Code of Conduct

The purpose of our Code of Conduct is to create and maintain an environment consistent with our principles that is conducive to learning, personal growth and development, individual health and safety, and the preservation of good order, property, and belongings. Students have the right and responsibility to help maintain this environment.

The Code of Conduct applies to all Washington Latin students whenever their conduct is reasonably related to school or school activities. This includes:

1. On school grounds before, during, and after school hours 
2. At any other time when the school is being used by another school group 
3. Off school grounds at a school activity, function, or event 
4. Traveling to or from the school, a school activity, or a school-related function 
5. On a school-sponsored bus or public transportation traveling to and from school 
6. When a Washington Latin student is in a capacity representing the school on or off campus
7. When using any electronic device on campus, whether school-owned or not, through social media, chatting, texting or any other means of communication online
8. At other times when such behavior can be demonstrated to negatively affect the educational process or to endanger the health, safety, morals, or welfare of the school community.

On-Campus Rules

• Students are expected to remain on school grounds during the day. Leaving without permission for any reason is in violation of our attendance policy (please see details below).
• All visitors must sign in at the front door and check in with staff at the main office, unless they are at school for a brief stop (such as picking up a student) or for an open event (such as a PFA meeting).
• Visiting friends or relatives may only attend class with students with prior approval of the Principal. Visitors must sign in at the front office upon arrival and sign out upon departure. 
• Students are expected to take good care of all school property, including (but not limited to) textbooks, library books, computers and other technological devices, school materials, furniture, and the school building. Students and families will be held financially responsible for any damage to or loss of school property they use, and reimbursement must be received before the end of the school year.  
• Students should label all personal items with their name and are expected to use their assigned locker or cubby to store personal possessions while at school.  At each campus, there is an area for the lost-and-found (at 2nd Street: outside of the MPR; at Cooper: behind the desk at the front office).  Families and students are strongly encouraged to check this area often for lost items. More valuable items (cell phones, jewelry, glasses, etc.) are kept secure, and students or families may ask office staff about missing items. We regularly donate unclaimed items to charity after notifying all families of the deadline in Legenda.
• Students may sell items at school or school functions only with permission from the campus Principal or a person designated by the Principal to authorize sales.

Off-Campus Rules

As noted, Washington Latin expects all students to comply with our Code of Conduct at all times, including when off campus but still representing the school during:

• Daytime field trips around DC
• School-sponsored multi-day or overnight trips
• Extra-curricular activities, such as Model UN and Debate Team
• Athletic practices and competitions

Students must also recognize the authority of non-Latin faculty when off campus and follow their directions as they would a Latin teacher, including bus drivers, opponents’ coaches, parent/guardian chaperones, etc.

Behavior on Latin-Sponsored Transportation

In order to make our schools accessible to students throughout DC, we offer bus service for both campuses. Parents pay for this service to help defray the cost, but aid is available. Details are available on our website on the Make Payments pages (2nd Street or Cooper). If you have questions, contact Martita Fleming, Director of Operations, at mfleming@latinpcs.org.

The buses provided by Latin are considered an extension of the school. While riding the bus, students are expected to behave in the same manner as in the classroom, building, and grounds. The bus driver and/or bus monitor are responsible for the safety and welfare of students on the bus, and students should adhere to their instructions at all times. Students must comply with the following bus rules:

• Students must remain seated at all times and may not move from their seats until the bus has come to a complete stop. 
• Students’ actions should not cause the driver to be distracted while the bus is moving.
• Students may converse quietly with a neighbor but not talk in an overly loud voice, scream or yell.
• There is to be no profanity, vulgar language or gestures.
• Students should confine their activity inside the bus. All body parts (head, arms, long hair, etc.) must remain inside the bus.  Students should refrain from gesturing, talking or in any way interacting with pedestrians or drivers of other vehicles.
• Students should maintain the cleanliness and condition of the bus by not writing on any part of the bus, ripping or tearing seat covers, throwing anything, or leaving litter on the bus.
• There is to be no threatening or sexual harassment of others.
• There is to be no throwing of anything within the bus or out of the window of the bus.
• There is to be no wrestling, spitting, fighting, pushing, and/or shoving.
• There is no holding of seats for other students; students should take the window seats, if available, to allow efficient loading of the bus from the center aisle.  Students are expected to enter and exit the bus in an orderly fashion and to be respectful of the area surrounding the bus stops.

Riding the school bus is a privilege, not a right, and may be rescinded at any time. The driver and/or bus monitor will report any infractions of the rules to the Principal, who will follow up on the issue and take appropriate action, including the following:  

• A meeting with a parent and a campus administrator may be required before the student will be allowed to ride the bus again. 
• A second offense will mean that the student may no longer ride the bus. 
• Note that there will be no appeal process if the bus staff recommends suspension of bus privileges.  
• When a student is suspended from bus privileges, payment is forfeited. 
• Students and parents are required to review and sign a behavior agreement in order to ride the bus.

Afterschool Rules

Students may not stay after school without being actively engaged in a designated afterschool activity or without express permission from a teacher. Students with such permission must remain with that teacher. All others must leave campus.

Permissible activity for students includes:

• Meeting with a teach for Tutorial (from dismissal to 3:45 Monday – Thursday)
• MAGIS afterschool program
• Athletic practice or game (students must be with the team, including if they are in pre-practice study hall with a coach)
• Theater or musical rehearsal (students should remain with the rehearsal)
• Other activity, such as a club that meets afterschool

Other rules for afterschool include:

• Students who leave campus will not be allowed to re-enter unless accompanied by a coach or teacher.
• Students waiting to be picked up may wait in designated areas but may not wander the school.
• Out of courtesy to our faculty, please pick up your children after school on time. Families who repeatedly pick up their children late will be asked to attend a mandatory meeting with a school administrator.