Policies, Resources, and Handbooks

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• Students are to be in their assigned area at all times, from the time they arrive in the morning until dismissal.
• During class or shop time, students must have a hallway pass signed by staff if they are out of shop or class.
• Students must sign in and out on the class or shop sign-out sheet.
• Teachers will not issue passes for students during the first and last ten minutes of each period. Students should plan to utilize the allotted time during class and passing time.
• 3-Pass System: When requesting to leave class, students will have a paper pass with only 3 allotted passes.
  • If a student uses the 3 passes before the end of the day and is requesting to leave class, the instructor will call for an escort.
  • This 3-pass system is NOT used when a student is removed from class by admin, staff, nurse,counseling, etc. (non-student-requested reasons)
• Students out of their assigned area are subject to discipline up to and including suspension.
• Once students arrive at school, they are not allowed to leave the school grounds until dismissal.
• All students are expected to leave the building through the main lobby and security desk during the school day.
• Students are subject to all the rules, expectations, and procedures provided in the CTECS Parent/Student Handbook, along with this addendum, when attending any school-sponsored event or field trip.

Vape, tobacco, and nicotine products, as well as smoking, are not permitted on school grounds or at any school-sponsored activity. Students possessing these products could be referred to the State Police. This includes all forms of vaping/electronic devices, boxes/wrappers, and paraphernalia.

Under Connecticut General Statute § 53-344b, minors under 21 who buy or possess any nicotine or tobacco products can be fined up to $50 for the first offense and $50 - $100 for subsequent offenses.Hazing, harassment, or bullying will be addressed using school and district policies and is subject to criminal sanctions.

Students may not possess prescription or over-the-counter medications at any time. If students need to take medication, it must be stored with the school nurse.

Students should only eat food in the cafeteria. Food is not permitted in classrooms, shops, and hallways.
Outside food purchases and deliveries (UberEats, DoorDash, etc.) are prohibited during the school day.
 

If parents/guardians need to speak with their child, please phone the school and we will ensure that contact is made. The school-wide cell phone policy prohibits the use of a cell phone in classroom settings.

Sales and fundraising activities are not permitted unless approved in advance by the Student Council and school administration.

Guests are not allowed at school-sponsored dances/proms without advance written permission of the administration. No guest aged 21 or over will be permitted.

The student accountability system organizes behavioral issues into four escalating levels:

Level 1: Instructor Assigned Consequences

Examples include:

• Minor disruptive behavior
• Inappropriate language
• Refusal to work
• Tardiness
• Sleeping in class
• Off-task behavior
• Cell phone violations (initial offenses)

Level 2: Department Assigned Head Consequences

Examples include:

• Continued Level 1 behavior
• Cutting class
• Minor inappropriate device use
• Minor aggressive behavior
• Cheating or plagiarism
• Uniform violations

Level 3: Dean of Students Assigned Consequences

Examples include:

• Repeated behavioral issues
• Leaving school grounds without permission
• Refusal to comply with safety protocols
• Habitual tardiness
• Refusal to follow uniform policies

Level 4: Administrative Assigned Consequences

Examples include:

• Weapons violations
• Threats
• Sexual harassment
• Substance-related offenses
• Vandalism
• Theft
• Repeated serious misconduct

• Lockers are the property of the school and may be searched at any time. Cars parked on school property may be searched at any time. See the “Student Search & Seizure” section for more details.
• Students are expected to use lockers for Academics, Trade, and Physical Education. The school is not responsible for personal property that is damaged, lost, or stolen when left unsecured. Locks are available for purchase in the Main Office.
• Students who bring items to school for repair must have a written production order completed by the Department Head and signed by an administrator.
• Student work should never be saved on the computer. Student work should be saved to a flash drive, memory stick, or Google Account.
• Vehicles should not be left on the campus overnight.
• Students are expected to park in the designated student parking area.
• Students and visitors violating state driving laws on school grounds are subject to police action. 6

Approved

Tops

• Green, white, or black Cheney Tech polo/golf shirt
• Approved Cheney Tech sweatshirts
• Approved athletic, club, or team apparel

Bottoms

• Khaki or black pants
• Khaki or black shorts consistent with policy
• Jeans without rips or tears

