DISCIPLINE AND PROCEDURES
Teachers and school staff are required to hold students to strict account for their conduct in the classroom, in school buildings. on school and church grounds, during recess, or at any school event regardless of location. Teachers and staff may exercise the same degree of physical control over a student that a parent would be legally privileged to exercise, provided that does it not exceed the amount of physical control reasonably necessary to:
No teacher or staff member may inflict corporal punishment on a student. However, corporal punishment does not include an amount of physical control or use of force that is reasonable and necessary to:
quell a disturbance that threatens physical injury to persons or damage to property
engage in self-defense, or
obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects within the control of the student.
All incidents of the use of physical control or use of force on a student must be documented promptly and provided to the person in charge.
Maintenance of Effective Discipline: Effective discipline is maintained when there is
- Reasonable quiet and order in the building
- Positive correction of behavior
- Constant encouragement of acceptable classroom conduct
- Firm but fair treatment of difficult students
- Consistent follow through
Discipline Procedures
1. Behavior Report (if any student earns 3 behavior reports in a trimester, the student will then earn a detention)
2. Detention (held on Thursday from 3:00 - 3:30)
3. Parent Conference (the principal will be notified about this conference
4. If after the conference the problem continues, an appointment with the teacher, principal, parents, and student will be necessary to discuss a further course of action and/or suspension.
GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS
SCHOOL WIDE EXPECTATIONS
To maintain a cohesive and supportive learning environment, Holy Name of Mary School has established the following behavioral and academic expectations:
CORE PRINCIPLES
- Respect: Respect for God, self, others, and property is expected at all times.
- Accountability: Students are responsible for their actions and understanding the consequences.
- Growth: Embrace opportunities for growth through learning, reflection, and reconciliation.
- Positive Behavior: Positive behaviors are promoted through clear expectations and constructive reinforcement.
OUR GOALS
At Holy Name of Mary School, our discipline policy reflects our commitment to fostering responsibility, respect, and personal growth within a faith-centered community.
- *Constructive Discipline: Behavioral concerns are handled in a constructive manner, focusing on accountability and personal development.
- *Progressive Approach: A step-by-step process is employed to address issues, beginning with verbal guidance and escalating to written communication, collaborative discussions with parents and teachers, and structured interventions, if necessary.
- *Restorative Practices: Emphasis is placed on restoring relationships, fostering forgiveness, and building a stronger sense of community through meaningful actions.
BUILDING A RESPECTFUL AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL CULTUREA respectful and supportive school culture is essential for a positive learning environment. It sets the tone for interactions between students, teachers, and staff, and ultimately impacts the academic success of students. Here are some key ways in which schools can work towards building a more respectful and supportive culture:
CLEAR EXPECTATIONS
1 Students are provided with clear guidelines on behavioral standards and consequences to promote understanding and accountability.
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT
2 Positive behaviors are recognized and rewarded to establish a school culture rooted in respect and encouragement.
COMMUNICATION
3 Strong communication among educators, students, and parents ensures alignment with behavioral and academic goals, fostering a united and supportive environment.
COMMITMENT TO A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT
4 Holy Name of Mary School is dedicated to creating a Christcentered, respectful, and academically enriching atmosphere. Collaboration among students, staff, and families is essential to maintaining this nurturing community.
Teachers and staff receive ongoing professional development to respond empathetically and effectively to student challenges, ensuring disciplinary practices reflect the school’s values.
GENERAL STUDENT EXPECTATIONS SUMMARY
Student Behavior
- Show respect to teachers, staff, peers, and school property.
- Follow all school rules and classroom guidelines as outlined by teachers and administrators.
- Bullying, harassment, or inappropriate behavior is not tolerated and will result in disciplinary action.
Attendance and Readiness Regular attendance and punctuality are required for academic success.
Students are expected to arrive prepared for learning, with all necessary materials and a positive attitude.
Uniform Policy
Adherence to the school uniform guidelines, as detailed in the Student Handbook, is mandatory.
KEY ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE POLICY: A DEDICATION TO LEARNING
Students are required to approach each school day ready to learn. This includes being well-rested, nourished, and equipped with the necessary materials. Setting a positive mindset is vital for academic success.
Holy Name of Mary: Student Behavior Expectations
General/All Settings:
- Make moral decisions and understand their consequences.
- Think critically, solve problems, and use study skills to improve.
- Communicate respectfully with others.
- Serve others and take responsibility for actions.
- Value the physical, spiritual, and mental well-being of yourself and others.
Classrooms: - Communicate respectfully to allow others to focus on learning.
- Think critically and solve problems to improve learning.
