Code of Conduct
A Letter to Meriden Students
Hello Students,
Welcome to a new school year! We hope you are looking forward to the exciting learning opportunities that lie ahead.
This handbook is a guide to help you understand what is expected of you in school.
We are proud of the many accomplishments of our students and we are committed to providing a quality education for all. It is our goal for you to develop the skills and acquire the knowledge to succeed in school and life. Your success in school will be determined by many factors: attending school every day, challenging yourself with rigorous coursework, paying attention and participating in class, doing your homework, and taking advantage of extracurricular activities and volunteer opportunities.
Make the most of your education and have a successful school year.
All the best,
Mark D. Benigni, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
INTRODUCTION
It is the responsibility of the Meriden Public Schools to provide an environment which is safe, healthy, and conducive to learning. It is clear that in order to implement effectively the standards of the Code of Conduct contained in this handbook, cooperation and mutual support on matters of discipline and attendance are necessary between home and school.
Students, parents, staff members, teachers, and administrators have the right to expect mutual courtesy and fair and equitable treatment and to be informed of their rights and responsibilities. Schools assist students in developing a sense of self-direction and self-discipline by providing opportunities for decision-making. Students who infringe on the rights of others or who violate school policies and regulations will be subject to corrective action. In all cases, the rights of students will be preserved and protected.
It is the intention of Meriden Public Schools (MPS) to give students fair opportunities to repair harm done to members of our school community and take full advantage of the educational opportunities available.
MPS recognizes the importance of maintaining healthy and productive relationships within our community so that each student has the greatest opportunity to mature/grow/improve educationally, socially, and emotionally. That is why we will strive to teach skills needed for all members to be productive and integral members of our learning community as well as the community at large. This will be achieved through strong community building activities evident throughout the schools as well as accepting accountability and strong support to help rebuild a sense of community when harm has been done.
This Code of Conduct contains important information for you. We are asking you to read all of this information and commit yourself to behavioral and academic success. Take this handbook home and share it with your parents.
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
There are certain rights that are shared by all who are involved with the Meriden Public Schools. Students, parents, staff members, teachers, and administrators have the right to be treated respectfully by one another. Additionally, all who are involved with the Meriden Public Schools have the right to a safe, orderly environment in which to work, learn, or entrust their children.
Students Rights
As a student you have the right to participate in courses and the privilege to engage in extracurricular activities that promote the development of skills and talents that will enable you to become a responsible, valued member of your community. Students are expected:
- To be a valued member of the MPS community and to be treated as such by all
- To be allowed to repair harm caused by you without further prejudice and allowed to return to the community with all rights, privileges, and responsibilities fully restored.
Student Responsibilities
As a student, you are expected to meet standards of behavior and academic effort that are common to every school in the Meriden Public School System. Specifically, you are expected to:
- Make every member of the MPS community feel welcome, comfortable, supported, and valued
- To sustain a culture that promotes positive relationships
Attend School
- Attend school every day unless you are ill or otherwise excused
- Attend all classes on time
- Make a commitment to complete your education
Prepare for School
- Complete assignments and turn them in on time including those assigned during periods of suspension
- Bring books, computer, paper, and other supplies to class
- Establish a regular place and time to do your homework and other assignments
Participate in Classes and Activities
- Participate fully in class discussions and activities
- Ask for help from the teacher when you don't understand something
- Work cooperatively in a group and show mutual respect to ALL
- Participate in before and after school activities according to the guidelines and requirements of these activities
Prevent and Resolve Problems
- Do your own work to the best of your ability
- Follow class and school rules
- Behave in a safe manner
- Ask a staff member for assistance if there is a problem
- Respect the rights of others
- Report situations that might result in a student being harmed
Parent Rights
As a parent you have the right to be supported and assisted by teachers, staff, and administrators in your efforts to ensure that the learning environment meets your child's individual needs. You have the right to be informed of your child's academic progress and behavior and the right to make reasonable visits to your child's school upon request. You have the right to be consulted in decision making that affects your child's learning. You have the right to view documents that pertain to your child's academic and behavioral assessments, proposed interventions, and corrective actions taken. The school will make reasonable efforts to immediately inform you of serious disciplinary actions concerning your child.
