• Student Accountability During Remote Learning

    The Mill Valley Middle School administration and staff make every attempt to create a safe and positive online school environment free from disruptions that interfere with teaching and learning activities. During this time, all MVMS rules, expectations, and guidelines are still in effect. Our teachers will report any inappropriate behavior to administrators, who will address them with students and thier parents. We expect our students to continue to be: 1) Kind and Respectful; 2) Safe and Responsible; 3) and Honest and Truthful. All MVMS policies listed in the Behavior Agreement, Student Handbook, and 1:1 iPad Program Agreement are in effect.

     

    Student Conduct

    Being Kind, Respectful, Honest, and Truthful

    Mill Valley Middle School students are expected to maintain a welcoming and safe learning environment for everyone. Students are to respect themselves by working hard, the adults (teachers, administrators, and staff) who work to ensure  students’ well-being, and their peers, by understanding and accepting others.  Any form of cyber and/or online bullying and harassment will not be tolerated.

     

    Being Safe and Responsible  

    All students are expected to conduct themselves in a safe and responsible manner while in a classroom zoom session and when working independently on instructional activities.  Students are to create a learning space at home that is free from distractions.  Making inappropriate, rude, or disrespectful comments in a classroom Zoom session, Google Chat, Google Hangouts Meet, or any other communication platform toward any staff or students will not be tolerated.

     

    Arriving to Classroom Zoom Sessions on Time

    All students are expected to attend regular classroom Zoom sessions as scheduled, and to login to each classroom Zoom session on time.  Arriving to the Zoom session on time is essential to learning and academic achievement.  Additionally, students are expected to know and understand all their teachers’ classroom Zoom expectations as well. 

     

    Using iPad & Technology

    The 1:1 program develops the 21st century learning skills of communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking. All students are issued an iPad and are expected to use the device in an educational manner as directed by their teacher, and to adhere to the 1:1 iPad Program Agreement

     

    Dressing for Learning 

    Mill Valley Middle School students are expected to dress appropriately for the learning environment. While in a classroom Zoom session,  it is important to show respect to themselves, peers, adults, and teachers by wearing clothing that is activity appropriate and conducive to learning.

     

    Personal Electronics During Distance Learning

    All personal electronic devices are to be turned off (not silent or vibrate) at all times during the classroom Zoom session, AND stored away from the student’s home learning area.  

     

    Committing to Academic Honesty

    MVMS is committed to encouraging students to assume academic responsibility for their own ethical behavior, and working to achieve their personal best. Academic honesty means not copying, plagiarizing, cheating, or using information unethically in any way.  Students are expected to do their own work at all times, and understand that plagiarism and cheating will adversely affect grades.

     

    The Referral Process

    Mill Valley Middle School staff have the authority to refer a student to the administrators for misconduct. A referral is a written (email) or verbal request (phone call) for a higher level of disciplinary intervention by the administration. A student may receive a discipline referral for doing something that requires his/her removal from any online class (Zoom or Google Hangout) instruction for their safety, the safety of others, bullying or inappropriate language during the use of technology, for the purpose of maintaining online classroom order. Referrals can be issued for any violations under the use of technology and/or online presence, including, but not limited to: 

    • Willingly doing something that endangers or could endanger other people 
    • Using obscene language or gestures 
    • Making remarks that are racist, homophobic or hate-motivated
    • Continual disruptive misbehavior in online classes after earlier attempts to redirect student have not changed inappropriate behavior 
    • Sharing passwords for Zoom or Google Hangouts or any online platform. 

     

    Administrative Actions 

    Efforts are taken to educate the student about the school rule being broken and to guide the student in making better choices about his/her behavior in the future. Parents/guardians are notified when a student has been referred to the administration for incidents which result in a consequence. Interventions include, but are not limited to, the following progressive consequences: 

    • Student conference with the administrator via email and/or phone call, including a possible first warning.
    • Restorative Assignments developed in partnership with the referring teacher
    • Parent/student conference with the administrator via Zoom or phone call. 

     

    Restorative Practices

    One of the ways we educate students about their behavior is through Restorative Practices. Our main goal is for students to change their behavior, and research shows that Restorative Practices offers students different ways to reflect on their behavior, with the ultimate goal of changing their behavior. This type of intervention is done in lieu of traditional consequences, and parents are also involved. When students are referred to the administration for the behavior, restorative practices are usually given. These practices (or consequences) may include research assignments, letters of apology,  and counseling.