QHS Student Handbook

Section 1: Bill of Rights and Responsibilities of Students 

Introduction 

The faculty, staff, and administration of Queensbury High School are committed to providing a safe and orderly school environment where students may receive, and high school personnel may deliver, quality educational services without disruption or interference. Responsible behavior by students, teachers, other district personnel, parents and other visitors is essential to achieving this goal.

Rights 

Students of Queensbury High School shall have the rights afforded to students under the provisions of the federal and state constitutions and the laws of the State of New York.  In addition to those rights, QHS students have the right to:

1. expect a safe, healthy, orderly, and civil school environment.

2. take part in all activities on an equal basis regardless of age, race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or disability.
3. present their version of the relevant events to school personnel authorized to impose a disciplinary penalty as in connection with the imposition of the penalty. 
4. access school rules and, when necessary, receive an explanation of those rules from school personnel.

Responsibilities 

Students of Queensbury High School have the responsibility to act in such a manner that they do not disrupt the rights of others or the education process. Their responsibilities include being familiar with and abiding by all district policies, rules and regulations dealing with student conduct.  The students’ responsibilities are listed in detail in the QUFSD Code of Conduct, which is available in the district central office.

Lockers 

Available upon request.  PE lockers are assigned to each student. The locker assigned to the student is property of the school district and subject to inspection at any given time. Students assume full responsibility for the items stored in the lockers as well as the general physical condition of the locker.  The school cannot assume responsibility for articles lost or stolen from lockers.

Student Identification Card 

Upon request, students are required to identify themselves to school employees in the school building, on school grounds, or at school sponsored events.  Your student identification card is provided each year for this purpose.  Students will also be required to show their identification cards to check out materials from the media center and/or purchase tickets to school sponsored dances.

Section 2: Prohibited Student Conduct 

Students may be subject to disciplinary or corrective action, including but not limited to suspension from school when they:

1. engage in conduct that is disorderly.  
2. engage in conduct that is insubordinate, i.e., failing to comply with the lawful or reasonable directions of teachers, school administrators, or other school employees, or otherwise demonstrating disrespect.
3. engage in conduct that is disruptive. 
4. engage in conduct that is violent, including, but not limited to, threatening to harm someone or use a weapon. 
5. engage in conduct that endangers the safety, morals, health, and welfare of others, including but not limited to, acts of sexual harassment as defined in the district’s sexual harassment policy; possession or use of tobacco, including vaporizers; possessing, consuming, selling, distributing or exchanging alcoholic beverages or illegal substances or substances purported to be illegal, or being under the influence of any mind-altering/intoxicating substance, or inappropriately using or sharing prescription and over-the-counter drugs, or possessing, using or sharing synthetic cannabinoids. The use of drug/alcohol detection equipment by school personnel is authorized to enforce this policy.
   1. Disciplinary procedures as a result of possessing and/or consuming vaporizer substances.
      1. 1st Offense – One day of out-of-school suspension and one Saturday detention in which the student will complete an online educational program.
      2. 2nd Offense – Three days of out-of-school suspension and the completion of a restorative project.
      3. 3rd Offense – Five days of out-of-school suspension which may or may not result in a Superintendent’s Hearing
      4. For vapes that include THC – An automatic 5-day suspension will be issued and may include a Superintendent’s Hearing.
6. engage in verbal and/or physical harassment, written intimidation or bullying.  “Bullying” is aggressive behavior that is intentional and that involves an imbalance of power or strength.  Typically repeated over time, the behaviors may include hitting, punching, teasing, intimidation or insulting messages.
7. engage in hazing:  “Hazing” means committing an act against a student, or coercing a student into committing an act that creates a risk of emotional, physical or psychological harm to a person, in order for the student to be initiated into or affiliated with a student organization, or for any other purpose.
8. engage in misconduct while on a school bus.  
9. engage in any form of academic misconduct, including plagiarism.  
10. engage in conduct that is vandalism, i.e. intentionally damaging or destroying the personal property of anyone lawfully on school property, including graffiti or arson, and intentionally damaging or destroying school district property.  
11. engage in dishonest and inappropriate behavior.  
12. engage in the use of any electronic device, including personal music devices and cell phones during class and/or study halls, unless permitted by a staff member.
13. engage in any form of gambling and/or card playing during school hours.
14. engage in tape recording or any other type of recording without the express written permission of the individual(s) being recorded or without the recording being determined to be a necessary accommodation by the Committee on Special Education.  
15. Remain in the school building after 3 p.m. unless under the supervision of school personnel, including but not limited to teachers, coaches, club advisors, detention monitors, and administrators. 

