School Rules

In addition to the above expectations, the following rules will be enforced at Riverdale Academy:

• Electronic devices, such as gaming devices, iPods, lasers, and any other item that will cause a disruption to instruction are prohibited and will be confiscated.  
• Students who are suspended or expelled from school shall not be on school property nor shall be allowed to participate in any school events for the duration of the suspension or expulsion.
• Street shoes shall not be worn on the gym floor.
• All forms of cheating, including, but not limited to, plagiarism, copying, or collaborating in any unauthorized manner on any type of assignment are forbidden.  If it is determined that a student has cheated, the student will receive an automatic zero on the assignment in question, he/she will not be allowed to make up the assignment, and the student will be referred to the principal or his designee for further disciplinary action.
• Students shall not bring any type of instrument to school that may be used in any method as a weapon.
• Students shall not bring or have in their possession any narcotics or mood-altering drugs unless by prescription of a physician. 
• Students shall not bring or have in their possession any type of alcoholic beverage, tobacco products, or vaping devices. 
• Lockers and cars may be inspected by school personnel for weapons or drugs on campus. 
• The possession of either weapons or drugs shall constitute grounds for criminal prosecution and expulsion from school. 
• Students who checkout early are not to remain on campus. If the student has a sports practice, he/she may not return to campus until time for practice to begin (only if they have been at school half a day).
• There is to be no food or drinks in any building besides the lunchroom, except for water (no styrofoam cups, plastic cups, teas, coffee, or soft drinks). Each individual teacher may monitor the use of water bottles in his/her classroom.
• No student PDA on campus or at any school event.
• Students should not use the teachers’ lounge for any reason other than making copies.
• Students should be in the lunchroom during breaks and lunch, with the exception of club meetings.

Vaping Policy

Any student who is in possession of a vaping device will have the following consequences:

• 1 – 3 day suspension

• 1 week suspension from all extracurricular activities
• All movements on campus will be closely monitored for one week or longer, as determined by the administrator. 

BULLYING AND HAZING

Riverdale Academy is committed to maintaining a safe, orderly, civil and positive learning environment so that no student feels bullied, threatened, or harassed while in school or participating in school-related activities. Students and their parents/guardians shall be notified that the school, school bus, and all other school environments are to be safe and secure for all. Therefore, all statements or actions of bullying, hazing, or similar behavior such as threatening or harassment made on campus, at school-sponsored activities or events, on school buses, at school bus stops, and on the way to and from school shall not be tolerated. Even if made in a joking manner, these statements or actions of bullying or hazing, or similar behavior towards other students, school personnel, or school property shall be unacceptable.

All students, teachers, and other school employees shall take responsible measures within the scope of their individual authority to prevent violations of this policy.

Bullying shall mean:

1. A pattern of any one or more of the following:

• Gestures, including but not limited to obscene gestures and making faces.
• Written, electronic, or verbal communications, including but not limited to calling names, threatening harm, taunting, malicious teasing, or spreading untrue rumors. Electronic communication includes but is not limited to a communication or image transmitted by email, instant message, text message, blog, or social networking website through the use of a telephone, mobile phone, pager, computer, or other electronic device.

C. Physical acts, including but not limited to hitting, kicking, pushing, tripping, choking, damaging personal property, or unauthorized use of personal property.

D. Repeatedly and purposefully shunning or excluding from activities.

2. Where the pattern of behavior as enumerated above is exhibited toward a student, more than once, by another student or group of students and occurs, or is received by, a student while on school property, at a school- sponsored or school-related function or activity, in any school bus or van, at any designated school bus stop, in any other school or private vehicle used to transport students to and from schools, or any school-sponsored activity or event.

3. The pattern of behavior as provided above must have the effect of physically harming a student, placing the student in reasonable fear of physical harm, damaging a student’s property, placing the student in reasonable fear of damage to the student’s property, or must be sufficiently severe, persistent, and pervasive enough to either create an intimidating or threatening educational environment, have the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s performance in school, or have the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.

Hazing shall mean any knowing behavior, whether by commission or omission, of any student to encourage, direct, order, or participate in any activity which subjects another student to potential physical, mental, or psychological harm for the purpose of initiation or admission into, affiliation with, continued membership in, or acceptance by existing members of any organization or extracurricular activity at a public elementary or secondary school, whether such behavior is planned or occurs on or off school property, including any school bus and school bus stop. Hazing does not mean any adult-directed and school-sanctioned athletic program practice or event or military training program.

Any solicitation to engage in hazing, and the aiding and abetting another person who engages in hazing shall be prohibited. The consent, stated or implied, of the hazing victim shall not be a defense in determining disciplinary action.

