The Mariemont Elementary School Behavior Policy is based on our goals for all students to:

·   Be Safe  

·      Be Respectful

·      Be Responsible

·        Arriving on time, but no earlier than 8:15 a.m. and leaving campus promptly at 3:00 p.m and 1:45 on Thursdays unless participating in an adult supervised activity.

·        Remaining on school property during the school day at all times unless properly signed out by a parent.

·        Walking bikes on and off the school grounds before and after school.  No in-line skates or other skates, skate boards, or scooters of any kind are allowed on school grounds. 

·        Leaving toys, balls and other equipment, radios, tape or CD players, permanent markers,  electronic games, play or real weapons, all pocket knives or other knives, and such at home.

·        Not chasing on hard surface  playground. Running or chasing games should be limited to grass areas for safety, except during teacher supervised P.E. activities or games.

·        Eating snacks in specified areas and properly disposing of trash.

·        Putting all litter and trash in correct receptacles whether inside the classroom or outside and not marking or defacing the building or other school property. Show your Mariemont pride and respect by taking care of our school!

·        Honoring others’ physical space. (Play fighting, rough play, tripping, or even waving your hand in someone’s face is not Mariemont behavior.)

·        Stopping play and going immediately to the line when the bell rings.

• Misbehavior will be communicated to parents through telephone calls, phone messages, written notes or White Cards. Generally, students receive a Yard Card (recess/cafeteria behavior), to alert teachers that there has been a problem on the playground with a peer or in the cafeteria.  They then speak with the student and work to resolve the issue.  A Behavior Card (classroom concerns) is issued by the teacher or paraprofessional for disruptive behavior in the classroom whether with the classroom teacher or a specialist working with students. These cards may be sent home for parents to sign or a phone call may be made.  White cards are usually issued after Yard Cards and/or Behavior Cards when repetitions of similar negative behaviors have occurred.  White Cards must be signed by parents and a conference may be requested.  Students can be assigned office detention or an in-house suspension on a White Card. 
• In the case of fighting, willful disobedience of authority (insubordination), profanity or other serious infractions, all of the above can be by-passed and suspension imposed.
• When appropriate, parents will attend a conference with the teacher and/or principal in order to develop strategies to assist their child to be a successful school citizen.
• Please note: Any child who does not follow adult directions and who in any way threatens his/her own safety or the safety of another child or adult on a field trip may be restricted from participation in future off-campus activities.  Additionally, if a child’s behavior at school indicates habitual disregard for authority and/or is repeatedly unsafe, he/she may also be restricted from participation in off-campus activities.
• If while participating in an overnight field trip or camp, a student engages in unsafe behavior or disregards adult authority, his/her parents will provide transportation for the child to return home. 
• Serious behavior infractions such as fighting, bringing weapons or explosive devices to school, making threats, providing, possessing, or using drugs, or alcohol, vandalism, racial slurs, profanity, etc., may result in suspension or expulsion from school. Please read carefully San Juan Unified School District’s Important Information for Parents and Students handbook and especially the Reasons for Suspension and Expulsion document provided you in the first day packet for details regarding suspension and expulsion.  The consequences for serious misconduct are listed along with appropriate references to State Law and District Policy.
• When a student is suspended, a Notice of Suspension is  completed by the school.  A parent or guardian will be notified by phone and/or in person and asked to come to the school to meet with the principal and/or teacher.  The parent will be notified that the child is to be taken off the school site for the length of the suspension.  During a suspension, students cannot be on the school site before, during or after school for any reason unless requested by the principal.

School Dress Guidelines

• Our primary concern with students’ clothing is that it is comfortable, safe and not distracting to others. The following guidelines should help you when purchasing school clothing and shoes.  Active play on asphalt can lead to serious scrapes when skin surfaces are bare.  Examples of clothing that do not meet guidelines for appropriate dress include:

·        Garments which excessively bare or expose the midriff/torso or upper body such as tank tops, mesh tops, tube tops, half shirts, halters, spaghetti strap tops, etc.  Tops need to be long enough to allow for normal movement without revealing one’s midriff.  No low cut jeans.

·        Clothing or buttons with printing or pictures depicting tobacco, drugs or alcoholic beverages, or those which are profane, sexually suggestive or depict violence or unlawful acts.

           No sagging pants are allowed.  Pants must “fit” at the waist. 

• To avoid sagging, use waist measurement plus one inch. Pants/shorts must be able to stay at the waist without a belt.

 ·        Pants must be an appropriate length, not dragging.

·        Clothing must be hemmed.  No cutoffs, frayed or fringed clothing.  Shorts and skirts must meet the “mid-thigh” length guideline.  Clothing must be in good repair – no frayed holes in pant legs, etc.

·        Any item of clothing, hats, sweatbands, bandanas of any kind, or other headgear, symbols or devices associated with group intimidation or gang/cult affiliation are not  ever allowed. 

·        Footwear must be worn at all times, as mandated by state law.  Shoes and sandals must have back straps and should not have excessive heels. It really is better if socks are worn with open-toed shoes/sandals so that your child does not scrape and injure his/her toes.  Boots are not really safe on playgrounds.  Athletic shoes are your best choice since students are engaged in physical education activities every day.

·        When in doubt about whether or not something is appropriate, it is probably easier to save it for your weekend wear or to check with the principal the day before you wear it.

Mariemont Homework Habits and Requirements

• It is our goal at Mariemont to help prepare students for increasing levels of responsibility and performance.  Our homework expectations are incremental - asking more of students as they mature. 
• Each grade level’s expectations are based upon the assumption that children have mastered the skills and behaviors expected at the previous grade level and that the skills necessary to complete the homework were taught in the classroom prior to the homework being assigned.

• Primary grade students (K-3) can expect to have 10-30 minutes of school-related work three to four evenings per week.  Upper grade students (4-6) can expect to have from 30 -60 minutes three to four evenings per week.  Long-range projects and assignments may require weekend work.  Please keep in mind that the amount of time required for homework is dependent upon whether or not the student has kept up with assignments as they have been assigned and whether or not daily class assignments and other work was completed as it was assigned.