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Cardinal Rules - Code of Conduct

A healthy community requires a climate of mutual respect and concern for others. The school, in the interest of developing independence of thought and action, gives students the freedom to make choices about where to go and what to do with unassigned time. That freedom is possible because the vast majority of students assume the responsibility to respect people, property and all school rules. For those who do not show such respect, disciplinary action will be taken.

The behaviors described on the following pages are unacceptable and lead to disciplinary action. School rules apply to all school-sponsored activities, including dances, field trips and school athletic events, wherever they occur. When students are being disciplined, their conversation with a school administrator is an informal hearing. Students have the right to know what rules they have broken and have the opportunity to present the facts, as they know them. Students and parents have due process rights, except in cases of emergency when the school must act immediately to protect someone’s health or safety.

Suspension/expulsion from school is considered a serious action. Before suspending or expelling a student, school administrators consider the student’s history, the specific circumstances and the impact on the school community. While suspended or expelled, a student may not participate in any school activities or be present on school grounds. Students assigned to “in-school” suspension work in the in-school suspension room as directed by the House Administrator and may not participate in school activities on the date of the in-school suspension.

When a student is suspended, Connecticut General Statute section 10-233c(e), requires the Greenwich Public School system to place a copy of the suspension letter in a student’s cumulative educational folder. The document will be removed from the student’s permanent educational record upon the student’s graduation, except if the student is expelled for carrying or using a dangerous weapon. The school, with the advice of legal counsel, will define a dangerous weapon. If a weapon is involved, the expulsion remains permanently in the student’s cumulative folder. Expulsion requires a hearing before the Board of Education or a panel designated by the Board of Education.  

Misbehavior not covered by these guidelines will be dealt with according to administrative judgment. If it appears that a law has been broken, offenders are referred to the police. If a law has been broken by a student off school grounds, the police will inform the school system of the infraction. Prohibited conduct that occurs off school grounds may lead to consequences including suspension and/or expulsion if the conduct is seriously disruptive to the educational process and violates school policy. Parents are notified of referrals to the police and must be present during police questioning if the student is 15 years old. Students 16 – 17 years of age have the right to have a parent, guardian, or suitable person present during police questioning or may waive this right.

Student Behavior