Student Life & Student Services

A.       Many of the students in the Upper School seek positions of student leadership on the student council, on athletic teams, and on the clubs and activities. These positions provide opportunities for students to develop their leadership skills while helping improve student life and school spirit. Student leaders are expected to act as role models for their peers, exemplifying the best behavior, adhering carefully to the tenor and content of school policy, and demonstrating respect at all times. The leaders should view themselves as partners with the administration in setting a positive and energized tone within the school. Any serious or repeated disciplinary infractions by a student leader would call into question that student’s fitness to maintain his or her role. Please reference the Student Government and Class Officer Handbooks for additional information about the nature of the various positions and the responsibilities expected of each.

B.       The Upper School, often with the input and assistance of the Student Government, regularly invites speakers to address our student body. These assemblies are an opportunity to learn from others outside our school community, and for those same speakers to learn about our community. Students are expected to participate when appropriate and to be respectfully attentive to our presenters.

C.       The Upper School maintains a student run canteen for the student body’s enjoyment. This service is provided with the understanding that it will enable students to snack, to raise funds for student activities, but not to disrupt the daily routine. The canteen opens at times expressly permitted by the Administration, and must be sure to close in a timely fashion prior to the next activity. Students are expected to dispose of all refuse resulting from canteen purchases properly. Canteen services may be suspended if either a litter problem develops or the canteen use disrupts classes or davening times.

D.       The Shabbat experience is central to every Jew’s religious experience. The Upper School may run shabbatonim for each of the four grades and also for the entire school at various times on the calendar in order to spend Shabbat together as a school community. These shabbatonim are wonderful opportunities for informal education and bonding. Students joining us for any Shabbat programming should understand that participation in all aspects of the programming including Tefilah and all sessions is essential and that their full cooperation at these events is expected. Students are expected to adhere to the halachot of Shabbat at all times and certainly while with the school on a shabbaton. Any student found to violate Shabbat intentionally while on a school shabbaton will be suspended for a period of time upon our return to school.

E.        The school is responsible for the safety and welfare of its students during the school day. Parents expect that we will know the whereabouts of their children at all times. No student in grades nine, ten, or eleven has permission to leave the building without prior express permission of a parent or guardian, except on staff supervised field trip. Seniors who have a permission-slip filled out early in the senior year and on file in the office, may leave campus during breaks. These forms include information about make and model of car and the cell phone contact number for the student who wishes to leave the premises. For each departure, the senior must sign out in the Upper School office. Violations of this policy will lead to revocation of the permission to leave campus temporarily or permanently, and if repeated could lead to the suspension of the student.

F.        There are times when a student’s schedule allows for a free period during the day. The expectation is that a student will use this time productively and will avoid serving as a distraction to classes that are in session. Students with frees are to be in the Beit Midrash, library, senior lounge (seniors only), or in the gym, if the gym space is available and student use is approved on an ad hoc basis by the Administration and the athletic director. 

G.       The Upper School provides the twelfth graders with a room to be used as a lounge. The privilege of the lounge carries with it the expectation of responsible use. The lounge is available for use during breakfast, lunch, free periods, and after school; the lounge is not generally available to seniors when classes are in session. Seniors should not use the room to store belongings since the room may be closed and locked at other times. Seniors will be expected to clean the room and keep debris to a minimum. Music may be played at reasonably low volumes, must be appropriate for a מקום תורה, and should not be played during ספירת העומר until after Lag Baomer. Conversation, language, and behavior in the Senior Lounge, as throughout the school, should be consistent with those expected from בני תורה and בנות תורה. Anyone found destroying any part of the lounge or the furnishings therein, will be required to pay for the damage. Violations of these expectations may lead to the temporary or permanent closure of the lounge, and the individuals who are repeat violators may face additional consequences.

H.       As a recognized educational institution, the MJBHA complies with all legal standards of safety and propriety. In accordance with the legal standards, please note that sexual harassment is against the law. It is defined legally, in a school setting, as conduct or communication of a sexual nature which has the effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s education. Complaints of sexual harassment should be made to the administration or to an officer of the Board of Directors and will be promptly investigated. Any allegations of other inappropriate conduct (e.g., emotional or physical abuse) should likewise be reported immediately to the administration or to an officer of the Board of Directors. Every report will be treated seriously, discretely, and without delay.