INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA)

Under M. G. L. c. 71B, children with disabilities will be provided with a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.  In accordance with provisions of M. G. L. c. 71B s. 2. no child shall be assigned to a special education class unless it is first determined by an evaluation of the child’s disability and the particular special education program that the child is likely to benefit from such program.

 

STUDENT BEHAVIOR IN THE CLASSROOM

A student's behavior in a classroom reveals much about attitudes toward education, the school, and toward classmates and friends.  For teaching and learning to take place effectively, the classroom has to be an orderly place and the people in it have to be concerned about learning.  Examples of inappropriate classroom behavior include insubordination, use of profanity or crude language, littering, marking desk tops, walls and bulletin boards, and putting feet on desks and chairs, all of which will result in disciplinary action. 

 

STUDENT BEHAVIOR IN THE HALLWAYS

Movement in the corridors between classes will proceed quickly and smoothly, keep to the right, do not loiter, avoid loud talking, and do not congregate in stairwells, at corridor intersections, and in the lobbies.

 

FIELD TRIP INFORMATION

Students on a field trip are responsible to adhere to THS rules of conduct as described in the student handbook.  Students are also required to make up the work missed while they were on a field trip.  Associate headmasters will check field trip lists to ensure the eligibility of all students.  Students must have parental permission to attend a field trip.

Taunton School Committee Policy states that no child will be denied access to a school sponsored academic field trip due to financial reasons.  To request full or partial waiving of any academic field trip fee during the school year, a parent may complete and submit a form to the building principal.  That form, known as a Field Trip Fee Waiver Request, is available from the headmaster, asst. headmaster or associate headmasters.

RESTROOMS

A student should use the restroom in the house in which his/her class meets.   Students may use 2nd floor C and D House restrooms during lunch subject to regulation by lobby duty personnel.

 

LOST AND FOUND

T.H.S. administration is not responsible for lost or stolen items, although the headmaster's office will collect all articles found in the school.  Ask there for help in finding your lost articles.

STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARDS 

Upon request of school staff, students must display their student identification cards during the school day and when attending any school related activity or event.  Students who do not comply with staff requests may be subject to disciplinary action.  Students will provide their student identification cards in a number of situations including but not limited to:

·         on a hallway pass during a class period

·         signing in late, requesting an early dismissal

·         attending any school activity/dance

·         using the school library during extended hours

·         entering/leaving the cafeteria during the lunch period

·         riding a school bus

 

FIRE DRILL AND SAFETY REGULATIONS

All students must move quickly and in an orderly fashion to the nearest exit.  No one will be allowed back into the building until an announcement is made to that effect.  All students must follow teacher directions with regards to fire drills/safety regulations.  Return to normalcy will be announced through an “ALL CLEAR” call.

VISITORS

During the school day, all visitors should enter the high school through the main entrance.  All visitors must sign in at the main office and wear a visitor’s pass throughout their stay.

 

SCHOOL DRESS CODE

All clothing should be appropriate with regard to health and safety factors.  Students should adhere to the following:

·         Tops should be three inches wide at the shoulders.

·         Tops must extend over  the pants, shorts, skirts etc.

·         Shorts and skirts should be at least “fingertip” length.

The following items of clothing are not to be worn during the school day: shirts that depict vulgarities or obscenities or that promote drug paraphernalia and usage.  Clothing that causes a disruption or is offensive in nature will not be permitted.  If a student's appearance disrupts the educational process, that student will be expected to change or cover their clothing. During the school day, students may not wear or carry hats, bandannas, headbands, other head gear, etc. This is necessary due to students holding hats, and then putting them back on when not in the presence of a faculty member.  Refusal to turn over items not allowed in the school will be deemed insubordination and subject to disciplinary action.  Students, when requested to do so, should hand over items not allowed in school immediately to administrators.  Parents may be called upon to pick up items.

 

TEXTBOOKS

Students will be held accountable for assigned textbooks. Students should regard the student handbook as a textbook and carry it at all times.  Textbooks must be covered. A student must financially reimburse T.H.S. for lost, stolen, or damaged textbooks. Saturday detention will be given to students who do not return textbooks.  Additionally, student eligibility for extra-curricular activities and graduation may be placed under review.

 

CHEATING

Evidence of cheating will result in no credit for the work involved, and the student is subject to appropriate disciplinary action. 

 

BACKPACKS

Recently developed medical information suggests that children should be very careful about the use of backpacks.  The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons has made the following suggestions:

1.       Backpacks should never be worn over one shoulder.  This method of carrying a pack has the potential to be the most harmful to a child’s back and posture.

