Members of the Dedham Public School Community are expected to be:

• Respectful: Treat others as you want to be treated
• Responsible: Be accountable for your choices
• Resilient: It’s about acknowledging the fear and still taking courageous leaps

It is expected that all students will be thoughtful of others, respect school property and property of others and be conscientious. Students are expected to respect their peers and teachers, parents, police, traffic officers, bus drivers and other school personnel.

All students are expected to practice self-discipline and conduct themselves in a courteous and polite manner that respects the rights and privileges of all members of the school community. 

This code of conduct is in effect on school property during school hours and at school-related functions.  Any student interfering with the proper operation of a Dedham School by constantly and/or deliberately misbehaving and violating rules and regulations shall face appropriate disciplinary consequences.

Dedham Public Schools believe that academic integrity and honesty are cornerstones of learning in  a democratic society. Fundamental to the development of character is a willingness to be honorable and  responsible. Specifically, we wish to emphasize our concern in two areas: cheating and plagiarism. 

The consequences of cheating and plagiarism will be the loss of credit and in some cases no credit at all  on the quiz, test, examination, project, or homework assignment etc. The staff member will report the  incident in writing to the appropriate administrator and disciplinary action is possible after the student is afforded due process.

Disciplinary action can range from a warning, suspension, and/or removal from school leadership positions, including but not limited to National Honor Society (DHS).

A repeat of this action could result in a failure grade for the entire course. The staff member will document the incident in writing with a copy going to the department chair and to the appropriate administrator. 

In all cases involving academic integrity, the teacher will contact the student and parent(s) so that all facts are clear and consequences are known. 

Cheating* embraces any action wherein a person defrauds, deceives, or violates regulations unfairly (*Random House Dictionary). 

Examples of cheating are (but not limited to):

• Copying another’s homework and indicating that it is yours

• Using unauthorized notes, “cheat sheets”, or looking at another’s work while taking a quiz or examination/test

• Allowing another to copy work or assignment

• Giving information about a test to members of another class who have the same course

• Damaging the project's/work of others

• Accepting unauthorized assistance with project, take home quiz or assignment when the intent of the assignment is to have you demonstrate your ability in the matter.

Plagiarism * is the act of stealing the language, ideas or thoughts of another and representing them as your own original work (*Random House Dictionary). 

Examples of plagiarism are: (but not limited to)

• Paraphrasing a passage in a book without using a citation or bibliographic entry to indicate the source

• Submitting an assignment in part or whole that has been copied from a published source or downloaded from the computer

• Having another complete a project for you and then submitting it as your work

• Not using proper documentation or bibliographic reference.

Respect for the sport in which a Dedham student athlete participates also demands respect for the opponents and game officials.

Student-Athletes participating in MIAA sponsored events are expected to treat opponents and referees with respect. There will be absolutely no tolerance for  disrespectful name-calling, trash talking, taunting, or baiting of opponents. Dedham student  athletes must appreciate and understand that they are perhaps the most visible representatives of their school. In addition, their behavior is observed and emulated by many who are younger. Dedham student-athletes must honor the responsibility that accompanies the privilege of representing  their school by behaving with dignity and class on or off the field.

IF ANY STUDENT, IN ANY SPORT,  WILLFULLY, FLAGRANTLY, OR MALICIOUSLY ATTEMPTS TO INJURE AN OPPONENT, HE/SHE  SHALL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY SPORT SEASON FOR ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT.

Bullying and Cyberbullying are strictly prohibited on school grounds, property immediately adjacent to school grounds, at school-sponsored or school-related activities, functions or programs whether on or off school grounds, at school bus stops, on school buses or other vehicles owned, leased or used by the Dedham Public Schools, or through the use of technology or an electronic device owned, leased or used by the Dedham Public Schools and at a location, activity, function or program that is NOT school-related, or through the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased or used by the Dedham Public Schools, if the bullying creates a hostile environment at school for the victim, infringes on the rights of the victim at school or materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of school.  MGL 37O 

Students should take pride in Dedham Schools by not defacing desks, books, or other school materials and property in any way.  All areas should be free from papers and other items before leaving classrooms or lockers.  

DMS Hallways

Traffic moves on the RIGHT side of the corridor.  Loitering is not allowed in the corridors or staircases.  Students are to be in classrooms ON TIME.  Students must have a PASS to be in the corridors during class time.

DHS Hallways

Students are allowed to enter school prior to 7:30 a.m.; however, they must remain in the main entry  area, and the E wing first floor corridor, the A wing first floor corridor, cafeteria or library. All other areas  are out of bounds unless accompanied by a staff member. Traffic should move smoothly through the  corridor, with no loitering on stairs, in corridors, at lockers, or in the foyer area.

After the final bell ending  the school day, students are allowed 15 minutes to exit the building unless remaining after school for  extra help, make-up work, co-curricular activities, or school sponsored activities. 

• No student should be in the corridors during class periods without a pass issued and signed by a staff  member. A student assigned to academic support who desires to visit another area must obtain a pass  from the teacher in charge of said area and present it to the receiving teacher.
  
  
  

Disciplinary practices will remain at an individual level with an increased focus on re-teaching expected behaviors when incidents occur.

Disciplinary consequences are cumulative in nature.  First or second minor offenses typically result in a warning, written apology or lunch detention, third through fifth result in office (after school) detention, and habitual inappropriate behavior results in more severe consequences including Saturday detention, in-school and out-of-school suspensions.  Students who engage in chronic inappropriate behaviors will also be referred to the Assistant Principal for additional behavioral interventions and parents will be contacted. Excellence through education must include the proposition that all students should learn as early as possible that they should always be held accountable for their actions.

We believe that:

Each teacher has a responsibility to teach.

Each student has a responsibility to learn.