Code of Conduct and Discipline

The HCRHS Code of Conduct is based on the six pillars of character. As per BOE Policy and Regulations, the Code of Conduct has been developed to foster the health, safety, social and emotional well-being of our students. Our goal is to maintain a civil, safe, supportive and disciplined school environment.

Respect: I will be considerate of the feelings and property of others and treat them without bias or judgment.
Responsibility: I will act in a mature manner and be prepared for any consequences both positive and negative.
Caring: I will be sensitive to the beliefs, ideas, feelings and experiences of others.
Trustworthiness: I will be reliable, honest and dependable.
Fairness: I will treat others equally regardless of their ideas, opinions or moral standards.
Citizenship: I will take pride and be a good role model in my country, my town and my school.

HCRHS follows the state recommended guidelines of state legislation (NJSA 18A:37-1) regarding school discipline and supervision. The established school rules on conduct apply to all school-related functions/activities, both on and off campus. Students who persist in violating our code of conduct will be referred to their vice principal.

Restorative Practices:

To operationalize the mission statement into supporting success of all students, the following elements of restorative practices serve as guiding principles. It is key that both staff and students take active roles in this process.

Establish a collaborative relationship to build a sense of safety and trust
Listen and share perspectives
Share and explain the consequences
Decide how student makes amends to school community (if applicable)

Discipline

Click following links to view: HCRHS Discipline Policy and HCRHS Discipline Regulations

Tiers of Discipline

Tier 1

	ASD= Afterschool detention [M, W, TH] ED=extended detention [W] ULD= Lunch detention [M-F] OSS=out of school suspension	2 ULD=1 ASD 1 ED= 3 ASD on some infractions [only Subs, Violence, AcInt cumulative over career]
Infraction	First Offense	Second Offense	Third Offense
Academic Integrity Violation* *cumulative over high school career	Administrative warning // academic consequences as determined by department supervisor	1-3 ASD // academic consequences as determined by department supervisor	1-3 ED // academic consequences as determined by department supervisor
Activity Bus Violation	4th and 5th incident: administrative warning	6-8 incidents: 1 ASD each	Possible suspension of privilege
Bus Misconduct	Administrative warning	1-3 ASD	1-3 ED/1 ISS Possible suspension of privilege
Class Cutting	2 ASD, absence unexcused	1 ED, absence unexcused	2 ED, absence unexcused
Detention Cutting	Assignment will be doubled	1 ED in addition to 1st offense discipline	OSS in addition to all of 2nd offense discipline
Disruptive/Uncooperative Behavior/Language/Off Limits	Administrative warning	1-3 ASD	1-3 ED
Dress Code Violation	Administrative warning and correction of violation	1 ASD and correction of violation	Correction of violation, 1 ED each subsequent violation or 1 OSS for each subsequent violation
Electronic Device Violation Student only removed for insub, not device	Administrative warning	1-3 ASD	1-3 ED
ID Violation Resets at semester	4th and 5th incident: administrative warning	6-8 incidents: 1 ASD each	9+ incidents, 1 ED each; 11+ = chronic offender
ID Misuse/False Identity	1-3 ASD	1-2 ED	OSS
Tardiness (cumulative total, not per block) Resets at semester (not for parking)	4th and 5th incident: administrative warning	6-8 incidents: 1 ASD each, seniors see parking policy	9+ incidents: 1 ED each, seniors see parking policy, 11+= chronic offender
Truancy* *check for signs of substance suspicion	2 ED, absence unexcused	1 ISS, absence unexcused	2 OSS
Additional offenses beyond these may categorize the student as a chronic offender and subject to applicable discipline ISS may be implemented, in Tiers 1 & 2 only, at administrator discretion, in lieu of or in addition to outlined discipline

