Conduct & Discipline
One of the most important lessons education should teach is discipline. Discipline underlies the whole educational structures. It is the training that develops self-control, character, orderliness, and efficiency. It is the key to good conduct and proper consideration for other people. The basic rules is common courtesy and common sense.
No student will be permitted to commit any act which will prevent the teacher from teaching or prevent other students from learning or which is viewed to bring discredit to the individual, the school, or the student body. The conduct of students must be such that everyone will be able to pursue their educational interests without disruption or interference from other students. We insist that students conduct themselves in a manner which is consistent with standards set by parents, teachers, and the community. No person will be allowed to adversely affect the operation of the school.
Students who choose to break school procedures are subject to correction by teachers and staff members, administrators, police, juvenile authorities, and the school board. The student will be disciplined according to the Mile High discipline matrix. The Mile High administration reserves the right to circumvent the normal discipline matrix.
Disciplinary Measures and actions - Zero Tolerance
Defiance of Authority/Truthfulness
Alcohol, Drugs, and Drug Paraphernalia
Threats, Assault, and Fighting
Vandalism, Littering, and Destruction of Property
Possession of Weapons and Dangerous Items
Emergency Alarms and Fire Control Devices/False Reporting
Unauthorized Entry, Burglary/Trespassing
Misrepresentation, Extortion, and Theft
Disruption of the Educational Process
Disciplinary Measures and Actions - Zero Tolerance
Parents, please be aware that phone contact will not be made on every discipline infraction. It is the responsibility of the student to inform his/her parents of all disciplinary incidents. A copy of the discipline referral will be sent home with the student to be signed by the parent. A signed copy may be returned to the discipline office as verification of notification. When returned, it will be included in the student's discipline file. Mile High prides itself on having a no-nonsense, consistent, yet fair, discipline program. We want to establish a climate with an optimum learning atmosphere where students feel secure, safe, and healthy. The vast majority of parents at our school appreciate the consistency and are very supportive of our school. A phone call home will be attempted by a staff member on suspensions and/or incidents involving a violation of a law. Discipline action by a school administrator or law enforcement agency will continue if parent contact fails.
Our school and PUSD#1 have adopted a Zero Tolerance Policy on tobacco, alcohol, drugs, drug paraphernalia, which includes over-the-counter medicine misuse, weapons, dangerous items, and violence. A police/juvenile referral will be made.
Defiance of Authority/Truthfulness
A student shall obey the reasonable orders of teachers, administrators, and other school district employees and shall respond to requests for information from these persons in a truthful manner and shall not be defiant of school authority.
Alcohol, Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia
A student shall not possess, handle, conceal, sell, or conspire to buy, use, or be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. For the purpose of this policy, drugs are defined as narcotic drugs, dangerous drugs, prescription drugs without a prescription, toxic substances, look-alike drugs, and marijuana as those terms are defined in A.R.S. 13-3411 and 4-244.
Any substance which could be used as an inhalant, or which possesses a strong vapor, is forbidden. This includes items such as, but not limited to, permanent markers, White-Out, breath freshener, paint, glue, etc. Alcohol and/or drugs are a violation of Arizona law. Police and parents will be notified. A referral to juvenile authorities will be made and suspension imposed. Counseling will be initiated and outside counseling is encouraged. Expulsion may be sought for chronic offenders.
Threats, Assault, and Fighting
A student shall not verbally or physically threaten, abuse, assault, or engage in a fight with any student, school employee, or any other person on school grounds (A.R.S. 13-1201, 13-1202, 13-1203, 13-1204).
Bullying - The staff at Mile High has very little patience with instances of bullying. Students who insist on picking on others will be dealt with swiftly. Bullying is not acceptable and will not be tolerated at Mile High.
Vandalism, Littering, and Destruction of Property
A student shall not damage, destroy, or deface any school property, or property belonging to any other person, and shall not litter on school property or at any school event. The parents or guardians of students who damage school property shall be liable for all damage done.
Possession of Weapons and Dangerous Items
A student shall not possess, buy, or sell guns, weapons, explosives, fireworks, or any other instrument capable of harming any person, or creating the impression of such harm (A.R.S. 13-312 A.12).
Obscenity and Defamation
A student shall not use obscene language or language which intimidates, or otherwise harms another person (A.R.S. 13-3502).
Important: School district policy and Arizona law do not stipulate that the school must notify parents prior to their child being questioned by law enforcement officials. All parents and students are responsible for knowing and obeying school policies and regulations. Arizona law is considered a part of school policy. A violation of the law is considered to be a violation of school policy. All school policies are in effect during school hours, while a student is on school grounds, or at any school function including travel to and from a school or school sponsored event.
Skateboards/Rollerblades
No skateboards or roller blades are allowed on campus. Boards and roller blades will be confiscated and will be released only to parents.
Excessive Show of Affection
Mile High has been entrusted by the community to uphold an exemplary standard of proper and acceptable behavior among students at school. These standards are periodically reviewed with parent/teacher organizations. Excessive show of affection such as kissing, inappropriate hugging or touch is prohibited during school related activities and on school property.