Dignity for All Students Act Definitions

In order to ensure the safety of all students as well as maintain a respectful environment that encourages learning, QHS has a code of conduct that further clarifies the district code of conduct for our students. Many important parts of the code are included in the student handbook, which you will find on your grade specific Google Classroom. While the code does not limit or restrict freedom of speech nor any constitutional or individual right, it does not allow for abuse of individuals, and therefore maintains the academic environment appropriate for our students. The code of conduct applies at all times while students are under the jurisdiction of the Queensbury Union Free School District. This includes on the way to and from school on the bus, attending school sponsored activities, in the classroom and on the athletic fields. These expectations extend beyond the school setting if they reasonably can be found to be disruptive to the learning environment or if an individual student does not feel safe to fully participate in school based upon incidents that take place off school grounds (including online cyber bullying). In compliance with the Dignity for All Students Act, students and adults are not to harass, bully, annoy, bother, tease, or discriminate against another student; nor will they treat a person differently because of how they look or act. This includes someone’s race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex. At QHS we will never tolerate the mistreatment of other students, and any reported incident will be thoroughly and immediately investigated. Any student who feels unsafe or believes that they have been harassed, bullied or discriminated against, or any student who witnesses another student being mistreated for what appears to be their race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practices, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex should immediately tell an adult in the school and, when possible, help the student who is being targeted. In addition to the above prohibited behaviors, the following are also prohibited student conduct:

 

Prohibited Student Conduct under DASA:

1. Engaging in conduct that is disorderly
2. Engaging in conduct that is insubordinate (not following directions)
3. Engaging in conduct that is disruptive
4. Engaging in conduct that is violent
5. Engaging in any conduct that endangers the safety, physical or emotional welfare of others
6. Engaging in misconduct while on a school bus
7. Engaging in any form of academic misconduct including cheating
8. Engaging in off campus (including online) misconduct that interferes with or can reasonably be expected to substantially disrupt the education process in the school or at a school functions work

Definitions of the 11 Protected Classes under the Dignity for All Students Act:

Race – seven categories: (1) Hispanic/Latino; (2) American Indian or Alaskan Native; (3) Asian; (4) Black or African American; (5) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; (6) White; or (7) Two or more races.

Color – the color of a person’s skin

Weight – the physical size of a person

National Origin – where you or your relatives were born

Ethnic Group – being a part of a group of people who are connected by a shared language, culture and/or common religion

Religion – religious or spiritual beliefs

Religious Practices – the expression of your religious or spiritual beliefs

Disability – a person’s body or mind that does not look or work the same as others

Sexual Orientation – identifying as gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, questioning or transgender

Gender Identity – how a person feels about being a male or female, not necessarily how they look

Sex – the physical differences between men and women

Section 3: Student Dress Code 

A student’s dress, grooming and appearance, including hair style/color, jewelry, make-up, and nails, must include but is not limited to:

1. be unlikely to injure people or damage property, appropriate according to this code, and not substantially disrupt or materially interfere with the educational process.
2. Recognize that extremely brief garments and see-through garments are not appropriate.
3. Ensure that underwear/undergarments are covered by outer clothing (visible waistbands and straps are not violations).  
4. include footwear at all times.  Footwear that is a safety hazard will not be allowed.
5. not include items that are vulgar, obscene, libelous, denigrate, harass or discriminate against others on account of race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles like braids, locks, and twists), color, weight, religion, religious practice, creed, national origin, ethnic group, gender (including gender identity and expression), sex, sexual orientation or disability. 
6. not include jewelry or accessories with sharp edges or points or that are otherwise dangerous to the wearer or others. 
7. Not promote and/or endorse the use of alcohol, tobacco or controlled substance or illegal drugs and/or encourage other illegal or violent activities.