NOTICE TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS

Riverdale Academy shall inform each student, orally and in writing, at the required orientation conducted at the beginning of each school year, of the prohibition against bullying, hazing, or similar behavior of a student by another student; the nature and consequences of such actions; including the potential criminal consequences and loss of driver’s license, and the proper process and procedure for reporting any incidents involving such prohibited actions. A copy of the written notice shall also be delivered to each student’s parent or legal guardian in the Riverdale Academy Parent and Student Handbook.

REPORTING

The principal or his/her designee shall be authorized to receive complaints alleging violation of this policy. All employees, parents, volunteers, or any other school personnel shall report alleged violations to the principal or his/her designee. Any written or oral report of an act of bullying, hazing, or similar behavior shall be considered an official means of reporting such act(s). Complaints, reports, and investigative reports of bullying, hazing, or similar behavior shall remain confidential, with limited exception of state or federal law.

The reporting of incidents of bullying, hazing, or similar behavior shall be documented and shall include an affirmation of truth. Any bullying, hazing, or similar behavior report submitted, regardless of recipient, shall use this form, but additional information may be provided.

STUDENTS AND PARENTS

Any student who believes that he/she has been, or is currently, the victim of bullying, hazing, or similar behavior, or any student, or any parent or guardian, who witnesses bullying, hazing, or similar behavior or has good reason to believe bullying, hazing, or similar behavior is taking place, may report the situation to a school official, who in turn shall report the situation to the principal or his/her designee. A student, or parent or guardian, may also report concerns regarding bullying, hazing, or similar behavior to a teacher, counselor, other school employee, or to any parent chaperoning or supervising a school function or activity. Any report shall remain confidential.

SCHOOL PERSONNEL

Any school employee, whether full- or part-time, and any parent/volunteer chaperoning or supervising a school function or activity, who witnesses or learns of bullying, hazing, or similar behavior from a student or parent, shall report the incident to the principal or his/her designee. Verbal reports shall be submitted by the employee or parent/volunteer on the same day as the employee or parent/volunteer witnessed or otherwise learned of the incident, and a written report shall be filed no later than two (2) days thereafter.

All other members of the school community, including students, parents or legal guardians, volunteers, and visitors shall be encouraged to report any act that may be a violation of this policy to the principal or his/her designee.

FALSE REPORTS

Intentionally making false reports about bullying, hazing, or similar behavior to school officials shall be prohibited conduct and shall result in appropriate disciplinary measures as determined by the administration.

INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE

Investigations of any reports of bullying, hazing or similar behavior of a student by another student shall be in accordance with the following:

1. Timing
   The school shall begin an investigation of any complaint that is properly reported and that alleges the prohibited conduct the next business or school day after the report is received by the principal or his/her designee. The investigation shall be completed not later than ten (10) school days after the date the written report of the incident is submitted to the principal or his/her designee. If additional information is received after the end of the ten- day period, the school principal or his/her designee shall amend all documents and reports required to reflect such information.
2. Scope of Investigation
   An investigation shall include documented interviews of the reporter, the alleged victim, the alleged bully or offender, and any witnesses, and shall include obtaining copies or photographs of any audio-visual evidence. Interviews must be conducted privately, separately, and confidentially. At no time shall the alleged offender and alleged victim be interviewed together.
   The principal or his/her designee shall collect and evaluate all facts.
3. Parental Notification
   Upon receiving a report of bullying, hazing, or similar behavior, the school shall notify the parents or legal guardians of the alleged offender and the alleged victim no later than the following business or school day. Delivery of notice to the parents or legal guardians by an involved student shall not constitute the required parental notice.
   Before any student under the age of eighteen (18) is interviewed, his/her parent or legal guardian shall be notified by the principal or his/her designee of the allegations made and shall have the opportunity to attend any interviews with their child conducted as part of the investigation.

All meetings with the parents or legal guardians of the alleged victim and the parents or legal guardians of the alleged offender shall be in compliance with the following:

• Separate meetings shall be held with the parents or legal guardians of the alleged victim and the parents or legal guardians of the alleged offender.
• Parents or legal guardians of the alleged victim and of the alleged offender shall be informed of the potential consequences, penalties, and counseling options.

4. Documentation

At the conclusion of an investigation of bullying, hazing, or similar behavior, and after meeting with the parents or legal guardians, the principal or his/her designee or Riverdale Academy shall:

• Prepare a written report containing the findings of the investigation, including input from students’ parents or legal guardians, and the decision by the principal or his/her designee. The document shall be placed in the school records of both students.
• Promptly notify the reporter/complainant of the findings of the investigation and whether remedial action has been taken, if such release of information does not violate the law.
• Keep reports/complaints and investigative reports confidential, except where disclosure is required to be made by applicable federal laws, rules, or regulations or by state law.
• Maintain reports/complaints and investigative reports for three (3) years.

During the pendency of an investigation, Riverdale Academy may take immediate steps, at its discretion, to protect the alleged victim, students, teachers, administrators or other school personnel pending completion of the investigation.

