School Discipline

1. The Nixon School Discipline Plan is consistent with Palo Alto Unified School District policy in that its goals are: "To maintain order and decorum, educate our youth to observe accepted rules of conduct, and to develop self-discipline while simultaneously protecting the rights of others."
   
   
2. Discipline programs are designed to maintain or promote appropriate behavior; ideally, positive reinforcement is so effective that little or no other action is necessary. At Nixon this philosophy prevails both in concept and in practice. The school focuses on positive reinforcement and, when necessary, clear, consistent consequences that focus on students' learning to take responsibility for behaving appropriately.
   
   Please see "Expectations for Behavior at Nixon"
   
   
3. As much as possible we use a problem-solving process to settle disputes (Conflict resolution). Each person involved has the right to speak without interruption. When all have spoken, there is time to reach a consensus on what has happened. We agree on measures each individual will commit to in order that there be no recurrences of the same kind. For disputes requiring some kind of consequence, benching, time-out, community service, meeting with the principal and/or writing letters to parent, principal, or teacher may be imposed according to the needs of a particular circumstance. See below for Nixon playground rules and consequences on the playground.
   
   
4. Within classrooms, rules reflect the need to have children learn without disruption and to promote mutual support. Such rules vary from class to class, but usually involve speaking when recognized, not speaking out, listening carefully, using room and materials carefully, being responsive to suggestions from the teacher. The rules and consequences are posted in each room. They are consistent with district policy.
   
   
5. There are a few situations in which the usual regimen is inappropriate. When this occurs, principal, teacher and parent work together to provide support for a child in order to ensure behavior appropriate for learning. In these instances process and consequences are similar to those outlined in Section 3 and are consistent with the PAUSD discipline plan.
   
   

On the playground, yard duty supervisors use "blue slips" to communicate behavior infractions to the child's teacher. The consequence procedure is as follows:

Student is benched outside and yard duty supervisor gives blue slip to classroom teacher after the recess. (For refusing to listen to the adult, for malicious/unprovoked bodily hurt to another, and for ethnic/racial name-calling, the child is given a blue slip and sent immediately to the office to wait for her/his teacher or to speak with the principal.)

After the Recess:

This procedure starts fresh with each monthly attendance period. For students with repeated, continuing playground difficulties, an individual behavior contract will be designed.

Teachers and other staff members earnestly seek to work with parents to encourage good behavior and to solve behavior problems. We know that when teachers and parents work together, children recognize the importance of good conduct.

Suspension

In the case of the following issues, a child may be suspended (in or out of school) from Nixon School, depending on the seriousness of the infraction. A suspension is defined as the removal of a student from ongoing instruction for disciplinary purposes. The principal (or teacher) will confer with parents or guardians concerning a student suspension. Expulsion, if indicated, is determined exclusively by the Palo Alto Unified School District and not by the Nixon principal.

1. Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person.
2. Possessed, sold or furnished firearm, knife, explosive or other dangerous object.
3. Possessed, used, sold, famished or been under the influence of drugs, alcohol, a controlled substance or intoxicant.
4. Offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell look-alike controlled substances, alcohol or intoxicants.
5. Committed or attempted to commit robbery or extortion.
6. Caused or attempted to cause damage to school or private property including electronic files and databases.
7. Stole or attempted to steal school or private property.
8. Possessed or used tobacco or product containing tobacco or nicotine.
9. Committed obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity.
10. Possessed, offered, arranged or negotiated to sell any drug paraphernalia.
11. Disrupted school activities, willfully defied valid authority of school personnel in the performance of their duties.
12. Knowingly received stolen school property or private property.
13. Possessed an imitation firearm.
14. Committed or attempted to commit a sexual assault as battery.
15. Harassed, threatened or intimidated a student who is a complaining witness or witness in a school discipline matter.
16. Offered, arranged or negotiated to sell, or sold the prescription drug SOMA.
17. Aided or abetted the infliction or attempted infliction of injury to another person.
18. Committed sexual harassment (Ed. Code Section 48900.2)
19. Participated in an act of hate violence (Ed. Code Section 48900.3)
20. Engaged in harassment, threats or intimidation against school personnel or pupils. (Ed. Code Section 48900.4)
21. Threatened school officials and/or school property (Ed. Code Section 48900.7>.