This section explains Newman’s policies related to the Code of Conduct, which includes a list of prohibited behaviors and items.

 

Online Instruction Discipline Policy

• Be prompt and on time for all online classes.

•  Join ZOOM sessions with the mute on and keep mute activated unless your teacher directs otherwise or addresses you to speak.

•  No black screens – you must be visible, and you must have a solid color background to alleviate distractions for your fellow classmates if you are on Zoom/virtual learning.

• Wear your Newman uniform shirt with the logo when you are on Zoom/virtual learning.

• Follow the same grooming policies as for in-person instruction.

• Raise your hand or use the hand-up signal when you want to speak.

• If you need to use the restroom, send a personal chat to your teacher.

• No outbursts, rude or derogatory comments, or posts. Inappropriate language is not allowed at any time.

• Chat is only to be used for academic interaction based on teacher direction.

• Any behaviors that are prohibited for in-person instruction are also prohibited for online instruction (including but not limited to lying, cheating, bullying, improper usage of electronic devices, etc.) Please see the Student Handbook for full details.

• Newman’s progression for disciplinary action will be the same for online learning as is described in the Newman Student Handbook.

 

Code of Conduct

STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO DISTURB THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS

School Property

• Walk, DO NOT RUN

• No fighting, cursing, or disruptive behavior

• Keep noise to a minimum

• Do not deface or destroy school property; No littering

• No gum or candy in the classroom

• Do not talk back to authority/school staff; respect authority

• No public display of affection
   

Classrooms

• Follow directions

• Follow class management plan

• Respect the rights and properties of others

• Attend school regularly

• Be at school on time

• Show respect for ALL school personnel

• Complete all work according to daily goal setting

• Stay on task

Restrooms

• Use the restroom for its intended purposes only

• Flush urinals and toilets after use

• Unnecessary objects must not be taken into the restroom (pens, sharp objects, etc.)

• No standing or swinging on restroom fixtures

• Do not write on walls, doors, etc.

• Dispose of trash in the trashcans

Loitering

• Students should not loiter in halls, restrooms, classrooms or other areas.

• Students must leave the premises upon dismissal. Exceptions to this rule are as follows:

• Supervised tutoring

• Supervised detentions

• Other supervised activity

• Students are not permitted to stay after school and wander the halls or outside on school property.

• Students on campus unsupervised without permission may be considered to be loitering.

 

Prohibited Behaviors

• Non-compliance to Code of Conduct, regulations, and policies

• Arson, Assault, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Robbery or Felony (on or off school property)

• Blackmail, Extortion, Coercion

• Bomb Threat/Hoax, Terrorist Threat/ Hoax, Deadly conduct

• Bullying/ Hazing/ Harassment/ Threats/ Retaliation

• Cheating, Forgery, Plagiarism

• Defamation of Character (Student/ Teacher/ Staff/ Parent/ Volunteer/ School)

• Disrespectful behavior towards a student or adult

• Disruptive Behavior, Insubordination, Reckless Conduct, Campus Disruption, Fire alarm pulled (Building evacuation)

• Fighting or horseplay—Hitting, biting, kicking, pushing, spitting, shoving, pinching, etc.

• Gambling, Gang/cult activity, Hit list

• Inappropriate Photographs, Pictures, Videos, Books, and other materials

• Lying/ Lying to School Leader

• Profanity, use of foul words, cursing, profane gestures, or inappropriate language toward another student or adult

• Possession/Use/Distribution of Prohibited Items including but not limited to alcohol, illegal drugs and paraphernalia, prescription and nonprescription drugs, guns, knives, explosives and fireworks, clubs, chains, Chinese stars, laser pointers, matches/lighters, e-cigarettes, vapes, or tobacco in any form, obscene/inappropriate materials, razors, any object resembling or used as a weapon including toy weapons, any object used as a weapon (see list of Prohibited Items)

• Racial Slurs

• Sexual contact, Sexting, Inappropriate touching, Public Display of Affection (PDA), Sexual Harassment, Inappropriate display of body parts, Obscene or lewd gestures

• Skipping class or not being in designated area, Leaving class/school without permission, Walk- Out/Protest

• Stealing

• Technology Abuse (including social media); Unauthorized use of electronic devices including but not limited to gaming devices, iPods, MP3 Players, CD players, or phones (See electronic device policy); Illegal Access or use of School Technology (on or off campus)

• Uniform & Grooming Policy violations (See Uniform & Grooming Policy details.)

