To ensure safe passage through the halls both between classes and during classes, students are expected to keep the following in mind:

 

Students will not be permitted in the hallways or the restroom during class periods unless they have a hall pass issued by a teacher. It is important therefore that students use the restroom between classes in such a way that will not cause congestion or crowding. Staff members will closely monitor the restroom areas and keep the flow of traffic around them to a minimum.

 

All students are expected to do their very best to exercise self-discipline and good behavior at all times, at all school events  and activities. All school rules must be followed as if a regular school day were in progress. A student may be excluded from all Deer Lakes School District events, if his or her conduct is not appropriate.

 

Courtesy must be shown toward all visitors, hosts, opponents, and officials. Inappropriate chants or cheers, booing opponents or officials are unacceptable behaviors. Despite your feelings at the moment, courtesy and good sportsmanship are recognized traditions in the Deer Lakes School District.

 

 

The Board recognizes the importance of a safe school environment relative to the educational process. Possession of weapons in the school setting is a threat to the safety of students and staff and is prohibited by law.

 

For the Halloween festivities, students may not have a toy (facsimile) sword, knife, gun, or weapon as defined in the Firearms/Weapons Policy as part of a Halloween costume.

 

 

The Board recognizes that the abuse of controlled substances is a serious problem with legal, physical and social implications for the whole school community. As an educational institution, the schools shall strive to prevent abuse of controlled substances. To promote this policy, the district provides instruction for students about the effects of drug and controlled substance use. Furthermore, the district subscribes to state and federal laws concerning the use of drugs and other controlled substances.

 

        For purposes of this policy, controlled substances shall include all:

 

For purposes of this policy, under the influence shall include any consumption or ingestion of controlled substances by a student. For purposes of this policy, look-alike drug shall include any pill, capsule, tablet, powder, plant matter or other item or substance that is designed or intended to resemble a controlled substance prohibited by this policy, or is used in a manner likely to induce others to believe the material is a controlled substance.

The Board prohibits students from using, possessing, distributing, and being under the influence of any controlled substances during school hours, at any time while on school property, at any school-sponsored activity, and during the time spent traveling to and from school and to and from school-sponsored activities.

 

Students shall be disciplined for such use, possession or distribution of drugs or other controlled substances, including but not limited to suspension from school or school-sponsored activities, expulsion and referral for prosecution, in accordance with law, regulations and Board policy. The Board may require participation in drug counseling, rehabilitation, testing or other programs as a condition of reinstatement into the school's educational, extracurricular or athletic programs resulting from violations of this policy.

 

 

The Board prohibits the use of anabolic steroids by students involved in school related athletics, except for a valid medical purpose. Body building and muscle enhancement, increasing muscle bulk or strength, or the enhancement of athletic ability are not valid medical purposes. Human Growth Hormone (HGH) shall not be included as an anabolic steroid. Students shall be made aware of the dangers of steroid use; that anabolic steroids are classified as controlled substances; and that their use, unauthorized possession, purchase, or sale could subject students to suspension, expulsion and/or criminal prosecution.

 

The following minimum penalties are prescribed for any student athlete found in violation of the prohibited use of anabolic steroids:

 

No student shall be eligible to resume participation in school athletics unless a medical determination has been submitted, verifying that no residual evidence of steroids exists.

 

 

If based on the student's behavior, medical symptoms, vital signs or other observable factors, the building principal has reasonable suspicion that the student is under the influence of a controlled substance, the student may be required to submit to drug or alcohol testing. The testing may include but is not limited to the analysis of blood, urine, saliva, or the administration of a Breathalyzer test. Reasons for the reasonable suspicion testing shall be documented in writing by the administrator or his/her designee and shall be provided to the student, parent/guardian, and Superintendent.

 

 

The Board recognizes that tobacco and vaping products, including the product marketed as Juul and other electronic cigarettes, present a health and safety hazard that can have serious consequences for users, nonusers and the school environment. The purpose of this policy is to prohibit student possession, use, purchase and sale of tobacco and vaping products, including Juuls and other electronic cigarettes.

 

State law defines the term tobacco product to broadly encompass not only tobacco but also vaping products including Juuls and other electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Tobacco products, for purposes of this policy and in accordance with state law, shall be defined to include the following:

 

The term tobacco product does not include the following:

 

The Board prohibits possession, use, purchase or sale of tobacco and vaping products, including the product marketed as Juul and other e-cigarettes, regardless of whether such products contain tobacco or nicotine, by or to students at any time in a school building; on school buses or other vehicles that are owned, leased or controlled by the school district; on property owned, leased or controlled by the school district; or at school-sponsored activities that are held off school property.

 

The Board prohibits student possession or use of products marketed and sold as tobacco cessation products or for other therapeutic purposes, except as authorized in the Board’s Medication policy.

 

The Board prohibits student possession of any form of medical marijuana at any time in a school building; on school buses or other vehicles that are owned, leased or controlled by the school district; on property owned, leased or controlled by the school district; or at school-sponsored activities that are held off school property.

