Staff works tirelessly to prepare lessons that will capture the student’s interest, inspire learning, and instill and satisfy curiosity. In order to provide students with a quality hands-on education, staff maintain the need to create an orderly learning atmosphere and enlist student cooperation.
Why are rules necessary?
It would stand to reason that when you have fewer people you need fewer rules. The early settlers had fewer laws to follow as compared to modern day Americans. Laws (like rules) are designed to protect the rights of the individual while still maintaining the freedoms of the many. One of the best examples illustrating the benefit of rules involves the “rules of the road.” Can you imagine what it would be like to drive from place to place if there were no rules? If people just drove their vehicles however and wherever they liked; without regard for the other drivers there would be chaos on the roads. Classrooms, like roads, are similar; a student who habitually blurts out comments or answers disrupts the orderly “flow of traffic” in the classroom will affect the “flow” of the room and prohibit learning. If everyone in the classroom behaved in this manner, no learning could occur because the teacher would not be able to teach in an atmosphere of chaos.
What are the school rules?
TVM has several common-sense classroom rules; these rules are similar to the rules used whenever groups of people are assembled. The rules are the same in each classroom and are as follows:
1 Raise your hand and wait to be recognized if you wish to speak, ask a question, answer a question, or leave your seat for any reason. Once you take your seat at the beginning of class you are expected to stay in that seat unless given permission to move about. If the teacher has assigned your seat you are expected to sit in that assigned seat whenever the class meets.
2 Use silent hand signals if you wish to use the restroom or get a drink of water. (These silent signals will be explained to you during the first week of school.)
3 Respect the personal space and property of others. The space surrounding another student is his/her personal space; this includes his/her desk and his/her property. If you put your feet on another student’s desk you are invading their personal space, likewise if you borrow another student's pencil without asking you have disrespected the property rule.
4 Calling all artists. Everyone likes to doodle and drawing can be fun but it can also be considered disrespectful if done during class. Therefore, please refrain from drawing, doodling or sketching when you’re supposed to be learning, listening or working in class. Also, be sure not to doodle, draw or mark on school property unless you like cleaning, erasing and sanding on your weekends.
5. Be prepared for class! Can you imagine what would happen if a carpenter showed up to work without any tools? As a elementary/ middle school student, your “tools” are the few items you are REQUIRED to bring to class each and every day; these include: (1) writing utensils (2) homework folders (3) paper (4) homework (5) planner
(6) Check book or classroom cash and (7) a positive attitude.
6. If you make a mess, clean it up. When eighteen or twenty-two students gather in the same classroom, there is bound to be a mess from time-to-time - especially if those people are involved in projects and activities. Sometimes it may be unclear as to which portion of the mess came from you. In any event the mess needs to be cleaned up so please pitch-in, pick-up, help-out, and the mess will disappear.
7. Dress for success. Out of all the rules, the school dress code is the one that has to be refined over time to adapt to various trends and fads. Who could predict gel bracelets, dog collars, and black lipstick? We have devoted a special section just for the school dress code included later. In short, dress conservatively, wear sensible shoes, and you won’t have to worry about this rule.
8. Use appropriate language in all situations. Appropriate language is language that does not offend, provoke, irritate, annoy, stereotype, or hurt-the-feelings-of, another person. You may have heard the phrase “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.” Well… this would be true if the word “physically” were added to the end. Let’s face it - words can hurt, and in some instances are carefully crafted to be purposefully hurtful. Here’s another old phrase: “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” This is a great position to take. We take verbally abusive comments very seriously, especially when they are used intentionally. There is a very fine line between verbal teasing and verbal abuse, please report any excessive teasing to the administration before it escalates. We are very effective at putting a stop to this type of behavior.
9. Practical Jokes can be funny but… Practical jokes often hurt other peoples’ feelings and result in unintended, unpredictable and unnecessary results. These “tricks” and “jokes” often escalate to consume your time and our time. So practical jokesters please find another creative outlet!
