Section IV - Discipline in a Catholic School

The purpose of discipline in a Catholic School is to bring about the self-discipline of each individual and of the Catholic school community as a whole so that their actions promote the Christian development of each member and thereby enhance the community.

Discipline will be administered when an individual's actions interfere with the right of the teachers to teach and the students to learn.

THE ROLE OF THE STUDENT

As students, you attend school so that you develop your individual capabilities to your full potential. To accomplish this, each pupil at SVS should:

1. Make a sincere effort to do your best work.
2. Develop personal standards of conduct that are reflected in socially approved behavior and refraining from the use of inappropriate language, bullying, verbal threats, and sexual behavior (including touching, gestures, writing and dress)
3. Accept responsibility for your own actions.
4. Respect the rights of others.
5. Obey school rules and regulations -- those made by school authorities.
6. Be regular and punctual in attending school and classes.
7. Observe Dress Code, which is:
   • Neatness and cleanliness at all times
   • Girls' and boys' attire should be modest, in good taste, and appropriate for the classroom at all times.
   • The same good taste observed during school hours should be carried over in personal life.
8. Help maintain school property and keep the school free from damage and defacement.
9. Recognize that the teacher takes the place of the parent in school.

THE ROLE OF THE PARENT

To assist SVS in maintaining good education, there must be effective communication between parents, students, teachers, and the administration. To help young people develop the self-control necessary to succeed to the best of their ability, parents are obligated to teach, and, by example, to develop in their children good habits of behavior as well as proper attitudes toward school. To help children in school, all parents should:

1. Realize that these children will come under the full authority of the staff while they are at school.
2. Teach and explain to children respect for law, for authority, for the rights of others, and for private and public property.
3. Talk with children about school programs and activities. Share an interest in pupil progress. Praise improvements demonstrated by the child on progress reports. Very often students who conduct themselves in a mature, responsible manner are not recognized for their appropriate behavior. Usually good behavior is taken for granted and the focus is on students who misbehave. Our Assertive Discipline Plan not only focuses on negative consequences for those students who violate school rules, but also provides positive reinforcement for those students who act as mature young people.
4. Insist on prompt and regular school attendance and comply with attendance rules and procedures.
5. Make an effort to attend individual and group parent-teacher conferences.
6. Arrange a time and place for students to complete homework assignments.
7. Work with the school in a cooperative effort to carry out recommendations made in the best interest of the children.
8. Parents are asked to support any disciplinary measures set down so that the child sees the agreement between his/her parents and the school. If you are notified about your child’s misbehavior, it is expected that you back us up at home and provide meaningful consequences for your child. Besides the Schoolwide Discipline Plan, each Teacher has set up a corresponding discipline plan for the individual class. The plan is given to the parents at the beginning of the school year.
9. Students may be required to complete a Behavior Description Sheet (white sheet) to notify you of any behavioral issue. Your signature is required and means you have read it, not necessarily that you agree with it.
10. All students are REQUIRED TO SERVE ASSIGNED DETENTION ON THE DESIGNATED DATE. Parents will be given twenty-four hour notice so that student transportation can be arranged.
11. Explain and review periodically the bus behavior code with the children.
12. The Principal and/or Vice-Principal will be the final recourse in all disciplinary situations. All these efforts will help to create the ideal atmosphere for your children - a safe, orderly school in which your children can receive the type of education they deserve.

When any misbehavior occurs and a parent does not understand the consequences to the child, the parent should contact the teacher.

 

Use of Technology Outside of School

Students and parents/guardians are primarily responsible for the appropriate and ethical use of technology, especially in the home. Saint Veronica School reserves the right to impose consequences for inappropriate behavior that takes place off campus and outside school hours. Thus, inappropriate use of technology for example, on a home computer or cell phone, may subject the student to consequences. Inappropriate use includes harassment, use of school name, remarks directed to or about teachers or staff, offensive communications, and safety threats.

SCHOOLWIDE DISCIPLINE PLAN

Expected General Behavior

1. Treat each person with respect in word and action.
2. Follow directions the first time they are given.
3. Wear your full uniform daily with pride (neat and clean).
4. Use appropriate language at all times.
5. Come to school prepared for class.

Expected Yard Behavior

1. Follow directions of the supervising Teacher and Parents.
2. Play only in assigned areas.
3. Include all classmates in your games, especially new students.
4. Use equipment properly.

Expected Cafeteria Behavior

1. Follow directions of supervising Teacher and Parents.
2. Speak in soft voices.
3. Clean up your space after eating.
4. Sit in assigned places at the table.
5. When given permission to leave your place, WALK.

Expected Hallway Behavior

1. Follow directions of Teachers and Staff.
2. Always walk.
3. Walk quietly in the hallways or on the stairs, even at dismissal time.
4. Keep hands to yourself - respect projects and students’ work in the hallway.

Expected Bus Behavior

1. Keep hands, feet, and possessions to yourself.
2. Speak in soft voices.
3. Remain seated and seat belted while the bus is in motion.
4. Obey instructions given by the bus driver and safety patrol.

