Refer to the complete School Board Policy 249 Bullying/Cyber-Bullying.

The Board is committed to providing a safe, positive learning environment for district students. The Board recognizes that bullying creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, detracts from the safe environment necessary for student learning, and may lead to more serious violence. Therefore, the Board prohibits bullying by district students. Bullying means an intentional electronic, written, verbal, non-verbal or physical act or series of acts directed at another student, or students, which occurs in a school setting that is severe, persistent or pervasive and where the student is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more students. Bullying is further defined as intentional harming of another person where the bully has more power than the victim.

Bullying has the effect of doing any of the following:

1. Substantial interference with a student’s education.
2. Creation of a threatening environment.
3. Substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school.

Bullying, as defined in this policy, includes cyber-bullying. Cyber bullying includes, but is not limited to, the following misuses of technology: harassing, teasing, intimidating, threatening, or terrorizing another student or staff member by way of any technological tool, such as sending or posting inappropriate or derogatory email messages, instant messages, text messages, digital pictures or images, or website postings (including blogs) which has the effect of:

1. Placing a student in reasonable fear of physical, emotional or mental harm;
2. Placing a student in reasonable fear of damage to or loss of personal property; or
3. Creating an intimidating or hostile environment that substantially interferes with a student’s educational opportunities. School Setting means in the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at a designated bus stop, walking to or from school, or at any activity sponsored, supervised or sanctioned by the school.

School Setting means in the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at a designated bus stop, walking to or from school, or at any activity sponsored, supervised or sanctioned by the school.

All school rules shall apply during your trip to and from school and on field trips.  You should bear in mind at all times that improper conduct on a bus may have more serious consequences.  Disruptive behavior may distract a driver and result in a serious accident.  No food or drinks are permitted on the bus. School bus transportation is a privilege which can and will be withdrawn temporarily or permanently when it is abused. Students are to be at their designated bus stop 5 minutes prior to pick-up time.

• Students are only permitted to attend their scheduled lunch.
• Students must utilize their ID to swipe into lunch.
• Students cannot leave the cafeteria without permission from a lunch monitor.
• During lunch, students needing to use the bathroom have to use the ones adjacent to the cafeteria.
• Students should be in the cafeteria no later than five (5) minutes after the first dismissal bell.
• If a student continually misbehaves, he/she will lose their cafeteria privileges.

The use of personal electronic devices including cell phones are not permitted to be utilized in the classroom, gymnasium, or auditorium unless otherwise directed by a teacher, counselor, staff member, or administrator. Student cell phones (and earbuds) must be away in a book bag, pocket, or locker during instructional class time unless otherwise directed by school staff.

Failure to place away cell phones, ear buds, or other electronic devices following the direction of a school staff member is a code of conduct violation and will result in the below offense schedule.

The use of cell phones/electronic devices, however, will be permitted in the hallways, at passing time, in the cafeteria during the student’s lunch time, before school and after school hours. Students should not call or text others who are in class. Phones will be set to vibrate or silent for use in the hallways and cafeteria.

Use of cell phones/electronic devices to capture digital images or any electronic recording of audio or video of another person(s) without their permission is strictly prohibited. Personal privacy violations such as this shall be considered a serious Level III offense, and may result in a referral of the matter to law enforcement entities if such use involved the collection or dissemination of private images, regardless of any consent by the subject.

Cell phones may be confiscated when a student is in the office or the guidance suite for any reason.

1st Offense Upon Refusal

• Restorative Discussion with student following infraction
• Teacher enters warning in Skyward

2nd Offense Upon Refusal

• Phone call to parent (Two way communication)
• Teacher enters warning in Skyward

3rd Offense Upon Refusal

• After-school detention with teacher
• Teacher enters warning in Skyward

4th Offense Upon Refusal

• Office discipline referral- Major
• 1 Day phone turned into main office during instructional day

5th Offense Upon Refusal

• Office discipline referral
• Parent Conference
• 5 days phone turned into main office during instructional day

Use or possession of illegal substances will be handled in accordance with Penn-Delco School District Policy 227.

Any student who misses a class(es) for any illegitimate reason or who leaves school without proper permission may be considered to be cutting the class.