Footwear

• Sneakers
• Work boots
• Closed-toe shoes

Not Approved

• Trade uniforms during academic cycles
• Shirts without approved Cheney Tech logos
• Jackets or outerwear
• Hoods worn up
• Ripped pants
• Leggings, jeggings, yoga pants, or tights
• Sweatpants or pajama pants
• Open-toe or backless footwear
• Crocs-style footwear
• Hats, bandanas, beanies, and sunglasses
• Clothing displaying drugs, alcohol, or prohibited items

The guidelines above and below are intended to help students comply with the uniform policy. It is not possible to list every scenario or predict evolving clothing styles. In all cases, the CTECS District Policy supersedes all school-level policies. The school administration will make the final decision about what is appropriate clothing for school.

Students in Trade will wear clothing that is designated for each specific Trade area.

Purchase Trade Uniform Tops using this link : Darter Specialities

Automotive
? ANSI-approved clear safety glasses
? Oil-resistant, slip-resistant, non-marking sole boots
? Solid black or navy work pants
? Darter automotive logo shirts
? Carpentry
? Darter shop shirts
? long pants
? work boots
? safety glasses
 

Culinary

 ? CTECS chef jacket
 ? Black chef or work pants (no cargo pants, leggings, or yoga pants)
? non-slip black shoes (Kitchen Crocs "ok", not Crocs with holes on top)
? Apron, and black chef hat. Juniors & Seniors are also expected to have the dining room Front-of-the-House uniforms.

Diesel
? Darter Button uniform
? Pants preferably gray or black.
? Steel toe boots. No cowboy boots that are not steel-toe for industrial usage.
? Safety glasses
? Digital Media
? Darter Uniform Top
? Black or Khaki Pant
 

Electrical
? Electrical shop uniforms are worn at all times during the shop cycle Shirts are required to be tucked in upon entering the shop and remain tucked in all day. Students are required to be in proper uniform prior to the start of homeroom. If students wear a crewneck sweatshirt a polo shirt is to be worn underneath with the collar out over the sweatshirt.
? Shop uniforms must be clean and neat. Pants must be jean material in blue, black or tan color. All pants must have belt loops, elastic waistbands or elastic cuffs are not permitted. Pant leg must extend over the top of work boots. No holes in shirts or pants.
? Belts must be worn to keep pants up at a level that is deemed acceptable by the instructors. (This is for safety, not fashion.)
? Work boots should have leather uppers, a minimum of 6” or 8”. Boots must be worn at all times and laced up completely and tightly.
? Jewelry, including watches, is not allowed in the electrical shop at any time. It should be left at home. Jewelry is a safety hazard in the electrical field. 8
? For safety reasons, long hair must be tied up in a secure manner before working on projects.
 

HVAC

? 1) Safety glasses are required as part of each student's tool kit. Students must wear safety glasses in shop and must be non-tinted
? 2) work boots must be worn at all times and laced up completely and tightly
? 3) students must be in shop uniform (Not ripped and clean)
? 4) Student uniform shirt must be tucked in and have a belt to secure pants
? 5) Shop "Uniform policy" must be followed every day

 IT
? The IT Uniforms include Khaki pants or Shorts, an IT Uniform shirt) and a visible Cheney Tech ID. Students may also wear the black Cheney Tech Academic Shirts or an exploratory shirt until they have purchased the appropriate IT shirt. Closed Toed Shoes\Sneakers are a must. IT Students WILL NOT be allowed to wear hoodies anywhere in the building. Students may not wear hoodies, hats, camo, sweatpants, leggings, blue jeans, or shorts more than 4 inches above the knee or any form of outerwear. (All of which are consistent with the Cheney Tech and CTECS Uniform Policies.)

MDET
? The MDET Uniforms include Khaki pants or shorts, an MDET Uniform shirt
and a visible Cheney Tech ID. Students may also wear the black Cheney Tech Academic Shirts or an exploratory shirt until they have purchased the appropriate MDET shirt. Closed Toed Shoes are a must.
 

