CHARTE DE VIE COLLECTIVE DE L’ECOLE SECONDAIRE
Approved by the Conseil d’Etablissement on December 15th, 2003
This charter defines the rules in and around the school in an effort to respect one and all. It is in this capacity that it applies to all members of the school community.
The Lycée Rochambeau’s goal is to prepare its students to become future citizens allowing them to find their place in the world of tomorrow. Our school welcomes students from all countries, regardless of their social and ethnic origins as well as religious beliefs, as stated in French and American laws on the subject of non-discrimination. All the members of the educational community are encouraged to take part positively in the life of the Lycée Rochambeau and help take these rules into account and apply them.
A spirit of tolerance and secularism, which forbids any form of political, philosophical or religious indoctrination is one of the fundamental principles which sets the rules in use amongst the members of our community. In all circumstances, as for all the members of the educational community, the students must realize that their actions help to create the public image of the school.
The registration of a student at the Lycée Rochambeau, whether of age or not, is binding to the present charter and a commitment to respect it.
All the members of the school community work towards the same aim : indeed, whether they are part of the administration, of the teaching or non-teaching staff, whether they be students or parents, all have a key rôle to play in order to boost and maintain excellence as well as a flourishing learning environment.
1. the teaching and educational staff
• help the students to learn, to progress and to gain self-confidence ;
• communicate with parents regularly ;
• keep classes and surroundings in order and show fairness and respect towards all students ;
• participate positively in the life of the school
2. the students
• are respectful of themselves and of others and behave in a correct way ;
• arrive at school on time, ready to learn ;
• obey the rules and take responsibility for their actions
3. the parents take responsibility when
• they have great interest in the work and achievement of their child ;
• they ensure that their child is correctly dressed, comes to school on time and encourage him/her to keep to the rules of the school ;
• they keep in touch and communicate with the school about absence, lateness or any other problem concerning their child.
I – SCHOOL LIFE
All information concerning the student, the teachers and life at school are brought to parents’ attention by way of the carnet de correspondance. It is the official means of communication amongst the differents parties of the community. Grades are written down by the student under the teachers’ supervision each day. Thus, students bring it to school every day. Every half-term the professeur principal initials the carnet de correspondance which is signed by parents. The half-termly report-book is available to parents (during parents/teachers evenings). In case of difficulty, parents are invited to contact the staff of the lycée (teacher or educator, in some cases the Proviseur or the adjoint).
a) Arrival at school
For the premier cycle
Doors open for students at 8.00 a.m in the cafeteria. Access to individual lockers is at
8.15. At the beginning of each lesson, students wait for their teacher in front of the
door of the classroom where they are due to have a class.
For the second cycle :
Doors open at 8.00 a.m.
For the public : Anyone not belonging to the school community should go to the Administration or the offices of the CE-CPE to have access to the teaching blocks. The distribution or posting of any document on the campus has to be agreed beforehand by the Proviseur. Students who do not belong to the Lycée must also apply for permission to attend 8 days in advance.
b) Absence, lateness and exemption
Students are committed to attend all courses including optional lessons as long as they are registered.
Parents must inform the Vie Scolaire by telephone of a student’s absence and confirm it in writing in the child’s correspondence book which the latter will show to the Vie Scolaire before returning to class.
Should the absence be for more than a week, a medical certificate must be provided also. A student can be exempted occasionally from Sport if there is a note from the parents or the School Nurse. The student will attend the lesson if he is able to physically, but will not participate.
In case of absence or lateness, the student must go straight to the Vie Scolaire to obtain a note for entry in to class, without which he will not be admitted by the teacher. Any unjustified and repeated lateness will be penalized.
c) Homework and tests
Homework is due in to the teacher on the date set. Tests anounced in class must be done by all students ; the teacher and the Vie Scolaire will have absent students do the test upon their return.
Cheating and passing on information during a test is a serious offence which penalises the student’s dignity and the School’s image. This kind of misconduct can be sanctioned by temporary suspension from one up to eight days.
d) In and out of school regulations
1. for the lycée : self-discipline
Starting in Seconde and with parents’ agreement (annex L1), students can benefit from a special ruling of self-discipline : possibility to leave the school for periods of at least 50 minutes, as long as they do not remain in the vicinity of the Lycée because of the ‘Special Exception’. In this case, the School cannot be held responsible in case of an accident. For security reasons, it is important to inform the Vie Scolaire before leaving the campus.
Students who do not benefit from this ruling must remain in school until their official departure time. (NB : it is not permitted to leave the campus during class change and recess).
2. for the collège :
Students who do not have a permanent authorization to leave must remain under the supervision of the Vie Scolaire until their official departure time. Any student wishing to leave the campus exceptionally must have a permission slip from his parents in advance, and have it then initialled by the Vie Scolaire.
