Conduct and School Rules

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Conduct and School Rules

Please carefully read the PWCS Code of Behavior available online from our school webpage. This is reviewed with all students during the first quarter. It is the family’s responsibility to follow all county policies that are outlined in these documents. Please remind your child that any look-alike weapons (as described in the Code of Behavior) brought to school will result in disciplinary action. Please also speak with your child about making verbal or physical threats to other students or staff. Such actions create serious situations and consequences.
For more information, see the online Code of Behavior.

 

PBIS (Positive Behaior Intervention and Support)

Classroom, individual, and mini-PAWS are given out to students who are showing PAWS Behavior:

  • P – ‘Paws'itive Attitude
  • A – Act Respectful
  • W – Work Together
  • S – Self-Control.

A mini-PAWS drawing is held each Friday for a prize.

Students who receive Individual PAWS stickers are recognized by staff.
Classroom PAWS are collected by the teachers for class rewards.

 

Dress Code (Regulation 734-1 & Code of Behavior)

Please be aware that the Prince William County Public Schools Code of Behavior defines the dress code for all schools in Prince William County and the code will be enforced at Penn Elementary. The PWCS student dress and grooming guidelines follow the State guidance and are created to ensure equity in student expression and staff enforcement and are not intended to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Students are permitted to wear any religiously and ethnically specific or significant head covering or hairstyle. Permitted head coverings and hairstyles include but are not limited to:

  • Hijabs
  • Yarmulkes
  •  Headwraps
  • eBraids
  • Locs
  • Cornrows


Also consistent with Virginia Code §§ 22.1-276.01 and 22.1-279.6, these dress and grooming guidelines were created to maintain gender neutrality by creating equitable standards regardless of gender and to not have a disparate impact on students of a particular gender. Prohibited items of clothing include clothing items which:

  • Reveal bare skin to the extent that they distract or may foreseeably distract other students or staff
  • Reveal or expose undergarments
  • Fit in a manner as to reveal or expose undergarments
  • Contain vulgar, discriminatory, lewd patently offensive or obscene language or images
  • Contain threats or gang symbols
  • Promotes the use of weapons and violence, or the use of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs, and/or associated paraphernalia
  • Cause or may foreseeably cause a disruption to the learning environment
  • Accessories which could be regarded as or used as a weapon.

Headwear which covers one’s entire head or face with the following exceptions:
  • Worn as part of one’s religion
  • Worn for medical reasons
  • Worn for personal prevention practices as in the case of the spread of infectious diseases
  • Worn for an approved school event
  • Worn as an expression of one’s cultural or ethnical background
  • Jewelry or other items which could be regarded as or used as a weapon. Rubber-sole sports shoes are
    recommended due to the daily recess period and increased PE classes. Loose fitting sandals and flip-flops are not safe for school wear.

 

Electronic Devices and Cell Phones

Penn understands that many students have their own devices-cell phones, tablets, smart watches, etc. Ideally, these should be left at home, but we know that with the diverse needs of our families that students may need to have these for before and after school. We ask that all technology from home is silenced and left in a backpack. These devices can create many problems and disruptions in an elementary school environment. If a student is using their cell phone, it may be confiscated and sent to the office for the student to pick up at the end of the day. Repeated offenses will result in a conference with parents and administration.


Penn follows the Code of Behavior regarding cell phone use.


Possession of communication devices by students or staff on PWCS grounds is a privilege, not a right, and any staff member or student who brings a communication device on PWCS property consents to these rules and to the school division’s right to confiscate and/or search such devices as provided in these rules.

  • All devices must be set to silent or vibrate mode, with audible signals disabled during all in-school use.
    Speaker settings must be turned off.
  •  Searches of communication devices may be conducted if the administrator has a reasonable suspicion that it is being used for conduct that is criminal or a violation of the “Code of Behavior” and/or Regulation 503-1.
  •  PWCS does not assume responsibility for the security of communication and/or electronic devices that are brought onto PWCS property.
  • The school division cannot monitor nor be held liable for communications or actions originated on personally owned devices used on PWCS property.