2.       A child’s backpack should not normally exceed 15% of the child’s body weight, and absolutely never exceed 20% of the child’s weight.  Thus, a 100 pound child should not be carrying more than 15 pounds in a backpack.

3.       The heaviest items in a student backpack should be packed closest to the back.

4.       Padded backpacks with wide straps are the best choice.

5.       Students should never wear a backpack while on skates, skateboards, etc.

6.       Backpacks should be transported on the floor in cars and buses.  (Backpacks may become flying objects if a vehicle must make a quick stop).

7.       Hip straps on a backpack can help balance a backpack with a heavy load.

 

TELEPHONES AND CELLULAR PHONES

A public telephone, located in B House second floor lobby, is available for student use before and after school.  Students may use an associate headmaster's phone during their lunch period after receiving permission. Students must not use cellular phones during the school day. Cell phones must be turned off and not visible.  This is necessary due to the number of occasions where cell phones ring during class causing a disruption to the educational process.  Students who do not comply will be subject to disciplinary action and/or confiscation of cell phone. The T.H.S. administration, which does not recommend students having cell phones in school, is not responsible for lost or stolen cell phones.

 

LUNCH

Students have a choice of bringing their meals or buying it at school.  Meals may be purchased daily or meals may be prepaid through the food services office. Lunch menus are available in the cafeteria, the Taunton Daily Gazette, and displayed on cable station Taunton Education News (T.E.N.) channel 9.  Cost for breakfast is $.80 and $1.85 for lunch.  All students are encouraged to apply for Free and Reduced meals.  Applications are given to all students at the beginning of the school year and are available through the Food Services Office.  Students who qualify must produce their student ID card and/or ID number when ordering meals each day.  Students can only eat during their assigned lunch, be orderly and considerate to purchase their meals and dispose of all waste material after lunch.  Absolutely NO FOOD OR DRINK is to be taken out of the cafeteria.  Students who do not behave appropriately may be denied use of the cafeteria.

 

DANCE/PROM REGULATIONS

Students should adhere to the following:

·         All Taunton High School dances may begin at 6:00 p.m. and end no later than 10:00 p.m. that evening.

·         No tickets will be sold at the door the night of the dance.

·         The approval of the administration is required before any organization may sponsor a dance.

·         The organization sponsoring the dance is responsible for hiring a police officer and firefighter for that event.  A use of facilities form must be made out by the sponsoring organization at least four weeks prior to the event.

·         One administrator and at least six other chaperones must be in attendance at all dances or it will be canceled.

·         Students must behave accordingly.  Any student whose behavior poses a possible threat to those around him may be denied entry or asked to leave.

·         Dances are for Taunton High School students.  Guests will only be admitted to Jr./Sr. proms accompanied by a current THS student from that class and approved by the advisors.

·         Students will not be admitted to a school dance after 8:00 PM; and they are not allowed to leave the event and return.

·         All students will have proper paperwork filled out and have parental permission and consent forms regarding the breathalyzer examination to be administered prior to entrance into Dance/Proms. (pending School Committee approval)

 

LIBRARY

The library is open to students for reading, study, research, computer use, and book borrowing from 7:20 a.m. until 2:45 p.m. daily.  During the school day, individual students must have a pass from the teacher whose work they are doing.  Students who want to use the library instead of going to lunch must have a pass signed by the teacher.   Individual students must check in with a librarian at the circulation desk as they enter the library.  Students in the library must adhere to the general rules of conduct.  Students must present their signed agenda book each time they use the Internet in the library.

Library computers are to be used for school assignments only. Students wishing to use a computer before, during, or after school must sign the computer use book, located at the circulation desk.  Students must pay for lost or stolen books and return overdue volumes before borrowing additional books.  Students may be assigned a Saturday detention if books are not returned. Additionally, student eligibility for extra-curricular activities and graduation may be placed under review.

 

RELEASE OF STUDENT INFORMATION TO MILITARY/COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY RECRUITERS

Under the federal “No Child Left Behind” Act, public high schools must give the names, addresses and telephone numbers of students to the U.S. military and college/university recruiters if the recruiters request the information.  However, students or their parents, have the right to instruct the school in writing that this information is not to be released to either the military or colleges or both.  An opt out letter will be sent home to all students in grades 11 and 12 in the fall of 2008 and would need to be signed and returned to THS

INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

The Taunton Public School System is pleased to offer students the opportunity to access the Internet, believing that this will prepare the members of our educational community, to be information users while expanding their perception of how to access and use this information. 

