Behavior Expectations

North Star Academy has chosen to use the nationally recognized Character Counts Program which emphasizes the 6 Pillars of Character. This program will help students learn social skills, problem solving, and conflict resolution. By giving students clear behavior expectations and appropriate and effective tools they will learn to treat each other with kindness and respect. They will develop the confidence and skills needed to succeed in life when they are confronted with problems and conflict. As such, students and staff are expected to behave in a manner that coincides with the 6 Pillars of Character which are as follows:

1. Trustworthiness:
   • Be honest— Don’t deceive, cheat or steal.
   • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do.
   • Have the courage to do the right thing.
   • Build a good reputation.
   • Be loyal — stand by your family, friends and country.
2. Respect:
   • Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule.
   • Be tolerant of differences.
   • Use good manners, not bad language.
   • Be considerate of the feelings of others — Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone.
   • Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements.
3. Responsibility:
   • Do what you are supposed to do.
   • Persevere: keep on trying!
   • Always do your best.
   • Use self-control.
   • Be self-disciplined.
   • Think before you act — consider the consequences.
   • Be accountable for your choices
4. Fairness:
   • Play by the rules — Take turns and share.
   • Be open-minded; listen to others.
   • Don’t take advantage of others.
   • Don’t blame others carelessly.
5. Caring:
   • Be kind.
   • Be compassionate and show you care.
   • Express gratitude.
   • Forgive others.
   • Help people in need.
6. Citizenship:
   • Do your share to make your school and community better.
   • Cooperate.
   • Get involved in community affairs.
   • Stay informed; vote.
   • Be a good neighbor.
   • Obey laws and rules.
   • Respect authority.
   • Protect the environment.

Classroom teachers will develop their own management system that fits the needs of their students and their teaching style. This information will be shared with parents at the beginning of the school year. Parents should be aware of these expectations and expect to become involved when a pattern of inappropriate behavior exists.

General School Rules

• Be polite and courteous with adults and all students.
• Keep hands and feet to yourself at all times.
• Stay on the supervised school grounds during school hours, except with permission from a parent, guardian, or teacher.
• Use proper language and polite words with others.
• Walk bikes and scooters on sidewalks and while on school grounds.
• No skateboards or rollerblades will be allowed.
• No snowballs.
• Cell phones must remain turned off and in the students’ locker at all times.
• No gum will be allowed.
• Clear water bottles can be brought to class, if it does not cause any distractions.
• Bringing weapons into the school or onto the school grounds is illegal. Likewise any play/look alike weapons are not allowed and should be left at home.
• Students should take care of school property and use equipment as it is intended.
• Any form of criminal behavior that places any person in danger is prohibited.
• Middle school students may not bring backpacks, purses, or other similar items into the classroom. These items should remain in the students’ lockers.

Teachers will refer students to the administration for a pattern of behavior that is disruptive to the classroom environment. Additionally, serious student misconduct involving violent or criminal behavior such as, but not limited to, the following will be referred to the administrator:

• Weapons (Carrying, intent to cause injury, or intimidation with weapon, firearm, knife, or other object, which is capable of producing death or serious bodily harm.)
• Assault (Fighting — may or may not result in physical injury.)
• Assault to an adult.
• Possession, use or sale of drugs.
• Severely disruptive and dangerous behavior that infringes on the educational rights of others.
• Overt gang activity — Wearing, making gestures that symbolize gang membership or engaging in any gang related activities.
• Improper behavior at extra-curricular events such as school sponsored evening events, before and after school enrichment activities, etc.
• Throwing objects in or out of school that can cause bodily injury or damage to property including snowballs.
• Stealing or Vandalism (Includes attempting to steal private or school property, causing damage to such property.)
• Defiance of School Authority (Open, willful or continued disobedience; use of profanity, vulgarity, obscenities, rudeness or insults toward staff members; repeated disregard for school rules.)
• Harassment/Discrimination (Engaging in verbal abuse, i.e. name calling, threatening to harm on the basis of ethnicity, religion, culture, national origin, gender, or handicapping disability.)
• Intentional misuse/abuse of the internet as explained in the Student Acceptable Computer Use Agreement.

Consequences

When an office referral has been made and consequences are initiated, parents will be contacted. Consequences will be based on the seriousness of the behavior and may include:

• Warning
• Loss of recesses/privileges
• School service (Picking up trash on school property, washing tables during lunch, etc.)
• Suspension
• Expulsion