2009-2010
The members of the Fairland School Community--students, parents and staff--believe that
learning is a continuous process and while learning is not confined to a school building,it is
the primary function of the school. The school must evolve a certain set of rules and regulations
to guide its participants and to facilitate the performance of this function. These rules should
reflect a balance between the responsibilities and rights of the student and the responsibilities
and rights of the group. They must promote an environment conducive to effective and efficient
learning, mutual respect, and cooperation between and among all segments of the school community.
The Fairland local school discipline policy will focus on the development of self-discipline
that will express itself in responsible and appropriate behavior. The implementation of the policy
will be fair, firm and consistent and all students will be made aware of the consequences of
irresponsible and inappropriate behavior. Careful evaluation of the individual situation will be made so
the school's response to the student will be appropriate. In all cases the goal of the disciplinary
intervention is to help the child deal with the situation more responsibly and appropriately in the
future. The Fairland School Community members believe self-discipline is learned behavior and
needs to be taught in the home, school and community. The child learns through experience and imitation
of those around him. Discipline is a developmental process. The ultimate goal is internalization
of discipline so little external enforcement is required.
The cooperation of many people is necessary to establish and maintain a positive learning
environment. Each member of the school community must assume certain responsibilities to assure
the rights of all are protected. The following responsibilities are rights are not all-inclusive,
but rather relate specifically to the school discipline.
The student has the right to a public school education in an environment conducive to
learning. He/She is expected to do the following:
- Attend school and classes regularly, to arrive on time, and to fulfill to the best of
his/her ability the subject objectives.
- Understand and observe the rules of the school.
- Recognize there are channels through which rules and conditions can be studied and questioned,
and realize he/she must use those channels.
- Participate in the development of school rules in keeping with his/her maturity.
The parent has the right to expect the school to address the learning needs of the child in
an equitable way, respecting the individual differences of children. The parent has the right to
be informedto the child's progress of areas where home/school cooperation may be needed. The parent is
expected to do the following:
- Send the child to school regularly, on time, and prepared to work.
- Respond to communications from the school pertaining to the child.
- Cooperate with school staff in solving behavioral problems.
- Foster a respect for the right and property of others.
- Understand and support the school rules and policies.
The teacher has the right to work in an atmosphere that fosters satisfaction in his/her
work with the support and guidance of the administrator in maintaining high professional standards.
The teacher is expected to do the following:
- Work with students so they understand the objectives of the subject and what they are
expected to learn.
- Help students realize the importance of being responsible to himself/herself and others.
- Encourage and help the student to understand and support the rules of the school and to
participate in formulating rules relating to his/her role in the school.
- Know and enforce consistently and fairly the rules and policies of the school.
- Use procedures appropriate for age, background, and level of maturity in dealing with students.
- Seek conferences with parents and other personnel in an effort to help students who present
behavioral problems.
The principal has the right to expect the cooperation of staff, students and parents to
facilitate the fulfillment of the school's function as an educational institution. The principal
is expected to do the following:
- Make known and interpret to students, parents and staff the MCPS policies and the local
school discipline policy.
- Implement specific plans for effective student, parent and staff participation in the formulation
and review of the local school discipline policy.
- Support all building personnel to maintain appropriate and effective discipline.
- Be available for conferences with staff, students, parents and others on discipline matters.
- Provide support for teachers in dealing with serious situations.
- Inform teachers of administrative disciplinary action.
- Identify the line of authority in the building when he/she is not in the building so disciplinary
matters are handled as expeditiously as possible.
COUNTY POLICY
Montgomery County policies and regulations related to discipline are contained in the
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Policies and Procedures Handbook and the Students Rights
and Responsibilities document located in the school office, and are available to school staff,
parents and teachers.
RESPONSIBLE and APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR
Responsible and appropriate behaviors at Fairland Elementary School include the following:
- Students will be respectful of themselves and others.
- Students will respect property.
- Students will follow school rules.
INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS
Inappropriate behaviors at Fairland include physical harm to oneself or others, psychological
harm (hurting feelings, making threats), destruction of property (loss, stealing, vandalism),
disruption of the school program, and the instigation of inappropriate behavior within a group.
Consequences for inappropriate behavior may include staff intervention, parent contact, referral
to the administration and suspension. In dealing with each incident the staff member will keep
in mind that the purpose of discipline is to strengthen behavior that will enable the child to
grow and appropriately cope with similar experiences in the future.
FAIRLAND FAMOUS FIVE!
At Fairland Elementary School all staff members will work with all students to prevent
behavior that will cause:
- Anyone, including yourself, to be hurt physically.
- Anyone to have hurt feelings.
- Property (personal or school) to be damaged, lost, destroyed, or stolen.
- Interruptions to the on-going program.
- Group contagion that can lead to problems with the items listed above.
