Antelope Valley School District

School Rules and Procedures

Electronic Devices on Campus:

Board Policy 5131.05 states that, while students may possess cell phones on campus, in no instance shall use of a cell phone be disruptive of the educational process. Highland will not be responsible for the loss or theft of CD players, cell phones, pagers, mp3 players, iPods, iPads, cameras, flash drives, memory sticks, or any other type of electronic device.

Confiscated cell phones will be available for parent pick up from the CBI Room (room 143) only on Wednesdays from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Attendance Information:

Board Policy 5113, Absences and Excuses. Parents may clear absences by phone or note. There is a 3-day window from the date of the absence in which parents may clear absences. After the 3-day window, a doctor’s note will be required to clear absences. Students may opt to attend Saturday School for a minimum of four hours to clear an all-day absence that has not been cleared by a viable excuse. Students may attend Saturday School voluntarily up to five times per semester.

Tardy Policy:

Highland High School recognizes its responsibility to ensure that students attend class regularly and on time, as attendance plays an important role in student achievement.

Tardiness is a failure to appear on time and is considered a form of absence. It is the student’s responsibility to be in the classroom and ready to work before the tardy bell rings. Such common problems as oversleeping and repeated occurrences of car trouble are unacceptable reasons for tardiness to school and are considered unexcused tardies/absences. Tardies are counted cumulatively and across classes.

Habitual tardiness is considered a form of truancy, and Education Code 48260 provides that legal action may be taken against a student and/or parent for truancy.

Failure to appear for a Saturday School will result in the assignment of one day In-House Suspension.

Disciplinary Procedure Philosophy - The Board of Education has the responsibility to see that an appropriate educational program is available to each student in our schools. Rules and regulations are established to ensure a proper climate in which students may pursue their studies. School personnel have been charged by the Board to carry out these rules in a friendly, firm and fair manner and to safeguard each student's right to the finest education we can provide. The Board further feels that good discipline is a shared responsibility. Students, parents, teachers, and administrators all share in this endeavor and responsibility. At any time, students may be disciplined and/or counseled by teachers, administrators or other staff members regarding their behavior and/or referred to other authorities in special circumstances.

Academic Probation:

9th and 10th grade students who are behind in credits during the school year are required to make up core classes through Supplemental Instruction and may be placed on academic probation. For more information, please contact your guidance counselor or vice principal.

Student Dress and Appearance Policy:

All Highland High School students are required to be visibly wearing their student identification cards in order to enter the school campus, and will adhere to the following guidelines for student dress on campus and at school-related activities off campus:.

Note: Exceptions may be made for team uniforms with administrative approval.

PANTS, SHORTS

  1. Pants and shorts must be worn at waist level and must fit at the waist. No sagging or low-riding will be permitted.
  2. Pants and shorts must be worn right side out, hemmed and cannot be ragged or torn. Non-factory produced cuffs are not allowed. Cutoff shorts are not allowed.
  3. Shorts extending below the knee when worn with over-the-calf socks are prohibited.
  4. Non-manufactured creases in pants or shorts are not allowed.
  5. Hemlines and slits on shorts above mid-thigh are not acceptable.
  6. Bib pants or shorts must be fastened over both shoulders.
  7. Pants shall not drag on the ground.

SHIRTS, BLOUSES, TOPS

  1. Shirts or other clothing that depicts any “gang-style” writing, illegal activity, sexually-related or obscene gestures, pictures, logos, insignias, or wording; use or abuse of tobacco, drugs or alcohol; words, pictures, or phrases that depict violence or intimidation may not be worn; or pose a threat to the physical well-being and safety of the students or others shall not be worn on campus or at any school-related activities.
  2. Shirts cannot be buttoned at the top while unbuttoned at the bottom.
  3. All shirts and tops must cover the midriff at all times.
  4. The following shirts and tops are prohibited: tank tops, strapless, spaghetti straps, off-the-shoulder, cut-out designs, low-cut shirts, bare-back shirts and sheer or mesh clothing without a blouse or shirt underneath.
  5. Undergarments worn under shirts, blouses, or tops must not be visible.
  6. Non-manufactured creases in shirts are not allowed.
  7. Sports jerseys, other than school jerseys, are not allowed.

