By WOODREEN CALDWELL, EdS
CHS PRINCIPAL
Cherokee High School is off to a great start with the New Year. Cherokee Central Schools hosted an all staff in-service on Jan. 2. The keynote speaker was Chris Campbell from Campbell Shatley Law Firm that hails from Asheville. Campbell Shatley was founded in 2009 by Chris Campbell and Dean Shatley. The firm specializes in educational law. Their lists of clients include the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian, the town of Valdese, as well as several school districts located locally in Western North Carolina. The firm is comprised of attorneys Chris Campbell, Dean Shatley, Chad Donnahoo, Bryan Elston, and Walt Currie. During the in-service, Mr. Campbell
spoke about the importance of maintaining professionalism in the workplace. Campbell elaborated to say that it is important to maintain a professional image and to be cautious when utilizing social networking sites. Additionally, Campbell stressed federal and state laws that deal with harassment, and bullying. Campbell said that bullying often gets the blame for incidents but that the law has a clear definition of bullying. Michelle McSwain, an English teacher at Cherokee High School stated that she really enjoyed Mr. Campbell’s presentation and felt that he was an effective speaker.
Emory Rhoads stated “I feel that this training was an extremely valuable tool, specifically for younger employees.” Cherokee Central Schools recently attained the services of Campbell Shatley Law Firm and are looking forward to working with them.
As we work together to insure the safety for all students Cherokee High School follows the guidelines for anti-bullying as listed below:
* believes that all students have a right to a safe and healthy school environment. The district, school, and community have an obligation to promote mutual respect, tolerance, and acceptance.
* will not tolerate behavior that infringes on the safety of any student. A student shall not intimidate, harass, or bully another student through words or actions. Such behavior includes: direct physical contact, such as hitting or shoving; verbal assaults, such as teasing or name-calling; and social isolation or manipulation.
* expects students and/or staff to immediately report incidents of bullying to the principal or designee. Staff who witness such acts take immediate steps to intervene when safe to do so. Each complaint of bullying should be promptly investigated. This policy applies to students on school grounds, while traveling to and from school or a school-sponsored activity, during the lunch period, whether on or off campus, and during a school-sponsored activity.
* discussion concerning these practices with students in age-appropriate ways and should assure them that they need not endure any form of bullying. Students who bully are in violation of Cherokee High School anti bullying policy and are subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
Cherokee High School Student Code of Conduct includes, but is not limited to:
* Any student who engages in bullying may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
* Students are expected to immediately report incidents of bullying to the principal or designee.
* Students can rely on staff to promptly investigate each complaint of bullying in a thorough and confidential manner.
* If the complainant student or the parent of the student feels that appropriate resolution of the investigation or complaint has not been reached, the student or the parent of the student should contact the principal.
The school prohibits retaliatory behavior against any complainant or any participant in the complaint process.