 

The Board authorizes the confiscation and disposal of products prohibited by this policy.

 

 

The Board adopts this policy in order to maintain an educational environment that is safe and secure for district students and employees.  Electronic devices shall include all portable digital devices that can take photographs; record audio or video data; store, transmit or receive messages or images; or provide a wireless, unfiltered connection to the Internet, as well as any new technology developed with similar capabilities. School day shall include from the time the student arrives on school property to the official dismissal time set forth by the district for that particular building.

 

The Board prohibits use of electronic devices for non-educational purposes by students during the school day in district buildings; on district property; during the time students are under the supervision of the district; and in locker rooms, bathrooms, health suites and other changing areas at any time. Any electronic device in the possession of a student during the school day must be turned off and rendered incapable of signaling the receipt of calls or other data unless authorized by building administrator or employee. Portable digital devices and similar devices may be used on district buses, provided that such devices are used with personal earphones or in such a manner as not to create disruption or annoyance to the driver or other passengers.

 

Locks must be used by all students for building security reasons. Non-use of the assigned locks will result in student disciplinary action.

 

Students are assigned lockers for the storage of books, equipment, and materials with school purposes. Each student will be assigned a combination lock with which to secure his or her locker. It is strongly recommended that the assigned combination remain a secret to the locker owner. The school is not responsible for articles lost or stolen from the locker.

 

Students should get study materials for their morning classes before homeroom and material for their afternoon classes after lunch. No one should leave class to go to their locker. Students may use lockers at the following times.     

 

Students shall have no expectation of privacy in their locker, and the building administration reserves the right to inspect lockers at any time by any means. Any item disclosed by a search can be used for disciplinary action and may be turned over to law enforcement officials. Locker searches may include an individual locker or a series of lockers depending upon the need.

Official police dogs may be used to search lockers.  

 

Combination Locks are the property of Deer Lakes School District. Students are responsible for their assigned locks. If the lock is damaged or lost, the student will be responsible for its replacement.

 

Students who find lost articles are asked to take them to the office where their proper owner can claim them. Items that are turned into the office will not be kept beyond the end of each nine-week grading period. Students who have lost articles should inquire at the office for the possible return of their articles and materials.  

 

All students must learn and follow correct emergency drill procedures that maintain safety for themselves and their fellow students. Directions and procedures are posted in each teacher’s room. Teachers will make sure the following directions and procedures will be observed:

 

In addition to fire drills, the Deer Lakes School District conducts other emergency drills throughout the year.  Students are instructed on the procedures for each of these drills prior to practicing.  These drills may include, but are not limited to, severe weather, building intruder, and outside contamination.

 

 

Individual and/or group interviews, photographs or videotapes of students may be taken during the school year for use in district publications, on the Internet, or by the local media. These methods are used to inform the community about the district's educational philosophy as well as its programs, services and special events. The Deer Lakes School District also facilitates positive media publicity by arranging for interviews and/or photographs of its students.

 

If you DO NOT want your child's photograph to appear in any of these publications and/or if you DO NOT want your child to be interviewed for publicity purposes, please notify your child's building principal.

 

 

The Board recognizes the educational values inherent in student participation in extracurricular activities and supports the concept of student organizations for such purposes as building social relationships, developing interests in a specific area, and gaining an understanding of the elements and responsibilities of good citizenship.

 

For purposes of this policy, extracurricular activities shall be those programs that are sponsored or approved by the Board and are conducted wholly or partly outside the regular school day; are marked by student participation in the processes of initiation, planning, organizing, and execution; and are equally available to all students who voluntarily elect to participate.

Each school year, prior to participation in an athletic activity, every student athlete and his/her parent/guardian shall sign and return the acknowledgement of receipt and review of the following:

 

I.     Responsibility

    a.     To observe school code

    b.     To act in a responsible manner

    c.     To be responsible for my own action.

II.    Respect

    a.     To respect myself

    b.     To respect others

    c.     To respect property

    d.     To respect school personnel              

III.  Concern

    a.     Concern for my well being

    b.     Concern for the well-being of others

    c.     Concern for the environment

IV.  Learning

    a.     To take full advantage of learning opportunities

    b.     To do my best

    c.     Do not CHEAT

 

For your information, refer to the following pages for detailed information regarding disciplinary concerns. To ensure the fair and reasonable application of the Deer Lakes School District Discipline Policy, it is hereby stated that active administration, based upon certain knowledge of situation or circumstance, exercise sound professional judgment and discretion in the fulfillment of their duties in relation to discipline.  Any and all exercise of this nature shall remain subordinate to the disposition of the Superintendent of Schools.

 

 

 

A student cannot participate in any extracurricular activity while on suspension, whether In-School Suspension or Out of School Suspension.

 

The child’s safety is a major concern of the school, but the cooperation of the home and school is necessary to build proper habits of safety. Students who walk to school or to bus stops are to:

            Student Responsibilities

 

            Bus Rules and Regulations