Student Code of Conduct 1

Student Code of Conduct

Sandy Nunez

Grand Canyon University: EAD 513

June 24, 2020

Background

Bernard Black Elementary School is located in a suburban area south of Phoenix,

Arizona. It is one of nineteen schools in the Roosevelt School District. Bernard Black serves

kindergarten through eighth grade and offers a head start program that is overseen by the state of

Arizona. It has a student population of 689 students, 32 certified teachers, 1 academic coach, 2

administrators, 1 social worker, and 1 shared counselor and behavioral coach. Our student

demographics can be broken down by 1% American Indian, 5% Asian, 59% Hispanic, 29%

Black, and 5% White. Bernard Black is a Title 1 school with a 100% free and reduced lunch

program. We also have a large population of special education and English language learners.

Student Code of Conduct

At Bernard Black Elementary School, our mission statement states, "At Bernard Black

Elementary School, we provide innovative instruction in a safe, kind, diverse, and supportive

environment. Every day we educate to create innovative leaders with a problem-solving mindset

to face the challenges of tomorrow" (Bernard Black, 2019). Our mission statement also includes

our core values which are "We will develop curriculum and instructional strategies to incorporate

STEAM and create a learning environment that encourages innovative thinking and promotes a

positive growth mindset. We will model, monitor, and enforce student and adult behaviors that

contribute to a safe and orderly environment while respecting the rights of others within a

diverse community. We will hold high expectations for student achievement and character and

will guide students to make responsible choices for their lives and the learning process" (Bernard

Black, 2019).
Student Code of Conduct 3

The following are expectations and norms we expect all students enrolled at Bernard Black

Elementary School to follow and respect.

 All students will take responsibility for learning.

Student Code of Conduct Topics

At Bernard Black Elementary School, both parents and students are required to read and

sign the student handbook, which lists the rules, policies, and procedures. Below is an outline of

the expectations.

Attendance

Regular attendance is expected of all students in order to achieve student success.

Arizona State law requires students between the ages of six thru sixteen to attend school.

Absences are excusable for illness, appointments, recovery from an accident, and death.

Parents/guardians are required to call the school by 9:00 am for school personnel to document

the absence. Absences exceeding 18 days of the required attendance days will be considered

unexcused. If the event of the absences continues to exceed, the parent/guardian will receive a

court order from the school.

Dress Code

All students at Bernard Black Elementary School are expected to dress in the proper

school uniform provided by the school. No logos or labels should be shown on the uniform.
Student Code of Conduct 4

Shortened hems, slits, etc. may not alter the clothing. All students must have a lay-down collar

with sleeves, and it must be tucked in at all times. This may be a polo or dress shirt. Pants must

be a solid color with no outer pockets showing on the pants. Denim, blue jeans, and cargo pants

are not accepted. Piercings are allowed however, jewelry in the tongue, chin, and nose is not

allowed. Shoes must be closed-toe and have a heel for support. Slippers, slides, and Heelys are

not allowed.

Bullying/Harassment

Bullying and harassment are not prohibited on school grounds. This includes physical or

psychological abuse from another student. Intimidation, insult, aggressive behavior, verbal and

physical threats should be reported by a teacher, administrator, school nurse, and counselor.

Students who exhibit such behavior will be held accountable for disciplinary actions.

Weapons

Knives, guns, projectile weapons, etc. are not prohibited on school grounds.

Parents/guardians and/or police will be notified. Students will serve in disciplinary action.

Violation of this rule will result in suspension and/or will undergo a police investigation.

Technology

Students and parents both need to sign an electronic contract that states the rules,

responsibilities, and consequences if the policy is not followed. Bernard Black is an Apple

integrated school, and each student will be held responsible for his/her own Ipad. Students will

serve disciplinary action if Ipad is misused, mistreated, and/or inappropriate activity is found.
Student Code of Conduct 5

Discipline

Every student has the right to a safe learning environment. Each classroom is expected to

display rules and expectations for classroom behavior, consequences, and rewards. Teachers are

expected to send home their own discipline plan for parents/guardians to sign and return back to

school. Students who receive an office referral will be taken into questioning by the

administration. The following consequences may be used for office referrals:

 Conference with student and parent

Search and Seizure

A productive learning environment requires order, safety, and security for all staff and

students. School officials have the right to search when school grounds are threatened, or

contraband is believed to be on school property. If there is reasonable suspicion, school

personnel has the right to search and obtain any contraband found. Searches of desks and student

backpacks can be conducted at any time with the consent of the student or a search warrant.

Student Code of Conduct Statement

At Bernard Black Elementary School student code of conduct is designed to serve both

school and student. It is a set of standards of behavior expected by all students to follow. Our

students are expected to read, understand, and return the code of conduct contract,

acknowledging that they will abide by the rules and policies set by the school. “School
Student Code of Conduct 6

administration and teachers should use codes of conduct to guide them in how they should

respond to daily situations related to discipline and student affairs. Code is meant to complement

the school's standards, policies, and rules, but not substitute for them” (O'Conner & Peterson,

2014). It is required that both student and parent fully understand the expectations and student

rights stated in the student code.

It is Bernard Black's mission to create a safe student-centered learning environment that

promotes the school's goal for student achievement. Our student population is unique and

diverse. We have students coming from group homes, foster homes, single-parents house-holds,

and some living in a single-family home with up to 3 families living there. As a teacher and

future administrator, I understand how clear the student code of conduct must be for our students

and families to understand. Each student must be given equal opportunity, respect, equity, and

acceptance here at Bernard Black Elementary School. According to Banks, “We must recognize

that, for many low-income and minority students, there is little or no continuity between

schooling and the rest of their lives. To be successful in school, they must cross barriers of

language, values, cognition, and culture. Restructuring schools for equity challenges schools to

establish greater congruence between themselves and students' homes. Children have a better

chance of succeeding in school when such congruence exists” (Banks, 1993).

Overall the student code of conduct should be seen as a guideline rather than a

disciplinary document. Our administration and teachers should lead by example and model all

behaviors and expectations. By doing so, it will build a positive school culture and give our

students a safe learning environment they can be fully engaged. If behaviors do occur,

consequences must be appropriate to the action and followed through. However, positive

behaviors must be accounted for and rewarded. Our goal here at Bernard Black Elementary
Student Code of Conduct 7

School is to create problem-solving leaders for the future, so we must recognize when students

are problem-solving and making the right decisions.

References

Banks, C. A. M. (1993). Restructuring schools for equity. Phi Delta Kappan, 75(1), 42.

O'Conner, A., & Peterson, R. (2014). Codes of Conduct Policies. Retrieved June 24, 2020,

from https://k12engagement.unl.edu/codes-of-conduct-policies

School, B. E. (2019). Bernard Black Vision, Values, Mission and Motto. Retrieved June 23,

2020, from https://www.rsd66.org/domain/106