Nothing in this policy will be construed to limit the ability of students to express their gender identity through clothing, jewelry, makeup, or nail color or styles, or to discipline students for doing so.  Likewise, nothing in this policy will be construed to restrict students from wearing hairstyles as a trait historically associated with race (such as hair texture and protected hairstyles like braids, locks, and twists) or to discipline them for doing so.

Section 4: Disciplinary Procedures and Penalties 

Students who are found to have violated the district’s code of conduct may be subject to the following penalties, either alone or in combination with one another:

1. verbal warning 
2. written warning 
3. written notification/phone call to parent 
4. after school detention
5. suspension from transportation 
6. suspension from athletic participation 
7. suspension from social or extracurricular activities  
8. suspension of other privileges, including parking on school property
9. removal from classroom by teacher
10. assignment to P.A.S.S (Positive Alternative to School Suspension)
11. short-term (five days or less) suspension from school
12. long-term (more than five days) suspension from school
13. Assignment to PM School
14. permanent suspension from school

Teacher Removal of Disruptive Student  

A disruptive student is a student who is substantially disruptive of the educational process or substantially interferes with the teacher’s authority over the classroom.  A disruptive student can affect a teacher’s ability to teach and can make it difficult for other students in the classroom to learn. Occasionally, it may be necessary for a teacher to remove a disruptive student from the classroom to ensure that the other students continue to learn.  Nothing in this section of the code of conduct abridges the customary right or responsibility of a principal to suspend a student.  Further, nothing in this code abridges the customary right and responsibility of a teacher to manage student behavior in the classroom.  A classroom teacher may remove a student from class for up to three days if the teacher determines that the student is disruptive.  The removal from class applies to the class of the removing teacher only. The principal or the principal’s designee may overturn the removal of the student from class if the principal finds any one of the following: 

• 1. The student’s removal is otherwise in violation of law.  
  2. The charges against the student are not supported by substantial evidence. 
  3. The conduct warrants suspension from school pursuant to Education Law section §3214 and a   suspension will be imposed.

P.A.S.S. – Positive Alternative to School Suspension

Students placed on P.A.S.S. will report directly at 7:30 am and remain there for the entire day.  All of the student’s teachers will be notified to send appropriate and sufficient school work and assignments to occupy the student during the suspension day(s).  Regulation for behavior in this area will be posted and must be strictly obeyed.  Students unable to behave while serving P.A.S.S. could be suspended out of school. 

PM School

Students may be placed in the PM School for the following reasons: 

1)      The student has violated the Code of Conduct and has been suspended for longer than 5 days through the Superintendent of Schools via a hearing or approval of waiver of hearing. 

2)      A student has been a habitual offender of the Code of Conduct.  The student is disruptive to the overall educational process during the day schedule.  

3)      A student is of compulsory age and in danger of dropping out of school.  The student, the student’s parents, administration, and counseling staff have met to discuss all potential educational alternatives.  The PM school contract will identify areas of concerns with regard to attendance, academic performance, and or behavior.  The student will have the opportunity to improve on the identified areas of weakness through the PM School Program with the intent of transitioning students back to the regular educational setting. 

4)    At the discretion of the Principal, a student who is experiencing health, mental health or other extenuating circumstances may be placed in the PM School Program without a contract.

PM School assignments will be coordinated by the teaching assistant in charge of the program. Instructional time commences at 2:30 PM and ends at 5:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. 

Suspension from School 

Suspension from school is a severe penalty, which may be imposed only upon students who are insubordinate, disorderly, violent or disruptive, or whose conduct otherwise endangers or threatens to endanger the safety, morals, health or welfare of others.  The Board of Education retains its authority to suspend students, but places primary responsibility for the suspension of students with the superintendent and the building principals. 

There are three types of suspension from school: short term (five days or less), long term (more than five days), and permanent suspension.  The procedures governing each type of suspension are detailed in the district code of conduct. 

