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Code of Conduct

Student Rights and Responsibilities

It is the intent of the students rights and responsibilities as expressed in this document that students understand that individual rights involve associated responsibilities, and that individual rights must be viewed in relationship to the health, safety, and welfare of the majority of students within each school. The administrator shall assume administrative responsibility and instructional leadership under the supervision of the superintendent’s office in accordance with rules and regulations of the Department of Education, for the operation of the school to which he/she is assigned. The faculty and the staff shall assist in the orderly operation of the school and ensure the rights of all students.

Attendance

Philosophical Basis: School administrators have an obligation under Virgin Islands law to enforce compulsory school attendance laws as well as the attendance policies of the Virgin Islands Board of Education. Regular attendance by students will facilitate the development of the skills and knowledge necessary to function in our democratic society.

Student Responsibilities

  • To take advantage of their educational opportunities by attending all classes daily and on time.
  • To provide the school with an adequate explanation or appropriate documentation indicating the reason for the absence.
  • To request makeup assignments from teachers upon return to school and to complete this work within a reasonable length of time

Students Rights

  • To be informed of Virgin Islands Board of Education policies and rules and regulations of the Department of Education as well as individual school rules regarding absenteeism and tardiness.
  • To appeal a decision pertaining to an absence
  • To make up class work within a reasonable length of time when there is an excused absence.

Counseling

Philosophical Basis: Personal concerns of students can seriously limit their educational development. Schools have the responsibility to provide a counseling program, to make relevant the objective information available to students, and to encourage students to use these services.

Student Responsibilities

  • To use guidance services for their own educational and personal improvement.
  • To schedule appointments in advance unless the problem or concern is one of an emergency
  • To work cooperatively with all school personnel

Students Rights

  • To be informed as to the nature of the guidance services available in their school
  • To have access to individual and group counseling
  • To request counseling assistance

Curriculum

Philosophical Basis: The degree of curriculum involvement is a function of age, grade, maturity, and sophistication on one hand and level and complexity of courses on the other. Student opinion regarding curriculum offerings is extremely important and, therefore, deserves careful analysis and consideration.

Student Responsibilities

  • To request participation in academic programs and extracurricular activities that are commensurate with ability
  • To seek assistance in course selection from informed and responsible persons in the school
  • To cooperate with the instructor and contribute to an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and free of bias and prejudice
  • To cooperate fully and exert every effort to achieve mastery of the basic skills

Students Rights

  • To have equal educational opportunity with regard to academic programs and extracurricular activities within reasonable and acceptable limits imposed on the school
  • To receive curriculum course descriptions that will facilitate informed choices.
  • To receive instruction in courses of study by competent instructors in an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and free of bias and prejudice
  • To participate in appropriate basic skills programs in elementary, middle and high schools.

Free Speech/Expression

Philosophical Basis: Citizens in our democracy are guaranteed self expression under the first and fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution. In a democratic society, one of the basic purposes of education is to prepare students for responsible self expression.

Students Responsibilities

  • To respect the rights of others individuals, to express disagreement in a manner which does not infringe upon the rights of others and does not interfere with the orderly educational process
  • To act in a manner which preserves the dignity of patriotic observances
  • To respect the religious beliefs of others
  • To plan for, seek approval of, and conduct activities which are consistent with the educational objectives of the school
  • To refrain from publishing libelous and obscene material; to seek complete informatiion on the topic s about which they write; and to observe the normal rules for responsible journalism under the guidance of a staff advisor
  • To refrain from sexual harassment

Students Rights

  • To perform and express viewpoints through speaking and writing in a manner which is not obscene, slanderous, or libelous and which is not disruptive to an orderly school environment
  • To affirm their identity with the American Ideals (pleading allegiance to the flag and singing the Virgin Islands Song)
  • To refrain from activity which violates the precepts of their religion or holds it up to ridicule
  • To assemble peacefully on school grounds or in school building. Such assembly shall be consistent with all applicable federal and local laws and regulations
  • To participate in the development and distribution of publications as part of the educational process

Grades

Philosophical Basis: An academic grade must reflect the teacher’s most objective assessment of a student’s academic achievements. 

Students Responsibilities

  • To become informed of the grading criteria
  • To maintain standards and academic performance commensurate with ability and to make every effort to improve performance upon receipt of notification of unsatisfactory progress

Students Rights

  • To receive a teacher’s grading criteria at the beginning of each year or semester
  • To receive reasonable notification of failure or potential failure at any time during the grading period when it is apparent unsatisfactory work is being performed.