June 19, 2013

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Code of Conduct

In order to maintain a Christian learning environment it is necessary to have a set of student discipline guidelines. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide a safe and secure setting for all members of our school community.

Student actions, attitudes and behavior will be in keeping with our Mission Statement. Students will learn to become self-disciplined individuals who are responsible and accountable. An essential part of the school’s discipline guidance is the support of the entire school community, which includes teachers, staff, parents and families. St. Apollinaris Catholic School’s disciplinary guidelines and procedures are in compliance with Diocesan policies and procedures. Teachers, staff and administrators will enforce discipline guidelines.

In any disciplinary situation a student is informed of his/her infraction and is given a chance to be heard. The classroom/homeroom teacher will keep a written record of student’s behavior and consequences. No child will be dismissed from any class without prior notification and permission from teacher in charged of the student at the time. Students who participate in extracurricular activities (S.A.L.T., band, etc.) including sports need an overall grade average of C in academics, overall behavior grade of 2, and no 4’s in conduct and effort.

General School Rules

Students will:

· Respect themselves and the rights and feelings of others.

· Respect all property.

· Obey classroom, schoolyard and church rules.

· Observe rules and regulations for health and safety.

· Be prepared for class with books and materials.

· Observe regular attendance and be punctual for school and class.

· Be responsible for all communication forwarded home.

· Walk to and from classrooms, schoolyard and other parish buildings quietly and orderly.

· Behave in an appropriate manner when using bathrooms and water fountains.

· Observe traffic regulations in schoolyard and follow directions of the Junior Traffic Patrol and yard supervisors.

· Remain on school grounds during the school day.

· Arrive on campus no earlier than 7:55 a.m. unless on Traffic Patrol duty or enrolled in the Extended Care program.

· Leave campus at 3:20pm unless enrolled in Extended Care, Traffic Patrol or other authorized school activities under proper adult supervision.

· Observe uniform regulations and non-uniform dress code.

· No gum or sunflower seeds.

Classroom Rules

Students will:

· Respect themselves and the rights and feelings of others.

· Respect school and classmates’ property.

· Be prepared for class.

· Behave appropriately.

· Be punctual.

Church Rules

Students will:

· Show reverence.

· Participate during all religious services (responses, singing, etc.)

School Yard Rules

Students will:

· Line up quietly when school bell rings.

· Stay in designated areas during recess and lunch.

· Stay seated while eating lunch and snacks.

· Leave area clean.

· Follow yard duty supervisors’ directives.

· Be responsible for school/classroom playground equipment.

· Observe health and safety rules in yard.

· Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself.

Conduct Book

All teachers have a conduct book in which they log exemplary behavior and/or misbehavior each report card period.

Minor Misconduct

Some examples of minor misconduct include but are not limited to:

  1. Tardiness to class
  2. Improper uniform or non-regulation dress (automatic detention grades 6-8)
  3. Disruptive behavior during class time or assemblies
  4. Chewing gum or eating sunflower seeds.
  5. Failure to follow the “Electronic Devices” policy regarding cell phones, etc.
  6. Failure to follow yard duty supervisor’s directives
  7. Other actions that violate the philosophy and mission statement of St. Apollinaris School

Disciplinary Actions for Minor Misconduct

  1. 1st – Notification to student of inappropriate behavior and reminder of expected behavior.  Recorded in Minor Misconduct book.
  2. 2nd – Notification to student of inappropriate behavior and reminder of expected behavior.  Recorded in Minor Misconduct book.
  3. 3rd – Communication sent home
  4. 4th – After school detention followed by a Parent/Teacher/Student conference

      After school detention will be held on Thursday afternoons from 3:10-4:00 P.M.

       5.  If a student misses a detention without prior notice the student will have to serve two detentions.

       6.  After two detentions, per report card period (8 minor misconducts), a Student Study Team (SST) conference will be scheduled. An SST is comprised of parent(s), teacher(s), principal, student and SST coordinator

            who meet to discuss student’s strengths, area of concerns, and make recommendations for helping student’s change their behavior.  A follow-up meeting will be scheduled later in order to assess the implementation of

            the SST action plan.

      7.  In the case of a student not meeting the school’s SST expectations of the action plan the following may result:

                    a.  A grade of “4” in effort or conduct or in K-3 a “U”

                    b.  Extended detention

                    c.  Probation

                   d.  Suspension

                   e.  Recommended transfer

Major Misconduct

Major Misconducts will be recorded by the homeroom teacher as a disciplinary action in the progression of misconducts in the conduct book, along with the disciplinary action(s) for a major misconduct as established by the administration.

