New Horizons Learning Center - Porter Township School Corporation

How To Be Successful At New Horizons Learning Center Attend School on a Regular Basiso You won’t complete lessons if you are not hereEffective Time Managemento Your session is only 3 hours, focus and work hardCommunicationo When you are having trouble, ask for helpTake Ownershipo Your effort and behavior are up to you. YOU are in control of what youchoose to doMake Progress Each Dayo Use your pacing guides to monitor your progress in class and stay on track toachieve your goalsCheating / Plagiarism Students caught cheating at New Horizons Learning Center will face severeconsequenceso Loss of opportunity to gain credit in that courseo Student may have to restart the entire courseo Student may be removed from New Horizons Learning CenterCheating involves includes but is not limited to the followingo Using another students work or noteso Accessing internet sites that contain posted answers to quizzes and testso Completing other students work for themHow to avoid cheatingo ALWAYS do your own worko Use appropriate resources to help youo Ask for help!o Take good notes and use themCell Phone/Electronic Devices Electronic devices may be used if directed by the teacher during school hours.Students may not use cell phones to place or receive calls or communicate in anymanner, such as by texting, instant messaging, Facebook, Snapchat, or any otherforms of social media. Nor are students permitted to take photographs or videos ofthemselves, other students, or school personnel.If you need to make an emergency call, the teacher may allow you to use a schoolphone.We strongly recommend that students do not bring any personal electronic devicesto school.New HorizonsStudent Handbook9

New Horizons Learning Center assumes no responsibility for these items if stolen ordamaged while on campus or when confiscated.Student ConductThe primary purpose of New Horizons Learning Center is to provide students a safe andstable environment that is conducive to learning and student success. Students will beexpected to behave in a manner which supports our primary purpose and formcharacteristics that will help lead to future student success. Student behavior and effort isa CHOICE! Students are in complete control of what they say, and how the act. CHOOSE todo the right things!!In order to provide all students with the opportunity for success, students not CHOOSINGto follow rules, or causing a substantial disruption to the school environment, schoolpersonnel may use, but are not limited to any of the following corrective actions: Positive ReinforcementVerbal Reprimand / CounselingParent ContactParent ConferenceLoss of PrivilegesRemoving From or Restricting Extracurricular EventsExclusion From Regular Routines and ActivitiesRevoking Driving PrivilegesCommunity ServiceReferring Student to Law Enforcement Personnel in Cases Related to Violations ofthe LawIn-school suspension / Additional ProjectsOut of School SuspensionExpulsionRemoval from New Horizons Learning CenterCorrective actions will be progressive. The corrective action chosen will be based on theseverity of the offense, overall student attitude and cooperation, and the student disciplinehistory at New Horizons Learning Center.Dress Code New Horizons Learning Center believes that supervision of student dress is aparental obligation. Students are expected to dress appropriately for their age andthe school environment.The following are prohibited:o Any apparel which poses a safety hazard and/or riskNew HorizonsStudent Handbook10

o Pants with excessive holeso Sunglasses, hats, bandannas in any form, or head coverings.o Coats, overcoats, and outerwear jackets during school hours. Sweatshirtsand/or sweaters, with or without hoods, are allowed.o Undergarments should not be visible, even when sitting, standing, bending,or stretchingo Apparel or items which § Could cause injury or damage to school furniture, property, or be usedto cause harm to another person (e.g. chains, key chains, dog collars orchokers, ball bearings or safety pins in any form.§ Are revealing, low-cut, see-through, excessively tight– front back,midriff, and sides must be covered at all times. Shorts and skirts mustbe at least fingertip length.§ Contain comments or illustrations, logos, pictures that are profane,vulgar, allude to illegal products or activities that are illegal for use byminors, or which are offensive.§ Are beachwear, sleep or lounge wear, gym wear outside of gym class,tank tops, tube tops, spaghetti straps.§ Are house slippers or spiked shoes, any type.If a student sustains any type of injury or accident as a result of disregarding thisrule, the school is not liable/responsible.Parents may be required to bring a change of clothes for students not abiding by thedress code.Student Misconduct or Substantial DisobedienceGrounds for suspension or expulsion apply when the student is: On school grounds immediately before or during school hours or immediately afterschool hours or at any other time when the school is being used by a school group. Off school grounds at a school activity function or event. Traveling to or from school or school activity function or event.Grounds for suspension or expulsion are student misconduct or substantial disobedience.Examples of student misconduct or substantial disobedience for which a student may besuspended or expelled include, but are not limited to: Using violence, force, noise, coercion, threat, intimidation, fear, passive resistance orother conduct constituting an interference with school purposes or urging otherstudents to engage in such conduct. The following enumeration is only illustrativeand not limited to the type of conduct prohibited by this rule:o Occupying any school building, school grounds, or part thereof with intent todeprive others of its use.New HorizonsStudent Handbook11