• Vandalism

• Vehicle, Parking, and Driving Violation

 

Prohibited Items

• Alcohol, illegal drugs and paraphernalia, prescription and nonprescription drugs

• Knives of any size, including pocketknives, sword

• Explosives including fireworks of any kind

• Clubs, chains, Chinese stars, or any kind of objects deemed unsafe.

• Laser Pointers

• Matches, lighters, e-cigarettes, vapes, or tobacco in any form

• Obscene/Inappropriate Material: Literature/ Material/ Devices not conducive to a healthy and friendly learning environment is not permitted. Such materials will be confiscated. Such materials may not be shared or promoted.

• Razors

• Any object used in a way that threatens or inflicts bodily injury to another person; any object used as a weapon

 

Students who violate the prohibited items and vandalism policies will be responsible for damages, including any monetary damages.

 

Searches

Student’s outer clothing, pockets, bags, purses, vehicles or personal property may be searched, either by establishing a reasonable suspicion following an alleged theft or suspicion that the student is in possession of contraband or by securing the student’s voluntary consent. Common areas, such as locker rooms, may be searched without consent. A person of the same gender as the student will conduct the search, with a witness present in the room at all times. Administrators reserve the right to question students regarding their conduct or the conduct of others. Searches may also be carried out at events.

Canines may be used at any time to search school property, which includes school campuses, any vehicle on school property, and school events. Newman will abide by federal, state, and local laws regarding the use of medical marijuana/ cannabis. No medication should be brought onto campus without an accompanying prescription. Per Newman policy, all student medication must be kept at the clinic and administered by the school nurse or designee. Employee medication should be taken at home if at all possible, and the employee is responsible to keep all medication secured from students.

 

Non-Compliance to Code of Conduct

Unruliness and non-compliance to the Code of Conduct will not be tolerated. For a safe, healthy, learning environment, it is important that the code of conduct is upheld. Consequences for not upholding the code of conduct may include infractions, detentions and suspensions and even expulsions.

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Prohibited Behaviors Definitions and Details

Bullying & Cyberbullying

“Bullying” occurs when a student or group of students directs written or verbal expressions or physical conduct against another student and the behavior results in harm to the student or the student’s property, places a student in fear of harm to him/herself or his property, or is so severe, persistent, or perverse that it creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment.
 

NIA will not tolerate any form of "bullying," including "bullying" based on gender, race/ethnicity and/or physical or mental characteristics. NIA will not tolerate cyberbullying.

 

Cyberbullying is defined as bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior. NIA will not tolerate cyberbullying of any kind.

 

Anti-Bullying Policy

Bullying, defined by NIA, is a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power and involves engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that:

 

Occurs on or is delivered to school property or the site of a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off school property;

 

Occurs on a publicly or privately owned school bus or vehicle being used for transportation of students to or from school or a school-sponsored or school-related activity; and

 

Cyberbullying that occurs off school property or outside of a school-sponsored or school-related activity if the cyberbullying:

 

Interferes with a student's educational opportunities; or

 

Substantially disrupts the orderly operation of a classroom, school, or school-sponsored or school-related activity.

 

Has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student's person or of damage to the student's property;

 

Is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student;

 

Materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school; or

 

Infringes on the rights of the victim at school; and includes cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying means bullying that is done through the use of any electronic communication device, including through the use of a cellular or other type of telephone, a computer, a camera, electronic mail, instant messaging, text messaging, a social media application, an Internet website, or any other Internet-based communication tool.

 

Newman International Academy prohibits retaliation by a student or District employee against any person who in good faith makes a report of bullying, serves as a witness, or participates in an investigation.

