The School’s expectations as to behavior, as well as the current attendance policies, are explained in this handbook. It is the responsibility of both students and parents to read, understand, and follow them.

OES is a cooperative community which encourages selfdiscipline, sound moral judgment, pride in the School, and respect for self and others. The goal is to help students grow and learn from all of their experiences in and out of the classroom.

OES is an international school committed to diversity, and continues to seek and welcome students of different racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. Students are expected to respect and celebrate multicultural and individual differences. Respect and responsibility provide the base for all our expectations. Students should arrive prepared to abide by them. We expect that all members of the community will:

• 1. demonstrate respect for self, others, and the environment
  
  
• 2. support what they know is right
  
  
• 3. be healthy
  
  
• 4. be honest with themselves and others
  
  
• 5. use appropriate language
  
  
• 6. act to solve school problems
  
  
• 7. meet commitments
  
  
• 8. accept responsibility for their own actions

Any behavior which may be deemed detrimental to Oregon Episcopal School, to the OES community, to any member of that community (self or others), or to the spirit of that community is subject to disciplinary action. The action taken will necessarily reflect the seriousness of the violation.

Major Rules and Consequences
The following rules are considered major rules at OES and constitute fundamental expectations of behavior in our community. Breaking these rules is a very serious offense and will usually convene the Student/Faculty Discipline Committee; a single infraction may be cause for dismissal from OES. Unless otherwise stated, these rules apply to conduct at all school-related events both on and off the OES campus.

As members of the community, students are encouraged to report violations of school rules to the appropriate authorities so that matters may be resolved as quickly as possible without escalation. Students have a responsibility to excuse themselves from situations where major school rules are being violated (unless a peer is in danger), at school activities or in all situations where the School is represented. Finally, students are required to observe all Federal and State laws while on the OES campus or at school-related activities.

If a student is found to have committed a major rule violation but is not dismissed from OES, the student will be placed on probation under terms and for a period of time as determined by the administration. If the student commits another major rule violation (or a series of other offenses equivalent to a major rule violation) while on probation, and in the absence of unusual mitigating circumstances, he or she increases the likelihood of dismissal from OES.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
There will be no cheating. Cheating is the theft of information from another student with or without that other person’s knowledge or from a master answer source, or the use of a calculator when its use is not permitted. Cheating includes copying someone else’s work or answers, presenting someone else’s work as your own, knowingly providing without a teacher’s permission work for someone else to copy or use for credit, getting answers from someone orally for “help” on a test or quiz, asking about a test before it is administered to one’s own section, asking what problems or concepts were on a test or quiz, or bringing some kind of unauthorized “cheat” sheet to a quiz or test (such as writing on your hand, a sheet of notes, something on or in your calculator).

There will be no plagiarism. Plagiarism is literary theft, or using another person’s or source’s ideas or language without clear attribution. Plagiarism includes getting someone else to do your writing, copying someone else’s work (including printing out data from electronic encyclopedias or resources), presenting someone else’s language or ideas as if they were your own, or borrowing the order of an argument or someone else’s selection of details or examples without attribution.

When a student first plagiarizes or cheats in a class, the teacher may handle it with consequences that are specific to that class. These consequences may range from failing a section of the paper, test, or project or failing the entire paper, test, or project. The teacher will also inform the Grade Dean that the incident happened. If the incident is serious enough, the teacher may request that it be sent to the Discipline Committee. Students caught cheating or plagiarizing a second time will receive a more serious consequence and may be sent to the Discipline Committee.

Cheating and plagiarism can have serious consequences in academic spheres and in the real world, including failing grades, expulsion from institutions, loss of jobs and reputations, and lawsuits. To protect yourself against charges of cheating, do your own work. Clarify the expectations of your teacher regarding homework, group work, and projects. Don’t allow peers to collaborate unless you are sure it is acceptable.

To protect yourself against charges of plagiarism, it is important to observe good research practices, keeping others’ ideas and information separate from your own ideas. Order your thoughts yourself and choose your own examples from a text; indicate to your reader when you are borrowing exact language from a source; paraphrase legitimately, putting ideas into your own language; acknowledge other people’s ideas and work from your own thesis and supporting ideas.