PMT
? Shop uniform shirts are required of all students and are available through Darter. Pocket t-shirts are available with embroidery. Please make sure shirts are embroidered with first names, not nicknames. The proper shop uniform for students also includes wearing black or khaki colored work pants, either denim or Carhartt style pants. Yoga pants, sweat pants, or any other clothing materials are not safe for a shop environment and are not allowed to be worn. If a student does not have work pants, they will have to borrow a pair from SAIL every day. Students should also have work boots that they can either wear to school or leave in their lockers and change into in the morning. All students are expected to wear their complete shop uniform all day, which includes removing any sweatshirts or jackets. Uniforms are a part of our grading policy and daily grades will be affected.

According to CTECS policy, all students in the technical high school system must wear school-issued student ID badges. Failure to wear the currently issued school ID will result in a referral to the administration. Students must use their IDs to Swipe in for attendance each morning upon entering the school.

Students are expected to adhere to the Howell Cheney Technical High School disciplinary policies. Behavior that creates a disruption to the educational setting or process, and/or does not align with the school or district policies, can result in disciplinary consequences including lunch detention, after-school detention (teacher or administrative), SAIL time (in-school detention which can be up to 90 minutes), in-school suspension (ISS), out-of-school suspension (OSS), and expulsion from school (out of school suspension for up to 180 days).

As per the CTECS handbook, district policy regarding absences from school follows the general outlines below:
Excused Absences

A. For absences one through nine, a student’s absences from school are considered excused when the student’s parent/guardian approves such absence and submits appropriate documentation;
B. For the tenth absence and all absences thereafter, a student’s absences from school are considered excused for the reasons listed in the CTECS handbook.

Thus, to earn credit for the year, a student may have no more than a total of 9 unexcused absences. The practice of losing credit after 9 unexcused absences will be applied to individual courses, i.e., if a student accumulates 10 unexcused absences for one class due to excessive tardies, unexcused early dismissals, and/or absences from school they may lose credit for that class.

Students are reminded that losing credit due to abuse of attendance policies may result in failure to accumulate enough credits for promotion to the next grade level and that seniors need to successfully earn 6.5 credits in their grade 12 year to graduate.

Documentation for excused absence(s) must be provided in writing to the Dean of Students within 30 days.

The school building and school grounds, both inside and outside, are monitored by cameras which record activity throughout the day and night. These records may be used in school-based investigations if necessary, including criminal investigations with the State or Local Police.

Students are not permitted to video or audiotape anyone without administrator and/or teacher approval. Violations of this policy could result in disciplinary consequences and/or reports to the State Police.

Parking on school grounds is a privilege and violation of any of the rules identified on the student parking application shall be grounds for immediate revocation of parking privileges. Parking regulations will be strictly enforced. School administration may revoke student parking for a student’s failure to maintain satisfactory scholastic achievement, attendance, punctuality, general attitude, and disciplinary infractions.

Please see the SRO for a parking application.

• CTECS is a one-to-one technology district where all students will receive a Chromebook to use for school purposes. Students are responsible for charging Chromebooks daily and maintaining them to avoid damage, theft, etc.
• Students who damage, misplace, or purposefully misuse Chromebooks can lose privileges and/or are responsible for financially repairing/replacing Chromebooks.

Students who will be dismissed from school should bring a note to our Dean of Students (Ms. Caraballo) or the main office so that the attendance can be recorded. If a note is not provided, the student’s parent will need to call Ms. Caraballo to give permission.

All students must sign out at the Main Lobby Security Desk using the SWIPE attendance system.

The Fourth Amendment protects students from unreasonable searches/seizures by school officials (government actors). Students have an expectation of privacy in their person and belongings. However, this expectation of privacy while at school is limited and school officials must balance student privacy rights with the need to maintain the safety of the school community. The legal standard required for a school official to conduct a search of a student or a student’s property is a reasonable suspicion that evidence of a crime or violation of the code of conduct will be found in the place being searched. Reasonableness is based on the facts of each case and the totality of the circumstances. The search must be both reasonable at the inception of the search and reasonable in scope. School officials have a duty to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all students under their authority.

