DISCIPLINE CODE FOR STUDENT CONDUCT

Parents choosing Catholic school for their children frequently cite our commitment to structure and discipline as a major reason for their investment in Catholic education. Our students are to conduct themselves at all times according to Christian principles and exhibit the values of their family, the Church, and our school community. Good classroom order and a tight school structure help to insure the safety of all children, facilitate the learning for all students, and promote self-control and self-respect in the individual child.

While most parents find our approach to discipline to be very favorable, there are instances when a child breaks a rule and must suffer the consequences of his or her action. It is then that a parent may attempt to debate the fairness of the school policy or make excuses for the child’s misbehavior. The administration of this school does not engage in debates with parents about our rules and regulations, nor can it be supportive of parents who are interfering with a child’s growth in accepting personal responsibility for his or her actions. By enrolling a child in this school the parent agrees to be supportive of the rules and regulations that we deem as critical in the spiritual, academic, and behavioral growth of the child.

Teachers discipline students directly for minor classroom disruptions, for not coming prepared to class, not being in the complete school uniform, for not completing assigned homework, for minor verbal disputes with other classmates, or other incidents which interfere in the teaching-learning process for the child and his or her classmates. Parents are notified of classroom problems by the teacher and are asked to help the teacher to insure that inappropriate behavior is modified.

Teachers are not permitted to use corporal punishment on any child. Perceived acts of corporal punishment should be reported to the principal of the school immediately by students or parents.

It happens that some classroom discipline issues are referred to the administration of this school. This would include chronic minor problems listed above or major problems such as, but not limited to, chronic lateness, the verbal abuse of the teacher by a child; signs of disrespect to a teacher or another adult on the staff; fighting; physical, sexual, or verbal harassment of a fellow student; violent behavior; stealing; vandalism; or the possession of a drugs, alcohol, or a weapon. The administration handles such matters in a variety of ways depending on the severity of the incident.

The school employs a progressive discipline system for minor acts of misbehavior in order to encourage students to change inappropriate behavior so that sanctions do not increase in severity. For acts such as (principal inserts here) students are often given (principal inserts here conduct referral, detention, demerits, etc.) Repeated violation of these rules and regulations may result in suspension from school or the non-re-registration of the child for the next school year.

For more serious acts of misbehavior such as fighting, stealing, vandalism, swearing at or being disrespectful to an adult in the building, and harassment, the student is immediately suspended for a period of one to five days. In cases of vandalism, the parent must pay the full cost of the repair or replacement of the item before the child may return to school. In cases of theft, the item is either returned in good condition or the cost of replacement is borne by the parent before the child can return to school.

In cases in which a child engages in a fight which causes injury to another child or adult, the police will be summoned and, then, the parents will be notified. Likewise, the possession of drugs or alcohol by a child are reported to the police. The school reserves the right to expel such a child.

In cases in which a child brings a weapon to school, the police are summoned, and then the parents are called. The school reserves the right to expel a child for the possession of a weapon.

It is the expectation of this school that student behavior is exemplary both on and off school grounds. A student always represents his or her parents and the entire school community. Therefore, the school reserves the right to punish students for acts such as, but not necessarily limited to stealing, fighting, vandalism, harassment or any other type of threatening or inappropriate misconduct (personally, via the telephone or the Internet) and prohibited use of personal electronic devices including but not limited to cell phones, cameras, camera-phones, pda’s and the like. (See also -Telecommunications Policy) Such misconduct could result in any number of punishments including the possibility of suspension and/or expulsion.

Lastly, a child’s arrest for a crime on or off of school grounds, within or beyond the vicinity of the school, at any time could result in the child’s suspension or expulsion. A child’s conviction of a crime on or off of school grounds, within or beyond the vicinity of the school, will likely result in a child’s expulsion.