SHOES

  1. All students are required to wear appropriate footwear/shoes.
  2. Slipper-type shoes, steel-toed boots, and thongs/flip-flops and inappropriate writing on shoes are not allowed.
  3. Only black, white, or brown shoelaces are permitted.
  4. Black, red, or blue athletic shoes worn in combination with clothing of the same color are not allowed.

SKIRTS, JUMPERS, ONE-PIECE DRESSES

  1. Hemlines and slits on skirts, jumpers or one-piece dresses above mid-thigh are not acceptable.
  2. Transparent skirts/dresses and/or strapless or backless dresses are not allowed.

HEADWEAR

  1. Only Highland High School approved headwear are allowed on campus.
  2. Hats must be worn with bills forward.
  3. No writing is permitted on a hat except the owner's name on the underside of the bill.
  4. No headbands, scarves, (associated with gang attire), bandanas, do-rags, hairnets, combs, curlers, rubber bands, clips, hair picks, or plastic bags may be worn or “displayed” by students.
  5. Hats may be worn inside the classroom or office ONLY with the permission of the instructor or office personnel.
  6. During inclement winter weather, solid color beanies may be worn.

BELTS

  1. Belts must be worn snugly without the ends hanging down.
  2. Belt buckles must be free of any initials or inappropriate designs.
  3. No studded belts and no spikes on belts.

CHAINS

  1. Students may wear appropriate chains around their necks as jewelry.
  2. Chains attached to wallets or hanging from a student's pants or shorts are not allowed.
  3. Spiked collars or accessories are not allowed

EARRINGS/JEWELRY

Any body piercing that presents a safety or major distraction will not be allowed.

SUNGLASSES

Sunglasses may be worn on campus, but not in the classroom.

BOOK BAGS

Book bags/backpacks may be any color and identified with only the name of the student. Book bags/backpacks must be free of any other writing or graffiti.

TATTOOS

Tattoos that depict or suggest illegal activity; sexually related or obscene gestures; logos, insignias, or wording that poses a threat to the physical well-being and safety of students or others; or creates a "gang like" image which may provoke others to acts of violence, shall not be visible at school or at any school-sponsored activity.

ADDITIONAL INAPPROPRIATE ATTIRE

  1. Attire that may cause student unrest is not allowed.
  2. Clothing with writing other than the original factory-produced letters and patterns is not allowed.
  3. Clothing that represents gangs, racist/hate groups, or groups on campus not officially approved by Highland High School are not allowed.
  4. Any clothing or styles of dress that may be construed to provoke fear, violence, or intimidation, including gang-related attire, is not acceptable.
  5. Any clothing typically worn for sleep is unacceptable school attire.
  6. Gang or tagger-crew writing on shoes, clothes or body, backpacks or accessories are not permitted.
  7. Excessive color identities in combination with other gang attire are prohibited.
  8. No handcuffs, safety pins and needles are permitted on campus.
  9. Clothing resembling law enforcement or security personnel is strictly prohibited.

Highland High School recognizes that students have a right to show their individuality by the clothes they choose to wear. We do feel, however, that the school has a responsibility to establish basic guidelines that are both reasonable and fair. Part of the school's responsibility is to prepare students to enter the workplace with an idea of employer expectations. Good attendance, being at work on time and a reasonable dress standard will be expected by an employer.

Alternative Programs:

Highland offers a wide variety of alternative programs to meet the needs of students who have severe health, academic, behavioral or attendance problems, are behind in credits, or pregnant. In addition, these non-traditional programs offer options that may better meet the needs of students or their families as they pursue a high school education. A guidance counselor or vice principal can assist you in pursuing these options.

Expulsion From School:

The Antelope Valley Union High School District operates on a Zero Tolerance policy towards weapons, drugs, graffiti, hate crimes, and sexual harassment. Students who are involved in any of the above are subject to suspension or expulsion from school as per California Education Codes 48900 and 48915. If you would like a copy of this code, please call our security office. Copies of these violations are posted in each classroom. You can access the California Education Code on the internet at www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.