Students should have no expectation of privacy in the use of any school property. Desks, lockers, and other storage spaces are provided by the school to students for their convenience. These storage areas remain school property, and as such, are subject to periodic inspections and searches by school authorities. Such inspections allow responsible school authorities to confirm that these spaces are being used appropriately in a manner consistent with the health and safety of all students. Students should not store items in lockers that violate school policy or law. Student property shall include but is not limited to purses, bags, toolboxes, cars, electronic devices, and cell phones. School authorities, in cooperation with the local or State Police departments, reserve the right to also conduct searches with K-9 units. As a state building, Cheney Tech could at times be used as a training facility for K-9 units.

The school administration is authorized to conduct a search of the individual's person, personal property or assigned lockers and other school property with or without the express permission or knowledge of the student or the student’s parents. Prior notice to the student is recommended but not required.

Students who refuse to be searched can still be issued discipline that aligns to the suspected violation if the school can provide adequate evidence.

Connecticut Technical Education and Career System students are subject to reasonable searches.

If there is reasonable suspicion that a CTECS student while on school property or at a school-sponsored event is in violation of any laws or school rules, the school administration is authorized to conduct a search of the individual's person, personal property or assigned lockers and other school property with or without the express permission or knowledge of the student or his/her parents. It is desirable that permission be sought or, at the very least, knowledge is given that a search is to take place, however, such permission or knowledge is not necessary. A search of a student’s person or effects may be conducted only if there are reasonable grounds at the inception of the search for suspecting that the search will reveal evidence that the student has violated or is violating either the law or the rules of the school (including but not limited to possession of a weapon, contraband or fruits of a crime or other materials in violation of school policy or state law). Moreover, the scope of the search shall be reasonably related to the objectives of the search and shall not be excessively intrusive in light of the age and sex of the student and the nature of the infraction. CTECS administrators are authorized to seize illegal or prohibited materials that are discovered as a result
of a reasonable search.

• Students should eat breakfast and access their lockers before 7:20 am, the start time for Announcements/Period 1 on the Bell Schedule.
• All students should be in their Period 1 location by the 7:20 am start time.
• There is no scheduled “homeroom” time; announcements will take place daily at 7:20 am before period 1 begins at 7:23am.
• Period 1 teachers are expected to implement daily routines to enforce school policies 13
• regarding dress code; students are expected to adhere to these expectations before entering Announcements/Period 1 at 7:20am.

• For any classes a student misses due to ISS time, the teacher will provide any work materials for the student either in Google Classroom or in a hard copy format.
• Students must hand over their phones upon entering SAIL/ISS; it will be returned at the end of the school day.
• All ISS/SAIL rules will be reviewed with the student, and adherence is mandatory or the student can be subject to removal and parent pick-up.
• Students who refuse disciplinary sanctions and/or do not meet the expectations of the SAIL/ISS setting will be issued progressive discipline, including Out-of-School Suspension.

• Students should lock and secure all lockers in Academics, Physical Education, and Trade.
• Academic lockers are located near their 1st period academic period. Please contact the main office with questions.
• Students should go to their lockers prior to homeroom. First period begins at 7:20 a.m. Students may go to their lockers on the way to lunch and after school.

All food and beverages other than water must be consumed in the cafeteria. Vending machines are only available before or after school as well as the students' designated lunch time.

Our school district uses ParentSquare to communicate with parents and students at the school. ParentSquare provides a simple and safe way for everyone at school to connect. Learn more on page 113 of the CTECS Student/Parent Handbook.

Parents and students can access:

• Attendance information
• Grades
• Assignment details
• School bulletins

All students must meet the CTECS District credit requirements for promotion.

CTECS Handbook Definition: Plagiarism or use or copying of the academic work of another individual and presenting it as the student’s own work without proper attribution. Students are reminded that sharing work with other students (for example, allowing students to copy homework or classwork assignments) is also plagiarism on the part of the student sharing the work. In addition, students are often unfamiliar with the fact that submitting work previously used for another assignment is also considered a form of plagiarism.
 

Response to plagiarism/cheating is at the teacher’s discretion. Teachers can collaborate with school administration to discuss next steps with this as well.

• 7:00am-7:15am.
• All students will enter through the main front entrance. Breakfast is served from 7:00am-7:15am and you must eat in the cafe.
• Students can report to their lockers from 7:15am-7:20am.
• Students who arrive late to school will SWIPE in and receive an auto-generated pass. Security is not authorized to provide passes to students.
•  Any student who has In School Suspension (ISS) assigned for the day will report to the Main Office upon arrival in the morning to be escorted to the SAIL room.

