Schools are communities of people working and learning together.  Everyone should be treated with respect and kindness.  We need to take care of each other and get help if we see something dangerous.  This booklet helps you to remember the important things that you need to do to help build a strong, happy, and creative school community. 

Rights

• You have the right to a school and classroom environment that affirms your identity and is responsive, caring, and inclusive.
• You have a right to access the restroom facilities and other accommodations that are consistent with your gender identity, faith, and any other reasons as identified in Regulation 2603.
• Any student who has a need or desire for increased privacy, regardless of underlying reasons, shall be provided with reasonable, non-stigmatizing accommodations. 
• You have a right to non-disclosure of gender identity.
• You have the right to be called by chosen names and pronouns.
• You have the right to school generated and any lists that are shared like honor roll, graduation programs, yearbooks, school newspapers, that identify you by your chosen name and gender. 
• If you break a rule or hurt someone, you have a right to explain what happened.  You might be asked to write down what happened, but you do not have to if you would rather just talk about it.
• If you don’t agree with a rule, you have a right to express your feelings and opinions, respectfully, without being interrupted or punished.  If you feel that an adult has made a decision which is not fair, you can make an appointment to talk to the teacher or the principal, and he or she will meet with you.

Responsibilities

• Everyone must work together and think about how your behavior affects the rights and feelings of others, so we can all get along in the school community, both in the school building and in the virtual school environment. 
• Unless you are sick, come to school every day.  Students should come to class on time.  Listen carefully, follow directions, and complete your work.
• You have a responsibility to help keep school safe.  Keep your hands and feet to yourself.  Never hit someone or touch someone in a way that makes that person uncomfortable.  Don’t bring anything to school that could hurt someone, but especially not matches or lighters, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, guns, ammunition, firecrackers, knives, or any kind of weapon.  If you see anything that looks dangerous, tell a teacher right away.
• If you need to take medicine at school, an adult needs to bring it into the health room to make sure you get the right amount at the right time, and no one else takes it by mistake.
• Respect yourself and others.  Use proper language and do not curse or say things that hurt people.  Be a good digital citizen and participate responsibly online, as well as in the school building. 
• Be courteous and honest.  Do your own work and don’t copy from someone else.  Treat others fairly.  Take turns.  Stop, turn, and listen when an adult speaks to you. 
• You can bring a computer, cell phone, tablet, or other electronic device to school but can only be used before or after school.  Listen to your teacher and only use it when he or she says that you can.  Take care of it, because the school can’t pay for it if you lose it, or it gets broken.  On the bus you can text or play games with your electronic device, but don’t talk on the phone.
• When you make a mistake, work to make it right.  Ask for help if you need it.  If you break something, tell the teacher and together you can figure out a way to fix it or replace it.  If you hurt someone, apologize and ask how you can make things better.​​

Dress Code

• You should wear clothes that are appropriate for school.  You will be studying and playing, and some days you might be building, drawing, painting, or taking part in PE.  
• Don’t wear clothes that show undergarments.
• Don’t wear clothes that have words or pictures on them that support illegal actions, gangs, weapons, drugs, alcohol, or that contain threats.
• Don’t wear clothes that have curse words on them, or pictures that are vulgar or obscene. 
• Your school may have additional rules about dress code.

School Attendance

Your school attendance is a critical component in your academic success.  Chronic absence is missing 18 or more school days per year, including illness or family emergency, suspensions, and unexcused absences.

• Regular attendance in elementary school improves the chances that you will read on grade level.  
• If you attend school on a regular basis, you are more likely to graduate from high school on time.

Parents and/or guardians are encouraged to contact your school if they are concerned that you are not regularly attending school.  

At the Bus Stop, on the Bus, on Field Trips, or Other School-Sponsored Activities

Follow the same rules that you follow at school but pay special attention to keeping safe.  Stay with the group.  Stand on the sidewalk, or on the grass, and do not stand in the street.  On the bus, keep your hands inside, stay in your seat, and talk in a quiet voice.  Never bring anything dangerous with you on the bus to a school activity, or on a field trip-no matches, lighters, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or weapons.

Bullying, Harassment, and Mistreating Others

People in our school are all different.  They come from many countries and speak many languages.  They are different sizes, shapes, and colors.  They have different religions and they come from many types of families.  Never tease or bully anyone because they are different, because you are mad at them, or because you want to make them do something.  If you see someone who is being teased or bullied, either in person or online, say something.  Tell the person who is acting like a bully to stop.

Let the person who is being bullied know that you can be a friend and tell them to walk away with you.  Tell a trusted adult if it does not stop.
If someone is bullying you, tell them to stop.  If they do not stop, walk away.  If they still do not stop, tell a trusted adult right away.  Hurting people, scaring them, or making fun of them is not allowed.

Supporting Safe School Communities

All students are expected to contribute to the development and maintenance of healthy, safe school communities.  If you witness harmful or unsafe behaviors, you are expected to seek out a staff member and/or trusted adult as soon as possible, alerting them of the concerns.  You should not participate in behavior that may serve to escalate harmful or unsafe situations.  Examples of such behaviors include the instigation of bullying behaviors and videotaping altercations such as fights and arguments.

This Quick Guide is intended for use as a brief overview for students. All student behavior is governed by the detailed information found in the current version of Regulation 2601 at www.fcps.edu/srr.