Response for cutting class are as follows:

1st Class Cut

• Teacher calls parent
• Teacher conferences with student
• Teacher enters warning in Skyward

Subsequent Class Cuts

• Teacher does NOT have to accept missed assignments or schedule makeup assessments
• Teacher enters office discipline referral in Skyward (provided that they have already called a parent and held a conference with student for previous class cut)
• Administrator or Dean calls parent
• Administrator or Dean facilitates restorative meeting and/or additional consequences such as loss of school privileges and/or in-school suspension

Sun Valley High School may use police certified drug detection dogs to ensure our campus is drug and alcohol free. Unannounced visits by drug detection dogs will occur periodically. This additional safety measure ensures all of our students are safe and the campus is drug and alcohol free.

Every student has a specific assignment for each class period. During this time, he/she belongs only in the room specified on his/her roster. Students have to go to lockers or the lavatory during the three minutes between classes. At any other time, a student must have a hall pass from his/her teacher. This includes visits to the office, nurse, guidance center, etc. A hall pass is to be kept with the student and presented when asked. If detained by a teacher, that teacher is to provide a hall pass to the next class. Students should not come to the office to get a pass.

Hall passes must be presented to any staff member who asks. Students are not permitted to leave class without a pass or permission from the teacher for any reason. Students leaving class without permission for any reason may face disciplinary action. Teachers will use discretion in allowing students to leave the room for emergency situations. Students with physical ailments who require visits to the nurse or lavatory should provide a written note from the parent describing the nature of the problem. The administration may limit passes for any student who abuses this privilege.

Out of Bounds is broadly defined as any place where a student is not supposed to be during the school day. Out of Bounds is also any unsupervised area where it is known that students are not permitted. Common sense prevails in cases where students are out of bounds. Students with no legitimate purpose for being in an out of bounds location will be considered out of bounds. Some out of bounds areas include but are not limited to: locker rooms, cafeteria at times other than scheduled lunch or study hall, under stairwells, behind doors, unsupervised classrooms, auditorium and gym at unsupervised times, behind the building, in the parking lot, along any unsupervised external perimeter of the building, etc. The administration reserves the right to determine whether an area is “out of bounds.” Students caught in out of bounds areas may be subject to disciplinary actions and search.

Public display of affection within the educational environment is unacceptable. It is the goal of Sun Valley to establish proper modes of behavior for students throughout school. Teachers will be instructed to use good judgment when observing students who are involved in a public display of affection. However, if a teacher deems that a particular situation is inappropriate, he/she will bring the problem to the student’s attention immediately. Chronic offenders will be subject to disciplinary action.

Keep in mind that this policy is designed to maintain a comfortable environment and to reinforce proper decorum throughout the school. It is not, however, designed to discourage student friendships in an atmosphere of care between students and teachers. It is our hope that we will be able to establish reasonable limits in a positive climate for the entire school community.

Any student who is asked to leave a class for any reason should report to the office immediately. Students who fail to follow the directives of school personnel or fail to leave in a timely fashion are considered insubordinate. 

Scholars shall have the right to assemble at times that do not interfere with the academic process. These meetings, however, must not endanger the health or safety of the school community, must not damage school property and must take place at scheduled times that do not interfere with the educational process.

Scholars shall be free to organize themselves within the school for political, social and athletic purposes which promise to enrich their educational-cultural experience providing that such groups have "open" membership for scholars and faculty regardless of race, religion, or national origin and so long as such organizations are not detrimental to the educational process or the functioning of the school. It must be noted that certain organizations and activities have specific eligibility requirements that relate to success in academic work. If the number of participants of any organization or activity must be limited, all scholars who aspire and are eligible shall be entitled to try-outs that must be conducted before the final selection of participants is determined. The final determination of participants in those organizations that must be limited shall be the responsibility of the coach or sponsor of the activity. scholars shall not be permitted to engage in the selection of other scholars for membership on teams, in clubs, or in any other school-centered function or activity that will enable scholars to maintain a self-perpetuating organization.

Scholars have the right to petition or survey concerning in-school or out-of school issues. The exercise of this right must not disrupt the educational program.

Due to Pennsylvania Act 145 of 1996 and research related to the physical dangers associated with tobacco products, smoking, vaping, and the use of tobacco products are not permitted on school property. There is no smoking/vaping on school grounds. Any student found smoking, in possession of a cigarette, vaping device, smoking paraphernalia, or any tobacco products anywhere on school property will be suspended up to three days and may be required to enroll in a vaping cessation program. Length of suspensions may increase based on the number of offenses committed. In addition to suspension, any student found in possession of tobacco products on school property or in school will be subject to a fine, plus court costs pursuant to the penalties set forth in Pennsylvania Act 145 of 1996.