass must include the name of the student, the teacher issuing the pass, and the date and destination. The consequence for being out of bounds may range from detention to OSS, based on an accumulation of this infraction.

As soon as students arrive to school, they must come inside and remain in authorized areas. Parking lots, outside areas, and vehicles are off limits during the school day. At lunch, students must remain in Commons 1 and 2, and as appropriate, the courtyards. Hallways, lockers, parking lots, other outside areas, and vehicles are off limits at lunch. The same rules for authorized areas apply to early morning students. Students are not permitted to go to their vehicles or leave school grounds after arriving unless a parent and/or administrator gives permission to leave.