DISHONESTY
There will be no lying, deceit, or any other dishonest conduct.

FIRE
There will be no open flame, including smoking, incense or candle burning, in any building on campus except in the Chapel or when there is adult supervision.

FIREARMS/WEAPONS
There will be no possession or use of firearms or other dangerous weapons including, but not limited to, air rifles, bow and arrows, knives, switch blades, or ceremonial swords. Because possession of a weapon poses a serious threat to the immediate safety of our community, the following steps will be taken:

• weapon will be confiscated
  
  
• parents and possibly the police will be notified
  
  
• student will be removed from contact with other students until a risk-assessment interview can be conducted by a member of the Administration
  
  
• possible Discipline Committee or expulsion may result

HARRASSMENT
There will be no hazing or bullying behavior—i.e. verbal abuse, physical abuse, or antisocial harassment of a student by peer(s). There will be no exploitive or inappropriate sexual behavior; this includes sexual harassment (see Harassment Policy in the All School section of this handbook).

STEALING
There will be no stealing. Out of respect for one another’s privacy, students may not enter another’s room or go into another person’s locker without permission. Nothing may be borrowed or taken without permission of the owner. To do so is regarded as an act of stealing. Missing items should be reported to the Upper School Office as soon as a loss is discovered.

ALCOHOL, NICOTINE, AND OTHER DRUGS
There will be no possession, use, distribution or display of alcohol, beverages containing alcohol (or the containers), nicotine, drug paraphernalia, marijuana, and/or other illicit or dangerous drugs of any kind. Any over-the-counter or prescription drug used for a purpose other than its primary indication will be considered illicit.

If any students come forward with concern about their own alcohol, nicotine, or other drug use, the use will be dealt with as a counseling/health issue, not a disciplinary issue. Seeking health care for a substance abuse problem demonstrates responsible behavior. However, the student must comply with the school rules regarding alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs while receiving assistance. If a violation is confirmed before or after the student requests assistance, disciplinary action will result.

Consequences of substance abuse behaviors or violation of any of the major rules may include some or all of the following consequences:

1. In-school suspension: In-school suspension, a more serious consequence than TimeBack (see Disciplinary Process), restricts a student’s freedom during the academic day.

• Students will check in at the appropriate place at the beginning and end of each period of in-school suspension.
  
  
• Students will spend all their free periods, including activity period and lunch, in this location. Students with more than 15 minutes of free time (because of a class getting out early, for example) must report to in-school suspension.
  
  
• Students are expected to be prompt. In-school suspension is a school obligation, and missing it will be handled accordingly.
  
  
• Students are expected to do school work, read, or write letters during this time.
  
  
• Students may not eat, drink, or sleep during this time.
  
  
• Students may not receive visits from friends during this time.
  
  
• Students may not leave campus at any time during the school day.

2. Suspension from school or living in residence hall: This is one of the most serious consequences shy of expulsion. Suspension will trigger a process which informs colleges of that student’s suspension. Students may not come to campus or any school events for the duration of their suspension. They may work with teachers over the phone or through email and they may complete work that is assigned during that time period. Students may not participate in any extracurricular events. They may meet with teachers if they have a specific appointment arranged.

3. Probation: Probation serves as a warning that a student’s behavior, if continued or repeated, may result in disciplinary consequences up to and including expulsion. Probation may include a loss of privileges and a plan of remediation. Terms of probation are set out for each particular case.

4. Dismissal: A single infraction of a major school rule or a pattern of lesser infractions may lead to the dismissal of a student from OES.

5. Mandatory drug and alcohol assessment, with a written evaluation sent to a designated Upper School Counselor. Counselor works with family to start this process.

6. Possible school activity and sports restrictions. See Upper School Athletic Policy for alcohol, nicotine and drugs.

7. Colleges are informed. It is the policy of OES to notify colleges of major disciplinary infractions (i.e. those resulting in probation, suspension, or dismissal). If the applicant has been subject to serious discipline while at OES, that will be noted in the counselor’s letter of recommendation. In the event that a serious discipline infraction occurs after the application forms have been sent, OES and the student will notify the admission offices of the colleges to which the student has applied.