Tier 2

	ASD= Afterschool detention [M, W, TH] ED=extended detention [W] ULD= Lunch detention [M-F] OSS=out of school suspension	2 ULD=1 ASD 1 ED= 3 ASD on some infractions [only Subs, Violence, AcInt cumulative over career]
Infraction	First Offense	Second Offense	Third Offense
Abusive Language	1 ED, possible notification of local law enforcement	2 ED-OSS, notification of local law enforcement, SAC referral	Chronic Offender
Insubordination	1 ED	2 ED	Chronic Offender
Parking Violation	1 ED Denial/ loss of parking	2 ED Denial/ loss of parking Possible tow or ticket of vehicle	OSS Denial/loss of parking Tow/ticket of vehicle
Additional offenses beyond these may categorize the student as a chronic offender and subject to applicable discipline ISS may be implemented, in Tiers 1 & 2 only, at administrator discretion, in lieu of or in addition to outlined discipline

Tier 3

	ASD= Afterschool detention [M, W, TH] ED=extended detention [W] ULD= Lunch detention [M-F] OSS=out of school suspension	2 ULD=1 ASD 1 ED= 3 ASD on some infractions [only Subs, Violence, AcInt cumulative over career]
Infraction	First Offense	Second Offense	Third Offense
Destruction of School Property	ASD-OSS plus restitution	ISS-OSS plus restitution	Chronic Offender
Fighting	3-5 OSS	5-10 OSS	Chronic Offender
Harassment	ED-ISS	1-3 ISS	Chronic Offender
*Impeding* Student Drug Testing (carrying urine etc, did not yet touch test)	2 ISS	3 OSS	Chronic Offender
Substance Violation refused or tamper/dilute/touched cup in some way=violation of policy See regulation 5530, Substance Abuse*	3 OSS, 14 calendar day activities removal, 5 SAC meetings, re-entry test to zero	5 OSS, 2 ED, mandatory CADC, 30 day activities removal, 10 SAC meetings, re-entry test to zero, periodic testing for remainder of high school career	3rd= 10 OSS, 2 ED, district paid/approved provider CADC, 60 day activities removal, re-entry test to zero, periodic testing for remainder of high school career 4th= 45 day OSS, mandatory hearing with superintendent, further re-entry requirements and consequences on case-by-case basis
Substance Violation (Nicotine) See regulation 5530, Substance Abuse	3 ASD or 1 ED, 3 SAC sessions	2 ED, 5 SAC sessions	3rd = 3 ED, 10 SAC sessions 4th = Possible OSS, Mandatory mtg w/Principal
Theft	2 ED-OSS	ISS-OSS	Chronic Offender
Unauthorized Audio/Photo/Video	ED-ISS	1-3 OSS	Chronic Offender
Notification to local law enforcement will be based on the severity of the infraction and can occur from the first offense. Parent/guardian meeting may be required. The administration reserves the right to refer students for counseling evaluation.

Tier 4

Infraction		These acts, as well as any other egregious acts that are deemed by the administration to be of significant harm to the students/staff are the most serious offenses. The administration reserves the right to refer the student for counseling or psychiatric evaluation. Due to the severity of level 4 infractions, each will be subject to a minimum disciplinary action of 5-10 Out of School Suspensions, notification of local law enforcement and a possible recommendation for expulsion. Students may also be deemed ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities. The determination of such a suspension and the length thereof will be at the discretion of the administration.
Arson	Drug Distribution
Assault	Drug Sale
Bias Related Act	False Alarm
Chronic Offender	Weapon(s)
Criminal Threat	Willful Disobedience or Open Defiance

Detention and Suspension Procedures

Detention Hall Policy

Report to detention as assigned. All school rules apply. Electronic devices are not permitted unless being used for academic purposes and with the approval of the proctor. Chromebooks can be used for school work only, and screens must be facing the detention proctor. Cell phone usage is not permitted, and the cell phone policy remains in effect during detention.
Students are expected to bring sufficient work materials and are encouraged to remain academically engaged throughout the detention period. Students should bring appropriate reading materials if they have no assigned homework.
In case of an emergency illness, students must see the nurse. (Students are considered to be cutting if not officially excused.)
Students who are absent are expected to make it up on the next day detention is scheduled. With a valid, documented reason student may request, IN ADVANCE, a change in the detention date. This must be approved by the Vice Principal.
Consequence for missing detention will be a doubling of the consequence. Further dates missed will result in suspension in addition to the previously assigned detention.
Tutorials may not take the place of detention assignments.
Students who are removed from detention for failure to comply with the rules will be reassigned 2 detentions and risk being suspended out of school.