NB : the attached authorization slip as annex C1 must be signed by parents at the beginning of the school-year.
3. The School’s responsibilities :
In case of an accident, the School cannot be held responsible every time a student leaves the campus, without permission. In case some students leave the campus without permission, they are punished on an individual basis : parents are contacted immediately.
Each time a written special permission is given by parents or the guardian of a student, the School’s responsibility is denied.
In case of illness or accident, a student can leave the school as long as he has permission from the Vie Scolaire or the nurse.
e) Sick Bay
The rule about medication at school is as follows :
Students are not allowed to carry medication, except sprays for the ones suffering from asthma ;
Any other medication must be given by the nurse. In order to have this happen, parents must send to the nurse :
- the doctor’s prescription,
- the medication prescribed.
The student will have to go to the Sick Bay in order to have his medication.
f) Personal coursework
For the High School :
The normal progression of courses is determined by rules and regulations, which include for students individual coursework in the school as well as outside the campus, within the scope of TPE for Première and Terminale (cf. BOEN #9 of March 2, 2000). In the light of this, parents will sign a leave permission slip at the beginning of each school-year. In this case, students take care of themselves totally on an individual basis. They bear in mind that they carry the School’s image.
g) Study Hall
For the collège :
When they do not have lessons, students go to permanence or the library with authorization from the person in charge of permanence.
For study hall in the evening, from 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. only students who are registered have the right to stay and be under supervision (annex C3). After 5.45 p.m., students who do not have lessons are automatically sent to the fee-paying study hall.
For the High School :
During study hall hours, between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m., students are free to either stay in their class, go to the library, go to the foyer or sit on the lawn.
h) Recess for the Collège
During their free time, collège students remain by their teaching block.
At lunch-time, and so as to allow some lessons to continue, students may not stay in the corridors nor in front of their teaching block. Lunch takes place in the cafeteria only and each person takes care of cleanliness of the table. For hygiene and safety reasons, food and drinks (except water) cannot be taken outside. After lunch, students can go outside, without disturbing the sports lessons, with permission from the Vie Scolaire.
i) Individual transport and parking
Due to the ‘Special Exception’ students wishing to drive to school must seek permission from the Vie Scolaire who will inform them how feasible this can be. Other means of transport (bicycle, skates, rollers, scooter, etc..) are not permitted on the campus et must be put away immediately upon arrival in places indicated by the Vie Scolaire.
II - STUDENTS’ RIGHTS
Students take an active part in the life of the school. To this effect, they enjoy the following rights :
The right of respect as a person and of their work.
The right to fair treatment and to fair marking of their work and explanation thereof.
The right to be represented by elected delegates at the various meetings of the school : conseils de classe (2 delegates per class), conseil du secondaire and conseil d’établissement (1 delegate from collège and 2 from the lycée from the delegates conference) conseil de vie lycéenne (3 delegates from the collège and 10 delegates from the lycée of whom 7 were elected by the universal suffrage of High School students) and by volunteers from the educational and citizenship committees.
As far as the School is concerned, they represent their peers. They are in charge of relations between students and other members of the school community. More particularly, they interact between teachers, the management, the Vie Scolaire and students of the class. Every student has the right to ask for a student delegate to be present during a meeting with any adult from the school.
The right of expression and to meetings. This is first approved by the Head of School as to the subject, the participants and the procedure.
Moreover, students have a right to individual expression, publication and associations. The operating of these rights give way to dialogue with members of the management of the School who oversee to the enforcement of general principles of right. Publications are thus given to the Head of School for approval. Associations which could be created in the School must also be approved by the Head of School as well as the activities thereof.
A locker and a lock are given to each student. Students must not exchange these, nor give away the combination of the lock which has to be returned to the Vie Scolaire at the end of the school-year. Each student is responsible for the state of his locker. These lockers being property of the School, the management reserves the right to open them, whatever the reason may be. This will be done in front of a witness and with the student where possible. Any lost lock will be invoiced. For hygiene reasons, students are asked to empty their locker at the end of each term.
III. STUDENT OBLIGATIONS
School is place for students to work. Everyone undertakes to respect others, adults or students, in their sensitivity and their integrity. Everyone contributes positively to the smooth running of classes and life at school.
Any action or behaviour which could bother, hurt or have others members of the community take risks, will be punished.
a) Presence :
Students must attend all classes as set on the timetable, study all the contents of the official programme and do the work requested by teachers on time.
b) Dress :
Everyone dresses correctly and appropriately for school. Teachers and education counselors can suggest to the Management that a student may not go into class if they think the latter is inappropriately dressed. In that case, parents are asked to come to pick up their child.
A blouse must be worn for laboratory work from Seconde, and an appropriate attire must be worn for Sport.