Parent Responsibilities
As a parent, you are expected to meet standards of support for your child and the school he/she attends that are common to every school in the Meriden Public School system. We ask that you:
Set High Expectations for Your Child
- Expect your child to achieve in school
- Set up home rules and expectations that support the school's efforts
- Send your child to school every day, on time, and properly prepared to learn
- Be sure your child is properly dressed for school
- Support, through discussion with your child, rules for classroom behavior
Communicate with Your Child and the School
- Meet your child's teacher(s) and find out what is expected of your child
- Tell your child that you expect him/her to attend school every day, complete school work, cooperate with the school staff, and achieve in every class
- Attend meetings and conferences when the school staff requests them
Help Your Child Learn
- Provide a regular place and time to do homework
- Assist your child with their homework
- Help your child learn how to organize school work and recreational time
- Expose your child to learning activities including libraries, museums, etc.
- Ask the school staff for assistance if help is needed
- Share reading experiences with your child every day
Encourage and Praise Your Child
- Monitor your child's behavior, tell your child what is wrong and right
- Praise or reward your child for his or her effort, improvement, and achievement
- Use positive reinforcement with your child
- Encourage your child to respect the rights of others
Monitor Your Child's Education
- Visit the school to talk with staff upon request
- Review your child's school work
- Discuss with your child each day what happened at school and what was learned
- Make sure your child takes only appropriate materials to school each day
- Respond appropriately when your child is disciplined, suspended, expelled, or removed from school
Teacher Rights
As a teacher, you have the right to be supported by administrators, staff, and parents in your efforts to establish and maintain orderly, productive classrooms where all may learn and achieve. You also have the right to consult parents as well as administrators and support staff to better meet the needs of individual students. Additionally, you have the right to work with students who come to class prepared with necessary instructional materials and who cooperate with class activities every day. Teachers are expected to be a valued member of the Meriden Public School community and to be treated as such by all.
Teacher Responsibilities
As a teacher, you are expected to meet standards of support for students and the school they attend that are common to every school in the Meriden Public School System. Specifically, you are expected to:
- Make every member of the MPS community feel welcome, comfortable, supported, and valued
- To sustain a culture that promotes positive relationships
Prepare
- Prepare and deliver daily lessons that are consistent with the guidelines set by the district-wide curriculum frameworks
- Provide make-up assignments for students who are absent or suspended
Create the Learning Environment
- Establish and maintain an environment where all may learn
- Work with your students to set forth classroom behavioral rules
- Encourage students to discuss classroom rules with their parents
- Enforce classroom rules impartially and consistently
- Adhere to the system-wide Code of Conduct
Evaluate
- Recognize and work with the various learning styles of students
- Evaluate student performance often in a variety of formal and informal ways
Communicate with Parents, Staff, and Administrators
- Inform parents of academic and behavioral expectations
- Keep parents informed of the academic progress, behavior, and special achievement when appropriate
- Seek the assistance of support staff and administrators when necessary or desirable
- Call parents whenever there is a disciplinary problem with a student
Administrator Rights
As an administrator, you have the right to be acknowledged as a school leader. You have the right to the support and participation of parents, students, teachers, staff, and community members as school decisions are made. You further enjoy the right to a well-trained, self-motivated, professional corps of teachers and staff. In addition, you have the right to an orderly learning environment. Administrators are expected to be a valued member of the Meriden Public School community and to be treated as such by all.
- To be allowed to repair harm caused by you without further prejudice and allowed to return to the community with all rights, privileges, and responsibilities fully restores.
Administrator Responsibilities
As an administrator, you are expected to meet the standards of support for students that are common to every public school in Meriden. Specifically, you are expected to:
- Make every member of the MPS community feel welcome, comfortable, supported, and valued
- To sustain a culture that promotes positive relationships
Creating the Learning Environment
- Ensure adherence to the system-wide Code of Conduct to maximize the safety and orderliness of the school
- Work in collaboration with faculty, parents, and other staff to reshape and improve the school
- Provide an opportunity for school-wide recognition of students
Provide Instructional Leadership
- Work with teachers and colleagues and recognize and encourage their instructional leadership roles
- Foster participatory decision-making via the School Leadership Team
- Inform parents of alternative learning situations in the community available to students
Provide Supervision
- Organize and supervise the work of teachers and staff in their various duties to ensure that appropriate, equitable student and teacher services are provided
