• Any time on the school grounds at Palo Verde.
• Any time on another school's grounds.
• At a school activity.
• On the way to or from school or a school activity.
• On the school bus or at a school bus stop.

Expulsion Offenses

Expulsion shall mean the termination of enrollment as the result of behavior so serious that future attendance in the regular schools of the district is not contemplated.

Commit These Crimes and You Will Be Subject to Permanent Expulsion-

Arson- The willful burning of any part of the school building or property therein.

Battery - Physical abuse on a school employee and/or any person.

Controlled Substances- Selling of all drugs or any substance represented to be a drug.

Immoral Conduct - Conduct as pertains to sexual behavior.

Weapons- Possession, use, transmittal, or concealment of ANY operable or inoperable weapon.

Be an Habitual Discipline Problem and You will be Subject to Expulsion for a Minimum of One Semester

If in one year you have-

A. threatened or extorted or attempted to threaten or extort another student or teacher or other personnel employed by the school;
B. been suspended for initiating at least two fights on school property;
C. a record of five (5) suspensions from school for any reason.

Weapons

You may not have weapons on the way to and from school; at or on the way to or from a school activity, function, or event, or at school.

If you are found in possession of a weapon, you will immediately be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency and suspended from school until a thorough investigation is made of the circumstances. Expulsion will be recommended for possession, use, transmittal, or concealment of any weapon.

Weapons are defined as firearms, knives, explosives, inflammable materials or any other items that may cause bodily injury or death. BB and pellet guns, pocket knives, and fireworks are weapons.

Simulated Weapons

You may not carry, use, possess, conceal or transmit a simulated weapon on school district property unless you have received written permission from the school principal, or the principal's designee, to carry or possess such a simulated weapon.

Simulated weapons include, but are not limited to, any "toy" or nonfunctional implement which bears a substantial visual resemblance to any item defined by the CCSD regulations as a weapon.

INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS

The following behaviors have consequences including dean's referral, Required Parent Conference, suspension, Opportunity School, CCSD Drug Treatment Program, and expulsion

1. Arson

2. Assault/Battery

3. Automobile misuse

4. Bus misbehavior

5. Campus disruption

6. Computer misconduct

7. Controlled substances- possession, use of and/or sale of

8. Defiance of school personnel (including but not limited to failure to identify oneself upon request; failure to report to the deans' office when directed to do so by any school personnel)

9. Disorderly conduct, profanity, and obscene behavior.

10. Distribution or possession of objectionable written or taped materials.

11. Dress code violation

12. Explosive devices, firecrackers, or poison gas

13. Extortion

14. Fighting (automatic suspension)

15. Forgery of any type (corridor passes, admission slips, absence notes, false information on school forms, etc.)

16. Gambling

17. Gang activity

18. Gross Insubordination

19. Habitual disregard of school rules

20. Harassment

21. Illegal conduct

22. Immoral conduct

23. Nuisance items such as balloons, skateboards, laser pointers, electronic games, portable communication device

24. Racially derogatory remarks

25. Robbery

26. Selling candy or items to other students if not as a school project

27. Spray propellants

28. Tardiness

29. Theft

30. Tobacco

31. Trespassing

32. Truancy

33. Unacceptable classroom or cafeteria behavior

34. Verbal abuse

35. Weapons

36. Vandalism

Portable Communication Devices, Tape Players, Radios, Video Recorders, Cameras

Nevada Revised Statutes prohibits the use of cell phones during instructional/passing times.
Tape players, radios, video recorders, and cameras are not permitted on campus.
School staff will confiscate these items; they may be returned to parents. Since these items should not be on campus, the school will not be held responsible if they are lost or stolen.

Vandalism

We cannot tolerate vandalism, destruction or defacement of property.
You will pay for the damage;
You can be arrested;
You can be referred to Opportunity School.

Hands Off

At Palo Verde, we maintain a "hands of" policy. You are required to keep your hands to yourself. This rule applies to horseplay as well as to overt displays of affection.

CONSEQUENCES FOR INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR
What will happen if I get a referral?

One or more of these consequences may be expected if you get a referral:
1. Your parents will be notified
2. You will conference with the counselor and/or dean.
3. You will be given in-house suspension.
4. You will be placed on RPC.
5. You will be suspended from school.
6. If criminal behavior is involved, you could be arrested.
7. You will be referred to Opportunity School.
8. You will be recommended for expulsion from school.
9. You will be referred to CCSD Drug Intervention Program.
10. You may have your parking permit revoked.
11. You will receive a bus citation and/or loss of bus riding privileges.
12. A nuisance item or portable communication device may be confiscated
13. Other consequences appropriate to the behavior, such as restitution or clean up for vandalism, may be considered.

Required Parent Conference (RPC)

A notice of Required Parent Conference (RPC) is to be used by deans, assistant principals, and principals when a student-parent conference is required. The school office is to schedule the conference as soon as possible to avoid any loss of school time. If a parent is non-responsive to this request or if the parent refuses to attend, a letter is sent from the deans' office stating that absences will be recorded after three days and that the student is still not able to return to school without a student-parent conference.