Students, alike adults, speak and behave towards one another in a polite and respectful manner.
c) Campus
Students pay attention to premises and equipment. At the end of classes, they leave the classroom tidy and clean for the following class. The same applies to the cafeteria, the student foyer and common areas.
Rescue windows cannot be opened unless instructed to do so by people in charge of administration or maintenance.
d) Tobacco, alcohol and drugs
In accordance with the Montgomery County laws, to carry and use tobacco is not allowed for students under 18. It is tolerated for students over 18 in a designated area.
Carrying and using alcohol and drugs is not permitted by law and constitutes a severe offence.
Any student from the Lycée Rochambeau who uses, carries, distributes or is under the influence of illegal drugs or in possession of equipment for their consumption, in the school or within a perimeter of 1000 feet, could be expelled for good.
The School and its management are prepared to help and support students who suffer from the consequnces of using drugs or alcohol. Information concerning problems relating to a student will be dealt with in strict confidence by members of staff.
However, the support of the School does not excuse the students in any way for the consequences of their actions if they continue or repeat them, as far as they are illegal and contrary to the code of behaviour regarding consumption of drugs or alcohol.
e) Security
Possession of weapons, firearms or knives, or any other dangerous object (glass bottles etc..) is forbidden in the school. This constitutes an exceptionnally severe offence. Any student found to be in their possession could be expelled for good.
Concerning paragraphs d and e, the Head of School or the Deputy can decide of any action necessary to ensure safety in the school community, within the limits of American laws, for example contacting the police, checking of personal belongings (bags, pockets) in the presence of the person in question together with a witness, checking of vehicles parked on the campus etc..
f) Other restrictions
It is not permitted to :
- use one’s equipment in a dangerous way
- do anything which could be dangerous for oneself or others
- bring beepers
- chew gum, eat or drink in class (unless requested by the teacher)
- use on the campus walkmen, discmen, radio or any other electronical devices.
- use cellular phones inside the buildings. They must be turned off. Any exceptional departure must be mentioned to the Vie Scolaire.
- use ‘white-out’ liquid which is toxic because of its components.
BREACHES AND SANCTIONS
Students who do not abide by the school rules, who are known for lack of discipline, who do not work as expected risk, depending on the seriousness of the breach, punishments and sanctions accordingly. These sanctions are educational and do not harm the student’s dignity. Some serious offences (violent actions, theft, racist comportment, carrying of weapons, vandalism, ringing of alarms, false bomb alerts…) lead to immediate temporary suspension by the Head of School. If necessary. The County police can be called upon, in accordance with local rules.
A.Degradation :
When a student or a group of students is known to be guilty of vandalism (graffiti, writing on any medium…), all the expenses corresponding to repair, upgrade or replacement of items spoilt, will be billed to the parents or guardians ; students will be punished. As far as possible, students will have to repair.
B.Theft :
It is recommended not to bring anything valuable to school.
The School’s responsibility is not involved in case of loss, theft or spoiliage of students’ personal belongings. Any student found guilty of theft will be severely punished.
C.School punishments:
1)Verbal warning.
2) Written warning in the correspondence book by the teacher or the Vie Scolaire (sometimes with extra homework – the homework is given by the teacher) ; parents will receive a note, which they will have to sign, indicating the reason the the kind of work to do. Any extra homework will be corrected and returned to the student.
Several written warnings can lead to a detention.
3)Detention or work in the interest of the community, depending on the offence.
The detention takes place at the Lycée, usually on Saturday mornings.
Parents are sent a letter.
D.Disciplinary sanctions :
Parents are warned of sanctions by mail.
1)Written warning given by the Head of School or Deputy in the correspondence book. Three consecutive warnings in the school-year lead to automatic suspension from lessons from one to eight days.
2)Suspension from lessons : the student has to be present in school in order to do extra homework or work in the interest of the community from 8.30 to 5.30.
3)Suspension fron the school :
a) less or equal to eight working days outside school holidays, given by the Head of School.
b) More than eight working days and outside school holidays or final, given by the Head of School after meeting with the Conseil de discipline.
E.Conseil de Discipline
The Conseil de Discipline is contacted either directly by the Head of School, or by the Conseil d’Etablissement. It is made up of elected members of the Conseil d’Etablissement plus a member of the Fondation. In case of lack of elected members in one body, the Head of School temporarily names the two persons from that body who have been in the school the longest. The pertaining rules and regulations form part of the by-laws of the school.
This charter is submitted for approval to the members of the Board of the Fondation.
To be returned to the Vie Scolaire
Commitment of students and families
I undertake to respect this Charte de Vie collective in its principles and its clauses. I know that I will be held responsible for any breach of this charter.
Date : -----------------------------------
Name of student -------------------------------------------------------- Class : ---------------------
Signature of student : ----------------------------------------------------------------
Read and approved,
Signature of parents ------------------------------------------------------------------
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