NB. Repeated inappropriate school bus behavior may result in removal from the bus for any number of days.

 

SCHOOLWIDE DISCIPLINE PLAN / CONSEQUENCES

In each disciplinary action, consequences may include:

1. Complete Behavior Description Sheet signed by teacher AND parent
2. Conference with parent
3. Detention
4. Full day In-School suspension with Principal or Vice Principal
5. At Home Suspension - Parent conference with Principal to develop a contract – Student returns to school
6. Expulsion from St. Veronica School following steps according to policy of the Diocesan School Office.

INFRACTIONS

1. Foul Language/Verbal Harassment and/or Gestures
2. Sexual Harassment
3. Dispute Among Students/Constant Behavior Problem
4. Bullying/Cyberbullying
5. Verbal and/or non-verbal disrespect to supervisory personnel
6. Intimidating Another Student by Verbal and/or Physical Aggression
7. Participating In and/or Watching Group Intimidation Toward Another Student
8. Unsafe Behaviors - Rough housing, Pushing, Tripping, Throwing objects
9. Spitting/Biting
10. Fighting
11. Dishonesty – lying, cheating, stealing
12. Disruptive behavior, blurting out, wandering around
13. Not in assigned location
14. Willful disobedience or defiance of authority
15. Defacing or destruction of school property

LUNCH ROOM BEHAVIOR

1. Letter from Principal
2. Letter and conference with parent
3. Parent invited to school during lunch

BUS BEHAVIOR INFRACTIONS

1. Standing While Bus is in Motion
2. Throwing Objects On or Out of Bus
3. Fighting/Hitting/Pushing another Student
4. Unsafe behaviors/Not wearing seat belt
5. Profanity
6. Not Sitting in Assigned Seats
7. Intimidating Another Student Verbal and/or Physical Aggression
8. Smoking/Lighting Matches

CONSEQUENCES may include detention or loss of bus privileges.

 

POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES

1. Students “caught” having appropriate behavior will receive a gold slip. There will be a drawing approximately every six weeks. Students whose names have been drawn from these “gold slips” will receive small gifts.
2. Awards will be given individually, to groups, or even classes for appropriate behavior.
3. Notes will be sent home to parents of students exhibiting exceptional appropriate behavior by either teacher or Principal.

• Written records of all significant disciplinary actions must be maintained for a student for the duration of his/her enrollment in the school.

CARE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY

Covers are required for all books and this includes workbooks. In addition, students are required to use school bags in order that books are protected en route to and from school. Parents are responsible for replacing any textbook destroyed or defaced by a student. If a book is lost, badly damaged, or destroyed, the parents will be charged the total cost to replace the book.

Practical applied citizenship training is part of our educational program for all students and reasonable care of school buildings, furnishings, books, and instructional materials are emphasized. Parents are requested to render active support to this program. In this manner, operational and maintenance expenses can be held to a minimum. Marking or in any way destroying school property is inexcusable and subject to disciplinary action.

 

 

POLICY FOR SCHOOL VIOLENCE, THREATS OF VIOLENCE, POSSESSION OF WEAPONS

Violence: causing physical harm to another

Threatened violence: threatening to cause physical harm to another

Weapon: anything perceived to be potentially harmful to another

 

KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE THREE

First Offense:	Conference with student, parent, vice-principal, and principal
Second Offense:	Suspension and required counseling before student will be allowed to return to school Police will be notified.
Third Offense:	Possible expulsion Police will be notified.

 

GRADES FOUR THROUGH EIGHT

First Offense:	Conference with student, parent, vice-principal, and principal AND suspension with required counseling before student will be allow to return to school Police will be notified.
Second Offense:	Possible expulsion Police will be notified.

The principal is the final recourse in all disciplinary situations and may waive any and all regulations for just cause at her discretion.

 

POLICY FOR DRUG / ALCOHOL ABUSE

Possession:	Students may not have in their possession at school or at any school sponsored activities alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs.
Use:	Any students whose appearance or behavior indicates the possibility of drug or alcohol misuse shall be referred to the vice principal or principal by the teacher; that teacher is not responsible for any further actions.

 

CONSEQUENCES FOR POSSESSION OR USE

First Offense:	Conference with student, parent, vice-principal, and principal AND suspension with required counseling before student will be allowed to return to school. Police will be notified.
Second Offense:	Parent will be required to withdraw the student from school. Police will be notified.
Trafficking:	If it becomes clear that a student is selling drugs or recruiting for drug abuse, the student is guilty of a crime and the parents will be required to withdraw the student from school. Police will be notified of the students’ illegal activities.

The student and his/her family shall cooperate fully with any therapeutic measures which the administration deems necessary to help the individual. A family who refuses to cooperate with the school’s program of assistance shall be required to withdraw their child from school. In such a case, the school shall inform the receiving school of the circumstances involved in the transfer.