The Lawson Academy student dress code is devised by a committee composed of students, parents, teachers, and the administrative staff. It is our collective belief that students develop school pride not only by attaining honor in extracurricular activities and in scholastic accomplishments, but also by maintaining high standards of behavior which are reflected in their dress and grooming.
The administration of The Lawson Academy reserves the right to make the final decision regarding the appropriateness of clothing and/or accessories. The Dress Code Policy will be enforced with consistency. The student dress code applies to all students while they are on campus, whether during the instructional day or during ancillary classes other than sports. Determination of the appropriateness of attire for special events/activities rests ultimately with the faculty/staff and administrators. Violations of The Lawson Academy Dress Code will result in disciplinary action.
The Dress Code Exists for Four Reasons:
If the violation is one that can be corrected, such as removing a colored undershirt, it should be done so immediately. If a student is not wearing the appropriate top or bottom, a phone call will be made to the parent in an attempt to correct the problem. Frequent violations of the Student Dress Code could lead to more serious consequences up to and including detention and/or civil remuneration.
accordance with the mission of the school, The Lawson Academy students will not participate in lying, cheating, stealing or harassing, and they will not tolerate those actions in others. The Lawson Academy students will conclude an orientation annually by promising, in writing, to uphold the Honor Code:
"I pledge to uphold The Lawson Academy Honor Code in letter and in spirit throughout this school year."
The Lawson Academy students will also use a pledge on all tests, projects, papers, reports and long-term assignments:
"I pledge that I have upheld The Lawson Academy Honor Code in letter and in spirit. “The Lawson Academy students will not participate in lying, cheating, stealing or harassing…”
At The Lawson Academy, we believe it is vital to tell the truth at all times, recognizing there is honor in telling the truth even when that truth reveals a mistake or an error in judgment. It requires courage to face mistakes and accept responsibility for their consequences.
Telling the truth includes explaining accurately why work was not completed on time or was incomplete, why one was absent or late from school, why one missed an obligation, how one interacted with other students or a teacher, and any other specifics about one’s actions. A student who makes false excuses for his or her behavior has not upheld our Honor Code.
At The Lawson Academy, we believe students must engage in honest scholarship. Honest scholarship in student work means that the product comes from a student’s own mind and effort. Such work includes all tests, exams, long-range projects, and homework. Written work, for instance, needs to reflect a student’s ideas, organization, punctuation, and sentence structure. In order to help families and students alike understand types of habits and help which are suitable or not, we provide the following examples of permissible and non-permissible help that can be given and/or received, keeping in mind that the spirit of the law is more important than the letter. All families should review and discuss these examples at home.
Students who give or receive help with the intent of providing or gaining an unfair academic advantage are not living up to the Honor Code.
Permissible Help From Fellow Students and Parents
• Telling another student what the assignment is
• Repeating specific directions given by the teacher
• Identifying weakness in organization, style, word choice or content. It is permissible to comment: “This paragraph is weak,” or “These words are misspelled,” or “You didn’t answer all the questions.”
• Sharing notes (unless the notes are the assignment)
• Showing another student how to do a problem by using another example
• Brainstorming ideas on creative writing assignments
• Reviewing material in preparation for a test or exam
• Discussing concepts that were addressed in class or engaging in discussion of course material for better understanding
Non-Permissible Help From Fellow Students and Parents
• Giving another student your answer or answers to any given question
• Telling another student how to re-write something (i.e. “…just write this down.”)
• Sharing with another student any content that is part of an answer
• Letting someone read your answers, knowing or suspecting he or she intends to paraphrase those answers
• Showing or explaining to another student where to find information for an assignment (i.e. “look on page 34 for the answer”)
• Looking at another student’s paper and/or using his or her ideas or answers
• Using a calculator when not permitted
• Having another person, including a parent, assist with the production of an assignment, including typing or word processing written work. (Exceptions are made for students with special learning needs.)
• Discussing any aspect of a quiz, test or exam before all students have taken the test
• Letting a project partner do all of the work and then putting your name on the final project
• Using any part of someone else’s work without proper acknowledgment
The Lawson Academy teachers and administrative staff have the right and responsibility to respond to student acts of misconduct that disrupt the learning environment. Students and parents are expected to become familiar with the provisions outlined in The Lawson Academy Code of Student Conduct. Carefully review the responsibilities of the students, parents, teachers, administrators, and the school board. All stakeholders must work together to ensure the educational and social development of the child.
Parents and students are to review the information below and sign and return the acknowledgement page.
These offenses generally occur in the classroom and can be corrected by the teacher, i.e., excessive talking, getting out of a seat without permission, or any other disruptive act which violates the S.T.R.O.N.G. principles.
These offenses are more serious than Level I and/or represent the student’s inability to control Level I misconduct. Level II offenses call for administrative intervention, i.e., disrespect of faculty/staff members, horse playing (or “playing”), or using vulgarity or profanity.