Students are prohibited from using their phones in school from the morning bell to the afternoon bell. Cheney Tech implements a school-wide policy with progressive discipline and interventions to adhere to this mandate:

Cell Phone Progressive Discipline

1. Teacher warning and contact home
2. Teacher detention and contact home
3. 50-minute SAIL and contact home
4. 90-minute SAIL and contact home
5. Administrative consequences and loss of device privileges

Device Rules

Students who bring cellphones, earbuds, AirPods, headphones, and other electronic devices on campus are subject to rules regarding their use:
? Cell phones are only allowed in the cafeteria, hallway, or with staff permission.
? Earbuds, Airpods, and headphones are prohibited from being worn in all school areas unless permitted by staff.
? Students should not charge their personal cell phones or devices at school.
? Students are responsible for securing their electronic devices and keeping them in a safe place. All students are assigned a locker and lock.
? If a cell phone is misused or considered part of an investigation it can be searched or seized by the administration.
 

Violations of the posted cell phone policy may result in confiscation of the device, loss of privileges, and/or other student disciplinary consequences.

Cheney Tech utilizes Yondr Pouches to support students who lose privileges or are in need of intervention

Safety Policies
? A device may be searched by school authorities if there is reasonable suspicion of a school policy or criminal violation. This includes posting, commenting, or texting mean-spirited, threatening, or inappropriate social media during the school day or after school hours.
? Criminal violations will be shared with law enforcement.
? Cell phones and electronic devices should not be used during a school lockdown.
? There is to be absolutely no photographic, video, or voice recording of any kind without permission from the classroom teacher, and/or an administrator.
? The administration is not responsible for investigating or recovering any loss or theft of cell phones or other electronic devices.
? A device may be searched by school authorities if there is reasonable suspicion of a school policy or criminal violation. This includes posting, commenting, or texting mean-spirited, threatening, or inappropriate social media during the school day or after school hours.
? Criminal violations will be shared with law enforcement.
? Cell phones and electronic devices should not be used during a school lockdown.
? There is to be absolutely no photographic, video, or voice recording of any kind without permission from the classroom teacher, and/or an administrator.
? The administration is not responsible for investigating or recovering any loss or theft of cell phones or other electronic devices.

• Electronic devices may be searched when reasonable suspicion exists.
• Criminal matters may be referred to law enforcement.
• Devices should not be used during lockdowns.
• Audio, video, or photographic recording requires permission.
• The school is not responsible for lost or stolen electronic devices.

On the district website, you can find information on our curriculum, staff directories, handbooks, Board meetings, and much more. We also share newsletters, press releases, student success stories, and other positive news about Connecticut’s technical high schools – all found on cttech.org

Each school in our district has its own website which contains information specific to the school the student attends. The direct links for each school can be located off the district website at cttech.org/schools. There you can find news, events, class information and the staff directory.

Tools approved by your trade instructor that are needed for technology work will be kept in toolboxes or on tool belts while working within the school or on a production job. These tools must be kept in the technology area. Confiscated items will not be returned. Knives are not part of any approved trade tool list and are strictly prohibited in all areas of the school and grounds. Consult the “weapons” section of the CTECS Discipline Policy for additional information.

We believe that family plays an integral role in the child’s learning. Therefore, we encourage all parents and guardians to be actively engaged in the school community, all with the goal of increasing student achievement and developing positive attitudes about self and school. Parents may choose to participate in the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), attend school events, or simply keep in touch with your school and the district at large in whatever way is possible for them.

Students are required to complete property receipts for all school equipment, including textbooks, which are being loaned to them. The property Receipt form is available in the Cheney Faculty Google Drive. Students must complete the entire form, including identification numbers. Estimates of replacement prices are acceptable, although it is suggested that teachers estimate to the high side of the price so that there is no argument regarding replacement cost in the event of loss or damage.

Bullying and Harassment

Youth Nicotine and Cannabis Prevention

Connecticut Equity Plan

Trauma, Violence, and Grief Resources