Student work will be collected for each suspended student to be picked up after school by a parent or guardian.  Students of compulsory age (school year in which you turn 16 and under) may participate in an after school Alternative Education Program from 2:45 pm to 4:45 pm.  It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to provide transportation to and from the program.  Students should not arrive earlier than 2:40 pm, and will report directly to the high school main office to sign in and wait for the teacher.  Students will then need to be picked up promptly at 4:45 pm at the end of the program and leave school property.

Minimum Periods of Suspension 

1. 1. Students who bring a firearm to school:  In accordance with the Gun-Free School Act of 1994 (20 U. S. C. 8001 et seq.), the punishment shall be a suspension from attendance upon instruction for a period of not less than one year, unless the superintendent shall determine to modify such punishment. The superintendent’s determination shall be on a case-by-case basis.  The term firearm shall mean any weapon, including a starter gun or paintball gun, which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; the frame or receiver of such weapon; any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or any destructive device. The term destructive device means any explosive or incendiary, or poison gas, gas bomb, bomb, grenade, rocket, firecracker, ash can or cherry bomb, having propellant charge of more than four ounces, missile having an explosive charge of more than one-quarter ounce, mine or any device similar to any of those devices already described in this paragraph. 

   2. Students who commit violent acts other than bringing weapons to school: Any student who is found to have committed a violent act, other than bringing a weapon onto school property, shall be subject to suspension from school for at least five days.
   3. Students who are repeatedly substantially disruptive of the educational process or repeatedly substantially interfere with the teacher’s authority over the classroom: Any student who engages in conduct which results in the student’s being removed from the classroom by a teacher on four or more occasions during a semester will be subject to suspension from school for at least five days. 

Section 5: Discipline of Students with Disabilities 

If the conduct of a student is related to a disability or suspected disability, the student shall be referred to the Committee on Special Education, and discipline, if warranted, shall be administered consistent with the separate requirements of the district code of conduct for disciplining students with a disability.  A student identified as having a disability shall not be disciplined for behavior related to his/her disability, except as provided for under the Individuals with Disabilities Act.  Greater detail regarding discipline of students with disabilities is provided in the district code of conduct.

Section 6: Attendance 

An important relationship exists between attendance at school and achievement, learning and responsibility.  In an effort to foster an atmosphere in which regular daily attendance is the norm, the following policy has been endorsed by the Board of Education.

Attendance Requirement 

Queensbury High School students must be in attendance a minimum of 90% of the time.   A student whose class attendance falls below 90% may be subject to loss of credit. Because the primary mission of school is to educate children, teachers will make themselves available to respond to questions from students about work missed during a student’s absence, regardless of the reason for the absence. However, students whose absences are unexcused will not be afforded the opportunity to submit missed work for credit.  Students whose absences are considered excused must be afforded the opportunity to make up the work missed for credit. (Note:  While family vacations are considered unexcused absences, work applied for in advance and tests missed may be made up for credit.  The absences will count in the total even though the work has been made up.) 

The classroom teacher may give consideration to the reason for the excused absence when determining the nature of the make-up work. (For example, for students who miss class because of a field trip, a teacher should assess whether the field trip itself can serve as a substitute for the classroom instruction otherwise missed on that day. Another type of excused absence would require the student to make up work missed after school or in a study hall. Students with a long-term or short-term illness or covered by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and/or Individuals with Disabilities Education Act must be afforded opportunities to either keep up with the work at home or make up the work after returning from the illness). 

Tardiness 

Lateness to class will be handled as a discipline issue by the teacher.  Valid passes excusing tardiness to class will be honored, with the exception of attendance office passes for unexcused late arrival to school.  Any unexcused late arrivals beyond three in a quarter will be assigned a discipline session. A student whose late arrival to school is considered excused (see excused absences) must present a note from a parent/guardian to the attendance office within five school days of the late arrival in order to be eligible to make up the work missed and to avoid disciplinary action. Any student participating in activities scheduled for afternoon or evening hours, such as athletic, music, dramatic, or social events, must be in school by the end of 1st period on the day of the activity.  Special problems should be discussed with the principal or assistant principal prior to the event. 

Time Limit for Making up Legal Absence Students will have five (5) school days to either make up work missed during a legal absence OR to arrange with the teacher a schedule for making up or work. 

