School officials do not need a warrant or a parent’s permission to conduct a search of the student and/or the school’s or a student’s personal property, as long as they have a reasonable suspicion. that a law or school rule is being or has been violated. Whenever a school principal conducts a search of a student’s person or personal effects, an adult witness should be present.
action. Students and their parents are financially responsible for locker damage due to irresponsible use. Students do not own their lockers. Lockers are made available to students. Although students do have some control over their lockers in that other students may be kept out, school officials have the right to access a student’s locker at any time when their is reasonable suspicion that the locker may contain something that would be disruptive to the educational process or dangerous to the health and safety of the students. The student is responsible for any item that is found in his/her locker. (Admin. VIII16, “Locker Searches”).
Students do not own their lockers or other school property. Lockers are made available to the student by the school. The student does have some expectation of privacy in his/her locker from other students. However, a student may not exclude school officials if the school official has a reasonable suspicion that a law or school rule has been violated.
Lost and Found All lost or found articles should be reported to the Attendance Office located in the 100 wing. Theft from the classroom should be reported immediately to the teacher in whose class the theft occurred and to the Deans. Theft from any location, other than the classroom may be reported to the Dean. The school is not responsible for athletic bags, purses or other pieces of student property left unattended. For the purpose of returning lost books, a student’s books should be clearly labeled with the student’s name.
A student has a greater expectation of privacy concerning his/her backpack, purse, clothing and other personal effects. A school official who finds it necessary to conduct a search of a student’s backpack, purse, clothing or personal effects, must have a reasonable suspicion that a law or school rule is being or has been violated. The student’s parents should be notified of any such search. An alert from trained and certified detector dog is sufficient to allow the school official to have a reasonable suspicion and to conduct a warrantless search of the student’s locker, car or his/her personal property and effects. In addition to this policy on searches by the school, every student is subject to the Archdiocesan and school use and privacy policies concerning cell phones and other electronic devices, whether the devices belong to the school or to the student.
Off Campus/Study Hall Select students enrolled in Study Hall are occasionally granted off-campus privileges provided the following:
If a student refuses to cooperate in a reasonable search of the school or student property (including electronic devices), the student’s parents and/ or the police may be called for assistance or referral. In the event that any items belonging to a student are confiscated, the principal should document that fact and, when possible, take a photograph of the place where the confiscated object was found and of the object itself. It is also recommended that the school obtain a signature from the student acknowledging that the item was in his or her possession at the time it was found.
1.
The student is a senior
2.
The student has submitted to the dean a completed off- campus agreement form signed by a parent/guardian.
3.
The student’s study hall period must occur in the day’s schedule after the lunch period. (On school days when there is no lunch period or when the study hall period is less than 80 minutes, the student is expected to remain in class.)
Study Hall students with off-campus privileges must leave campus at the beginning of the lunch period or at the end of the lunch period after signing out at the designated location, unless the Dean of Discipline has given them permission to remain on campus. Students are expected to exit campus through the student parking lot gates only. Off-campus privileges will be revoked if a student violates these provisions.
Lockers Lockers are the property of the school and are assigned to the student on a loan basis by the Assistant Principal, Student Services. Locks for a locker in the academic buildings are purchased once at the time of initial enrollment. The same lock is used during the four years at Amat. Locks for P.E lockers are purchased each year. Only school locks are permitted on the lockers; other locks will be removed.
Responsibilities for School Property The parent or guardian of a student shall be liable to the school for all property belonging to the school that was loaned to the student and not returned upon demand by an employee of the school authorized to make the demand. (E.C. 16074)
Students may go to their lockers before school, at break, before and after the lunch periods, and after school only. Students should have enough books with them during the school day that visits outside of the specified times are not necessary.
Students must make an immediate report to the teacher upon the discovery of any damage to their desks or other equipment. Failure to report damage places the responsibility upon the student assigned to that station. Restrooms Restrooms are located in the academic buildings throughout the campus for student use. The restrooms in the Faculty House are reserved for faculty and other adults. Students are restricted to the 300 wing restrooms during the lunch periods. Students may not use the restrooms during class time for any reason without a written hall pass from the teacher. Students are required to go to the Health Room if leaving the classroom due to illness. Students who are ill may not stay in the restroom during class time. Students who are in the restroom instead of class without permission from the teacher are considered truant.
Locker combinations should never be given out to other students, even friends. Students are not permitted to share lockers at anytime. Entering or attempting to enter a locker not belonging to the student will be interpreted as an attempted theft and subject the student to disciplinary action. Lockers are to be kept neat and in usable condition. Stickers and decals are not permitted on or inside the lockers. Students will be charged the expense of cleaning and repairing lockers when these regulations are violated. In decorating lockers, students are reminded that this is a Catholic high school. Nothing should be placed in or on the inside surfaces of a locker which is not appropriate in a Catholic environment. The Deans of Discipline or the Assistant Principal, Student Services, may remove inappropriate items at any time. Birthday paper that is placed on the locker door should be removed from the locker after one week. However, confetti is NEVER allowed. Students who use confetti in lockers are subject to disciplinary
Restrooms are to be kept neat with papers placed in containers, not on the floor. Walls must never be written on or marked in any way. Inoperative facilities are to be reported immediately. Loitering or loud talking is not permitted in the restrooms at any time. 25