DISCIPLINE POLICY

Discipline is an aspect of moral guidance and not a form of punishment.  The purpose of discipline is to provide a school climate conducive to learning and one that promotes character development.              Discipline is maintained in a classroom or school when students work cooperatively with the principal, the teachers, and their classmates towards the attainment of the class and school objectives. However, it should be noted that the legitimate interest of the school extends beyond the school day and beyond the school hours.

Teachers develop classroom rules and policies with their students.  Classroom issues are handled by the teacher.  School‑wide policies come from the principal's office.  These policies are developed for the smooth running of the entire school.

While there is a general discipline policy, each classroom teacher establishes developmentally appropriate behavior expectations which are shared with students the first week of school and with parents at Back to School Night.
 
Student Expected Behavior
Christian living means being in community with others.  The school forms its own community and all members (students, parents, teachers, staff, and administration) are expected to contribute positively and cooperatively to the building up of the community. 

Specific Behavior Expectations

1.         All school community members (children and adults) are expected to treat others with respect, courtesy, and kindness.  Cooperation and appropriate behavior are expected of all persons.  All community members are expected to understand and follow the harassment policies of the school and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
2.         Students are expected to observe classroom and school rules.  Positive classroom behavior creates a successful learning environment.
3.         Students are expected to complete their assignments and participate actively in class and school projects.
4.         Students are expected to use classrooms, books, materials, and school facilities, and keep them in order with a sense of pride and responsibility.  Personal property of others must be respected as well. 
5.         Students are expected to speak politely (using "please and thank you") and appropriately
            (no use of "obscene or street" language).  No personal verbal or written abuse of students or adults is acceptable.
6.         Students are responsible for the books given to them for their use.  Books are to be covered at all times.  If students write in a book or deface it in any way, they will be expected to replace it before the end of the school year.  If students deface furniture (desks) in any way, they will be required to pay for its repair or replacement.  The replacement fee for lost/damaged textbooks is at least $60 and workbooks at least $30.  The replacement fee for lost/damaged library books varies from book to book, the school librarian will charge as needed.
7.         Students are expected to be well groomed and wear a clean school uniform each day.
8.         Students are expected to be on time for school each day and not leave school without permission.
9.         Students are expected to play in ways that are fair, kind, and fun during recess and lunch.
10.       Students are expected to settle problems in a positive way and ask adults for help when needed.  Fighting or verbal abuse is not an acceptable solution for conflict.
11.       Students are not allowed to chew gum, bring skates, or ride skateboards/ride bikes on the campus.
12.       Students who ride bikes to school are expected to lock them in the designated area.  Skateboards should be brought to the front office.
 
Discipline Procedures
Disciplinary action for a minor infraction will be addressed by the classroom teacher.  Discipline will be addressed as a learning process.  Disregard for school behavior policies or other misbehavior may result in a conduct referral, behavior probation, suspension or expulsion.
For more severe infractions the following action may be taken.

Conduct Referrals

In some situations a student's unacceptable behavior is written up by the teacher or staff member in a written conduct referral.  A copy is sent home for a parent/guardian signature and a copy is sent to the principal.  Copies of the conduct referral may be kept with the student's file and become part of the consideration for the conduct grade on the report card.

Behavior Probation

A student may be put on probation for a clearly specified period of time (usually a trimester) for serious or continued misconduct.  Parents and the student are made fully aware of the seriousness of the action and the reason for probation.  A conference is held with parents, student, teacher, and principal, and a written form of behavior probation is signed by the parents and principal.  During probation, students are expected to show improvement in behavior, and show a positive attitude as they observe and follow classroom/school rules.

A student may be placed on probation for one trimester for the following reasons or any other actions considered by the principal:

1.         Receiving a "D" in conduct for the preceding trimester
2.         Being rude to a teacher or school personnel
3.         Receiving three conduct referrals for the following actions:
            a.         disrupting the class
            b.         neglecting to have the necessary classroom supplies
            c.         chewing gum
            d.         riding bicycles, skateboards, or roller skates on campus
            e.         not remaining in the assigned areas during recess, lunch, before or after school
            f.          uniform violations
            g.         failure to cooperate with teachers and/or supervisory personnel at any time

Conduct Referrals are sent home to the parent to be signed and returned to the teacher the following day.  Copies are kept in the child's file.