Extended Detention

Students assigned to Extended Detention will report to the assigned room promptly at 2:15 PM and remain until 5:15 PM. Students arriving late may be refused admittance and additional discipline will be assigned. All school rules apply (see Detention Hall Policy).
Students are expected to bring sufficient work or appropriate reading materials for the duration of the detention period. A component of community service may be included during the detention period to be served on campus under school supervision.
Students in violation of the detention requirements will receive additional disciplinary consequences.
Transportation is not provided and is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

Lunch Detention

Students must report to the detention room no later than 10 minutes from the start of lunch, and remain until dismissed.
Students should bring all necessary school materials.
Students are to be orderly and quiet at all times.
Students may not sleep, talk, pass notes, or communicate with others in the room.
Students may bring lunch from home. Students wishing to purchase lunch will be escorted from the detention room to do so. Students who violate any of the lunch detention rules will be sent to the appropriate vice principal for additional disciplinary action. Certain offenses may result in Lunch Detention for the remainder of the school year.

Students who violate any of the lunch detention rules will be sent to the appropriate vice principal for additional disciplinary action. Certain offenses may result in LD for the remainder of the school year.

Out-of-School Suspension

Students are not allowed on school grounds at any time during their suspension.
Students are not allowed to take part in any school activities during their suspension.
Students have the right to make up work missed during their suspension, subject to department policy.
Arrangements for all assignments, materials, and/or textbooks are to be made by calling the appropriate counselor.

In-School Suspension

Dress Code

Inappropriate dress can be disruptive to the educational process. Student attire shall be neat and clean. The school administration reserves the right to make the final decision regarding appropriate dress in school.

Click following links to view: HCRHS Dress Code Policy and HCRHS Dress Code Regulation

Infraction Clarification

Following is language to clarify the description of discipline infractions.

Abusive Language/Profanity

The use of abusive language, profanity or obscene gestures will be grounds for disciplinary action. These actions include verbal and written incidents.

Activity Bus Procedures

The service provided is a courtesy service and is determined daily based on the number of students who sign up. Students are required to sign up online by 2:50pm. They are also required to have a valid HCRHS ID and a valid pass from a staff member indicating their reason for remaining after school. Not following these procedures may result in students being denied access to the bus.

Assault on District BOE Members/Employees

A person, purposely, knowingly or recklessly, causes or attempts to cause bodily injury to another. Action will be taken according to state law NJAC 6A: 16-5.7

Assault on a Student

A person, purposely, knowingly or recklessly, causes or attempts to cause bodily injury to another. Action will be taken according to state law and a ten day out-of-school suspension may be assigned.

Bias-Related Act

A bias-related act as defined in Policy 5600 will be treated as a Tier 4 infraction, and will result in a minimum of a 5-10 day suspension at the sole discretion of the District administration. A bias-related act may take the form of, but is not limited to, any disciplinary infraction described in this regulation. A “bias-related act” is an act directed at a person, group of persons, private property, or public property that is motivated in whole or part by racial, gender, disability, religion or sexual orientation, or ethnic prejudice. This includes the use of racial epithets or slurs, or any other derogatory language, and any and all forms thereof, understood to be referring to race, gender, disability, religion or sexual orientation, or ethnicity. All bias-related acts, confirmed or suspected, will be reported to law enforcement.

Bus Misconduct

Disruptive behavior on the bus may result in detention, suspension and/or removal from the bus. Misbehavior that results in the traffic disturbance and/or puts other drivers, passengers or pedestrians in jeopardy may involve contact with local law enforcement. It is not necessary to suspend a student from school to revoke the bus privilege. N.J.S.A.18A: 25-2 reads in part, “A pupil will be excluded from the bus for disciplinary reasons by the principal, and his parents shall provide for his transportation to and from school during the period of expulsion.”

