BOGOTA

Junior/Senior High School
Home of the Buccaneers
 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

2 Henry C Luthin Place

Bogota, New Jersey

07603

 201-441-4808

BOGOTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BOARD OF EDUCATION

Mrs. Marianne Dispoto, President

Mr. Kevin Lynch, Vice President

Ms. Jill Contino, Trustee
               Mr. Thomas Demetrakis, Trustee
Ms. Jodi Kellar, Trustee
         Mrs. Karen Rodgers, Trustee
          Mr. Charles Severino, Trustee
            Mr. Edward Sweeney, Trustee
           Mrs. Kathy VanBuren, Trustee

ADMINISTRATION

Mr. Jose R. Negron, Superintendent of Schools

Mr. Arnold T. Oftedal, Principal              Ms. Lydia Suarez, Vice Principal
 

CURRICULAR DEPARTMENTS

BUSINESS                                                                    Mr. John Mahoney,
                                                                                    Chairperson                

FINE, PERFORMING, AND PRACTICAL ARTS           Mr. Barry McCann,
                                                                                      Coordinator                   

LANGUAGE ARTS/LITERACY                                    Mr. Thomas Trochanowski,
                                                                                     Coordinator

MATHEMATICS                                                          Mrs. Robin Hanik,
                                                                                    Chairperson

PHYSICAL & HEALTH EDUCATION                           Mr. Brad DiRupo,
                                                                                    Chairperson              

SCIENCE                                                                      Mrs. Janice Menicola,
                                                                                    Chairperson

SOCIAL STUDIES                                                       Mr. John White,
                                                                                    Chairperson  

SPECIAL SERVICES                                                   Ms. Susan Wilson,
                                                                                     District Director

WORLD LANGUAGES                                                Ms. Natalie Benyo,
                                                                                   Coordinator

WELCOME TO BOGOTA JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Every young person wonders what his/her future will be. Setting realistic goals and taking full advantage of the educational opportunities afforded you at Bogota High School will produce great rewards.

Now is the time to train yourself to be the kind of worthwhile citizen you would like to be. This means respect for the rights of others, a sense of responsibility to your family, your friends, your school and yourself.

You hold the key to your future. Set your expectations as high as possible. Communicate, share your experiences and determine to be a productive member of our community.

BOGOTA HIGH SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY

Our educational philosophy is based on the belief in one's ability to face the world with his/her own skills and to solve his/her problems through his/her own intelligence. We strive toward a school system as fair to the vocationally oriented as well as the academically oriented but which, while meeting the separate needs of each, fosters an empathy that is the deepest root of democracy. To think effectively, to communicate thought, to make relevant judgments, to discriminate among values ... these are the abilities we seek to develop in the young. Each of these is an indispensable co-existent function of a maturing mind.

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

1.  To have each student appreciate the advantage of American citizenship under a democratic form of government and assist him/her to become, both immediately and in the future, the best type of citizen he/she can.

2.  To stimulate the improvement of basic skills and health, as well as to further develop appreciation of aesthetic values.

3.  To provide a wide range of subjects so as to adequately prepare all students, whether they plan to choose further education, an economic field, or home life.

4.  To create in the pupil a desire for continual growth in leadership, personality, and character by helping him/her to attain mental, physical, moral, social, and emotional maturity.

TRADITIONS

BOGOTA BUCS

This handbook has been prepared for the students of Bogota High School. The explanation of the organization of the school, the program, the activities, and some traditional rules and regulations should answer many questions for students. Members of the administration, faculty and student congress will be happy to answer any specific question.

COLORS and SONG

The colors of Bogota Jr./Sr. High School are purple and gold. Traditionally, students wear clothing or emblems with purple and gold on game days to the games. The Alma Mater is the official school song. It is sung at assemblies and at graduation. The words appear on the last page of this handbook.

PUBLICATIONS

The school yearbook, The Purple "B," is a pictorial presentation of the school year in review. Its major emphasis is on senior activities but it appeals to students of all grade levels.

The Outlook is the literary publication composed of 'short stories, poems. essays, and artwork submitted by the students of Bogota High School. The Outlook goes on sale in early spring.

The school newspaper, The Klaxon is published periodically during the year. It provides a current review of' curricular and extra-curricular activities. Applications for staff membership can be made. and selection is on the basis of journalistic ability.  In addition, any student may contribute articles to the editor.

