All students at West Warwick High School are expected to keep in mind that they are attending an educational facility. Good grooming and proper attire contribute to the learning environment. This aspect of learning prepares students to know how to dress appropriately for the future workplace.
Immodest or revealing clothing is not to be worn to school. Shoulders, backs, and stomachs must be covered. Halter tops, muscle shirts, spaghetti straps and other sleeveless shirts are not allowed. Shoulders must be covered at all times.
Headgear of any sort is not allowed to be worn in the building.
Accessories with potential for inflicting bodily harm are not allowed. (chains, pointed jewelry, dog collars, picks, etc.)
Clothing, insignia, buttons, jewelry, labels, arm bands, signs, etc. that criticize, insult, degrade or have potential to incite any individual, group, profession, or religious or political group are not allowed.
Coats and jackets are not to be worn in the classroom.
Electronic ear accessories, sunglasses or accessories that cause distractions are not to be visible in the school building.
Clothing worn during physical education is not to be worn in the classroom.
Pants must be worn waist-high so as not to reveal underwear.
Shorts and skirts should be appropriate length of mid-thigh as defined by the end of one’s thumbs when arms are fully extended and resting by one’s sides. This also applies to rips and slits in shorts, skirts and pants.
Footwear should be worn at all times.
Clothing and body art which promotes alcohol, drugs, tobacco, violence or sexual innuendois not permitted on school property.
Note: Final judgment regarding the appropriateness of a student’s attire as it relates to the learning environment belongs to the Administration.
Electronic Devices
The use of cell phones or any electronic device that is non school related are not permitted during the school day. Any such use or possession will result in confiscation and/or disciplinary consequences.
1st incident: confiscated items will be returned to the student at the end of the school day, the student will be added to the electronic violations list and the parent will be notified.
2nd incident: confiscated items will be returned to the parent/guardian and there will be disciplinary consequences . 3rd incident: may result in an in-school suspension or 10 detentions in a week.
4th incident: will result in an out of school suspension with placement on social suspension for the remainder of the academic quarter, and/or prolonged confiscation of the device.
Note: Students refusing to comply will face further consequences.
Electronic Devices Cont.
Entering Class
Keep in mind that you are ready to enter a class if:
You are wearing a mask that is covering your nose and mouth.
You are not wearing a hat.
You do not have a hooded sweatshirt (hoodie) covering your head.
Social Media is defined as any web-based or mobile technologies that turn communication into a dialogue. Social media takes on many different forms and uses a variety of technologies including but not limited to blogs, Google chats, internet forums, wall postings, picture-sharing, video sharing, email, and instant messaging. To promote respectful discussion within these forums, students are expected to be polite, courteous, and avoid comments that are profane, obscene, offensive, sexually explicit, inappropriate, inflammatory or otherwise objectionable. Students who participate in online interactions must remember that their posts reflect the entire West Warwick community and, as such, may be subject to school consequences (see page 65 under “Investigation”).
To protect the privacy of students and faculty, students may not, under any circumstances, create digital video recordings of WWHS community members either on campus or off-campus for online publication or distribution unless it is authorized by a member of the WWHS administration.
The illegal, improper, unkind, or unethical use of technology, including but not limited to chromebooks, mobile devices, as well as all venues on social media, etc., is strictly forbidden.
Students may not use social media sites to publish disparaging or harassing remarks about WWHS community members or athletic or academic contest rivals from another school community, area, etc.
Students who choose to post editorial content to websites or other forms of online media must ensure that their submission does not reflect poorly upon our school or any member of our school community.
Any student or a group of students who organize a campaign of shunning or harassment against another student through the use of social media will receive disciplinary consequences. If said harassment negatively impacts our school environment, there will be disciplinary consequences, regardless of whether the infraction occurred outside of school hours.
Failure to abide by this policy, as with other policies at WWHS may result in disciplinary action determined by WWHS Administration and the Office of the Dean of Students.
Rationale: Participation in extra and co-curricular activities is a privilege: therefore, the right to participate may be revoked due to academic, attendance, or disciplinary issues.
II. Social Suspension Definition: Social suspension is the suspension of the right to participate in activities conducted on an extra-curricular or co-curricular basis in the West Warwick School Department due to academic, attendance, or disciplinary issues.
A. Academic Probation Students will be placed on academic probation for failing to meet the academic standards for eligibility as defined by failing any three classes at the end of an academic quarter. If a student who is on Academic Social Suspension at the start of an academic quarter is passing all classes at the Interim Report Date of that quarter, they will be removed from social suspension for the remainder of the quarter. Students will however continue to be ineligible for participation in any Rhode Island Interscholastic League team and / or event, per RIIL rules and regulations. This will take effect the day interims are distributed in advisory.
