If a student assists another student in violating any school rule, they will be disciplined and may be subject to suspension or expulsion. Students are expected to resist peer pressure and exercise sound decision-making regarding their behavior.
Cheating is when a person misleads, deceives, or acts dishonestly on purpose. Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty in which one person steals another person's ideas or words and falsely presents them as the plagiarist’s own product. There are many forms of plagiarism, including but not limited to:
Using the exact language of someone else without the use of quotation marks and without giving proper credit to the author
Presenting the sequence of ideas or arranging the material of someone else even though the material is expressed in one's own words, without giving appropriate acknowledgment
Submitting an assignment created or written by someone else but representing it as one's own
Unauthorized use of a electronic device to aide and use in cheating
The administration and teaching staff believe that students have a significant responsibility in the area of honesty and integrity regarding all schoolwork. Teachers will do everything in their power to encourage individual effort from all students in their classrooms. Because of this belief, students who are caught plagiarizing or cheating will face a variety of consequences ranging from failure of the work in question, to loss of credit for the class, to long-term suspension.
The Board of Education prohibits students from possessing, storing, making, or using a weapon in any setting that is under the control and supervision of the District for the purpose of school activities approved and authorized by the District including, but not limited to, property leased, owned, or contracted for by the District, a school-sponsored event, including athletic events, or in a District vehicle without the permission of the Superintendent.
The term "weapon" means any object which, in the manner in which it is used, is intended to be used, or is represented, is capable of inflicting serious bodily harm or property damage, as well as endangering the health and safety of persons. Weapons include, but are not limited to, firearms, guns of any type whatsoever, including spring, air and gas-powered guns (whether loaded or unloaded) that will expel a BB, pellet, or paint balls, knives, razors, clubs, electric weapons, metallic knuckles, martial arts weapons, ammunition, and explosives or any other weapon described in 18 U.S.C 921.
This policy shall also encompass such actions as look-alike items, false fire alarms, bomb threats, or intentional calls to falsely report a dangerous condition.
The Superintendent is authorized to establish instructional programs on weapons which require students to immediately report knowledge of weapons and threats of violence by students and staff to the building principal. Failure to report such knowledge may subject the student to discipline up to and including suspension or expulsion from school.
The Superintendent will refer any student who violates this policy to the student’s parents or guardians and to the criminal justice or juvenile delinquency system. The student may also be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion.
Policy exceptions include:
A. weapons under the control of law enforcement personnel;
B. theatrical props that do not meet the definition of "weapons" above, used in appropriate settings.
If given a reasonable direction by a staff member (which applies to all staff, not just teachers assigned to a student), the student is expected to comply. Persistent failure to comply with staff directions will be considered persistent disobedience and/or gross misconduct by a student. Any student may be removed from the classroom for persistent disobedience or gross misconduct, and/or, after consideration of the factors to be considered before suspending or expelling a student. Persistent disobedience or gross misconduct can result in school consequences, up to and including expulsion.
Students demonstrating affection between each other is personal and not meant for public display. This includes touching, petting, or any other contact that may be considered sexual in nature. Such behavior may result in suspension from school or possibly expulsion.
Any participation in games of chance for money and/or other items of value is forbidden on school property (including buses). Items will be confiscated and appropriate measures will be taken.
Gang activity is defined as individual or group behaviors associated with belonging to a band of youths which promotes juvenile delinquency and which has an adverse effect on the school and learning environment. Students shall not engage in behaviors at school, on school property, or at school-related activities that promote "gang" activity or gang-like activity. This includes:
Wearing clothing or other apparel, such as bandannas of any type (for both male and female students), or altering one's appearance to indicate gang affiliation.
Wearing beads, earrings, or other jewelry that denotes gang colors or symbols.
Using hand signals that communicate gang activity.
Exhibiting such violent behaviors as fighting, shouting confrontations, individual or group conflicts (“stand-offs”).
Possessing weapons as described in state law regarding prohibition of “weapons” in school.
Displaying gang symbols/graffiti on one’s body, clothes, possessions, vehicle, school locker, or other school property.
Wearing gang colors.
Being involved in any other activities deemed to be gang-related.
The administration reserves the right to determine which behaviors, dress, or activities are gang-related. Offenses will result in disciplinary action up to and including a recommendation for expulsion.
Hazing activities of any type are inconsistent with the educational process, a violation of Michigan criminal law, and are prohibited at all times. Hazing means an intentional, knowing, or reckless act by a person acting alone or acting with others that is directed against an individual and that the person knew or should have known endangers the physical health or safety of the individual, and that is done for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, participating in, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization. Permission, consent, or assumption of risk by an individual subjected to hazing does not lessen the prohibition.
Willful failure to respond to or verbally refuse to carry out a reasonable request by a staff member or other person in authority, including administrators, teachers, security person, secretaries, bus drivers, cooks, custodians, or any other school personnel shall be considered an act of insubordination.