Criminal Threats

A criminal act is considered the act of expressing, either physically or verbally, the intent to commit a violent criminal offense against another. It is made for the purpose of putting another in imminent fear under circumstances reasonably causing the victim to believe the immediacy of the threat and the likelihood that it will be carried out.

Cutting class

Being absent from class or failure to attend assigned discipline without authorization while being in attendance on the day of the absence. Extreme lateness to class or leaving class before dismissal without permission will also be classified as cutting.

Disruptive Behavior

This is defined as any behavior that impinges on the learning/school environment. Disruption may result in detention or suspension depending on the severity of the incident. Suspension will be invoked if a student continually causes disruption.

Explosive Devices

The use or possession of any explosive device is prohibited by law. The students may be suspended and/or expelled. Local law enforcement will be notified.

False Fire alarms

Knowingly setting off a fire alarm when no fire exists. Action will be taken according to NJ state law and will result in immediate suspension and possible expulsion.

False Public Alarms

A person is guilty if he/she threatens to commit any crime of violence with purpose to terrorize another or to cause evacuation of a building, place of assembly, or facility of public transportation, or otherwise to cause serious public inconvenience, or in reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror or inconvenience.

Fighting

Fighting is defined as the mutual engagement in a physical confrontation that may result in bodily injury to either party. Circumstances leading to the incident will be investigated.

Food Consumption

During instructional time, no food will be eaten outside the cafeteria without written permission from either the school nurse or an administrator.

Gambling

Gambling is defined in the NJ Statutes, Title 18A as “staking or risking something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance.” A contest of chance is defined as “any contest, game, pool, gaming scheme, or gaming device in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance.” All gambling is strictly prohibited on school property.

HARASSMENT

To maintain an environment of respect and safety for everyone, students must refrain from bothering or harassing other students. Harassment is unwanted, uninvited, and unwelcome, and causes nuisance, alarm, or substantial distress. It can include, but is not limited to, words or behaviors that threaten, intimidate, or demean a person. Police notification and/or school discipline will be determined based upon the nature and severity of the incident.

*Violation of this code of conduct infraction does not necessarily result in a violation of our harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) policy

Harassment, Intimidation & Bullying

Please click to view Hunterdon Central's policies on Harassment, Intimidation & Bullying.

ID Violation

I.D. Cards

At the start of each school year, every student is issued a student ID. This ID should be in the student’s possession at all times while the student is on campus. If a student discovers he/she has left the ID at home, he/she should report to the nearest house office before school to obtain a temporary ID. Repeated failure to have an ID will result in disciplinary action. At any time, a staff member can ask a student to produce an ID and the student must comply. Refusal to do so will be considered insubordination and may result in suspension.

All students must have their Hunterdon Central issued ID when in the building or on school property. Students must have their issued ID in their possession when attending school-related activities. An ID is a school-issued item, which must be kept in the same condition in which it was issued and must be able to work in campus swipe machines. A student who does not have an ID must report to a house office and obtain a temporary ID.

An ID that is lost, won’t swipe or is defaced/ damaged must be replaced at the expense of the student. The replacement cost is $7.00. A student must report to a House office to obtain a temporary ID and order a new one. These violations may also include but are not limited to:
• having an ID that is not issued to you

• use/possession of an inactive ID

• allowing someone else to use your ID

Impeding Student Drug Testing

Any student who provides or attempts to provide a urine sample other than his or her own for testing, or any student who provides or attempts to provide a urine sample for another student for testing, or who performs any act to attempt to impede/tamper with, or which does impede/tamper with, the testing of himself or herself or any other student, shall be deemed to be in violation of the HCRHS Code of Conduct: Impeding Student Drug Testing, and shall be subject to all sanctions that are applicable to that violation.

