Discipline Policies at St. Michael Catholic School
Central to the mission of St. Michael as a Catholic School is the maintenance of a learning environment that upholds the dignity of all individuals through faith, justice and love.
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Each of us has dignity because others recognize and respect our rights. Others have that same right to dignity through the recognition of their rights. When problems arise, we have options and non-violent alternatives. The goal we strive to reach which will empower this peace-filled environment is to have each child become a successful self-manager. To attain this, each child needs to know what is expected of them in terms of behavior. They also need to take part in planning the rules that govern student behavior. Thus, to insure that every child is provided an adequate learning environment, we will implement the following disciplinary principles: Through their cooperation, attentiveness and behavior in class student will:
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Student positive behavior will be recognized and reinforced. This is accomplished through (examples):
- Gaining special additional privileges and awards
- Special recognition assemblies
- Published recognition in both the classroom and the wider community
We believe that each person has the right to be respected and the responsibility to respect others. We know that conflicts ("wants in collision") are inevitable. Because of our desire for a peaceful environment where the dignity of each person is preserved, we value non-violent resolution of conflict. At St. Michael, our process for resolving conflict begins by allowing:
- Each child to relate their side without interruption
- Adult checks for understanding on both sides
- Students and moderator decide on a solution together
- The students and the moderator evaluates the behavior so they can try to prevent future problems
- The students express reconciliation
There are times when some student's choices are inappropriate in, or out of school. When a student's behavior or attitude harms the St. Michael community or reputation, the student becomes subject to any or all of the following steps as determined at the discretion of the principal or her designee. These steps are listed as type "A", "B", and "C".
Type "A" Choices
Tardiness, littering, eating outside designated areas, repeated dress code infraction, running, roughhousing, disturbing school atmosphere, inappropriate or disrespectful language, materials, gestures, behavior, and violation of classroom and playground rules, chewing gum, being in an unauthorized area
Possible Consequences - Teacher informed, loss of privilege, classroom consequences, repairing physical damage, work detail during recess or after school
Type "B" Choices
Repeated type "A" choices, vandalism, graffiti, conduct injurious to the school image, cheating, plagiarism or dishonest, skipping class, destruction of classroom materials, destruction of school property, use of tobacco, off grounds without permission, physical fighting, consistent attitude of disrespect toward students, parents, faculty or administration, inappropriate behavior in the presence of a substitute teacher and play-fighting
Possible Consequences - Teacher, parent and principal are always informed, loss of privileges, student behavioral contract, repairing of physical damage, work detail, probation, suspension, parental monitoring in class, Saturday school
Type "C" Choices
Repeated type "B" choices, theft, major vandalism, graffiti, or destruction of school property, personal or neighborhood property, destruction of another person's reputation, lying when dealing with administrators during disciplinary matters, serious personal violence, arson or false alarms, possession of weapons, possession of illegal substances, or relates paraphernalia, whether for own use or with intent to sell ( The lists above are not all inclusive but are indicative of the type of behavior counterproductive to our goal of providing a positive learning environment.)
Possible Consequences - In addition to previously described steps, the principal or her designee may suspend the student pending further action. This will include a hearing with parents, witnesses and other concerned parties, subject to the Principal's discretion. If, after the hearing, the Principal expels the student, the parents may appeal the decision as per due process procedure.
Explanatory Notes
DETENTION
After school detention for disciplinary reasons beginning at 3:05 or five minutes after the last scheduled class period. Failure to attend on the day assigned results in doubling of the amount. Detention lasts 60 minutes per day but begins after academic detention in the case of both being assigned. A student may be assigned detention if their behavior is deemed inappropriate and they have received disciplinary action from the teacher. Typically a student that is sent to the principal’s office for discipline will receive after school detention with the principal. After school detentions are served on Fridays, and held once per month. Your child will be given a note and an e-mail will go home. The note is to be signed and returned. Please note that after two detentions your child’s field trip privileges may be revoked and they will be expected to stay home during the time of the scheduled field trip.
BEHAVIORAL CONTRACT
A management plan is developed jointly between student, teacher and parent consisting of expectation of performance and provisions for periodic evaluation by all parties. The contract is positive-image affirming and includes an expiration clause. In extreme cases, the school retains the right to require third party professional intervention (counseling, etc.) as a provision for continued enrollment.
WORK DETAIL
Some infractions warrant assignments of work detail (gum, vandalism, graffiti, etc.). These items are assigned by the supervising adult, monitored by the janitorial staff, and parents are notified through the school office. Such times are usually one hour in duration and may consist of indoor or outdoor labor consistent with the infraction and age of the student. Failure to show up for a work detail results in doubled time. Times assigned may be before or after school or, in extreme cases, on a weekend. Because of the expense of clean up and the possible damage to carpeting and furniture, students chewing gum will scrub the undersides of desks and chairs and other areas where gum tends to land.
SUSPENSION
When a student's behavior at school becomes so disruptive to self and/or others that effective learning and community atmosphere are impossible, the students may be temporarily removed from the school. In order to be reinstated, the student and parents must meet with the administration and other involved persons to work out a solution for the particular difficulty. The students does not receive any credit for homework, tests, etc. that are missed during suspension. Suspension also means separation from all school activities. In some cases where actions and advantages may warrant, a student may be required to wok off disciplinary hours during the school day.