The principal or designee shall investigate an allegation to determine if the report would constitute bullying, cyberbullying, or prohibited conduct. Prohibited Conduct, as defined by policy FFH includes dating violence and harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, or disability.

 

If a student believes that he or she has experienced bullying, cyberbullying or prohibited conduct or has witnessed bullying of another student, it is important for the student or parent to report the incident to a teacher, counselor, administrator or a district employee as soon as possible. An administrator will investigate the allegation and take the appropriate disciplinary action if an investigation indicates that bullying, cyberbullying, or prohibited conduct has occurred. Absent any extenuating circumstances, the investigation should be completed within 10 business days. The campus administration shall prepare a written report of the investigation, which should include a determination of whether or not bullying, cyberbullying or prohibited conduct occurred.

 

Reporting Bullying

To report an incident of bullying, a parent or student may present a written complaint and submit it to their campus administrator.

 

Cheating/Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism

NIA’s definition of student academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to the following:

1. Students copying another student’s homework or test answers, with or without that student’s permission.

2. Using cheat notes during a quiz, test, or closed book assignment.

3. Having access to/using a teacher’s answer sheets or books.

4. Obtaining test questions from students who have already taken the test.

5. Copying themes and/or other written papers from other students or alternative reference materials without properly quoting the source.

6. Claiming work taken from the internet or other resources as their own.

7. Use of cell phones/smart watches or other electronic devices during test or class time to relay answers, take pictures of a quiz, test, or closed classroom assignment and then communicate its content to another student for academic gain.

8. Plagiarism is the use of another person’s original ideas or writing, as one’s own, without proper credit given to its original source.

9. Plagiarism is considered cheating and if a student cheats, that student will be subject to disciplinary action and the loss of credit for the work in question.

 

Inappropriate/ Public Display of Affection

Newman International Academy students are prohibited from engaging in any type of “Inappropriate Display of Affection”, whether it is wanted or unwanted. Any act of kissing, hugging, touching, etc. between students which is deemed inappropriate by the school administration during school hours, while on school property or while attending a school related activity will be classified as an “Inappropriate Display of Affection.”

 

Harassment and Hit List

"Harassment" means threatening to cause harm or bodily injury to another student, engaging in sexually intimidating conduct, causing physical damage to the property of another student, subjecting another student to physical confinement or restraint, or maliciously taking any action that substantially harms another student's physical or emotional health or safety. "Hit list" means a list of people targeted to be harmed, using: a firearm, a knife, or any other object to be used with intent to cause bodily harm.

 

Unhealthy Relationships

Relationships between students and students, and between students and teachers must be healthy, promote campus unity and build character. In order to encourage students to focus on studies and opportunities for excellence, NIA discourages unhealthy relationships between students. All relationships irrespective of gender that do not help students focus on excellence in academics, fine arts, and sports opportunities will be considered unhealthy for their progress and well-being. Healthy relationships are age-appropriate and promote unity and brotherhood. Unhealthy relationships or undue focus on gender relationships and romantic relationships can undermine unity in the campus, promote cliques, and have the potential to materially disturb the school’s safe learning environment. These unhealthy relationships can impact, influence or restrict students’ ability to form deep and lasting human relationships. Therefore, disciplinary action may be taken if unhealthy relationships are conducted or continued on campus or where school- related activities take place.

 

Uniform & Grooming Policy

Uniforms promote equality among students. Students study and grow well in an environment where there is little or no disparity. Uniforms are an expression of the discipline we are working to instill in our students. Where there is no discipline, there will be no meaningful learning.

Students are required to follow the dress code as outlined in our Uniform Requirement

 

Non-compliance to Uniform and Grooming Regulations will result in an infraction. Please see both the Code of Conduct as well as Disciplinary Action/Infraction System pages for details on infractions and subsequent consequences. In addition, students not in uniform may be asked to call home for appropriate attire, sent home to change attire, or subject to in-school suspension.

 

Uniforms must conform to the approved design/style codes.  No bad characters allowed on backpacks. Face coverings/masks must be solid color or print with no letters, cartoon characters or pictures.