- Participate actively in class and celebrate each other’s successes.
Hallways: - Walk carefully and purposefully to keep everyone safe and maximize learning time.
- Hang backpacks neatly and hold belongings appropriately.
- Use quiet voices to respect others working nearby.
Playground: - Follow all playground rules and use equipment responsibly and appropriately.
- Take care of playground equipment and put it away after use.
- Use polite, encouraging words while playing and invite others to join.
- Demonstrate good sportsmanship and fair play.
- Do not enter P.E. Shed unsupervised
Bathroom: - Make good choices and respect the privacy of others.
- Use positive, clean language.
- Keep restrooms clean and throw trash away properly.
- Wash hands after using the restroom.
- No food or technology in restroom
Assemblies: - Actively Participate fully in prayer and give the speaker your full attention.
- Stand attentively and follow directions respectfully.
- Celebrate and respect the success of others.
- No side conversations
Lunch Tables: - Use good manners with the lunch service team, friends, and supervisors.
- Keep the eating area clean and throw away trash.
- Eat most or all of your food and drink.
- Remain seated while eating and wait to be dismissed by supervisors.
- All food and drinks must be consumed in the pavilion while seated.
- Lunch pails should be placed on lines during lunch recess.
Church: - Respect the holiness of the church before, during, and after Mass.
- Participate in prayer, Mass, and the sacraments.
- Listen to God’s word to learn right from wrong.
- No hoodies allowed during mass on Friday’s
- Honor Christian practices and traditions.
Overall: - Treat others with kindness, respect, and understanding.
- Participate in activities with full attention and effort.
- Practice prayer to develop a personal relationship with God.
Difference Between Behavior Expectations and Behavior Standards Behavior expectations outline the general principles or guidelines for how students are encouraged to conduct t hemselves in various settings. These are broad, positive statements aimed at fostering a respectful and supportive environment, such as being responsible, kind, or respectful to others. On the other hand, behavior standards are specific, measurable criteria that define the acceptable limits of behavior and clarify what is considered appropriate or inappropriate in particular situations. While expectations focus on guiding values, standards provide concrete boundaries to ensure consistency and fairness in maintaining discipline.
Expectations of Student Behavior at Holy Name of Mary and Behavior Standards:
The following behavior standards apply in all areas of the school:
Be Courteous and Respectful to Others
To maintain a kind and respectful community, the following behaviors are prohibited:
- Physical aggression, such as hitting, kicking, pushing, fighting, or "play fighting."
- Verbal offenses, including name-calling, teasing, unkind remarks, foul language, or dishonesty.
- Threatening, intimidating, or bullying others.
- No physical displays of affection
Respect the Property of Others Protecting school and personal property is a shared responsibility. The following behaviors are unacceptable:
- Defacing, vandalizing, or damaging school property.
- Damaging or mishandling others’ belongings, including clothing.
- Stealing or cheating.
Be in the Right Place at the Right Time To ensure safety and order, students must follow these guidelines:
- Remain in designated areas at all times.
- Do not leave campus without a parent or authorized adult supervision.
Think and Act Safely Safety is a priority, and the following actions will not be tolerated:
- Bringing dangerous items or objects to school.
- Misusing equipment in a way that could harm yourself or others.
- Entering or leaving the campus in violation of the school’s drop-off and pick-up policies.
Follow Directions from School Personnel Respect for authority ensures a cooperative and productive environment. Infractions include:
- Refusing to follow instructions in any school area or during school-sponsored events.
- Ignoring emergency procedures.
- Acting disrespectfully, whether through words or behavior, toward any staff or student.
Maintain a Positive Attitude Toward Yourself Uphold school standards in personal presentation and conduct by avoiding the following:
- Being out of uniform or violating dress code policies.
- Chewing gum, eating sunflower seeds, or engaging in prohibited activities.
- Wearing inappropriate attire, tattoos, or other body markings that contradict school guidelines.
By adhering to these rules, we can foster a safe, respectful, and supportive school community.
TIERED BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES
Level 1 - Minor Offenses
Examples of Minor Misbehaviors:
- Interrupting or speaking out of turn during class discussions.
- Failing to follow instructions as directed.
- Causing minor disruptions to the learning environment.
- Being late to class or submitting incomplete assignments.
Interventions and Consequences: - Provide a verbal warning to address the behavior.
- Hold a one-on-one conversation with the student.
- Temporarily revoke certain privileges (e.g., walking recess).
- Notify and involve parents through behavior reports.
- Implement restorative practices, such as reflective conversations or activities.
