Hawkins County Schools
200 North Depot Street Rogersville, TN 37857  Phone: (423) 272-7629 Fax: (423) 272-2207

 
   
Behavior Definitions
Elementary    /   Middle/High

Printer Friendly Version

Hawkins County Elementary Schools
Behavior Violation Definitions

Violation

Examples

Non-Examples/ Minor Behaviors

Definition

Abusive Language

Calling adults names such as moron, stupid, or ugly, retard
Directing curse words at another individual

Saying Stupid, ugly, shut up, etc. to other students, use of mild expletives, not directed at another person

Swearing or curse words directed toward others in a demeaning or provoking manner

Fighting/ Physical Aggression

Punching, hitting, kicking

Pushing, shoving, horseplay that does not escalate

Physical Contact with the intent or outcome of causing injury or harm to others

Disrespect/Defiance/non-compliance/insubordination

“I’m not going to!” 
“You can’t make me!” Refusal to go to the office, or to stop the behavior that is being address

Not completing work, sleeping, talking back (“why?” “what did I do” “this is stupid”), not following directions, not being prepared for class

Yelling at teacher, leaving class without permission, verbal defiance.  Refusal to obey a directive from an adult

Assault of Teacher/Staff

Kicking, punching, hitting, throwing objects at any school staff member with the intent of causing harm

Accidental bumping into or inadvertently throwing something that hits a staff member

Touching or striking of another person against his or her will or intentionally causing bodily harm to an individual. Zero Tolerance Offense

Harassment/Threats/ Bullying

Touching others on the bottom or other private areas.  Constant pattern of physical or verbal abuse of fellow students

Inappropriate comments or calling names (not a pattern of behavior)

Bullying, repeated verbal abuse, inappropriate touching, threats of physical harm, including threats of weapons

Skip Class/ Truancy

Being in area not specifically given permission to be in to willfully miss or “get out” of class.  Not attending school with no legitimate excuse or reason

Taking to much time in the restroom,

Skip Class: Deliberate failure to attend assigned class
Truancy: An absence for an entire school day, a major portion of the school day or activity during the school day for which the student is scheduled without appropriate permission or documentation.


Violation

Examples

Non-Examples/ Minor Behaviors

Definition

Property Damage/Vandalism

Breaking classroom materials, throwing desks, chairs, computers
Destroyed text books, carving or permanently disfiguring desk, walls, etc.

Kicking furniture, breaking pencils, crayons, leaving caps off markers, etc.

Intentional destruction or defacement of school or personal property. Restitution may be sought.

Forgery/Theft

Taking money, Calculators, teachers’ editions or other books, taking valuable property that belongs at school or to another student. Taking someone else’s property, turning in someone else’s work as your own, signing parent’s names

NOTE:  Some items such as CD players, ipods, cell phones, PSP’s should not be at HCS and will not be handled by the office. 

Borrowing and not returning pencils, use of other’s consumable materials with that person’s OK

The taking of, or attempting to take, anything of value that is owned by another person or organization.
Criminal charges could also be brought

Dress Code Violation

Inappropriate clothing being worn that can not be easily rectified by student

Clothing that can be turned inside out to not show inappropriate slogans, can be easily rectified by school personnel

See Hawkins County dress code in Student Handbook

Technology Violation

Intentionally trying to access material that is inappropriate, offensive or otherwise blocked.  Bypassing filters, downloading without permission.  Altering or adding to an unauthorized area of a computer

Being off task while using computer.  Accessing web addresses not approved by teacher that don’t fall in the Major examples.

See Hawkins County acceptable use policy in Student Handbook

Inappropriate displays of affection

Kissing, hugging, touching not included in harassment

Appropriate friendly gestures

Inappropriateness to be decided by grade level

Multiple Behavior Violations (code as Disruption in SWIS)

Number of minors, documented by staff

Undocumented, “He’s being doing this for a week!”

School’s will make a decision on a set number of documented minor (things that are listed here as Non-Examples) violations that will result in a Major (see school specific Flowchart)

Use/Possession of Tobacco and or paraphernalia

Smoking/ using or possessing cigarettes/ smokeless tobacco or paraphernalia (lighters, matches, etc.)

Never a minor

Possession and/ or use of tobacco and/or paraphernalia

Violation

Examples

Non-Examples/ Minor Behaviors

Definition

Use/Possession of Alcohol

Being under the influence of, possessing or using alcohol

Never a minor

Possession and/ or use of or being under the influence of alcohol at school or at a school sponsored event/ activity

Use/ Possession of Drugs

Being under the influence of, possessing or using drugs

Never a minor

Zero Tolerance Offense: Possession and/ or use of or being under the influence of drugs at school or at a school sponsored event/ activity

Failure to do assigned office discipline
(code as Other behavior in SWIS)

Getting on bus after being suspended, coming to school while being suspended, not attending assigned detention/ISS

Never a minor

Deliberately not doing something that has been assigned as punishment for prior discipline action

Bomb Threat/False Alarm

Bomb Threat: Any communication of the use of items to cause harm to the building and occupants. 
False Alarm: Pulling fire alarm, falsely stating any other danger for the purpose of disrupting school

Never a minor

Intentionally making a false report of potential harm from a bomb, dynamite, explosive or arson causing device.
Pulling a fire alarm when no danger present.  Making intentionally false statements regarding safety of property or persons.

Use/ Possession of Weapons

knives or guns (real or look alike) or other objects readily capable of causing bodily harm found on the student or in lockers, backpacks, purses, etc..

Pencils, scissors, etc. when being used properly and NOT intended as a weapon.

Having possession of a weapon or weapon look alike capable of causing bodily harm. Zero Tolerance with actual weapons.

Electronic Devices
(code as Unknown behavior in SWIS)

Use of cell phones,  Ipods, mp3 players, CD players, Gameboys, PSPs, laser pointers and other electronic devices

Never a minor

Use is defined as being seen or heard by any school personnel, during school hours.