Procedure for Denying Credit 

The electronic student management database will alert the appropriate school officials when students reach various attendance warning levels.  Letters will be mailed to parents reiterating the importance of attendance and listing the specific number of absences for the particular course that is in question.  Copies of these letters will be provided to the student’s teacher and guidance counselor. The parent will be notified by regular mail at these same intervals, with the opportunity for a conference being offered at any point in the process.  A student who has reached the absence limit in a course may lose credit for the course and will receive a notation of NE (not eligible for credit due to excessive absenteeism) on his or her report card, as well as a letter indicating loss of credit.  Students under the age of 16, after reaching the status of not eligible for credit, may petition the principal for reinstatement of eligibility for credit. Reinstatement will be determined by the principal, teacher, and guidance counselor after a meeting with the student and his or her adult representative.  If the petition is successful, the teacher and guidance counselor will draw up a contract specifying attendance expectations and a timetable for makeup work.  Students who remain in the class to meet the summer school prerequisite, to maintain 5.5 credits per semester, or because they are required to by the compulsory attendance law, will be governed by the same expectations for appropriate behavior as any other student in the class. Therefore, disorderly and insubordinate behavior will be cause for suspension from the class in compliance with procedures set forth in Education Law §3214(3).

1. 1. Excused absences are personal illness, illness or death in the family, impassable roads due to inclement weather, religious observance, quarantine, required court appearances, attendance at health clinics, approved college visits, approved cooperative work programs, military obligations, school related trips or such other reasons that may be approved by the Commissioner of Education and/or the high school principal.  Suspensions from school may not be counted as absences unless the student is offered alternative instruction and fails to attend such instruction. Other school inspired absences, such as support group attendance, sectionals, mediations, athletic events, etc. will also be considered excused.
   2. For the purpose of recording on transcripts and school record, the following procedure will be used for course withdrawals due to absenteeism:  A one-semester course dropped before the end of the first quarter will be deleted from the record.  A withdrawal after the first ten weeks will be reported as W/NE for withdrew/not eligible for credit due to absenteeism.  A full-year course dropped before the end of the first twenty weeks will be deleted from the record.  After the first twenty weeks, a withdrawal from a full-year course will be reported a W/NE.

Section 7:  Transportation Bus

Transportation to and from school and school sponsored trips, including field trips and athletic contests, is a privilege and not a right.  Safety is the primary concern in transporting students to and from school. All guidelines that are established are to ensure that safety and control by the driver are maintained throughout the trip. Students are to conduct themselves in a manner so that all bus rides will be a positive experience for everyone.  They are expected to treat bus drivers and all other school district employees with respect.

Student Operated Motor Vehicles – Parking Guidelines:

1. 1. For eligibility, please refer to the QHS Student Parking Policy.  Under no circumstances are 9th or 10th grade students permitted to drive to school.

   2. All operators of motor vehicles operating on school property must be properly licensed and the vehicles must be properly registered and insured.

   3. Students must park in spaces provided for student parking ONLY.  The Gold Lot (front) and the Blue Lot (back) have been designated for Student Parking. No parking in visitor, handicapped, or staff parking spaces.

   4. The speed limit on campus is 5 MPH.  Prudent judgment is required because of pedestrian traffic.

   5. Students who violate the 5MPH speed limit or who otherwise drive in a reckless manner will have their parking permits temporarily or permanently revoked at the discretion of the administration.

   6. The student assumes all responsibility for loss and damage to his/her vehicle, its equipment, and its contents.  Cars must be locked in the morning and must not be entered or moved during the day without administrator permission

   7. Students who park illegally or do not have parking permits properly displayed on their vehicles shall receive a written warning for the first such infraction.  Subsequent infractions may result in the loss of parking privileges, possible disciplinary action, and/ or towing of the vehicle at the student’s expense.

   8. Any student who uses a vehicle to transport another student illegally from school grounds will lose the privilege of parking on school grounds.

   9. Any student who is involved in the possession, distribution, or sale of any type of alcohol, drug, or drug paraphernalia will lose the privilege of parking on school grounds. Any vehicle parked on school property may be subject to search by the high school administration.

   10. With a parking permit comes the responsibility of being on time to school.  Students who are late to school excessively will have their parking permits revoked.