DISCIPLINARY PROBATION
This consists of a formal behavior contract arrived at between the school administration, parents and the student. When a student is places on disciplinary probation, any infraction becomes more serious. A student on probation may be expelled for any negative-type choice.
EXPULSION
This is the permanent removal of a student from St. Michael School.
DUE PROCESS
Due process procedure for conduct, grievance ad disciplinary measures are in accordance with the Archdiocesan policy, and with the published St. Michael Parish due process procedure. These publications are on file in the main office.
CONDUCT FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
As the reputation of the school and its students are on the line, no leeway is given for disrespect to an adult placed in temporary charge of the class. A Type-B consequence is automatically assigned.
SATURDAY SCHOOL/PARENTAL MONITORING
In some isolated instances, it may be advisable for a student to be assigned to meet with a teacher for work assignment on a Saturday. Such an assignment is done after consultation with the parents and administration and its cost is assed to the family. Likewise, it may be beneficial to require that for a child to return to class, a parent must accompany them for a designated time, taking part in the regular class assignment schedule. This is scheduled at the teacher-parent level.
Non-Violence Policy
Students have a right to attend school in a safe environment free from harassment, intimidation, or any threat to personal safety. St. Michael School has no tolerance for violent actions and or speech. Students are not allowed to talk about committing an act of violence, threaten to commit an act of violence, or joke about committing an act of violence toward any living thing or object. Students are not allowed to possess at school any tool that can be used to commit a violent act" this includes but is not limited to pocket knives, guns, cigarette lighters, and matches. Students are also not allowed to possess any instructions on how to commit an act of violence. A student who breaks any of these rules will be suspended until a meeting can be held with the student, parents, principal and possible the pastor, when deemed necessary. Any further disciplinary action, which could include expulsion, is at the discretion of the principal. Students are not allowed to draw pictures of, or write stories about, situations that are violent, sexually suggestive, or that depict violence either real or fictitious. A student who does this will have a conference with the principal, who will decide if a conference with the parents is necessary. Any disciplinary action is at the discretion of the principal.
Anti-Bullying Policy
We refuse to tolerate bullying at St. Michael School. Bullying is unfair and one-sided. It happens when someone keeps hurting, frightening, threatening, or leaving someone out on purpose. Examples of bullying include but are not limited to:
- Hurting someone physically by hitting, kicking, tripping, pushing, and so on
- Stealing or damaging another's personal things
- Ganging up on someone
- Teasing someone in a hurtful way Using put-downs, such as insulting someone's race, culture, gender, size or appearance
- Spreading rumors about someone
- Leaving someone out on purpose and trying to get other kids not to play with them
Staff at our school does the following things to prevent bullying and help children feel safe at school
- Closely supervise students in all areas of the school and playground
- Watch for signs of bullying and stop it when it happens
- Look into all reported bullying incidents Implement consequences for bullying
- Provide immediate consequences for retaliation against students who report Bullying
Students at our school are taught to do the following things to prevent bullying:
- Be respectful, safe and responsible
- Refuse to bully others
- Refuse to let others be bullied
- Refuse to watch, laugh, or join in when someone is being bullied
- Report bullying to an adult
Drugs, Alcohol, and Illegal Substances
The use or possession of illegal substances on school premises or at a school sponsored activity, including but not limited to tobacco, drugs, alcohol, and various types of inhalants, is prohibited and is grounds for disciplinary action. Students are not allowed to posses or transmit any legal drug; these are to be kept locked and administered in the school office (see medication policy). If any student is involved in a drug policy violation, parents and police will be notified immediately. A conference including the faculty member, principal, pastor, parents and student will be held to determine the consequences, up to and including expulsion. The possession or use by students of tobacco products, drugs, alcohol or other illegal substances and the paraphernalia used to administer them is prohibited. The disciplinary policy lists such infractions as Type "C" choices. If a student if found with, or under the influence of, drugs, alcohol, any illegal substance, and/or with drug paraphernalia, the following procedures will be used by school authorities:
If school suspects a student has consumed any harmful substance, the situation will be treated as a medical emergency. This means the appropriate first aid, including calling 911, if judgment indicates. If staff members are satisfied that the student has not consumed any harmful substances, the students will be isolated in the office. (In both of the above circumstances, any drugs, alcohol, etc. will be confiscated and held by the school pending a decision as to its disposition.) Parents will be called and informed of the student's medical condition and asked to come to the school to take the student home. This student will be on suspension from school at least until a conference with the parents is arranged and held. The purpose of the conference will be to:
- Decide the student's immediate future status as a student at St. Michael o Identify appropriate intervention to deal with the student's harmful involvement with any substance
- Decide on future consequences for any similar behavior. It is assumed that the students will be placed on Disciplinary probation as a minimum for the first offence, and if there is a related future incident, he/she will be at the risk of permanent expulsion from the school.
If school officials have reasonable cause to suspect that a student is harmfully involved with drugs, alcohol, or other illegal substances, a school administrator will contact the student's parents and share the information that has led to this suspension. In such circumstances, the school administrator may ask the student's parents to have them drug tested and to share the results of that drug test with the administrator as a condition of continued enrollment at St. Michael. Refusal or failure to comply with this request will be considered grounds for the student's expulsion form St. Michael School. If the results of the drug test are positive for any illegal substance, a conference, as outlined above, will be arranged and held before the student sis allowed continuing as a student at St. Michael School.