📝 Cell Phones, Code of Conduct and Dress Code

Students are not permitted to use their cell phones during the school day, except with explicit permission of a teacher or staff member.  All cell phones are required to be stored in student lockers starting at 8:00am until dismissal at 3:10pm.  

The Board of Education (“board”) of the Port Washington UFSD is committed to providing a safe and orderly school environment where students may receive and district 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.

The district has a long-standing set of expectations for conduct on school property, and at school functions. These expectations are based on the principles of civility, mutual respect, citizenship, character, tolerance, honesty and integrity. The district has the legal authority and reserves the right to discipline students for on campus and/or off-campus conduct which endangers the safety, morals, health or welfare of others within the educational system or which adversely affects the educative process.

The district also has the legal authority and reserves the right to discipline students for cyberbullying and for other off-campus speech that actually causes, or is reasonably forecast as being likely to cause a material and substantial disruption to the work and/or discipline of the school.

The first goal in teaching ethics is to give students a sense of how important these issues are and to encourage them to give greater thought to the ramifications of their actions on a regular basis. The second is to develop an atmosphere that encourages the development of character. The third is to allow students to develop a core of shared ethical values. The final goal is to encourage students to carry these values forward and apply them broadly in their lives.

The board recognizes the need to clearly define the district’s expectations for acceptable conduct, to identify the possible consequences of unacceptable conduct, and to ensure that discipline, when necessary, is administered promptly and fairly. To this end, the board adopts this code of conduct (“code”).

All students will be treated equally regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, weight, appearance, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or socio economics status. Unless otherwise indicated, this code applies to all students, school personnel, parents and other visitors.

The Board of Education requires students to attend school and school related activities in appropriate dress that meets health and safety standards and does not interfere with the learning process or cause a disturbance in school or district. Immodest clothing and shirts with messages or designs that are in poor taste, as well as groups of students wearing the same color, are not permissible. Beachwear and tops resembling undergarments are not acceptable. All undergarments must be completely covered. Hats, hoods, and visors may not be worn inside during the school day unless there is a reason for a religious or medical exemption. Students should not bring valuable jewelry or accessories to school. Attire bearing an expression or insignia which is obscene or libelous, or which advocates racial, ethnic, sexual, or religious prejudice, or is disruptive, is forbidden. The Board of Education also requires students to wear appropriate protective gear in certain classes (i.e: Family & Consumer Sciences, Technology, and Physical Education).

While students and parents are expected to use good judgment in this matter, the superintendent of schools, the building principal and other designated administrative personnel shall have the authority to require a student to change his/her attire should it be deemed inappropriate according to the above guidelines and individual building rules.