o Blocking the entrance or exits of any school building or corridor or roomtherein with intent to deprive others of lawful access to or from, or use of thebuilding, corridor or room.o Setting fire to or damaging any school building or property.o Prevention of or attempting to prevent by physical act the convening orcontinued functioning of any school or education function, or of any meetingor assembly on school property.o Intentionally making noise or acting in any manner so as to interfere with theability of any teacher or any other person to conduct or participate in aneducation function Causing or attempting to cause damage to school property, stealing or attempting tosteal school property. Causing or attempting to cause physical injury or behaving in such a way as couldreasonably cause physical injury to any person. Self-defense or reasonable actionundertaken on the reasonable belief that it was necessary to protect some otherperson does not constitute a violation of this rule. Threatening or intimidating any person for any purpose, including obtaining moneyor anything of value from the student. Failing to report the actions or plans of another person to a teacher or administratorwhere those actions or plans, if carried out, could result in harm to another personor persons or damage property when the student has information about suchactions or plans. Possession, handling or transmitting a knife or any object that can reasonably beconsidered a weapon, is represented to be a weapon, or looks like a weapon. Possessing, using, transmitting any type of tobacco product including but not limitedto, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes, hookah pens, and vaporizer pens. Possessing, using, transmitting or being affected by any controlled substance,prescription drug, narcotic drug, hallucinogenic drug, amphetamine, barbiturate,marijuana, alcoholic beverage, intoxicant or depressant of any kind, or anyparaphernalia used in connection with the listed substances. Also prohibited is theconsumption of any of the stated substances immediately before attending school ora school function or event.o Exception: a student with a chronic disease or medical condition maypossess and self-administer prescribed medication for the disease orcondition provided they meet the requirements stated in the HealthServices section at the end of this handbook. Possession, using or transmitting any substance which is represented to be or lookslike a narcotic drug, hallucinogenic drug, amphetamine, barbiturate, marijuana,alcoholic beverage, stimulant, depressant or intoxicant of any kind. Possessing, using transmitting or being affected by caffeine-based substances,substances containing phenylpropanolamine (PPA), or stimulants of any kind, bethey available with or without a prescription. Engaging in the selling of a controlled substance or engaging in a criminal lawviolation that constitutes a danger to other persons or constitutes an interferencewith school purpose or an educational function.New Horizons12Student Handbook

Failing in a number of instances to comply with directions of teachers or otherschool personnel during any period of time when the student is properly under theirsupervision, where the failure constitutes an interference with school purposes oran educational function.Falsely accusing any person of sexual harassment, or of violating a school ruleand/or a state or federal law.Engaging in any activity forbidden by the laws of the State of Indiana or the UnitedStates that constitutes an interference with school purposes or an educationalfunction.Aiding, assisting or conspiring with another person to violate these student conductrules or state or federal laws.Violating any rules that are reasonably necessary in carrying out school purposes oran educational function, including but not limited to:o Engaging in sexual behavior on school propertyo Disobedience of administration authorityo Willful absence or tardiness of studentso Engaging in speech or conduct, including clothing, jewelry or hairstyle,which is profane, indecent, lewd, vulgar, or offensive to school purposeso Failing to tell the truth about any matter under investigation by schoolpersonnelo Possession of or using a laser pointer or similar device.Using during school hours or on the bus ride an electronic paging device or a cellphone.Sending, sharing, viewing or possessing pictures, text messages, emails or othermaterial of a sexual nature in electronic or other form, including the contents of acell phone or other electronic device is grounds for suspension or expulsion.NOTE THAT THE INDIANA CHILD ABUSE / NELGECT LAW REQUIRES SCHOOLPERSONNEL TO REPORT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICESWHENEVER THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT ANY STUDENT IS INVOLVED WITHCHILD EXPLOITATION OR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AS SUCH CONDUCT IS DEFINED IN THEINDIANA CRIMINAL STATUTES. CRIMINAL/ JUVENILE PENALTIES FOR CONVICTION OFSUCH CONDUCT INCLUDE PRISON SENTENCE AND/OR REGISTRATION AS SEXOFFENDER. BECAUSE STUDENT CELL PHONES CONTAININGEVIDENCE OF SEXUAL CONDUCTAND OTHER INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL HAVE BEENFOUND IN A NUMBER OF INDIANA SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTSAND PARENTS TO BE AWARE OF THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES SHOULD THIS OCCUR INOUR SCHOOL CORPORATION. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS TO THE NATURE OF THEMATERIAL OR CONTENT REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ISAVAILABLE IN THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE UPON REQUEST.New HorizonsStudent Handbook13