DISCIPLINARY ISSUES and ACTIONS.
Physical Attack on Staff and Students
An act of physically assaulting (biting, shoving, choking, spitting, kicking, pulling hair of,
pulling on clothes of) a staff member or a student on school grounds or in conjunction with
school activities.
- Minimum Action: Three (3) days of suspension with a police referral.
>- Maximum Action: 10 day suspension and a request for expulsion. (This should be distinguished from a minor fight or scuffle between students.)
Verbal Abuse
Willfully intimidating, insulting, using inappropriate gestures, or abusing verbally a
member of the school staff. Use of improper language in and of itself is not considered verbal
abuse, but such behavior is not condoned and will be dealt with at the school level.
- Minimum Action: One (1) day suspension with parent conference.
>- Maximum Action: Five (5) day suspension.
Extortion
An act of attempting to secure money or property through threat of physical harm.
- Minimum Action: One (1) day suspension with parent conference.
>- Maximum Action: Five (5) day suspension.
Dress and Grooming
School personnel may advise students about appropriate dress and grooming for school but may
not establish dress codes. School personnel may not discipline students for their style of dress or
grooming unless:
- It causes a disruption to school activities.
- It endangers health and safety.
It fails to meet reasonable requirements of a course or activity.
Action: Administrator, student, parent conference (by phone or in person) and removal
of disruptive articles.
Misbehavior in Halls or on Bus
Any student causing/being a safety hazard by ignoring the patrols, bus driver, or adult
monitoring the buses/halls will be dealt with immediately.
- Minimum Action: Administrator, student, parent conference (by phone or in person).
- Maximum Action: Suspension or exclusion from riding the bus for a designated period of time.
Off School Grounds Without Permission, Truancy or Cutting Class
Students are expected to attend school and class every day. Once they arrive at school,
they are expected to stay in school unless granted prior permission by a school official or
parent/guardian.
- Minimum Action: Administrator, student, parent conference (by phone or in person).
- Maximum Action: In-school suspension for 1-5 days.
Intimidation
Threatening others.
- Minimum Action: Parent conference.
- Maximum Action: Suspension.
Fighting
Student fighting can create a serious safety problem and must never be tolerated. Staff
members are to stop the students and bring them to the office to be seen by an administrator.
- Minimum Action: Administrator, student, parent conference (by phone or in person),
plus referral to counselor. One (1) day suspension.
- Maximum Action: Suspension.
Theft
Students involved in taking another's property will be referred to an administrator.
- Minimum Action: Administrator, student, parent conference (by phone or in person).
Student must make restitution. One (1) day suspension.
- Maximum Action: Five (5) day suspension; police involvement.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and/or
other inappropriate verbal, written, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment
committed by students against students or staff violates MCPS policy and is inappropriate behavior
that will not be tolerated.
- Minimum Action: Administrator, student, parent conference (by phone or in person).
Notify MCPS Human Relations Department, and notify parents of parties involved.
- Maximum Action: To Be Determined.
Storing, Possessing or Carrying Dangerous Weapons (MCPS 230-17)
Unauthorized storing, possessing, or carrying firearms, knives, or any other implement (guns,
pen knives, Swiss Army knives, pocket knives, boy/girl scout knives, etc.) that could be used in
a lethal way.
- Minimum Action: Confiscation. Suspension and recommendation for expulsion. This recommendation
will be submitted to the Office of School Performance, the Field Office and the Superintendent of Schools.
- Maximum Action: Request for expulsion and police referral.
Destruction of Public Property (Vandalism) (MCPS 230-3)
In addition to the policy statement on contacting police and full payment.
- Minimum Action: A parent conference and a one (1) day suspension; or the principal may
develop a plan for students in lieu of suspension.
- Maximum Action: Five (5) day suspension.
Intoxicants on School Property/Drug Abuse
Possession or use of illegal drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products.
- Minimum Action: A parent conference, police notification, and a one (1) day suspension.
- Maximum Action: Request for expulsion.
Bomb Scare/False Fire Alarm
False fire alarm or bomb scare.
- Minimum Action: Administrator, student, and parent conference.
- Maximum Action: Suspension with recommendation of expulsion, safety and security officials involvement.
Communication Devices on School Property
Cell phones, pagers, etc. cannot be used throughout the instructional day.
- Action: Administrator, student, parent telephone conference.
Plagarism/Cheating
- Minimum Action: Student and teacher conference.
- Maximum Action: Administrator, student, and parent conference (in person or by phone) with disciplinary actions.
Appeals
All students have rights guaranteed by the Montgomery County Public Schools Policy on Rights
and Responsibilities adopted in April 1975 and amended in 1977, 1984 and 1985. Copies of the
Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook are available in the main office or media center.
Page Updated: October 30, 2009
