Cardinal Rules

(As found in the annual Greenwich High School Handbook and Calendar)

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, including appeal, 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 a house Learning Center as directed by the housemaster 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.  Parents have the right to appeal a suspension or an expulsion.  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 off school grounds conduct 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 have the right to be present during police questioning if the student is less than 16 years old.

Out of School Misconduct

Students are subject to discipline, up to and including suspension and expulsion for misconduct which is seriously disruptive of the educational process and is a violation of a publicized board policy, even if such conduct occurs off-school property and during non-school time.

Out of School actions that will result in a mandatory expulsion for one calendar year include the following:

1.        Possession of a firearm as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921

2.        Possession and use of a firearm, a deadly weapon, a dangerous instrument or martial arts weapon in the commission of a crime or

3.        The sale or distribution of drugs which are controlled substances as defined by CGS 21a-240

Certain other out of school misconduct may result in disciplinary action up to and including suspension and expulsion.  In determining whether the out of school misconduct will result in any disciplinary action the school administration or the Board of Education will consider whether the misconduct was violative of a publicized policy of the Board and seriously disruptive of the educational process.  The same factors will be considered by the school administration in determining suspensions and the Board of Education in determining expulsions in situations involving out of school misconduct.

The school administration or the Board of Education will consider any publicized policy that governs student conduct in evaluating the misconduct.  Some examples of misconduct that may result in suspension or expulsion would be the making of a bomb threat, or threatening physical harm to a student or member of the staff.