AB 521 Referrals

AB 521 is available if, in the judgment of the teacher, and after the teacher's progressive discipline plan has been followed and document, a student engages in behavior that seriously interferes with the ability of the teacher to teach and the ability of other students to learn. Consequences include assigning the student to another appropriate class, assigning the pupil to an alternative program of education if available, recommending suspension or expulsion, and/or any other appropriate disciplinary action against the pupil that the Placement Review Committee deems necessary.

Detention

This means you need to spend extra time with a teacher because you did not complete your work or you have behaved inappropriately. You will be given 24 hours notice so you can tell your parents that you need to be at school early or stay late.

How Not to Get Busted on the School Bus

1. On the bus you are under the immediate supervision of the bus driver and are thus subject to the rules set by the school board and the state.
2. Do not arrive at the bus stop earlier than five minutes prior to departure of the bus.
3. Stand back away from the street until the bus comes to a full stop.
4. Load quickly, quietly, and orderly.
5. Sit and remain seated while the bus is in motion.
6. Act the same as you should in a classroom.
7. Do not talk with the driver when the bus is in motion.
8. Keep all parts of body inside the bus.
9. Keep your arms and legs out of the aisles.
10. No eating, drinking, or smoking on the bus.
11. No profanity or name calling.
12. No loud conversation or other loud noises.
13. No singing, radio, or tape players unless approved by the driver.
14. Athletic footwear with cleats or spikes is not permitted on the buses.
15. At your stop, remain in your seat until the bus has fully stopped; then, go directly to the front exit door.

School Dress

Any type of dress or appearance which results in disruption of the normal school routine may be designated as unacceptable by the school administration. The following guidelines are in accordance with the Clark County School District Regulation #5131. Any changes made by the CCSD Board of Trustees will supersede the rules listed below-
1. All shoes must have soles. Footwear which does not offer sanitary or safety protection is prohibited.
2. Wearing crop tops (no skin showing between bottom of shirt/blouse and top of pants or skirts), strapless, low cut clothing, clothing with slits, or top and outfits that provide minimum coverage are prohibited.
3. Wearing transparent, see-through, tank tops (with less than three inch straps), bare midriff, strapless, or low cut clothing is prohibited.
4. Not hats are allowed on campus.
5. Wearing clothing with slogans or advertising which by their controversial or obscene nature disrupts the educational setting is prohibited. This includes clothing with alcohol and/or tobacco advertisements.
6. Sleeveless athletic jerseys must be worn with a shirt with sleeves underneath.
7. Coats, mittens, and scarves must be removed upon entering classrooms.
8. Require that all shorts, skirts and dresses must be fingertip length.

Since a major goal of high school is to teach acceptable career skills and conduct, the following are additional dress code guidelines:

1. Shirts must be buttoned regardless if tank top are worn underneath.
2. Torn and cut-off clothing are prohibited.
3. "Sagging" is considered a dress code violation.
4. Full fingered gloves may be worn to school but must be removed when the student is inside a building.
5. Buttons , jewelry, or other articles with slogans or advertising which are controversial or obscene are prohibited.
6. Hair color and style must be in such a way as not to be disruptive to the educational environment.
7. Sunglasses are not to be worn inside the building.
9. Chains attached to clothing are prohibited.
10. Facial jewelry may only consist of studs. No hoops, loops, and/or spikes..
11. P.E. clothes are not to be worn to breaks or class.
12. Leotards, tights and/or bike shorts are prohibited unless worn under shorts or skirts that meet dress code requirements.

Students in violation of the dress code will be sent home to change clothes. Continued violations may result in an RPC.

Closed Campus

Palo Verde is a closed campus. Once you arrive on campus, you are to go directly into the building. There is to be no loitering in the parking lot. You are not permitted to leave campus for breaks. You are required to remain on campus until the end of the school day. Seniors are allowed to leave campus after their last class. If it is necessary to leave campus, you are to leave through the Attendance Office on a passport.

Where is Your Pass?

Corridor passes are located in the back section of the student handbook. You need a corridor pass to go from class to almost anywhere. You especially need a pass to go to the nurse's office. If you are very sick, you may leave without one (and save us the cleanup). Hall wanderers without passes will be escorted back to class or to the deans' office.

Food for Thought

Eating and thinking do not mix. Eat in the cafeteria and think in the classroom. Food and sodas have no place in your classes or in the corridors. Gum chewing is not permitted on campus.

Lockers

You will have the use of a book locker.

No unauthorized sharing or switching of lockers is permitted

Food and valuables are not to be placed in lockers as the school assumes no
responsibility for the loss of items from lockers.

Lockers are to be kept neat and free of graffiti.

Stickers are not to be placed on lockers.

Padlocks are not to be placed on lockers; they will be cut off.

School lockers are the property of the Clark County School District, and the school authorities have the right to examine the contents of those lockers without notice for reasons of health, safety, and security. You are encouraged to limit access to lockers during the school day. During breaks, you have access only during the first and last five minutes of the break period.

Graduation Ceremony

Participation in graduation ceremonies is a privilege for graduating seniors. Infractions of school regulations may result in loss of the privilege to participate in the graduation ceremony.