Level 2 - Moderate Offenses Examples of Behaviors:
- Showing disrespect toward peers or staff.
- Consistently failing to follow instructions.
- Damaging school property.
- Using offensive or inappropriate language.
Interventions and Consequences: - Notify and involve parents through behavior reports, meetings, emails, or phone calls.
- Hold a one-on-one meeting with the student to address behavior.
- Require participation in restorative practices, such as apologies or reflective writing.
- Temporarily revoke certain privileges (e.g., extracurricular activities).
- Serve after-school detention (Grades 3-8).
- Hold a meeting with the Principal and teacher.
- Require parents to replace or repair damaged property.
Note: Continued moderate offenses may result in escalation to Level 3 consequences.
Level 3 -
Severe Offenses Examples:
- Bullying or harassment.
- Physical aggression or fighting.
- Possession of prohibited items.
- Repeated Level 1 or Level 2 offenses.
Interventions and Consequences: - Notify and involve parents through meetings or written communication.
- Hold parent-teacher meetings to address the behavior.
- Refer the student to the STEP program or school counselor.
- Develop a behavioral contract with clear goals and expectations.
- Temporarily revoke certain privileges ( e.g., participation in school events).
- Implement restorative practices as a part of the resolution process.
- Assign suspension (in-school or out-of-school).
- Refer to the principal for further disciplinary action.
- Expulsion (in extreme cases).
Behavior reports are designed to inform parents of an issue that requires attention. While the issue may start as minor, these reports serve as a tool to facilitate communication between parents and teachers. Receiving a behavior report is similar to a teacher making a phone call or sending an email. If you receive one, please take a moment to discuss the situation with your child to help them understand and address the concern.
It’s important to note that behavior reports are not intended to be accusatory. However, they do carry consequences. Accumulating three behavior reports in a trimester will result in detention, while six or more may lead to suspension. If a child receives six behavior reports, it raises a concern about the lack of parental involvement and whether the student is learning from these i ncidents. Open communication and collaboration between parents and teachers are essential to support the student’s growth and i mprovement. Behavior reports affect overall grades and eligibility for merit & honor roll.
- Skateboards: Not allowed on campus.
- Toys: May only be brought for specific classroom activities, such as show-and-tell.
- Chewing Gum: Prohibited on school grounds.
Use Of Electronic Devices
Cell phones and other portable communication devices may be brought to school if the Acceptable Use Policy/Permission Slip is signed by both student and parent and turned in to the school. Students may not have any apps that are rated "13 and over" or marked "explicit content" with the exception of "Google."
All portable communication devices must be turned "OFF" and stored in a backpack, book bag, or other place where the device is not visible.
Portable communication devices may NOT be turned on at any time during the regular school day for any reason, except to call 911 in emergencies or with the express permission of a teacher.
This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, lunch breaks, class changes, dismissal and any other scheduled or non-scheduled activity that occurs during normal school hours.
Before and after the end of school, students may use portable communication devices, but not inside school buildings that are still being used for school-related activities or on school buses.
Portable communication devices may be used at after school activities that are not conducted in the school, provided that they do not interfere with the activity or school operations. If a student uses a portable communication device or any of its functions for any reason during the school day without express permission from the teacher, the following measures will be taken:
- The device will be confiscated from the student.
- The device will be returned only to the student's parent or legal guardian.
- Depending on the circumstances, the student may be denied the right to bring the device to school.
- Repeat violations of the policy will result in disciplinary measures appropriate to the circumstances, including expulsion if warranted.
- If a device is used for cheating during a test, the student will be removed from the testing situation and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.
The school is NOT responsible for lost, misplaced, stolen or broken communications devices or for any unauthorized use of such devices. The school will NOT pay to replace devices that are lost, misplaced or stolen after they are confiscated and will NOT pay for any communications charges.
Phone Calls
- Students may use the phone only in emergencies or with written permission from a teacher.
- Non-emergency phone use, such as for forgotten assignments, is not allowed.
Care Of Property
- Students must respect both school and personal property.
- If any property is damanged or broken, the student responsible will need to cover the cost of repairs or replacement.
Care Of Books
- At the start of the schoool year, each student is loaned a set of books for the year.
- Students are responsible foro keeping their books in good condition.
- Lost or damaged books must be replaced and paid for through the school office.
- Textbooks bust remain covered at all times.
- White-out is not allowed.
Parties and School Lunches
To ensure inclusivity and kindness, party invitations may only be distributed at school if all students in the class, all girls, or all boys are invited. Selective invitations shoudl be mailed instead, and students are asked not to discuss private parties during school hours or during school lunches. Note: the school office cannot provide student address information.