Internet technology has the ability to bring a world of information to each connected computer, to provide students with the opportunity to become involved in the learning process and to assist in instructional programs across the curriculum.  The Taunton Public Schools recognizes that, due to the global nature of the Internet, some materials contained within may not be considered suitable or compatible with all the goals and objectives of this educational community.  The Taunton Public Schools firmly believes that the advantages of access greatly outweigh the disadvantages.  However, families should be aware that students may gain access to materials that contain defamatory, illegal or offensive materials.  Parental permission to access the Internet is required.  Acceptable use behaviors are outlined below and parents/guardians are responsible for conveying and discussing with their children responsible behaviors associated with Internet access.  Ultimately, the student is to be held accountable for all activities conducted while on-line.

Guidelines and Procedures for Internet Access:

The Internet connection will be for educational purposes only.  All student use of the Internet is to be conducted under faculty supervision.  Faculty members are not expected to monitor student use at every moment.  Before students in grades 9-12 will be authorized to access the Internet and World Wide Web, they must participate in a discussion of policy guidelines with a designated teacher.  They must have read the policy guidelines and agree to adhere to them.  The network access agreement must be signed by their parent or guardian and returned to the headmaster's office.  Students will be subject to disciplinary action if identified as having accessed network administrator sites and/or privileges.

Administration will create a master list of students meeting the aforementioned requirements and will distribute the list to appropriate faculty.  If a student's name does not appear on the list, the student will be denied access to the Internet. 

Students will obtain access to the Internet through school accounts.  Electronic mail (e-mail) is not guaranteed to be private.  People who operate the system do have access to all mail. Parents/guardians may specifically request that their children not be provided access to the World Wide Web by indicating so on the network access agreement.

Rules and Responsibilities for Internet Use:

While using the Internet, students are expected to abide by student handbook rules and follow accepted network etiquette. 

The Taunton Public Schools' sexual harassment policy is applicable to Internet conduct. Unacceptable Internet use includes, but is not limited to:

·         communications that facilitate the illegal sale or use of drugs or alcohol; facilitate criminal gang activity; threaten, intimidate, or harass any other person; or violate other laws.

·         access to or transmission of obscene, pornographic material

·         disruption of service or connecting services

·         unauthorized dissemination of an individual's personal address or phone number

·         transmission of annoying, obscene, or libelous messages including posting private or personal information about another person and chain letters.

·         violation of the guidelines posted by the service provider and moderators of news groups or chat rooms.

·         violation of copyright laws pertaining to on-line material .

·         plagiarism of material taken from the Internet.

·         unauthorized access to other computer systems including attempting to log in through a person's  e-mail account.

·         Use of online journals, diaries, bulletin boards, social networking sites (e.g. MySpace, FaceBook, etc.)

·         participation in commercial activities that are not directly related to the educational purposes of the Taunton Schools. 

District Limitation of Liability for Internet Use:

Taunton Public Schools makes no warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, that the functions or the services provided by or through the system will be error-free or without defect.  The district will not be responsible for any damage users suffer, including but not limited to loss of data or interruptions of service; the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through or stored on the system; financial obligations arising through the unauthorized use of the system. Any commercial use of the Internet is prohibited and students/parents will indemnify the school employees for any costs, fees, expenses or other liabilities resulting from such unauthorized use.

                       

Due Process for Inappropriate Internet Use:

The use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right.  Inappropriate use may result in a revocation privileges.  Students will be subject to disciplinary action if identified as having accessed network administrator sites and/or privileges. Disciplinary actions will be tailored to meet specific concerns related to the violation.  If the alleged violation also involves a violation of other provisions of the student handbook, the violation will be handled in accordance with that applicable provision.  Disciplinary actions will be tailored to assist the student to gain the self-discipline necessary to behave appropriately on the electronic network.  Taunton Public Schools will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation concerning any illegal activities conducted through the district's electronic systems.

 

STUDENT USE OF MOTOR VEHICLES

Students who find it necessary to drive to school must register their cars with their associate headmaster and receive a parking sticker.  Students must sign a statement indicating that they have been given a copy of school driving and parking regulations, that they fully understand these regulations, and that they will abide by them.  The privilege may be revoked if a violation of the attendance or tardy policy occurs or if the student is in violation of any of the driving/parking regulations.  Additionally, student eligibility for extra-curricular activities may be placed under review.  All vehicles should be locked.  THS is not responsible for damages or theft to any vehicle parked on school property.  Students should be aware that THS does utilize surveillance cameras to monitor the parking lots.

 

ACCESS CENTER

The T.H.S. Access Center, staffed by a coordinator, provides a range of services including information and education on topics relevant to teens, grief counseling, crisis intervention, and on-going therapeutic services.  These services are offered at the school in cooperation with local human service agencies.