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  2. Discipline Policies & School Rules

Discipline Policies & School Rules

(See California Education Code 48900 and District Board Policies & Administrative Regulations for a complete list of Grounds for Suspension)

Discipline Philosophy

John Muir Elementary, in accordance with the Board of Education, has adopted standards of conduct, which must be met by all students and are a condition for attending the school.  Proper conduct is necessary on the part of all students to ensure a positive and orderly learning environment.  This discipline code established by Muir Elementary stipulates sanctions for students who fail to observe the required standards.

Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) Behavior Expectations

  • Be Safe
  • Be Responsible
  • Be Respectful

And Always Show That You Care!

Statement of Purpose

John Muir Elementary is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment that empowers students to become contributors to their academic and social success.   

Positive Reinforcement

John Muir Elementary is involved in a schoolwide program called the Positive Behavioral Incentives and Support (PBIS) Program. This is a program that provides incentives for students to encourage behavioral expectations that center around safety, respect, responsibility and always showing that they care. Students are rewarded with Muir tickets and entered into weekly and monthly drawings to receive prizes and a variety of privileges. In addition to our Muir tickets we have Scholars of the Month and Citizens of the Month awards, and Block "M" points. For more information, see the description of these activities within the alphabetical index.

Before/After School Behavior Expectations

  1. Before school students must wait in their line.  They may read or talk with their friends.  They may not play or run.
  2. Students do not go into classrooms without the teacher’s permission.
  3. Students in grades 4th – 6th may ride their bikes to school and must wear a helmet and have a lock.

Playground Supervision

The safety of your child is our first concern. Students are to enter and leave the school through the playground only, NOT the front entrance. THERE IS NO SUPERVISION ON THE PLAYGROUND BEFORE 7:30 a.m. nor AFTER 3:00 p.m. If you need childcare during this time, please call the daycare office at (818) 243-4710.

STUDENTS MUST BE PICKED UP PROMPTLY UPON DISMISSAL:

Transitional Kindergarten 12:39p.m.

Kindergarten - 12:49:p.m.

Grades 1st - 3rd   2:20 p.m.

Grades 4th - 6th   2:40 p.m.

MINIMUM DAY DISMISSAL

  (NO supervision on the playground after 12:30 p.m.) 

Transitional Kindergarten 11:39 a.m.

 Kindergarten – 11:49 a.m.         

Grades 1st - 3rd   11:59 p.m.

Grades 4th – 6th   12:19 p.m.

Students are NOT to play on the apparatus or playground before or after school. Traffic duty ends at 3:00. Students not picked up by 3:00 p.m. will be taken to the office. Parents or emergency contacts will be contacted to pick up students as soon as possible. Therefore, if a student is left unsupervised until 3:45 p.m., law enforcement may be notified to ensure the safety of the child, as the office closes at 4:00 p.m. 

Positive Reinforcement

Positive Reinforcement used at John Muir includes the following:  Muir Golden Tickets, Citizen of the Month Awards, Scholar of the Month Awards, and other incentives. 

Bullying Policy

Bullying of any type will not be tolerated. The District has created an assessment to determine if bullying has occurred and what the response to the incident should be. 

Violation Consequences

Violations of any of the school rules listed above in this handbook will result in the following actions:                                                         

Classroom

Each teacher develops classroom discipline policies.  These policies will be discussed at Back To School Night.

Recess/Lunchtime

Students may receive a warning and reteaching, be asked to sit and write a reflection regarding their actions during free time or at home, be sent to see an administrator, have a note sent home for parent/guardian's signature or receive a phone call home. 

Grounds for Suspension (Section 48900 of the Education Code)

A pupil shall not be suspended from school or be recommended for expulsion unless the superintendent, the principal, or her designee of the school in which the pupil is enrolled, determines that the pupil has:

Grounds for Suspension (Section 48900 of the Education Code)

A pupil shall not be suspended from school or be recommended for expulsion unless the superintendent, the principal, or her designee of the school in which the pupil is enrolled, determines that the pupil has:

  1. Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person.

  2. Possessed, sold or otherwise furnished any firearm, knife, explosive or other dangerous object unless, in the case of possession of any object of this type, the pupil had obtained written permission to possess the item from a certificated school employee, which is concurred with by the principal or the designee of the principal.

  3. Unlawfully possessed, used, sold or otherwise furnished or been under the influence of any controlled substance listed in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11053) of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind.

  4. Unlawfully offered, arranged or negotiated to sell any controlled substance listed in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section11053) of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind, and then either sold, delivered, or otherwise furnished to any person another liquid substance or material and represented the liquid substance, or material as a controlled substance, alcoholic beverage or intoxicant.

  5. Committed or attempted to commit robbery/extortion.

  6. Caused or attempted to cause damage to school property or private property.

  7. Stolen or attempted to steal school property or private property.

  8. Possessed or used tobacco, or any products containing tobacco or nicotine products, including but not limited to, cigarettes, miniature cigars, clove cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chew packs and betel.  However, this section does not prohibit use or possession by a pupil of his or her own prescription products.

  9. Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity.

  10. Had unlawful possession, or unlawfully offered, arranged or negotiated to sell any drug paraphernalia, as defined in Section11044.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

  11. Disrupted school activities or otherwise willfully defied the valid authority of supervisors, teachers, administrators, school officials, or other school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties.

  12. Knowingly received stolen school property or private property.

  13. Possessed an imitation firearm.  As used in this section, imitation firearm means a replica of a firearm that is so substantially similar in physical properties to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to conclude that the replica is a firearm.

  14. Committed or attempted to commit a sexual assault as defined in Section 261, 266c, 286, 288a, or 289 of the Penal Code or committed sexual battery as defined in Section 243.4 of the Penal Code.

  15. Harassed, threatened, or intimidated a pupil which is a complaining witness or witnesses in a school disciplinary proceeding for the purpose of either preventing that pupil from being a witness or retaliating against that pupil for being a witness, or both.

Sexual Harassment (including Bullying)

(Section 48900.2)

In addition to the reasons specified in Section 48900, a pupil may be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion if the superintendent or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has committed sexual harassment as defined in Section 212.5.