Insubordination

Refusing to comply with a staff member’s instructions. Inappropriate behavior, such as delayed compliance toward a staff member’s instruction, is also considered insubordination. Given the nature and severity of the incident, the offense may result in detention or suspension. Refusal to identify oneself, showing an ID and/or fleeing from a staff member is considered insubordination. This offense may result in suspension.

Laser Pointers

Students are only permitted to use a laser pointer in a classroom setting with teacher supervision and approval. Use outside these parameters is prohibited and in some instances, subject to law enforcement notification and/or school discipline.

Loitering

Loitering is defined as standing idly about, and/or proceeding slowly with many stops. Students may not loiter between classes. This includes areas such as lavatories, hallways and outside school buildings. Loitering will be treated as a disciplinary infraction subject to disciplinary action.

Off Limits

Students found to be on campus, but not in their assigned area are considered to be off limits. Examples of this include loitering between classes, not using the lavatory closest to their classroom, taking an intentionally detoured route to/from appointments, or stopping at the cafeteria without medical permission.

Projectiles

Any object not related to an educational activity thrown in the school building, on/from a school bus or on school grounds is prohibited. These include, but are not limited to: snowballs, coins, pencils, books, etc. Disciplinary action and/or police notification will result according to the severity of the infraction.

Public Display of Affection

Students should refrain from such activity while on school grounds or school bus or in attendance at school-related functions. Violations will result in disciplinary action. Consensual sexual contact is prohibited and will result in disciplinary action. Sexual assault will be referred to local law enforcement.

Skateboards / Skates / Scooters

Students may use these devices traveling to and from school; however, the use of skateboards, skates and scooters is not permitted on school grounds at any time. Disciplinary action will result. During the school day, these items should be stored in the student’s locker or designated offices.

Substance Abuse

Confirmed use, possession, selling, purchasing, distribution or otherwise transferring illegal drugs or alcohol will be dealt with in accordance

with our Substance Abuse Policy and state law NJAC 6A: 16-5.7.

Click to view:

HCRHS Substance Abuse Policy

Click to view:

HCRHS Substance Abuse Regulations

Tardiness To School/Class

Tardies to class/school are cumulative and disciplinary action will be taken accordingly. Students may receive multiple tardies in a school day. Three tardies to a particular course is considered one absence in that course. Bell Schedules with beginning times for each block can be found here.

Theft

The taking of the school district’s or a person’s belongings without consent. Law enforcement will be notified as necessary.

Trespassing

The entry onto school property or into a school building without permission when the individual knows that he/she is not privileged to be on the property. (ex: suspension) Any individual found trespassing on school grounds will receive a letter of warning for the first offense. Any subsequent infractions will be turned over to local law enforcement for prosecution.

Truancy

Absence from school grounds for all or part of the day without authorization from the school or prior authorization from the parent to the House Office. A student who arrives at school and then leaves school property is considered truant.

Vandalism-Destruction/Defacing School Property

An act that purposely, knowingly or recklessly destroys or defaces school, contracted or personal property causing economic loss due to repair or replacement. The student or his/her parents are required to pay for the damages.

Water Launchers

This is defined as any device fashioned to propel liquid. Possession and/or use of these devices will result in disciplinary action. Using these devices to propel substances other than water which could harm an individual will be subject to more severe disciplinary action such as suspension. The student or his/her parents are required to pay for any damages.

Weapons

Weapons include any instrument readily capable of lethal use or of inflicting bodily injury but are not limited to: handguns, rifles, knives, clubs or other bludgeons, chains, sling shots, leather bands studded with metal filings, razor blades, stun guns, and any device that projects or releases a substance that is intended to produce temporary or permanent injury through being dispensed into the air.

Action for the use, possession, selling or transferring of a weapon, (including lookalikes) will be taken according to state law. A weapons violation may result in expulsion proceedings.

A request to bring a weapon or its facsimile to school to be utilized as part of a curricular program must be cleared with the vice-principal and security staff in advance. If clearance is granted, the student will make arrangements with school security for escort and supervision of the demonstration.