Rules of Behavior

The School Of Choice is a private school which holds its students and teachers accountable to high standards, and which is held accountable by parents who expect high standards. We do not have to accept students who exhibit bad behavior and we reserve the right to discipline bad behavior or to expel students who exhibit such behavior. Only in this way can we guarantee a first rate education to students who are here to learn. No matter what, we shall maintain in our school complete safety and a positive learning environment.

Rules of our Rooms

  1. Science Lab Rules
    1. Students may not touch any of the science experiments in the lab without explicit permission of the Headmistress or science teacher.
    2. Pets may not be fed without permission of the Headmistress nor moved out of their cages without adult supervision. Animals should be handled gently and not teased or hurt in any way.
    3. The science room needs to be kept clean and neat. After conducting experiments, please empty out and wash containers for the next student to use. If there is limited time, place all unwashed items into a cardboard box labeled "NOT FINISHED."
    4. Students are expected to assist the teacher with cleaning up if they participated in the experiments.
    5. All materials utilized in the Science Lab must be returned to its proper place after usage. In particular, materials and tools taken from the Science cabinet must be checked out, cleaned if necessary, and returned to the cabinet promptly after usage.
    6. All science books used must be left on the table for re-shelving.
    7. The consumption or storing of food in the Science Lab is permitted at the Headmistress or science teacher's discretion. The presence or consumption of food may interfere with the safe and orderly conduct of some experiments and may be prohibited for hygienic reasons.
    8. Food consumed in lab must be disposed of immediately into a garbage container.
  2. Language, Math and History Lab Rules
    1. Students may not touch any materials on the tables, bookcases or desks without the teacher's permission. Students may not write on the whiteboards without permission.
    2. Students must not use computers in these rooms.
    3. Students in corridors must knock if they wish to talk to teacher during class time.
    4. No students may leave the classroom without permission by the teacher.
    5. Food consumed in lab must be disposed of immediately into garbage container.
  3. Library Rules
    1. All books checked out must be stamped with the date checked out, the student's name, and the due date. All books, apparatus, and special equipment must be returned in a three week period with provisions for renewals if other students do not request the designated item. After that time, overdue fees of $2 per week up to the cost of the book will be assessed.
    2. Students must take good care of the books so that other students may use the books. We shall fine students to pay for excessive damages.
    3. Special reserve books without cards may not be checked out for home use. These have a special red tag on them with the label RESERVE.
  4. Computer Lab Rules
    1. Do not turn on computers without authorization from the staff and a special user's code. Students who use the lab without permission from the Headmistress, Headmaster or computer instructor will lose future computer privileges.
    2. Students must log into terminals with their own user name and password. All users must log in times that they are on the computer in the Computer Lab's Notebook.
    3. Students may not use e-mail or download games during class time. The use of Instant Messaging is prohibited at all times. Students who download pornography will find themselves in a conference with their parents to discuss whether expulsion is appropriate. The computers are intended solely for academic purposes such as: research projects, keyboarding, and learning computer languages.
    4. Computer games are strictly forbidden, unless they are the result of the student's own programming efforts in the context of a class taught at School of Choice.
    5. No drinking or eating food is allowed in the computer lab.
    6. Students should log off after each use of the computer to ensure security.
  5. Special Guidelines for the Homework Club
    1. Students must sign in at the time they arrive and pick up their class assignment packet before beginning their homework.
    2. The first 10 minutes of homework time is designated as "Silent Reading Time." There will be no talking during this time.
    3. Students must work quietly, and not interrupt classes in session. If students have questions, they may ask the supervisor for help. No horse playing is allowed!
    4. All homework must be signed by the teacher on a homework sheet. All work must be returned to its homework folder to be graded by supervising teacher. Assignments not turned in will be marked "ZERO."
    5. When students finish their assigned homework they must ask the teacher for their next assignment. This is marked in their folder.
    6. Any unfinished work from the previous day must be completed before beginning the new homework. All work from the entire week will be collected and must be signed by the parent. After 4 weeks, a progress report will be sent to parents to notify them of the student's monthly progress. Goals will then be re-evaluated and students will work to achieve their new goals.

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General Rules

 Rules of Citizenship for our Learning Community
These rules of civility help learners of all ages to realize their academic and personal potential. Administration, parents, staff and students have voted upon these rules and must abide by them:

  1. We respect each other's safety, taking no action that might endanger ourselves or others.
  2. We respect each other's learning experience, minimizing disturbances to help others realize their full potential.
  3. We respect other people's ideas, religion, values, and aspirations by listening carefully and avoiding falsehood, prejudice, insult and innuendo.
  4. We respect each other's property: we return the borrowed, replace the broken, and clean the untidy.
  5. We avoid immoral behavior because our thoughts, appearances, words and actions strengthen and exemplify sound character.
  6. We obey the rules of the American republic: state laws, school rules and student rules.
  7. We respect others' intellectual accomplishments by refusing to cheat ourselves of time well spent developing the richness and integrity of our beliefs.
  8. We show up on time with prepared assignments that fulfill our responsibilities.
  9. We are honor-bound to admit and amend our shortcomings and to report misdeeds to the proper authority so that our friends do not suffer continued injustice.
  10. We accept personal responsibility to build a healthy, lifelong learning community which betters everyone's mind, body and spirit.

Disciplinary Procedures

The following penalties will be applied in the order indicated for breaking any rules mentioned above:

  1. A warning from a teacher or administrator.
  2. A conference with their parents.
  3. Suspension from our classes.
  4. Expulsion from our group classes, if applicable. (The student may continue one-on-one only.)
  5. Expulsion from all of our classes.

Student Behavior, Dress and Appearance

The School of Choice provides students with a safe environment to learn and develop character. We do not tolerate alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, weapons, initiating fights, bullying, stealing or vandalism. Students will face severe penalties including suspension or expulsion (without refund) for cheating, racism, pornography, plagiarism or lying to school teachers and authorities. Other rules will be enforced as necessary.

Regarding appearance, we hope to balance the student's need for freedom and individuality with the school's need for responsibility and minimal distraction from academics. Therefore, we do not require uniforms, except on assembly days, but we do prohibit the following: unnatural hair colors, spikes, eyebrow, nose and tongue piercing, cutoffs or excessive exposure of skin.

Attendance Policy

Unless students study with their parents, they belong in school during school days. School should be first priority and parents should plan their vacations accordingly during the ample vacation time provided. Full-time students must not miss more than thirty days of class a year, and may miss this much class only with valid medical or other excuses as attested by their parents. If a student misses three days or is late more than thirty minutes on three separate days without excuse, that student is considered truant by California state law. This triggers intervention on the parental level, the school level and, if necessary, on the state level. We reserve the right to expel students who disappear without cause or parental explanation.

"Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire."

Confucius