Appeals

If the school principal or his/her designee does not take timely and effective action, the student, parent, or school employee may report, in writing, the incident to the School Board. The School Board shall begin an investigation of any properly reported complaint that alleges prohibited conduct the next business day during which school is in session after the report is received by the School Board.

If the School Board does not take timely and effective action, the student, parent, or other school employee may report any bullying incident to the Louisiana Department of Education.

Disciplinary Action

Once a report has been received at a school, and a school principal or his/her designee has determined that an act of bullying, hazing, or similar behavior has occurred, and after having met with the parent or legal guardian of the student involved, the principal or his/her designee, or applicable school official shall take prompt and appropriate disciplinary action against the student, and report criminal conduct to law enforcement. Counseling and/or other interventions may also be recommended.

Students may be disciplined for off-campus bullying, hazing, or similar behavior the same as if the improper conduct occurred on campus, if the actions of the offender substantially interferes with the education opportunities or educational programs of the student victim and/or adversely affects the ability of the student victim to participate in or benefit from the school’s education programs or activities.

RETALIATION

Retaliation against any person who reports bullying, hazing, or similar behavior in good faith, who is thought to have reported such conduct, who files a complaint, or who otherwise participates in an investigation or inquiry concerning allegations of bullying, hazing, or similar behavior is prohibited conduct and subject to disciplinary action.

Disciplinary Interventions

For all matters of discipline, the principal may choose to utilize any of the following interventions, with consideration taken for the age of the student:

• Warning: The principal will call the student’s parents or guardians, send a letter of warning to the parents and the student, and place a copy of the letter in the student’s cumulative folder.
• Detention:  The principal will call the student’s parents or guardians, assign the student to detention, and place a copy of the record of the discipline action in the student’s cumulative folder.

The principal or his designee will hold detention during the last period of the day, during recess, or PE.  Students will be expected to attend detention on the assigned day, regardless of whether the student has extracurricular activities to attend, and to complete work assigned by the principal or his designee and to abide by the rules set forth in the detention room.  Any violation of the rules will result in further disciplinary action. 

• Suspension: The principal will suspend the student for one to three days, depending on the severity of the offense.  The student and his/her parents or guardians will be required to attend a conference with the principal and the school employee(s) referring the student for disciplinary action before the student can return to class. A copy of the record of the discipline action will be placed in the student’s cumulative folder.  

The Louisiana Revised Statute 17:416A provides that school principals may suspend from school, upon first offense, any pupil for three days who is guilty of: 

1. Willful disobedience. 

2. Disrespect to a teacher, principal, members, or employees of the school board. 

3. Making any unfounded charge against anyone listed above. 

4. Using unchaste or profane language. 

5. Immoral or vicious practices. 

6. Conduct or habit injurious to his/her associates. 

7. Using tobacco, alcoholic beverages, any controlled dangerous substances governed by the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substance Law in any form in the school building, or any property belonging to the school. 

8. Disturbing the school and habitually violating the rules. 

9. Cutting, defacing, or damaging any part of the school building, or any property belonging to the building/school. 

10. Writing profane language or drawing obscene pictures in or on any school material or on any school premise. 

11. Carrying firearms, knives, or other implements which can be used as weapons. 

12. Instigating or participating in fights while at school or during any school function. 

13. Leaving the school premises without permission. 

14. Habitual tardiness or absenteeism. 

15. Disobedience of school bus rules.

• Expulsion:  If a student has been suspended at least once, he or she may be expelled from Riverdale Academy if the student is subsequently reported for violating school rules.   Students will be immediately suspended awaiting an expulsion judgment on the first offense if he or she brings narcotics or mood-altering drugs on campus or has them in his/her possession.  Any student convicted of a felony or incarcerated for committing a criminal act shall be expelled from school with a majority vote of the Board.  Parents may appeal an expulsion to the Board of Directors; however, the Board of Directors retains the discretion to grant or to not grant the appeal of the expulsion.

Cell Phones 

Students who have cell phones must comply with the following policy:

• It is recommended to leave cell phones at home or in personal vehicles
• Teachers will require students to turn in cell phones brought on campus during class.  

Students who choose not to adhere to this policy will be subject to the following interventions, which increase in severity with each violation:

• 1st offense:  Cell phone will be taken and the student may retrieve it at the end of the day. 
• 2nd offense and subsequent offenses:  Cell phone will be taken and the student’s parent or guardian must retrieve the phone.

Destruction of School Property

In case of destruction to the school by unknown student(s) the cost of repairs will be prorated and paid by class funds as levied by the Board. In case of destruction to the school by known student(s) the cost of the repairs will be prorated and paid by the parents of the students as levied by the Board. Students will also be subject to disciplinary action as listed above.