NICOTINE USE
Concerns for health and safety have led to a smoke-free environment on the OES campus. As well, it is against Oregon State law for minors to chew, carry, or smoke any tobacco products. Therefore, tobacco possession or use of any kind by any OES student on school property or during any school-related event is not permitted. Additionally, no student is permitted to use tobacco off campus during the school day. (“School day” is from arrival at school until the end of a student’s last school commitment regardless of age.)

Failure to adhere to the nicotine use guidelines will be considered a violation and will be treated as follows.

First Violation

• Parents and advisor are notified.
  
  
• Student will participate in smoking-cessation education activities supervised by the school nurse for the equivalent of four hours.

Second Violation

• Student, parents, advisor, the school nurse, and an Upper School administrator meet and arrange for the next step in tobacco cessation.
  
  
• Student will serve a two-week in-school suspension.
  
  
• Student will complete 5 hours of work on or off campus that is related to fire safety, health issues concerning tobacco use, and/or litter of cigarette butts. This work must be completed by the end of the in-school suspension.

Third Violation

• Parents and advisor are notified.
  
  
• Student will serve a three-week in-school suspension
  
  
• Student will complete ten hours of work on or off campus that is related to fire safety, health issues concerning tobacco use, and/or litter of cigarette butts. This work must be completed by the end of the in-school suspension.

Violations will be cumulative over a student’s time at OES. The number of violations a student earns do not “start over” at the beginning of each school year. A student who earns a fourth nicotine violation will go before the Discipline Committee.

VANDALISM
There will be no willful destruction of property belonging to the School, its personnel, or another student. Students will be held financially responsible for any damage to school facilities.

Minor Rules and Consequences

Students may also be referred to the Discipline Committee for continued lack of response to minor disciplinary measures, willful disobedience, open defiance of or insubordination to adult personnel, repeated use of profane or obscene language or gestures, or any other behavior that disrupts the campus environment.

The following descriptions apply to daily expectations of behavior. Failure to fulfill these expectations carries specific consequences as described.

COMPUTER USE
The computers in the academic buildings and the network are to be used for academic purposes only. Students are expected to use both responsibly. They must leave the machines exactly as they found them. Students who use a computer inappropriately will receive the following consequences: First offense will receive a TimeBack, second offense will receive two TimeBacks, third offense will result in a meeting with parents and may result in the student losing the privilege of having access to computers on this campus. Reasonable use of email is an appropriate use of school computers.

DRESS
Clothing should be neat (not torn or ripped), clean, in good repair, and appropriate to a classroom situation. Clothing with explicit alcohol, nicotine and other drugs or sexual references is unacceptable attire at school and school-related events. Dress and grooming that interfere with the learning process (for example, extremely short garments, bare midriffs) are inappropriate. To comply with health laws, shirts and shoes must be worn at all times.

All violations of dress and grooming guidelines will be handled on an individual basis. Any faculty member has the right and responsibility to require that students adhere to the guidelines.

We strongly encourage you to label your belongings, especially calculators, textbooks, and large articles of clothing so they can be returned to you if they are lost and found.

OFF-CAMPUS PRIVILEGES
OES is a closed campus during the day for all students except Seniors, who have the privilege of leaving campus during school hours when they have no obligations. Offcampus permission can be revoked at any time for an individual or the whole class if the privilege is abused. Seniors may leave campus alone or with other Seniors. However, Seniors who leave campus with underclassmen are subject to the same consequences as the underclassmen. If students leave campus without permission, their parents will be notified and a TimeBack will be assigned. Additional off-campus violations will be reviewed by an administrator for further appropriate action.

During Finals week, at the end of each semester, all students have permission to go off campus unless a parent calls the school to indicate that their child should be restricted to campus during the school day.

Juniors may receive open-campus privileges if they apply for them during the second semester of their junior year. The privileges will be given or revoked according to a decision of the Upper School faculty.