Suspension
Suspension means a student is not allowed at school (or in class) for a specified period of time because of serious misconduct.  The principal decides on one of the following forms of suspension and informs the parents.
1.         The student may attend class, but lose the right to participate in any school activity, on or off school grounds.
2.         The student may be suspended from a particular class and be required to report to a specific place on the school grounds.  At all times the student will be supervised by an adult.
3.         In some cases, a student may be sent home for the entire period of suspension provided that she/he be assigned academic work to make up the loss of class time.

Conditions of Suspension

1. Any of the reasons listed for expulsion where mitigating circumstances exist may be adequate cause for suspension of a student.
2. No student shall be suspended from an elementary school for more than two consecutive weeks.
3. Notice of suspension must be given to the parents/guardians by telephone or in a conference.
4. The principal shall schedule a conference with the suspended student's parents/guardians to discuss matters pertinent to the suspension especially the means by which the parents/guardians and the school can cooperatively encourage the student to improve behavior. The suspended student may be present at the conference.
5. In no case will a teacher on his/her own authority suspend a student.

 
A student is required to meet all class work and homework requirements during the duration of the suspension.

Expulsion:
Reasons for expulsions are, but not limited to, the following offenses committed by students:
1.    For chronic disregard of the behavior policy
2.    For severe infraction that risked the mental or physical well being of another
3.    For severe destruction of property
4.    Actions gravely detrimental to the moral and spiritual welfare of other pupils
5.    Habitual profanity or vulgarity
6.    Assault, battery or any threat of force or violence directed toward any school personnel or pupil

7. Bullying or harassing school personnel or other students

8.    Open, persistent defiance of the authority of any teacher or supervising adult
9.    Continued willful disobedience or disrespect to teachers or other students
10.  Use, sale/possession of narcotics
11.  Use, sale, distribution/possession of any alcohol on or near school premises
12.  Smoking or possessing tobacco
13.  Stealing, cheating or lying

14. Forging signatures
15. Plagiarism
16. Willful cutting, defacing or otherwise injuring in any way property, real or personal belonging to the school

17.  Habitual truancy
18.  Possession of harmful weapons (e.g. guns, knives, etc.) or materials that can be used as weapons

19. Membership in, active involvement in, or affiliation with a gang or group responsible for coercive or violent activity
20. Actions in or out of school which are detrimental to the school's reputation

21.  Violation of the Electronic Communications Policy policies and guidelines

22. Inappropriate conduct or behavior unbecoming a student in a Catholic school

23.  For any behavior that the administration deems unacceptable for a St. Luke student

A pupil may be suspended or expelled for any of the above actions

1. while on school grounds
2. while going to or from school
3. during lunch, whether on or off campus
4. during or going to or from a school sponsored activity

 
School personnel may notify the police department in a situation where there may be legal circumstances.
 
Procedure for Expulsion
When the reasons for expulsion are purely disciplinary, i.e., when serious moral reasons are not involved, the following steps must be taken:

• A conference must be held with the parents/guardians, student, teacher, and principal present to advise the family that serious action is contemplated, unless there is immediate improvement in behavior. In parish schools, the pastor should be notified of the conference, given an opportunity to attend and provided a report of the discussion.
• If there is no improvement in behavior, the final decision will be announced at a second conference attended by the principal, teacher, and parents/guardians. If the parents fail, without cause, to attend the conference, the pastor, principal, and teacher will reach a final decision. The final decision rests with the pastor in consultation with the principal.
• In no case will a teacher on his/her own authority expel a student.
• Full credit will be given for all work accomplished by the student up to the moment of expulsion.

Cases Involving Grave Offenses

• In cases involving grave offenses, which may include a violation of criminal law or actions so outrageous as to shock the conscience or behavior of the community, the student is immediately suspended and the initial parent-principal conference is dispensed with.
• The procedure involving cases of grave offenses should be followed when the continued presence of the student at school (even for a short period of time) will, in the reasonable judgment of the principal, pose a serious threat to the health and welfare of another student or students, or faculty members.
• When immediate suspension is imposed, with probable expulsion, while the case is being investigated, the rules and the consequences of the violation should be clearly explained to the student and parents/guardians.