   11. Student parking permits are issued for the registered driver’s use only. If parking permits are found on any unregistered vehicle or vehicles of another driver, that student and any others involved will lose their privileges.

   12. Parking permit stickers must be placed inside the front windshield, driver’s  side, above the registration sticker.

Permission for a student’s driving to school and parking on the school grounds is a privilege. All rules of safety on school grounds (speed, recklessness, etc.) are to be followed. The general rule is safety for everyone.  It is imperative that all drivers abide by these rules.  

All students who attend BOCES are required to use school transportation, unless authorized to do otherwise by the QHS administration, with permission from a parent/guardian, and the BOCES principal.

Section 8: Senior Privileges 

Queensbury High School is a closed campus with the exception of late arrival OR early dismissal with signed parent permission for seniors.  Closed campus means that students are not to leave the building once they have arrived unless they are signed out by the school nurse or administrator based on receiving permission from a parent/guardian. Eligible seniors may have the opportunity to sign out of the building for early dismissal.

There are two components to senior privileges: 

1. Early dismissal 

OR

1. Late arrival

Any student who meets the eligibility criteria listed below may participate in any or all of the above privileges.  Early dismissal is only granted to those students that have study hall as their final class of the day.  Students may not leave the building during their lunches or study halls in the middle of the day. 

Requests to drop a class or rearrange your schedule in order to obtain early dismissal/late arrival will not be considered.

Eligibility Criteria 

1. A member of the senior class as defined by homeroom placement.  
2. Completed application signed by student and parents on file in the main office. 
3. Academically eligible (see below)  
4. Citizenship eligibility (see below)

Loss of senior privileges 

1. Academic ineligibility:  Any student failing one class or more will have their senior privileges suspended.  In order to remain in good standing and be reinstated with senior privileges, a release form must be completed by the teacher of each class that you are failing.  If no forms are submitted, senior privileges will be suspended and grades will be checked at the next marking period. 
2. Citizenship ineligibility:  Students must observe all school rules and policies. Improper behavior reported to the office by a discipline referral may result in suspension of senior privileges.  Leaving campus during the student’s regular school day may result in immediate suspension of senior privileges. 

III. Attendance sign out 

1. 1. Seniors must sign in/out with the Attendance Clerk in the Attendance Office for late arrival/early dismissal.  
   2. Every student must sign his/her own name. 
   3. If a student chooses not to use a privilege, the student must report to the Assistant Principal’s Office.  Regular school policy will then apply.  Passes for the library and computer room must be obtained from the office or may be in the form of a pre-signed pass from a classroom teacher.

Section 9: District Computer Use and E-mail Guidelines 

Use of district computers and the school’s computer network is made available to students to further the educational mission of the school. In order to be granted these access privileges and to retain them, students must abide by the policies and guidelines described in this document.  As a user of the Queensbury High School local area network, students agree NOT to:

1. attempt to access, or transmit, non-educational or objectionable material on the internet. 
2. attempt, without authorization, to modify computer hardware or system software.  This includes changing any of the settings for software, computer terminals, or the network.
3. obtain unauthorized access to and use of an account, the network facilities, or use of such equipment for purposes other than those which were permitted to the user. 
4. attempt, without authorization, to access any other servers located on the wide area network other than the Queensbury High School server. 
5. violate the property rights or copyrights of programs stored on the network. 
6. intentionally or neglectfully destroy or damage other users’ data or programs. 
7. read and use private files/data on a computer station without proper authorization.
8. attempt to install software on a computer workstation or anywhere on the network.
9. bring food and/or drinks into the computer lab.
10. use the school’s computers for copying software.

The school’s computers are made available to students in order to further the educational mission of the school.  Students are given access to the resources necessary to complete their class work and perform research.  Restrictions are placed on access to some programs and computer resources in order to maintain network security, prevent wasted time, and ensure that the equipment is available and functional for all students. Unnecessary access to some applications has been restricted by a blocking program. Unauthorized use of equipment, attempting to access intentionally blocked software, or making unauthorized modifications to equipment/software will result in disciplinary action and/or the loss of computer privileges.  All portions of the school’s computer policy must be followed. When there is any indication of unauthorized use and abuse of the network, or any terminal on the network, the district will be authorized to investigate. Unethical or irresponsible use of the system will result in disciplinary action, loss of computer privileges, or both.  Systems users have a responsibility to maintain the integrity of the system and to use it in an authorized and appropriate manner.  Students are not allowed to access e-mail accounts through the school computers. 