PARKING AND DRIVING
The OES parking lot and driveways are congested areas that are shared by both vehicles and pedestrians. To make the campus as safe as possible, please drive slowly (10 mph) and with caution. Always yield to foot traffic.

Parking and standing is prohibited at all times along red curbs, and at other areas as marked. Standing is allowed along yellow curbs marked as drop-off and pick-up zones if the driver remains with the vehicle. Please do not leave your vehicle unattended in yellow zones, even if you intend to be there for “only a minute”—it disrupts the flow of loading and unloading.

Please load and unload only at the curb in the drop-off zones. After picking up or dropping off your children, please leave promptly so others can get in behind you. Do not double park or do anything else to block traffic or draw your child off the curb and into traffic.

All faculty, staff, and student drivers must display parking decals on their cars. These must be obtained (at no charge) from the Upper School Office.

All students except seniors must park at SPARC. Carpool stickers granting permission to park in the main lot will be issued only if a student regularly transports a Lower School student, or if a student has a medical excuse from a physician on record with the Upper School office.

If students need to be on campus after dark, they should move their cars to the main lot – not to the field or gym lots – after 3:00 p.m. Buses returning after dark from athletic and other trips will drop students who have parked at SPARC at their cars before returning to the main campus.

Student drivers may not drive up the road to the dorm or along the service drive to the gym, except after 6 p.m. and on weekends.

To ensure the safety of our children and families, as well as families in the Montclair neighborhood, please strictly observe the 25 mph speed limit on Nicol Road. As we wish to be good neighbors, we ask that you not cut through the neighborhood by using Willowmere Drive or Westgate Way.

Resident students are not permitted to bring motor vehicles to school or to maintain motor vehicles in the local area while they are residing in the dorms. They are not permitted to drive motor vehicles at any time except in the company of a parent.

Student parking in OES lots is a privilege that may be altered depending on campus conditions and parking availability. Students with campus parking privileges must park only at SPARC, except for seniors, who must park in the designated spaces at the end of the athletic practice field.

Parking Offenses
The following are not allowed:

• Parking in no-parking zones: a disabled person space, the volunteer spaces, the auction spaces, above the admissions office, in a reserved space.
  
  
• Parking in upper lot (any student without an appropriate sticker).
  
  
• Driving an unregistered vehicle.
  
  
• Speeding: Driving over the posted speed limits on campus or on Nicol Road.
  
  
• Driving that endangers others on campus: any complaint from other students, teachers, parents, or neighbors that, upon investigation, proves to be justifiable.

Consequences include:

Any faculty or staff member and any senior may issue a “parking ticket” for parking violations by students. Violations should be reported to the Upper School office or the appropriate Grade Dean. Consequences include:

• 1st parking ticket = a TimeBack
  
• 2nd parking ticket = a TimeBack
  
• 3rd parking ticket = 2 TimeBacks

If a student wishes to appeal a parking ticket an appeal can be made through the Grade Dean or the upper school head. At their discretion, such appeals may be sent to the Discipline Committee.

Any driver who accumulates more than three parking tickets incurs a special meeting with an advisor, parents, and a member of the Upper School Administration. Consequences will be decided at that meeting.

A student who is accused of careless or dangerous driving may, with proven or acknowledged guilt, loses his or her driving privileges for a certain period after parents are notified. Complaints will be addressed by the Upper School office.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES
If a student returns to a class after being absent and does not have an excused absence, then that teacher will respond with consequences of their own design. This may range from assigning a TimeBack, requiring extra time from that student outside of class time and/or factoring that absence into the grade for the course.

When the Upper School Office records three unexcused absences, the Office will call the student’s family to determine the reason for the absences. If the student has skipped three commitments and remains unexcused, then the student will serve one week (5 days) of in-school suspension.

If a student subsequently receives a fourth unexcused absence, they will serve a second week of in-school suspension.

A fifth unexcused absence will incur a review by the Coordinator of Attendance, the student’s Advisor and the Grade Dean or Head of the Upper School.

Underclassmen are not allowed off campus. Going off campus if not a Senior constitutes an unexcused absence.

Please note that there may be additional academic repercussions to having skipped a class.

Return to Top of Page