Student Values, Expectations, & Code of Conduct

In order to provide the proper atmosphere for learning, a strict standard of discipline and conduct is maintained.

• Members of the School community are required to show respect and consideration for the feelings and well-being of others at all times.
• Members of the School community are required to show respect for school and individual property at all times.
• Members of the School community are required to follow the dress code and use proper language when in the school building and when participating in any Windward-related activity.
• Members of the School community are required to adhere to the proper use of technology and social media at all times.
• Fighting, all types of bullying, harassment, hurtful teasing, unkind behavior, and the use of improper language are forbidden.
• Dishonesty, cheating, and plagiarism will not be tolerated.
• Possession, consumption, distribution, or sale of illegal drugs or alcohol or being under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol or misusing legal drugs either on School premises or during School-run functions is prohibited and may be cause for immediate expulsion.
• Smoking or vaping in the School buildings, on the School grounds, or during School-run functions is strictly prohibited.

Arising out of this Code of Conduct, The Windward School Diversity Office reinforces three guidelines for our community. As a Windward community...

• …we treat all people with decency and respect.
• …we respect and value diversity in all of its forms.
• …we do not blame or shame ourselves or others, especially when we disagree.

To protect the health, safety, property rights, and standards of all members of the School community, the School reserves the right to call for a search of a student’s locker, book bag, e-mail, phone, computer files, or person and, if necessary, to take the contents as evidence. Such searches will be conducted at the discretion of the School upon reasonable suspicion and with due regard for the dignity of the student. The School reserves the right to conduct random searches.

When students or families make a report to the School in good faith regarding unsafe, unkind, or dishonest behaviors of other students, it is important that they be able to do so with confidentiality to the extent practicable and appropriate under the circumstances.  It is unacceptable and strictly forbidden for anyone to seek to intimidate or retaliate in any way against students or families they suspect of having made a report to the School. 

Violations of the behavior code will result in disciplinary action up to and including detention, suspension, and expulsion. This list of rules and regulations is not all-inclusive, and disciplinary action may be taken by the administration for any student behavior that is deemed inappropriate. The School’s purview extends to any and all behavior that impacts the School community, regardless of where the student behavior takes place, including on social media.

In the enrollment contract, The Windward School asks parents/guardians to review and sign the “Statement of Values and Expectations” that addresses many issues relating to student conduct as well as expectations that the School has for shared values with parents and guardians.  The signing of this document signals parents/guardians' willingness to cooperate with the guidelines set forth by the School.

A Statement of Values and Expectations   

The Windward School is committed to providing an excellent education for children with language-based learning disabilities. The success of this proven program that reflects current research in the field is founded upon several deeply held principles and a series of expectations for the students and parents/guardians in the School community. These principles and expectations include...

Communication and Mutual Respect: The best education for our students can occur only when there is frequent and effective communication between home and school, based upon respect for the roles that each must play. The School places a high value on personal contact between parents/guardians and faculty and staff members. Therefore, it provides regular written reports about each student and schedules parent conferences several times a year. Faculty and staff members return phone calls promptly upon request and set appointments to meet at other specified times.

At Windward, parents/guardians are expected to:

• read and respond to written communications from the School in a timely manner;
• avail themselves of the many opportunities for conferences with teachers;
• inform the School of any matter that may seriously affect their child’s learning; and
• maintain a productive and cooperative relationship with faculty and staff, based upon mutual respect.

Attendance: Children with language-based learning disabilities learn best through systematic, explicit instruction. They cannot be expected to teach themselves new material. Windward provides a carefully structured program based upon daily class instruction by specially trained teachers. Students must be in school to benefit from this program. The academic progress of students who are excessively absent or tardy might be compromised. Homework is not a substitute for direct instruction. It is assigned to practice or apply skills that have already been taught and, as students grow older, to practice important study skills.

At Windward parents/guardians are expected to:

• keep students out of school only for illness or serious family emergencies;
• make every effort to see that students are at school in time to participate in the Homeroom period;
• understand that homework is not a replacement for classroom instruction; and
• provide appropriate study space, without distraction, for homework; monitor their child’s homework behavior; provide encouragement; and give feedback to the teacher if problems are observed. At Windward, parents/guardians should allow their children to do their own homework and provide support only as directed by the School.

Social Events Outside of School: For many Windward students who have experienced exclusion in past school experiences, social acceptance is critically important to the development of self-confidence and a positive self-image. The School asks that parents/guardians let inclusion be the guiding principle when planning group parties. Finding out they were one of the few in a class not invited to an event that others are discussing can be devastating to children. If a party or event is going to include a significant number of children, include all members of the class if possible.  Additionally, the party should be planned for a weekend or such time that children are not departing from School. Invitations may not be handed out at School, and gifts/party favors should not be brought or worn to School. 

Behavior: All children learn best in a serious and orderly environment, where learning is the highest priority and all members of the school community are respected. Parents and guardians are expected to support the School in its insistence on proper respect for the rights and feelings of all members of the community.

Behavior between and among Windward students at all times must meet the standards of the School’s values and expectations.  The Code of Conduct applies to all campuses of the School, all School-sponsored and affiliated trips and events, transportation provided by the School, and conduct that occurs off-premises, including in cyberspace and on social media.  There are times when it is appropriate and necessary for the School to respond to incidents that occur outside of School and beyond School hours.  The School reserves the right to discipline student behavior, whether on or off premises, when it creates or would foreseeably create a risk of substantial disruption within the School community or when it potentially damages the reputation of the School. 

The Code of Conduct includes some examples of requirements of conduct.  It is not a comprehensive or all-inclusive list.  Students may also be disciplined for commonsense violations, violations of school community values other than those enumerated above, or for any student behavior that is deemed inappropriate by the School.  Violations of the Code of Conduct, the rules established in each division of the School, the School's Harassment/Bullying Policy, or the instructions of School staff may result in disciplinary action up to and including detention, suspension, or expulsion from the School.