Discipline & Student Behavior 
This section contains a summary of the (50+ pages) DDESS Discipline Guide to give you and your child an overview of the expectations for students’ behavior and possible consequences. Please contact the Principal or Assistant Principal to view the document in its entirety.
1. Student Rights and Responsibilities:
Students have the right to expect an educational environment in which they may achieve their intellectual potential. As such, all students are expected to comply with school rules and regulations, and to conduct themselves in a manner that respects the rights of others. Students share the responsibility with administrators, teacher and support personnel to create an environment that is conducive to learning, and to notify school staff of any behavior that may endanger the safety or welfare of themselves or others. The disciplinary rules and procedures applicable for students are specifically set out in DoDEA Regulation 2051.1. Students who are accused of a violation of school rules will be provided due process IAW that regulation.
2. Consequences of Conduct Violations and Penalties:
Student discipline should be administered progressively, with less severe punishment for the first infraction and with increases in punishment for each subsequent offense. However, school personnel, consistent with the powers and authority delegated to them, have the authority to take more serious administrative action if such action is warranted by the nature of the misconduct.
3. Discipline for Minor or First Offenses:
A student may be disciplined for relatively minor offenses or first offenses not presenting an immediate threat of danger to self or others, through the use of written or oral reprimands or notice to parents, time out, teacher/student/parent conferences, suspension of school or extracurricular privileges, and by any other teacher intervention deemed by the teacher or school administrator to be appropriate. Minor offenses include any conduct that is not conducive to the good order and discipline of the school. Examples of conduct for which minor discipline may be appropriate include, but are not limited to: tardiness, chewing gum or eating food in class, running or horseplay in the halls or classrooms, use of offensive language, and disrupting the class by talking, laughing, or wandering about when the teacher determines that such conduct is inappropriate to the classroom activity. More serious disciplinary actions may be imposed when a student engages in repeated or multiple acts of misconduct and the teacher or Principal determined that the nature of the offense, in the context of all circumstances, warrants a more severe consequence. While grading school work performance or non performance is appropriate, grade (score) reduction as a disciplinary action is not an appropriate means of discipline.
4. Grounds for Removal:
A Principal may remove a student from school for up to 10 school days, or recommend the long-term removal of a student (i.e. suspension in excess of 10 school days or expulsion). Disciplinary actions involving a removal from the school for more than 10 days require an opportunity for a hearing before a school disciplinary committee and a decision on the proposed disciplinary action by the District Superintendent. Specific grounds for short or long-term removal include:
a. Cause, threaten or attempt to cause physical injury to another person.
b. Possess, sell or otherwise furnish any firearm, knife, explosive, incendiary device or other dangerous weapon (1-year expulsion required for firearm).
c. Possess, use or distribute, or attempt such, of alcoholic beverages.
d. Possess or use tobacco or tobacco products.
e. Possess, use or distribute any illegal/controlled substance, or attempt such offenses.
f. Unlawfully possess, offer, arrange or negotiate to sell any drug paraphernalia.
g. Robbery or extortion, or attempt such offenses.
h. Damage or vandalism to school, U.S. Government, contractor or private property.
i. Steal, wrongfully appropriate (or attempting such offenses), or knowingly receiving stolen property of the school, U.S., contractor or private individual.
j. Commit any lewd, indecent or obscene act, or engage in profanity or vulgarity.
k. Disrupted school activities or otherwise defy the valid authority of school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties (includes, disorderly conduct, lying, school honor code violations, making false statements, etc.).
l. Failure to leave the school, school grounds or school bus when directed by school official.
m. Engage in gambling in any form.
n. Fighting or otherwise engaging in conduct endangering others.
o. Bullying, intimidating, taunting, hazing, name calling, or harassment.
p. Unauthorized use of a portable communications device.
q. Arson, making a bomb threat, or falsely reporting a fire or bomb threat.
r. Forgery, cheating or plagiarism.
s. Possession or use of fireworks or other explosive devices.
t. Repeated or flagrant violations of attendance regulations or policies (i.e., truancy).
u. Violate terms and conditions of the DoDEA Student Computer and Internet Access Agreement; damage or disrupt information technology; use a computer or communications device to send threatening, harassing or indecent messages, or download obscene or pornographic materials.
v. Violate any law, rule, regulation, or policy of the military installation or school.
w. Fail to report or otherwise be complicit in the above-described acts.
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