POSITIVE BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS OF  RHHS STUDENTS

HAWK PRIDE: River Hill High School is a community of learners who take PRIDE in being a part of our school.  We are committed to being ready to learn as we strive to be better and better every day in every way.

1. *PERSISTENCE and PASSION to be better and better
2. *RESPECT and RESPONSIBILITY in all we do
3. *INTELLIGENT CHOICES and INNOVATION in every way
4. *DETERMINATION every day
5. *EXCELLENCE in ACADEMICS & ACTIVITIES

One of the major objectives of formal education is to teach citizenship and responsibility for one’s actions. We believe this focus is a core value in today’s society. It is our expectation that students at RHHS will recognize the appropriate conduct for a given situation and conduct themselves accordingly. At RHHS students are expected to:

• Put forth best effort at all times.
• Attend school and all classes every day (at least at a 96% attendance rate for the entire year).
• Be on time to, and prepared for, all classes.
• Keep in mind that a good education is an opportunity for all.
• Be courteous, considerate, and thoughtful to all students, teachers, staff, and visitors.
• Exhibit proper conduct in school and at school-sponsored activities.
• Plan for the future by preparing short and long-range goals.
• Support the school and school programs with spirit and pride.
• Be loyal to your school and promote through your language and actions the strong reputation of the school.
• Respect school, public and private property.
• Be honest at all times—to yourself and to others.
• Treat others as you would expect to be treated.
• Participate in extra-curricular activities where your interests and time permit.

Student Behavior

Students are always expected to conduct themselves in a positive and mature manner in the classroom, in the halls, on the grounds, and at all school-sponsored functions. We all represent our school, family and community and we want to establish an excellent reputation for RHHS. Students will follow the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct.

• Obscene, vulgar, or profane language or expression will not be permitted on school grounds or at any school-sponsored activity.
• Inappropriate public displays of affection are not allowed on campus.
• Food and drinks are allowed only in the student dining and commons areas of the building. Students are permitted to eat lunch in Student Dining or on the patio.  Food and beverages may not be brought into the classrooms. Additionally, students are not allowed to leave school or arrive late in order to purchase food off campus.
• Students will dispose of trash from food and beverages they consume.
• Students are expected to move through the halls in an orderly manner.  When classes are in session, students are to be in class. Students in the halls during class must have a valid pass from a teacher.

Bus Privileges

Bus transportation is provided for many students attending RHHS. While riding the bus, students are expected to obey all school policies and act in a mature and appropriate manner. Students who violate these expectations or do not exhibit proper conduct on the bus may lose bus riding privileges, temporarily or permanently.  Students who wish to ride a bus home with a friend may do so only in emergency situations and only with notes from both sets of parents to be presented to an administrator prior to lunchtime.  Phone calls will be made home verifying the request.  Only then will final approval for riding another bus be granted.

A bus video surveillance system may be in operation to help monitor student behavior on HCPSS buses.  Bus safety is a top priority and bus drivers may not be able to watch the road and closely monitor students at the same time.  The surveillance system can be helpful in monitoring student behavior and permit the bus driver to concentrate on safe driving.

Bus evacuations will take place twice a year for all students.  Students should take directions from the bus driver when exiting and reentering the bus during evacuations.

Student Dress Code Standards

The Howard County Public School System along with parents/ guardians and community are responsible for encouraging all students to develop habits of proper dress and grooming. HCPSS Policy 9210 provides guidelines. These standards are based on respect for one another and the need to establish a safe, orderly, caring, challenging, and business-like learning environment.

It shall be a violation of the Howard County Board of Education Policy 9210 for any student to wear attire that interferes with the educational mission of schools is: disruptive to the school environment, provocative, or that could endanger the health or safety of that student or others during school hours and school activities.  This includes, but is not limited to, attire that:

• Unduly exposes or reveals skin or undergarments.  This may include tank tops, halter tops, tops which are strapless, low cut, or expose midriff, pants worn low or loose which expose skin or under-garments.
• Causes or is likely to cause a substantial or material disruption to school activities or the orderly operation of the school. This may include buttons, display bands, armbands, flags, decals or other badges of symbolic expression.
• Involves any form of headgear inside the school building during the school day.  Specific examples of headgear include hats, visors, scarves, bandannas, sweatbands and forehead bands.  Hats and head-gear will be confiscated according to each school’s policy.
• Causes a health and safety risk for students. This includes the requirement that shoes or sandals must be worn at all times in the school building.  Sunglasses may not be worn in the school building during the school day.
• Depicts profanity, obscenity, the use of weapons or violence.
• Promotes use of tobacco, drugs, alcohol, or other illegal or harmful products.
• Contains sexually suggestive messages.
• Depicts gang affiliation.
• Contains language or symbols that demean an identifiable person or group or otherwise infringe on the rights of others.
• Contains rude, disrespectful, or discourteous expressions inconsistent with civil discourse and behavior.

If an Administrator determines that a student is in violation of the dress code policy, the student will be allowed to remove the attire and change into appropriate attire.  If the student fails to comply, the parent/guardian will be contacted and appropriate disciplinary action may be taken. 

Please note that under Policy # 9210-R, II.C, attire worn for medical reasons or as an expression of a student’s religious practices shall be given special consideration.

Student Safety Precautions

HCPSS and RHHS are legally responsible for the safety and care of their students while on school grounds during the school day as well as during school functions. The following guidelines help RHHS provide a safe and orderly climate for learning:

• Students are required to sign out with the Attendance Office before leaving school grounds. Students must have their parents’ permission in writing to leave campus for any reason.
• Access to our students during the school day is allowed only to persons identified in student’s emergency information through HCPSS CONNECT with picture identification. Family members are required to check in at the front office and are requested to minimize requests that disrupt class instruction.
• Student visitors are not permitted during school hours.

Safety Considerations

Items such as laser pointers, skateboards, rollerblades, roller skates, scooters, squirt guns, and snowballs are not allowed on campus at any time. Skateboards, skates, and squirt guns that are brought to school will be confiscated for the remainder of the school year.