Physical assault at school against a District employee, volunteer, or contractor which may or may not cause injury may result in charges being filed and subject the student to expulsion. Physical assault is defined as "intentionally causing or attempting to cause physical harm to another through force or violence."
The school may use informal discipline to prevent the student from being removed from school. When a student refuses to accept the usual discipline for an infraction, the refusal can result in a sterner action such as suspension or expulsion.
If a student resists or refuses the consent to a search as established in board policy, it will be considered grounds for disciplinary action. The penalty for refusal for the first offense will be equal to the student's current level of offense of the suspected violation. Future offenses will result in school consequences up to and including expulsion. Searches aid in the school's ability to keep students safe. Consent to participate in searches is essential to ensuring student safety.
Student use or possession or distribution of tobacco products or paraphernalia is not permitted on school property at any time. Failure to abide by this rule may result in suspensions and referral to the law enforcement agency.
High school students are permitted to distribute publications authored by district students within a designated “Free Speech Zone.” The designated location is in the South Building. Students shall not distribute such publications in classrooms, in hallways, or in any other manner on school property or at school-sponsored events. Students shall not engage in solicitation, surveys, or distribution of any material without prior approval from the principal. Students wishing to put information on bulletin boards must obtain approval from the administration. Students are subject to discipline (including, but not limited to, suspension or expulsion) for inappropriate actions. Inappropriate actions include the publishing, distribution, or advertising of:
Materials which are lewd, profane, or obscene
Materials with threatening acts of violence toward a person or group of persons
Material with any product or service not permitted by law;
Material containing insulting or fighting words, the very expression of which injures or harasses other people;
Materials advocating unlawful acts or acts in violation of school rules
Students shall not circulate or distribute materials in exchange for any payment unless conducted and sponsored by an approved school organization.
Students must secure (in a locked locker) their personal items. Students shall not engage in theft or be in possession of stolen property.
Threats and/or acts of violence are extremely disruptive to the educational environment for all students and will not be tolerated at West Ottawa High School. It is a priority of this administration to maintain a safe environment for everyone. We believe that all threats or acts of violence can be avoided and that conflicts can be resolved peacefully. The administration will investigate all reports of threats or acts of violence.
Student to Adult: Physical assaults on school employees, volunteers, or contractors will result in the expulsion of the student. This action is similar to the mandatory expulsion for dangerous weapons, CSC, and arson. Expulsion is from ALL Michigan public schools, other than “strict discipline academies” and appropriate alternative education programs.
Student to Student: Physical assaults by a student upon another student will result in suspension of the offending student from school. If it is determined that both parties are in part responsible for an act of violence, both will be suspended from school. This includes any assaults occurring when under the authority of the school (see "Areas of Authority"). A student committing an assault may be expelled for up to 180 school days.
Verbal assault means (1) making a bomb threat or similar threat directed against a school building, school property, or a school-related event; or (2) making a verbal threat of serious bodily injury directed to or at a District employee, volunteer, or contractor which threat creates a well-founded fear or apprehension that the student has the apparent ability and means to immediately, or in the immediate future, inflict serious bodily injury on the District employee, volunteer, or contractor, if the student is not prevented from doing so. Any student who commits a “verbal assault” against a school employee, volunteer, or contractor may be expelled. A student expelled for verbal assault may enroll in another district; however, that district is not required to enroll the student even if educational residence is established. The length of expulsion may be up to 180 days. A progressive course of disciplinary action will be followed for students making threats to other students.
Although schools are public facilities, the law does allow the school to restrict access on school property. If a student has been removed, suspended, or expelled, the student is not allowed on school property without authorization of the Principal. In addition, students may not trespass onto school property at unauthorized times or into areas of the school determined to be inappropriate. Violations of this rule could result in suspension or expulsion. Violations of this rule may also involve Law Enforcement Officials.
Students are expected to obtain permission to use any school property or any private property located on school premises. Any unauthorized use shall be subject to disciplinary action. This includes use of the internet and communication networks in a manner not sanctioned by policy and administrative guideline. Violations of this rule could result in suspension or expulsion.
Student use, possession, distribution, and/or sale of Vapes, E Cigarettes, Vape Juice, or paraphernalia is prohibited and not permitted on school property at any time. This includes any school sponsored trip or activities. Failure to abide by this rule may result in suspensions or expulsion, as well as referral to law enforcement agencies.
Verbal assault at school against a District employee, volunteer, or contractor or making bomb threats or similar threats directed at a school building, property, or a school-related activity will be considered verbal assault. Verbal threats or assault may result in suspension and expulsion. Verbal assault is a communicated intent to inflict physical or other harm on another person, with a present intent and ability to act on the threat.
Each learning environment has different rules for students. Individual rules are for the safe and orderly operation of that environment. Students will be oriented to specific rules, all of which will be consistent with the policy of the school. Persistent violations of rules could result in suspension or expulsion.