School Policies

Rules and Regulations are established for the purpose of maintaining an atmosphere conducive to learning. Students who do not comply with such rules and regulations may be counseled, asked to make restitution, suspended, transferred to an alternative program, or, in extreme cases, expelled and/or arrested depending on the circumstances.

All pupils shall comply with the regulations and respect EVERY school official. Students and parents may appeal decisions by meeting with the Assistant Principals and Principals but students may not argue a teacher's decision during class time.

GENERAL SCHOOL POLICIES AND CAUSES FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Teachers will handle disciplinary issues as much as possible including making parent contact to address the behavior. Student who continue to misbehave are to be sent with a referral to the Assistant Principal's office.

Dress Code

Parents assume the basic responsibility for the grooming and dress of their child at home. However, school personnel must assume the responsibility of monitoring their dress and grooming at school, especially when health and safety are involved. Students are to be dressed and groomed in a way which is appropriate to the business of a learning environment, and in a manner that will not distract from or interfere with the educational process. To support an appropriate learning environment, students will not be allowed to wear the following on campus:

Oversized clothing such as baggy pants that do not fit at the waist. (Pant waist size is more than two inches bigger than the actual waist, or if side seams touch at the knee.) In addition, pants should not touch the floor.
Skirts, shorts, or skorts, which are shorter than a closed fist, placed at the thighs. In addition, they must be hemmed.
Boys shorts longer than 5" below the knee. They must be hemmed and long socks are not to be worn with these.
Clothing with vulgar or offensive language. No displaying tobacco, alcohol, drugs or sex on clothing or jewelry.
Dark glasses in classrooms except with a doctor's note.
Hats, caps, or other headgear. Only official BGHS caps allowed.
Blouses or tops lower than a horizontal line drawn armpit to armpit. No bare midriff (must be below 1" of waistline when standing), or revealing (i.e. see-through) tops are permitted. No underwear or bras are to be visible.

Students who dress inappropriately will be asked to change clothes at school or will be sent home to change. This dress code may be changed at any time for the safety and well-being of students and school officials. Anything that is inappropriate or poses a perceived threat to students and staff will be prohibited.

Cellular Phones and Electronic Devices

Cellular phones and electronic devices are to be turned off during school. They may only be used before or after school. Any cellular phone turned on will be confiscated and returned the following Thursday after school. Students should not be calling out during the school day. In an emergency, a student must obtain a pass from her/her teacher to come to an office and have a school employee call their parent.

Inappropriate Displays of Affection

Hand holding is the only appropriate form of display of affection on campus. Inappropriate displays will be referred to the Assistant Principal's office which may result in a parent conference.

Causes for Suspension/Expulsion

The following occurrences are not permitted on campus or at any school function at any time. Violations will result in suspension, possible arrest and/or recommendation for expulsion.

Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause serious physical injury to another person (assault/battery).
Possessed, sold, or otherwise furnished any actual firearm, knife, explosive, or other dangerous object, or another object resembling a dangerous object.
Unlawfully possessed, used, sold, or otherwise furnished, or been under the influence of any controlled substance, or alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind.
Unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any controlled substance, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind, and then either sold, delivered or otherwise furnished to any person another liquid, substance, or material as a controlled substance, alcoholic beverage or intoxicant.
Committed, caused, or attempted to commit robbery or extortion.
Caused or attempted to cause damage to school property or private property.
Stolen or attempted to steal school property or private property.
Possessed or used tobacco, or any products containing tobacco or nicotine products, including, but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, miniature cigars, clove cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, sniff, chew packets, and betel.
Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity.
had unlawful possession of, or unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any drug paraphernalia.
Disrupted school activities or otherwise defied to valid authority of supervisors, teachers, administrators, school officials or other school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties. DEFIANCE MEANS A STUDENT DOES NOT FOLLOW THE ORDERS OF SCHOOL OFFICIALS.
Knowingly received stolen school property or private property.
Possessed an imitation firearm. As used in this, "imitation firearm" means a replica of a firearm that is so substantially similar in physical properties to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to conclude that the replica is a firearm.
Harassed, threatened, or intimidated a pupil who is a complaining witness or witness in a school disciplinary proceeding for the purpose of either preventing that pupil from being a witness or retaliating against a pupil for being a witness, or both.
Unlawfully offered, arranged to sell negotiated to sell, or sold the prescription drug Soma.

In addition to these reasons specified above, sexual harassment, hate violence, harassment or intimidation, and terrorist threats may result in suspension, arrest, and/or recommendation for expulsion.

Sexual Harassment

The Montebello Unified School District Board of Education prohibits unlawful sexual harassment of any student by anyone in or from the district. Conduct which constitutes sexual harassment of students impairs the ability of students to make full and effective use of the school district's instructional programs. Sexual harassment can cause embarrassment, feelings of powerlessness, reduced ability to perform schoolwork, and increase absenteeism and tardiness. The student will be suspended and counseled.

Student Project - What is Sexual Harrassment?

Reporting of Sexual Harassment

Any student of the school district who believes that she or he has been the victim of sexual harassment is urged to bring the problem to the attention of a school site staff member so that appropriate action can be taken to resolve the problem.

School Resource Officer

Officer Nevarez is assigned to Bell Gardens High School as the School Resource Officer. The School Resource Officer works with students and families to help maintain the safety of the learning environment. The officer has the jurisdiction to cite students and parents for the following violations:

Truancy
Fighting (assault/battery)
Damage to school property (vandalism/graffiti)
Use of or possession of a controlled substance
Use of or possession of alcohol
Other crimes

Citations may result in a fine that needs to be paid by the parent or it may result in the court assigning community service for the violation to be completed by the student.

Probation Officer

This year Bell Gardens High School will have a probation officer that will be working with students and families to oversee those students in following the stipulations set forth in their probation contract.

Skateboards

Skateboards are not allowed in school and will be confiscated.

Chewing Gum

Chewing gum is not permitted on campus at any time (classes, library, office groups, or assemblies).

Graffiti/Vandalism

Students will not put graffiti, gang writing and/or vulgar expressions on their personal or school property, including books, folders and backpacks. Students may not possess items that could be used for vandalism such as spary paint, permanent markers, slap tags, etching tools, etc. and can be cited for possession of such materials by District Police.

Vandalism at Bell Gardens High School will not be tolerated. Any pupil who willfully cuts, defaces, paints, or otherwise damages in any way any property, real or personal, belonging to the school district or others is expected to make reimbursement or replacement, and may be disciplined. The parent or guardian shall be liable for all damages so caused by the pupil. The parent or guardian shall be liable to the school district for all property belonging to the school loaned to the pupil and not returned upon demand of a district employee. (Ed. Code 10606.)

Balloons on Campus

Balloon bouquets or individual balloons will not be permitted on campus. Bouquets have been found to be a disruptive aspect in class. The concern over student abuse of nitrous oxide led to this policy.

Forgery

Forgery will result in a student referred to an Assistant Principal. The student may be suspended.

Cheating

Teachers will assign a failing grade to a plagiarized assignment and the parent will be contacted. Student will be referred to the Assistant Principal.

Food on Campus

No food is allowed in classrooms. Students will not be allowed to enter campus with open drinks.