Possessing a Firearm or Destructive Device No Student will possess, handle or transmit any firearm or a destructive device onschool property.The following devices are considered to be a firearm under this rule:o Any weapon which will or is designed to or may readily be converted toexpel a projectile by the action of an explosiveo The frame or receiver of any weapon described aboveo An antique firearmo A rifle or shotgun that the owner intends to use solely for sporting,recreational or cultural purposesFor purposes of this rule a destructive device is:o An explosive, incendiary or overpressure device that is configured as abomb, a grenade, a rocket with a propellant charge of more than fourounces, a missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more thanone-quarter ounce, a mine, a Molotov cocktail or a device that issubstantially similar to an item described aboveo A type of weapon that may be readily converted to expel a projectile bythe action of an explosive or other propellant through a barrel that has abore diameter of more than one-half inch, oro A combination of parts designed or intended for use in the conversion ofa device into a destructive device. A destructive device is NOT a devicethat although originally designed for use as a weapon, is redesigned foruse as a signaling, pyrotechnic, line throwing, safety or similar device.The penalty for possession of a firearm or a destructive device:o Request for expulsion from school for at least one calendar year with thereturn of the student to be at the beginning of the first semester after theone-year period. The superintendent may reduce the length of theexpulsion if the circumstances warrant such reduction.o The superintendent will immediately notify the appropriate lawenforcement agency when a student is expelled under this rule.Possessing a Deadly Weapon No student will possess, handle or transmit any deadly weapon on school property.The following devices are considered to be deadly weapons as defined in I.C.35-411-8:o Weapon, Taser, or electronic stun weapon, chemical substance or othermaterial that in the manner it is used, or could ordinarily be used, or isintended to be used, is readily capable of causing serious bodily injury.o An animal readily capable of causing serious bodily injury and used in thecommission or attempted commission of a crime. The penalty for possession of a deadly weapon: request for expulsion from schoolfor a period of up to one calendar year.New Horizons14Student Handbook

The superintendent will immediately notify the appropriate law enforcementagency when a student is expelled under this rule.Unlawful ActivityA student may be suspended or expelled for engaging in unlawful activity on or off schoolgrounds if the unlawful activity may reasonably be considered to be an interference withschool purposes or an educational function, if the student’s removal is necessary to restoreorder or protect persons on school property. This includes any unlawful activity meetingthe above criteria that takes place during weekends, holidays, other school breaks, and thesummer period when a student may not be attending classes or other school functions.Search and SeizureThe search of a student’s person or property shall be based on a reasonable suspicion thatthe student has in his/her possession any item of an illicit, inappropriate or illegal nature,stolen property, or other such possession as to cause disruption of the educational process,or which may endanger students or school personnel. Reasonable suspicion may be basedupon, but not limited to, student tips, faculty referrals, parent phone calls, or suspiciousbehavior on the part of the student. Any information received will be examined as to itsvalidity and credibility prior to any action being taken. Building administrators andsecurity personnel shall have the authority to examine or cause to be examined, a student’sperson or property.The search may include, but is not limited to: The pockets of the students (i.e. clothing, jackets, backpack, etc.). Student Lockers/Desks. All lockers/desks provided for student use remain theproperty of the school corporation. Students have no expectation of privacy inlockers/desks or their contents.Searches of the person of a student as provided above shall be conducted by anadministrator or designee, in a private room by a person of the same sex as the studentbeing searched. A witness shall be present during the search. Depending upon what isfound, a determination shall be made whether or not to involve the police authority havingjurisdiction over the area.Anything found in the course of a search, which is evidence of a violation of the studentconduct standards, may be: Seized and admitted as evidence in any suspension or expulsion proceeding. Returned to the parent or guardian of the student at the end of the school year. Destroyed if it has no significant value or. Turned over to the Porter County Sheriff’s Department or other authorized lawenforcement agency.New HorizonsStudent Handbook15

The parent or guardian of any student searched shall be notified as soon as is reasonablypossible. A student who refuses to have his/her person or property searched shall besubject to suspension and/or expulsionGang Activity Policy Definition:o A “gang” is defined as any group of students who are perceived as a distinctgroup (not an approved school organization), which prompts a disruptiveresponse in the school community.Prohibiting Gang Activities: The Porter Township School Board of Trustees findsthat the presence of gangs and gang activities can cause a substantial disruption ofor material interference with school and school activities. By this policy, the PorterTownship School Board of Trustees acts to prevent disruption and to prohibit gangactivities by restricting the actions, which foster such activities.Therefore, no student on or about school property or at any school activity:o Shall wear, possess, use, distribute, display or sell any clothing, jewelry orother trappings, identified and associated with gang membership oraffiliation;o Shall use hand signals, graffiti gestures or other written communicationsshowing membership or affiliation in a gang;o Shall use or have in their possession any cellular communication devices,pocket pagers, or similar electronic paging devices;o Shall use any speech or commit any act in furtherance of gang interests oractivities including but not limited to:§ Soliciting others for membership in any gang.§ Threatening or intimidating others.§ Inciting others to commit physical violence.Students who violate the provisions of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action,which could include suspension or expulsion f

New Horizons Learning Center Ben Parrish, Program Coordinator 260 South 500 West 219-477-4933 Ext. 1000 Valparaiso, IN 46385 ben.parrish@ptsc.k12.in.us Tel: 219-477-4933 Ext. 2610 Fax: 219-477-4834 Brittany McKamey, Teacher Krystal Kuehl, Teacher Katie Hampton, Teacher 219-477-4933 Ext. 2610 219-477-4933 Ext. 2610 219-477-4933 Ext. 2610 .