These offenses seriously disrupt the educational process in the classroom, the school, and/or school related activities, or they are a continuance of Level I or Level II offenses. Level III misconduct may result in student’s assignment to (ISS) in school suspension, (OSS) out of school suspension, or expulsion. Examples of Level III infraction include gang-related activity, stealing, fighting, persistent bullying/cyberbullying deliberate destruction of property.
This type of misconduct involves more serious criminal offenses. This includes any felony, whether school related or not, inclusive of those for which expulsion is required.
The district prohibits bullying on school property, at school-sponsored or school-related activities, or in any vehicle operated by the district. Bullying may be verbal or written expression or expression trough electronic means, or physical conduct. Bullying is not tolerated by the district and any student or parent of a student who believes that the student or another student has experienced bullying or that a student has engaged in bullying is encouraged to immediately report the incident. Retaliation against anyone involved in the complaint process is a violation of district policy and is prohibited.
Students or parents may report an alleged incident of bullying, orally or in writing, to a teacher, counselor, principal or other district employee. Students or parents may contact the campus to obtain an incident report form that may be used to submit the complaint.
Please note that after submission of the complaint to the district employee, the district may assign the complaint to a campus administrator to follow up on the submitted complaint and any other important matters pertaining to the complaint. We encourage you to communicate with your designated campus administrator during this time.
More information about the district’s bullying policy can be found at the district administration office.
Bullying occurs when a person is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons, and he/she has difficulty defending himself or herself. Bullying is aggressive behavior that involves unwanted, negative actions. Bullying involves a pattern of behavior repeated over time. Bullying involves an imbalance of power or strength.
Every individual should have the right to be spared oppression and repeated, intentional humiliation, in school as in society at large. A student is being bullied or victimized when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more students. The following are some negative actions associated with bullying:
The Lawson Academy Code of Student Conduct considers bullying a Level III disciplinary offense. A student may be suspended, placed in in-school suspension, or, if serious or persistent behavior occurs, removed from the regular classroom and expelled.
Campus procedures for addressing incidents of bullying
If a student believes that he or she is the victim of another person’s bullying, that student is expected to immediately inform a teacher and allow the teacher to conduct a timely investigation.* If the teacher is able to substantiate the student’s claim, then the teacher will inform the appropriate campus administrator.
Once the administrator has been informed and/or has substantiated that the student has engaged in bullying, the administrator will immediately contact parents and schedule separate conferences between the aggressor, the victim, any witness(es), their parents and the academy counselor.
Campus responsibilities related to bullying prevention policies and procedures
All faculty and staff have engaged in professional development related to bullying, and they are trained in the acceptable and effective methods they must practice.
District responsibilities related to bullying prevention policies and procedures – The procedures for reporting bullying will be posted on the district’s Internet website to the extent practicable.
*If a student does not follow the correct procedure and retaliates against his/her aggressor, he/she will be susceptible to the same consequences that govern students’ discipline. (See The Lawson Academy Code of Student Conduct).
At The Lawson Academy, we believe every person deserves to be treated with sensitivity and respect. Students who uphold the Honor Code will strive to make all members of the community feel accepted from the first moment they arrive at the school and will treat everyone, regardless of physical, mental, or other differences, with respect.
As a community, we will not tolerate harassment of any kind, whether it is of a general nature or falls within the specific examples listed below.
Harassment includes both the more easily identified acts of verbal, written or physical abuse, (i.e. persistent derogatory comments, persistent demeaning remarks, threatening remarks, racial or ethnic slurs, leering references to someone’s body) and the more subtle, but equally damaging forms, such as graffiti and stereotypical jokes.
In our world, to “look the other way” is often to condone, and there is no better time than the Middle School years to harness our students’ idealism by joining together to make our school a community where honesty and integrity prevail.
The staff hopes to create an environment in which students expect their peers to adhere to the Honor Code and feel comfortable reporting violations or confronting one another. Because the age of our students and the size of our student body make the burden of required reporting of violations too great, students will be encouraged, and taught how, to speak up when they observe another student violating the Honor Code. Likewise, all other members of the school community – parents, teachers, and staff – will be called upon to do their absolute best to protest, in an appropriate way, behavior that lacks integrity.
Cyber-bullying involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group that is intended to harm others. “Cyber-bullying” occurs when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. It has to have a minor on both side, or at least have been instigated by a minor against a minor. Once adults become involved, it is plain and simple cyber-harassment or cyber-stalking.
It is important for each student to report any bullying or threats, whether made during school or away from school, to the nearest teacher or adult at school as soon as possible so school officials may take appropriate action. Similarly, parents who have concerns about bullying should meet with the campus administrator. If your child is receiving SpEd/504 services, go to the ARD committee to focus on the problem and arrange a plan to solve the issue.