You should expect no privacy in the contents of your personal files on the district system.  All information stored on any computer within the district is the property of the district. Information stored on the system may be accessed during routine maintenance, system monitoring, and the investigation of system abuse.

Section 10: Extra Curricular Events and Activities

QHS extra curricular events and activities are considered a privilege extended to those students who are in good standing with regard to academics, behavior, and school attendance. All events and activities are under the jurisdiction of the QHS Code of Conduct and any student in violation of the Code of Conduct at an extra curricular event or activity is subject to disciplinary action. QHS reserves the right to utilize breath alcohol detection devices for the purpose of keeping students safe and enforcing the QHS Code of Conduct.

Section 11: QHS Academic Honesty Policy

Queensbury Philosophy of Academic Honesty

Students at Queensbury High School are expected to maintain the highest degree of academic integrity, which means putting the utmost effort into all classwork and assignments and avoiding the pitfalls of plagiarism and cheating. Dishonesty interferes with the assessment and feedback process that is necessary to promote academic growth and build moral character. 

(Queensbury Academic Ethics Document)

The following policies will be followed consistently by all teachers and students. The Academic Honesty Policy applies to any and all work submitted for any course at the high school. 

Definitions

Academic dishonesty is a kind of malpractice and a threat to the academic and moral growth of students. The following would all be considered violations of the Academic Honesty Policy: 

Plagiarism: The representation of the ideas or work of another person as the student’s own

Collusion: Supporting malpractice by another student, as in allowing one’s work to be copied and submitted for assessment or class credit 

Duplication of work: The presentation of the same work submitted for multiple assignments, as in turning in a paper for one’s 10th grade English class that had already been submitted in 9th grade 

Any other behavior that gains an unfair advantage for the student or that affects the work of another student (for example, bringing unauthorized material into an exam, misconduct during an exam, copying answers from a neighboring student)

(Modified from IB: “Academic Honesty”) 

Examples of Plagiarism 

You have plagiarized if…

• You took someone else’s assignment or portion of an assignment and submitted it as your own
• You submitted material written by someone else or rephrased the ideas of someone else without citing the source 
• You presented the work of a tutor, parent, sibling, or friend as your own
• You submitted purchased papers as your own 
• You submitted papers from the internet written by someone else as your own
• You supported plagiarism by providing your work to others, whether you believed it would be copied or not

*Note: the same rules apply for any oral assignments. All sources should be noted in any presentation, and a Works Cited page should be included in slideshows. 

Examples of Cheating 

Cheating includes but is not limited to:

• copying, faxing, emailing, texting, or in any way duplicating assignments that are turned in, wholly or in part, as original work
• exchanging assignments with other students, either handwritten or computer generated, whether you believe they will be copied or not
• using anything including but not limited to a person, tool, electronic device, teacher edition book, website, paper, etc. that gives a student an unfair advantage over those without such means, constitutes a violation of academic honesty. 
• using applications that translate written text from one language to another without express permission from the teacher
• using any form of memory aid during assessments without the expressed permission of the instructor
• using a computer or other means to translate an assignment from one language into another and submitting it as original work
• giving or receiving answers during assessments.  It is the student’s responsibility to secure his/her papers, so other students will not have the opportunity to copy
• taking credit for group work when a student has not contributed an equal or appropriate share toward the final  result
• accessing an assessment for the purpose of determining the questions in advance of its administration
• using summaries/commentaries (Cliff’s Notes, Spark Notes, Bookrags, etc.) in lieu of reading the assigned materials

(Queensbury Academic Ethics Document)

Alternatives to Plagiarism and Cheating

No student needs to cheat or plagiarize.  Queensbury High School provides numerous support services for students to help them achieve success honorably. The following behaviors promote true student achievement:

• Be prepared.  Try to keep a realistic schedule balancing academic obligations and your social and personal life.
• Make certain that you understand your assignments and the grading assessment that will be used.  If you have questions about an assignment or assessment, talk to your instructor.  Do not rely solely upon a classmate for clarification.
• If you study for an assessment with a classmate, make sure that you do not sit near each other during the assessment since your responses (and errors) may be similar.
• Do not read or scan someone else’s paper before writing your own.  Some of the ideas in the other person’s paper may be ideas that you would have used,but will now need to credit the person whose paper you read for those ideas.
• Use all avenues of support available to you.  For help needed beyond the classroom, see your instructor, other instructors in the department, a peer tutor, or a parent or other adult who is well versed in the subject.
• Assume all assignments are to be completed individually unless the instructor states otherwise.
• Be organized.  Having class notes in an orderly, easily accessible format will save time and anxiety when studying for an assessment or writing a paper.
• Keep current with assignments.  If you need to read an entire novel the evening before an assessment or before paper is due on that novel, your performance on either will suffer.
• If, for whatever reason you choose to use another’s ideas or solutions, cite that source on your paper or project.
• Know what constitutes cheating, including all the variations of plagiarism.

(Queensbury Academic Ethics Document)

Conventions for Citing and Original Authorship

Any research assignment submitted at Queensbury High School must have proper documentation and citation of sources.  Students will work in their 9th grade English classes to learn how to cite their sources properly and to understand the nuances of plagiarism. All written work will use MLA format, as referenced on our school website under the Library tab.  https://sites.google.com/a/queensburyschool.org/queensbury-high-school-library/home/documentation

Collaboration vs. Collusion

While many academic assessments are completed individually, Queensbury also recognize the importance of students working together to produce an intellectual product (collaboration).  As a result, it is important for students to understand the difference between collaboration and collusion.  Collusion is supporting malpractice by another student, as in allowing one’s works to be copied or submitted for assessment by another (“Academic Honesty”).  Collusion can also be described as giving a copy of one student’s work to another member of the group.  In addition, all group members are expected to contribute to the collaborative product in a way that is determined to be a balanced distribution of the work required for completion.

Consequences

Any student who is caught cheating or plagiarizing will be referred to administration for further action, and the incident will be documented in School Tool.  All parents and students involved will be notified.  The incident will be treated as a learning experience, followed by consequences, which will be determined on a case by case basis.  Consequences may include but are not limited to the following:

• A grade of zero for the academic work involved
• A required resubmission of work that is completely new to the assignment
• A reduced grade for work that is resubmitted
• Administrative action – please refer to the student code of conduct
• Detention
• Disqualification for admission to Honor Society
• Removal from Honor Society
• Parent conference

A note to parents and guardians: 

The moral development of a child is an essential component of his or her education. Your child’s time at Queensbury High School should provide academic challenges and enrichment but also a clear pathway to developing strong moral character. We encourage you to make academic integrity a part of your conversations at home so that we can foster a partnership in helping our students make informed choices and good decisions regarding their work at school. Thank you!

QHS Block Schedule Template

1: 7:30 – 9:01 a.m. (Last 10 minutes is HR)

2: 9:07 – 10:28 a.m.

3: 10:34 a.m. – 12:32 p.m. (Includes Lunch)

4: 12:38 – 2 p.m.

Activity period: 2 – 2:40 p.m. 

National Honor Society

Membership 

Membership in this chapter shall be based on Scholarship, Service, Leadership and Character. 

Active members, who transfer to Queensbury High School from another institution, must show proof of being a member in good standing from their previous institution in order to enter into our organization.

Selection of Members 

To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must be a junior or senior who has been in attendance for a period of one full semester at Queensbury High School prior to selection process. 

Candidates eligible for selection must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 89.5000 as of the end of the last grading period prior to the selection process.  The candidate’s eligibility shall then be considered on the basis of his/her service, leadership, and character. The final selection of members to this chapter shall be by a consensus of the Faculty Counsel consisting of five faculty members. The selection of active members shall take place as follows:

• Seniors will be inducted at a ceremony in the fall of the current school year.
• Juniors will be inducted at a ceremony in the spring.