Forgery, Cheating, Plagiarism
A student shall not use or attempt to use the identity, signature, academic work, or research of another person and represent that it is his or her own. A student shall not share his or her knowledge or work with another student (A.R.S. 13-2002).
Gambling
A student shall not engage in any game or activity that involves the element of risk (A.R.S. 13-3303, 13-3304, 13-3305, 13-3306).
Emergency Alarms and Fire Control Devices/False Reporting
A student shall not activate or use any fire alarm or emergency control device unless the student reasonably believes that an emergency exists, justifying use of the device (A.R.S. 13-2907).
Arson
A student shall not start, attempt to start, or promote the continuation of any fire or explosion. This does not preclude teacher approved class activities such as an approved and supervised experiment in a class (A.R.S. 13-1702, 13-1703).
Unauthorized Entry, Burglary/Trespassing
A student shall not gain or attempt to gain forceful or unauthorized entry to, or occupation of school buildings, grounds, or any other school property (A.R.S. 13-1502, 13-1503, 13-1504, 13-1506).
Misrepresentation, Extortion, and Theft
A student shall not take, use or borrow any property that belongs to another person without that person's permission (A.R.S. 13-1802, 13-1804).
Tobacco and Cigarettes
A student is not permitted to possess or use tobacco in any form while on school property, school transportation, or at school events.
Gum
Students are not allowed to chew gum anywhere on campus.
- Air guns, water balloons and launchers, squirt guns, slingshots, and homemade projectile devices are considered dangerous to the safety of others and are strictly forbidden. Also prohibited are rock throwing, pebble flicking, snowballs, gleeking, or any other activity considered a danger to others or the student himself/herself.
- Valuables, large amounts or money, cell phones, radios, walkmans, tape/CD players, cameras, pagers, skateboards, roller blades, gameboys, trading/playing cards, electronic games, pogs, etc., are not allowed on campus and should not be brought to school. The school will assume no responsibility for the loss of such items. Items not allowed on school grounds may be confiscated and stored in the assistant principal's office to be picked up by the parents only.
Disruption of the Educational Process
To include insubordination, uncooperative attitude, horseplay, lack of books and materials, out of bounds, P.E. non-dress, and any other behavior deemed to interfere or disrupt the educational process will be handled according to frequency and severity of the offense with disciplinary measures imposed at the discretion of the administrator.
Year End Activities
The Mile High administration reserves the right to circumvent the normal discipline matrix of interventions and proceed directly to a more severe form of discipline if it is felt that the circumstances warrant a more severe discipline measure. Students are expected to have fun, yet abide by school rules during end-of-year activities.
Anyone using shaving cream, water guns/balloons, etc., on campus will be suspended and the items confiscated.
Yearbook Signing - Students are responsible for their own yearbook and most monitor who and what statements are written in their yearbook by other students. The school will not be responsible for replacing yearbooks that have been vandalized. Students who choose to write inappropriate comments in a yearbook may be suspended and required to make restitution for the cost of the yearbook.
Sexual Harassment Policy PUSD #1 - G.2.1
- It is the policy of the Prescott Unified School District #1 to maintain a learning and working environment that is free from sexual harassment. No employee or student of the district shall be subjected to sexual harassment.
- Violations of this policy or procedure will be cause for disciplinary action. Perpetrators are subject to serious legal repercussions.
Sexual harassment may include, but is not limited to:
- Unwelcome flirting or suggestive comments.
- Unwelcome threats, verbal abuse, negative comments, or degrading descriptions.
- Specific verbal comments about an individual's body.
- Jokes, stories, drawings, pictures, or gestures of a sexual nature.
- Spreading rumors.
- Remarks about students enrolled in a predominantly single-sex class.
- Unnecessary patting, pinching, or touching an individual's body or clothes.
- Cornering or blocking of normal movements.
- Actual physical force used or threatened to pressure someone into sexual behavior.
- Any act of retaliation against an individual who reports a violation of the district's sexual harassment policy or who participates in the investigation of a sexual harassment complaint.
Arizona School Laws - Appendix-Arizona Revised Statutes
15-507 Insult or abuse of a teacher in school
A person who knowingly insults or abuses a teacher on school grounds, or while the teacher is engaged in the performance of his/her duties, is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. Added by Laws 1981, Ch. 1 & 2, effective January 23, 1991.
15-341 General powers and duties
A. The governing board shall:
1. Hold pupils to strict account for disorderly conduct on school property.
13-2911 Interference with the peaceful conduct of educational institutions; Classifications
A. Students may be charged with interference with peaceful conduct of an educational institution when:
- Possessing or conspiring to purchase or sell drugs.
- Having possession or a weapon or dangerous instruments.
- Repeatedly defying school rules.
- Exhibiting aggressive behavior which may cause stress or danger to another student's well-being.
- Displaying gang identification criteria, such as self-proclamation, paraphernalia suggesting gang affiliation, tattoos, observation of type of clothing, patches and colors worn to indicate type of gang affiliation, or hand signals.
- Engage in any conduct that endangers, or reasonably appears to endanger, the health or safety of students, school employees, or others.
- Interference with the peaceful conduct of educational institutes is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Added Laws 1977, Ch. 142, 91, effective October 1, 1978.