 Some examples of major misconduct include but are not limited to:

  1. Physical, verbal or written abuse or disrespect to any religious, teacher, staff member, student or other person
  2. Stealing other people’s property and/or school property
  3. Harassment of students – physical, verbal, written, sexual or by electronic means
  4. Fighting between students
  5. Cheating on assignments, which include quizzes, tests, projects, essays, etc.
  6. Plagiarism (see Academic Integrity Policy)
  7. Falsification or alteration of school records, failure to deliver, return, or interception of any communication between home and school
  8. Continued willful disobedience or non-compliance
  9. Use, sale or possession of narcotics, alcohol, illegal drugs or tobacco
  10. Vandalism or misuse of school property
  11. Habitual truancy
  12. Assault or battery or any threat of force or violence directed towards any school person or their property
  13. Possession of any firearm, knife, explosive, or other dangerous object of no reasonable use to the pupil at school or at a school activity off school grounds
  14. Any other willful conduct or behavior, which in the opinion of the school administration   disrupts or threatens any member of the school community

 Disciplinary Actions for Major Misconduct

Depending on the severity and circumstances of the major misconduct, the administration may enforce one or more of the following:

  • Arrange a conference with the student, parent and teacher.
  • Serve an after school detention.
  • Impose an immediate suspension of student (in-school or out of school suspension).
  • Establish probationary terms.
  • Recommend transfer.
  • Expel the student.

 St. Apollinaris Catholic School’s Procedures for Detention, Suspension, Recommended Transfer and Expulsion

 Detention Procedures

Students who violate school rules and polices may be put on detention.  In such an instance:

  1. The teacher or administrator will determine date and time of detention.
  2. Parents will be notified 24 hours in advance of date and time of detention.
  3. Detention notices are to be signed by the parent and returned to the teacher or administrator who issued the detention on the day following their issuance.  If the notice is not returned, additional consequences may be enforced (see #7 above).
  4. When a student does not serve the detention on the assigned date the amount of detention time will be doubled.
  5. Parent must notify teacher or administrator if date and time of detention needs to be changed due to a conflict, such as a family emergency, medical appointment, or car pool arrangement.  Parent, teacher, and/or administrator will establish a subsequent date and time.

Suspension Procedures

Suspension is an action taken by the school, which prohibits a student from attending or participating in school instruction or events for a period of not more than one week at a time.  Suspension can occur out of or in school.

  1. A decision regarding suspension will be made by the administrator after consultation with teacher and student.
  2. The parents will be notified whenever suspension occurs.
  3. A conference with the principal, parent, student and teacher will be held to discuss the suspension.

 Recommended Transfer

Students who do not follow the disciplinary rules and guidelines of St. Apollinaris Catholic School, or who do not obey teachers or staff promptly and courteously, will be required to transfer elsewhere.  The principal makes the decision in consultation with the Pastor.  Ordinarily, the transfer is to take place at the end of a grading period.

Recommended transfer on grounds of parental behavior

It is expected that parents and teachers work together by encouraging and supporting school programs, personnel and policies.  Christian courtesy and respect is to be given to all school employees.  The principal may recommend transfer of a student when parents manifest any of these behaviors:

  • a behavior towards school personnel is not respectful or is viewed as intimidating
  • are non-cooperative or insufficiently cooperative regarding a reasonable request by the principal in a serious matter concerning their child
  • have been persistently and/or overtly uncooperative with school staff, policies, regulations, or programs
  • have interfered in matters of school administration or discipline to the detriment of the school’s ability to serve their own or other children
  • have represented themselves to the school in a manner that contradicts Catholic principles
  • have not satisfied the requirements of their tuition contract with the school

Any of these behaviors is deemed to be a serious breach of the partnership.

Expulsion

Expulsion means action taken by the school to prohibit an enrolled pupil from further attendance at the school.  It is an extreme but sometimes necessary disciplinary measure for common good.

Harassment Policy

Harassment is defined as the willful and repeated act of debasing or degrading another person or student.  The schools of the Diocese of Santa Rosa shall not tolerate the harassment, exploitation, or abuse of any person by any student and shall insist that all persons are treated with dignity and respect.  Harassment is unacceptable conduct that is severe and deliberate.

Any student found guilty of harassment, exploitation, or abuse, shall be subject to appropriate discipline including suspension and or expulsion.

Any student, who considers themselves a victim of harassment, exploitation, or abuse, should immediately report the matter to the appropriate school authority.  Every reported incident of harassment shall be thoroughly and promptly investigated in a way which reasonably ensures the privacy of all parties concerned.

Neither the school’s network nor the broader Internet (whether accessed on campus or off campus, either during or after school hours) may be used for the purpose of harassment. All forms of harassment in cyberspace, often called cyber bullying, are unacceptable. Cyber bullying includes, but is not limited to, the following misuses of technology: harassing, teasing, intimidating, threatening, or terrorizing another person by sending or posting inappropriate and hurtful e-mail messages, instant messages, text messages, digital pictures or images or Web site postings (including blogs). Often the author (sender or poster) of the inappropriate material is disguised (logged on) as someone else.

Members of the school community who feel that they have been the victims of such misuses of technology should not erase the offending material from the system. They should print a copy of the material and immediately report the incident to a school official (the director of technology, principal of the school). Sanctions may include, but are not limited to, the loss of computer privileges, detention, suspension, separation or expulsion from the school.