10. Horses play rough, students don’t! Horseplay is a common term that is loosely defined as unnecessarily rowdy or rough play. Horseplay usually starts as touching, poking, pulling, fighting, running, yanking, bopping, pushing, kicking, shoving, you get the picture! In almost all cases of horseplay school setting the result is often as follows: broken items; bruises; rips; fights, marks; hurt feelings; and tears. Please exercise the self-control necessary to avoid horseplay and involve a staff member before entering into a situation that will result in an office referral. Please note that horseplay resulting in physical injury or damage to property will be immediate grounds for a suspension. Leave the horseplay to the horses!
For a complete listing of rules, enrolled students may refer to the Parent Handbook
Dress Code
TVM’s dress code policy is designed to provide an environment where appropriate social and learning skills are developed for lifetime use. The school setting should model a social structure of mutual respect and cooperation. We strongly feel that appropriate language and dress are essential to effective teaching and student success. TVM will enforce this dress code in addition to the dress code policy established by the staff for all students in attendance. This dress code states: Students are required to wear appropriate clothing according to the situation and the grade level involved. Students may wear shorts, although, spandex-style "bicycle" shorts, cut-off jeans, short shorts (past your fingertips), running shorts, spaghetti strap tops, bare mid-drifts, and see through boxer type shorts are not allowed. All shirts worn by students must be long enough to be tucked in at the waist and stay tucked in even when the students' arms are raised above their heads. While we do not require students to wear their shirts tucked in, the shirts must be long enough to remain tucked in, in these circumstances. Students will not be allowed to wear a jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt to cover unacceptable attire. Shirts that expose skin at the waist will not be allowed in school and students will be sent home to change or face disciplinary actions should they wear inappropriate attire to school. Any apparel, jewelry, accessory or manner of grooming by which virtue of its color, arrangement, trademark or other attribute denotes membership in a gang or advocates drugs, tobacco products, alcohol, violence or disruption is prohibited. Jewelry shall be worn in a way that is not distracting or does not present a safety or health hazard and does not disrupt the educational process. Other issues related to dress concern hair dyes, tattoos and piercings. Any dress detail that is considered excessive and/or distracting is a violation of the dress code and prohibited in the school setting. Students will be sent home until such details are neutralized.
The following provisions will also be enforced at TVM:
- No hats or headwear will be allowed (includes caps, bandanas or headbands) in the classroom. Note: Students may wear hats/ sunglasses outside in the courtyard, on the catwalk, or for PE.
- Halter-tops, cut-off shirts (boys or girls), tank tops with cutout shirts are all prohibited.
- Undergarments are not to be exposed.
- Shorts, shirts and dresses must extend to at least mid-thigh (past your fingertips).
- Strapless dresses and tops are prohibited.
- Sandals, “flip flops", clogs, “Jellies” or any open-toe or open-heeled shoes are prohibited.
- "Big Johnson" or other innuendo t-shirts are prohibited.
- Hair may not be colored, clumped, spiked, or worn in a “Mohawk” or other distracting style; if hair is colored it must be pulled back and discrete.
- Stuffed animals, toys, balloons, and other items that are determined to be distracting are prohibited.
- Uniforms are to be worn on field trip and PE days as the outermost layer.
- Shoes must have a closed toe and closed heel for foot protection.
Clothing determined by the administration to be unsafe, inadequate, disruptive or indecent will be prohibited at school functions and on school grounds. Students must follow the dress code when attending school functions such as activities, dances, fundraising events, overnight trips, and/or other field trips. Students will be required to wear the school uniform on field trips.
Code of Student Conduct
A disciplined orderly learning environment is an essential component of a quality educational program. The administrators of TVM and the Governing Board will work together to create and maintain this environment through the implementation and enforcement of the school’s discipline policies. Disciplinary reaction on the part of the TVM administration will be governed by: the severity of the offense, the impact on student learning, the impact on the reputation of the school, and the impact or infringement on the rights of the other students in the school. At the onset of the school year and in addition to the Student Code of Conduct, each classroom will develop classroom rules with students identifying those rules and consequences specific to their needs, age, and environment.
A detailed break down of the Student Code of Conduct and the various levels with consequences can be viewed upon enrollment through the Parent Handbook.