B. Attendance Probation 1. Students will be placed on attendance probation when they have accumulated a combination of five (5) unexcused absences, tardies and/or dismissals per quarter. Once placed on social suspension, they will remain on social suspension for the remainder of that quarter.
2. If a student should accumulate eighteen (18) or more unexcused absences, tardies and/or dismissals, they will be automatically placed on social suspension for the remainder of the year.
Note: Students on attendance probation may be removed from social suspension by serving five (5) morning detentions, for every unexcused tardy BEFORE 8:00AM. Any other unexcused absence, tardy, or dismissal is non-negotiable. Eligible students must sign a “Social Suspension Redemption” contract.
3. Early dismissal: Any student dismissed from school must bring a doctor’s note or another form of verification (as outlined in the student handbook) for their early dismissal to be considered excused. Students will be placed on attendance probation when they have accumulated a combination of five (5) unexcused early dismissals per quarter. Once placed on social suspension, they will remain on social suspension for the remainder of the quarter.
Attendance Redemption Program: Students wishing to utilize the Attendance Redemption Program to be removed from Social Suspension must:
Have a contract signed by the student, parent, and an administrator.
Attend all morning detentions without any blemishes.
C.Disciplinary Probation 1. Students will be placed on disciplinary probation when any of the following disciplinary sanctions have occurred: a. Three (3) or more unserved detentions in a quarter b. Two (2) out of school suspensions in one quarter c. One ten (10) day suspension in a quarter d. Two (2) or more visits to ISS (in school suspension) in one quarter e. When the off campus behavior of a student is conduct unbecoming of a WWHS student and / or results in the student being criminally charged and is directed at a student or employee or negatively impacts the school’s environment.
III.Consequence: Students who are placed on social suspension may not participate in or attend any extra-curricular or co-curricular activities. These include athletic programs, clubs, school dances, senior events, and student government activities.
IV.Term: Unless they are enrolled in the Attendance Redemption Program, or are on Academic Probation and are passing all classes at the Interim Report Date, Social Suspension shall be assigned for one quarter (9 - 10 weeks) or the equivalent of one quarter. It shall only be extended if the problems(s) continue and the student and parent are duly notified. Students added to social suspension in the 4th quarter of the school year will be prohibited from participation in all summer activities and will remain on social suspension until the first day of the following school year. Violations will result in removal from the activity and loss of team privileges in the upcoming school year.
School Dances
Sporting Events
School dances are normally held on a Friday or Saturday night. Major dances of the school year include the Homecoming Dance, the Winter Ball, the Freshmen/Sophomore Semi Formal, the Junior Prom and the Senior Ball. Classes and clubs sponsor student dances throughout the year. Students attending dances must arrive at the event within 30 minutes of the start of the dance and stay for the entire evening.
Appropriate dress is required at all school functions.
Students must be in school on the day of the dance. For dances held on Saturday, students must be in school all day on Friday. Students on social suspension, in-school suspension or out-of-school suspension are not eligible to attend.
Students and guests of WWHS who are attending high school functions must be age appropriate, not enrolled below Grade 9, or over the age of 20.
All guests of WWHS students must fully complete a guest voucher and provide a picture ID for each dance they are attending.
No grinding on a dance partner or engaging in other dancing that is either dangerous or viewed as sexual in nature will be allowed.
Couples must face each other while dancing.
If a student is no longer attending WWHS or any other recognized high school during or before their year of graduation, they will not be allowed to attend any WWHS dances for the entirety of that school year.
A breathalyzer test will be administered to all students and their guests upon entering all dances and post-prom events.
Students and guests who are in violation of any WWHS dance rules or policies will be asked to exit the event and will not be allowed to attend another WWHS dance for the remainder of the school year and/or the following school year.
All in attendance at West Warwick High School Sporting Events, both home and away, will be expected to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations detailed below. (RIIL Rules and Regulations Article 12, Section 3, Clause F)
The Parent/Spectator:
Will respect the integrity and judgment of game officials.
Will be respectful of all players, coaches, officials and other spectators.
Will never target anyone for abuse whether it be physical, verbal or emotional.
Will never engage in name-calling, taunting, harassment, obscenities, and any other disrespectful language or gestures.
Will always be a positive role model for other spectators and your child.
Will cheer for your team, not against your opponent.
Will make an effort to know and understand the rules of the game.
Will recognize that attending a middle or high school athletic contest is a privilege, not a license to verbally assault officials, coaches or opposing team(s) and their spectators.
Will recognize and show appreciation for an outstanding play by either team.
No parent / spectator is ever allowed onto the court or playing field unless directed to do so by a coach or school official.
Note: Any violation of these rules will result in immediate ejection from our stands, our building, our school property, and result in the loss of having the privilege to attend any future West Warwick Public School Events.