Student Conduct and Discipline

Centennial believes in Positive Behavior Interventions and Support to help us to be as effective as possible so children learn to make positive behavior choices and work through any interpersonal problems they may experience. According to Board Policy regarding student conduct, every student is expected to follow accepted school rules of conduct and to show respect for and to obey persons in authority. Certain behavior, especially behavior that disrupts the classroom, is unacceptable and may result in disciplinary action by an administrator. The administrator will follow the district student conduct and discipline code for inappropriate behaviors and the student will receive appropriate consequences for the behavior. The code shall be enforced uniformly, fairly, and consistently for all students. The discipline philosophy at Centennial Elementary School is intended to help all students act responsibly and respectfully toward others in our school community.

Bully Prevention

Bullying is the use of coercion to obtain control over another person or to be habitually cruel to another person. Bullying can occur through written, verbal or electronically transmitted expression or by means of a physical act or gesture. Bullying is prohibited on district property, at district or school-sanctioned activities and events, when students are being transported in any vehicle dispatched by the district or one of its schools, or off school property when such conduct has a connection to school or any district curricular or non-curricular activity or event.

A student who engages in any act of bullying is subject to appropriate disciplinary action, including suspension, expulsion and/or referral to law enforcement authorities. The severity and pattern of the bullying behavior, if any, shall be considered when disciplinary decisions are made.

Teachers who observe or become aware of bullying shall take appropriate steps to intervene and/or report such behavior to the school principal. Parents and students who become aware of bullying are encouraged to report it to the school administration.

Anti-bullying efforts are aligned with PBIS and are evidence-based practice. Centennial has developed a comprehensive plan that will further address practices that promote awareness, focus on prevention, and help us respond in consistent and appropriate ways. The School Board has adopted Policy JICDE regarding bullying prevention and education in schools. Board policies are revised as state laws and regulations change.

Tobacco Free Campus

To promote the general health, welfare, and well-being of students and staff, smoking, chewing, or any other use of any tobacco product by staff, students, and members of the public is prohibited on all school property. Possession of any tobacco product by students is also prohibited on school property.

Signs will be posted in prominent places on all school property to notify the public that smoking or other use of tobacco products is prohibited in accordance with state law and district policy. This policy will be published in all employee and student handbooks, posted on bulletin boards, and announced in staff meetings.

Any member of the general public considered by the superintendent or designee to be in violation of this policy will be instructed to leave school district property. Employees found to be in violation of this policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

Disciplinary measures for students who violate this policy may include in-house detention, revocation of privileges, and exclusion from extracurricular activities. Repeated violations may result in suspension from school. In accordance with state law, no student will be expelled solely for tobacco use.

Please refer to Board policy ADC for more information.

Student Use of the Internet

Weld County School District 6 encourages students to use the Internet and electronic communications, such as e-mail, to help them with their schoolwork. Using the school computers and the Internet is a privilege, not a right. Students have no expectation of privacy when using the school’s computers. Students shall use district computers and computer systems in a responsible, efficient, ethical, and legal manner. Students are expected to follow these rules:

Use the Internet only when the teacher has given permission.
Tell the teacher immediately if they unintentionally access inappropriate material while using the Internet or electronic communications.
Never log in with someone else’s name and password.
Never give others personal information while using the Internet or electronic communications unless specifically approved by the teacher or counselor.
Never arrange face-to-face meetings with persons met on the Internet or through electronic communications.
Do not use the internet or electronic devices to bully, harass, threaten, demean, or promote violence or hatred against another person or group of persons.
Do not vandalize technology equipment or the district network. This will result in cancellation of privileges and may result in school disciplinary action and/or legal action.
Only use licensed software provided by the school and not load any personal software onto the computer.

Student Email Accounts

Greeley-Evans Weld County School District 6 will provide a free email account for every student. Having an email account will allow students to email teachers questions and receive classroom updates. Depending on the teacher, students may also be able to turn in assignments using email.

All students will receive training on appropriate use of email before teachers provide them with their usernames and passwords. Training will include: dealing with potential bullying, handling email from unknown senders, general email etiquette, and informing students that email messages leave a permanent digital record. Parents are encouraged to use CommonSense Media resources to learn how to support their children as they navigate the online world. Resources can be accessed by visiting the following website (http://www.commonsensemedia.org).

If you do NOT want your student to have a district provided email account, you may fill-out a “Student Electronic Mail (email) Opt-Out Form” in the office of any district school. Otherwise, your child will be assigned a school email account.

Acceptable use of email falls under the Board of Education policy governing student use of the Internet and electronic communications. Policy JS states that no student shall access, create, transmit, retransmit, or forward material or information:

That promotes violence or advocates destruction of property including, but not limited to, access to information concerning the manufacturing or purchasing of destructive devices or weapons.
That contains pornographic, obscene, or other sexually oriented materials, either as pictures or writings, which are intended to stimulate erotic feelings or appeal to prurient interests in nudity, sex, or excretion.
That harasses, threatens, demeans, or promotes violence or hatred against another person or group of persons in violation of the district’s nondiscrimination policies.
That uses inappropriate or profane language likely to be offensive to others in the school community.
That is knowingly false or could be construed as intending to purposely damage another person's reputation.
That contains personal information about themselves or others, including information protected by confidentiality laws.
Using another individual’s Internet or electronic communications account without written permission from that individual.
That impersonates another or transmits through an anonymous emailer.

If you have questions, please contact the school administrator.

Student Use of Cell Phones and Other Electronic Communication Devices

The Board of Education believes personal technology devices may be useful tools for students in the educational environment and can play a vital communication role during emergency situations. However, use of personal technology devices (PTD) in school situations must be regulated to assure that the use of such devices does not disrupt or interfere with the educational process or school operations. Therefore, students may only use PTDs on district property, on a district vehicle or at a district or school-sponsored activity or event in accordance with this policy.

For purposes of this policy, “personal technology device" (PTD) includes any privately-owned portable technology device, including but not limited to cell phones, pagers, tablets, laptops, cameras, audio and/or video recorders and players, and all other hand-held electronic communication and data storage devices. students may use PTDs as a designated tool for learning if authorized by the student's teacher. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the PTD is turned off or placed in silent mode during unauthorized times. Students’ use of PTDs with cameras and/or video recording capabilities is prohibited in locker rooms, bathrooms, or any other location where such use could violate another person's reasonable expectation of privacy. Students shall not use PTDs to engage in, promote or facilitate any other conduct that violates the student code of conduct, other Board policies or regulations, or state or federal law.

Movies

Weather Closure

In the event that schools are closed due to extreme weather or other situations, parents can tune in to local radio, television stations, or go online to Weld County School District 6’s website at www.greeleyschools.org to find out about school closures the morning of the day in question. The announcement regarding the closure of school is broadcast by approximately 6:00 a.m. Please do not call the school. It is extremely important that the telephone lines be kept open during times such as these.