MARKING PERIOD SCHEDULE

 THE STUDENT PROGRAM

The Daily Time Schedule

The schedule provides for a student to attend seven periods, plus homeroom and lunch, on the regular time schedule. On the activity time schedule each class is shortened to provide for seven shortened periods, lunch, and an additional period to be utilized for an activity, usually a school assembly or class meeting.

All students should clear halls and classrooms by 2:50 p.m. unless engaged in a supervised activity.

DAILY TIME SCHEDULE

STUDENT CONGRESS

The Student Congress is the body of elected representatives of the students and is responsible for all projects necessary for the general welfare of the student body except in those areas, which must be handled by the administration. It is comprised of elected homeroom representative and five elected officers; the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and the Assistant Secretary. The president not only presides at the Student Congress meetings, but also at meetings of the entire student body such as assembly programs. Elections are held each year in the middle of May for the positions of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary moves up each year to the position of Secretary.

PREAMBLE AND CONSTITUTION OF THE STUDENT CONGRESS OF BOGOTA HIGH SCHOOL

We, the students of Bogota High School, in order to foster, maintain, and support good school citizenship, to insure a spirit of cooperation among students and faculty, to coordinate the various authorized school activities, to establish and maintain a system of democratic student government, to maintain a forum for discussion of questions of interest to the Student Body, do ordain and establish this constitution for the Student Body of Bogota High School.

A full copy of the Constitution is available through the Student Congress or the Main Office. 

STUDENT REGULATIONS

Student Code of Conduct

Bogota Junior/Senior High School’s Policy seeks to ensure that all students are treated equitably. These standards of conduct apply to all students during school hours, before and after school while on school property, traveling to and from school, and at all school sponsored events. Furthermore, these standards of conduct apply off of school grounds when such conduct can be demonstrated to negatively impact the educational process or endanger the health, safety, welfare or morals of our school community.

Throughout this disciplinary policy it is of utmost importance that there be cooperation between the school and the home. Parents MUST be kept informed of their child’s conduct in school.

Of course, a student’s age, maturational level, handicapping condition and intent are all to be considered when determining a level of severity. For classified students, there should be notification to the Child Study Team whenever there is a recommendation for an out of school suspension.

Disciplinary Infraction                                         Range of Consequence

Disruptive Behavior................................................ …………1 to 3

Late to Class.......................................................... …………1 to 3

Verbal Threats to Students.................................... …………1 to 3

Disregard for School Authority.............................. …………1 to 4

  (Insubordination, Willful Disobedience)

Using Profanity, Obscene Language, Obscene Gestures ….1 to 4

Using Racial, Ethnic, National Origin, Religious,

  Gender or Sexual Orientation Slurs.....................               1 to 4

Truancy..................................................................               2 to 3

Cutting Class..........................................................               2 to 4

Gambling................................................................               2 to 4

In Unauthorized Area.............................................               2 to 4

Lying or Giving False Information, Forgery, etc.....               2 to 4

Scholastic Dishonesty – Cheating, Plagiarizing.....               2 to 4

Smoking.................................................................. ………...2 to 4

Leaving Class or School Grounds without permission………3 to 4

Unlawful Assembly................................................ …………3 to 4

Engaging in Sexual Harassment, Inappropriate Contact …...3 to 5

Theft....................................................................... …………3 to 5

Verbal Threats to Staff.......................................... …………3 to 5

Engaging in Intimidation, Coercion or Extortion...............……4 to 5

Engaging in or causing behavior off the school premises that can be demonstrated to negatively impact the educational process or which presents a danger to the health, safety, morals, or welfare of the school community. A nexus (connection) between the act and the school must be demonstrated.............. …………4 to 6

Falsely Activating a Fire Alarm, Bomb Threat,

   or other Disaster Alarm....................................... …………4 to 6

Vandalism – Intentional damage to

   Property belonging to school staff

   or other students................................................ …………4 to 6

Physical Attack of Another Student....................... ……………5

Engaging in Behavior Which Creates a  Substantial Risk of OR Results in Injury

(e.g. arson, incitement to riot).............…...5 to 6                                                            

Fighting................................................................... …….…...5 to 6

Physical Assault of Staff....................................... …….…...5 to 6

Sale of OR Distribution of Alcohol or

   Controlled Dangerous Substance……………………….……5 to 6

   and/or possession of Alcohol or

   Controlled Dangerous Substance....................... ……..……5 to 6

Weapon Possession………………………………….……….……6

Intervention Measures and Consequences:

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