Time of Expulsion

• An expulsion may be made immediately if the reasons are urgent.

• Only in exceptional cases shall expulsion of an eighth grade student who has been in the school one or more years be allowed.
• If an expulsion is to take place during the last trimester of the school year or during the last trimester in the case of an eighth grade student, prior approval of the Department of Catholic Schools is required before the expulsion can take effect.
• If such action is contemplated, approval shall be obtained before the announcement of the final decision to the parents at the meeting described below.

Reporting of Expulsions

• All expulsions even if they occur at the end of the year, are to be reported by telephone to the elementary supervisor at the Department of Catholic Schools within twenty-four hours.  The written report, Notice of Dismissal, should be mailed promptly to the elementary supervisor.
• The attendance office of the local public school district shall be notified immediately of expulsions. A copy of the Cumulative Student Record should be held until requested.

 
Right to Make Exceptions
The principal, in consultation with the pastor, retains the right to make exceptions in cases where mitigating circumstances call for a different response than policy suggests.
 
Discipline Guidelines For The School Yard
·         Respectfully follow adult directions
·         Use hands and feet appropriately
·         Zero tolerance for fighting.  Any student who initiates or participates in a fight may be suspended.
·         "Play" fighting is also not allowed
·         Use appropriate language.  No name calling, swearing, rude comments or gestures.
·         Clean your own lunch area. Show pride in your school by picking up litter, even if it is not yours!
·         Use playground equipment properly.
·         Follow rules of the game as agreed upon by yard duty personnel.
·         Play in assigned areas. Remain on campus at all times.
·         Students and their parents or guardians are held responsible for replacement or repair of any damage to school property. Intentional damage will result in disciplinary action determined by the principal in consultation with those involved.

Harassment, bullying and Hazing Policy
St. Luke Catholic School is committed to provide a safe and comfortable learning environment that respects Christian values and is free from harassment, bullying or hazing in any form. Harassment, bullying or hazing of any student by any other student, lay employee, religious, clergy, or school volunteer is prohibited. The school will treat allegations of any such conduct seriously and will review and investigate such allegations in a prompt, confidential and thorough manner. This policy shall be communicated clearly to faculty, staff, volunteers, parents/guardians, and students.
Substantiated acts of harassment, bullying or hazing by a student will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal of the student. Students found to have filed false or frivolous charges will also be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. For students in grades K-3, this disciplinary action shall depend on the maturity of the students and the circumstances involved. For students in grades 4 through 8, the disciplinary action may include suspension or dismissal.
Harassment occurs when an individual is subjected to treatment or a school environment that is hostile or intimidating based upon a legally protected class, such as race, sex, ethnic origin or religion. It includes, but is not limited to, any or all of the following:

• Verbal harassment: Derogatory comments and jokes; threatening words spoken to another person.
• Physical harassment: Unwanted physical touching, contact, assault, deliberate impending or blocking movements, or any intimidating interference with normal work or movement.
• Visual harassment: Derogatory, demeaning or inflammatory posters, cartoons, written words, drawings, and gestures.
• Sexual harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

Bullying is the habitual harassing, intimidating, tormenting, browbeating, humiliating, terrorizing, oppressing and/or threatening of another person. Bullying typically consists of direct behaviors, such as teasing, taunting, threatening, hitting, shoving, and stealing that are initiated by one or more students against a victim or victims. In addition to direct attacks, bullying may also be indirect, such as spreading rumors that cause victims to be socially isolated through intentional exclusion. Whether the bullying is direct or indirect, the key component of bullying is physical or psychological intimidation that occurs repeatedly over time to create an ongoing pattern of harassment and abuse.
Hazing is any method of initiation or pre-initiation into a student organization or student body or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to these organizations which causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger, physical harm, or personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm, to any student or other person.
Students also may be involved in cyberbullying, which occurs when they bully each other using the Internet, mobile phones or other cyber technology. This can include, but is not limited to:

• Sending inappropriate text, e-mail, or instant messages.
• Posting inappropriate pictures or messages about others in blogs or on Web sites.
• Using someone else's user name to spread rumors or lies about someone.

It is the responsibility of the school to:

• Establish practices and provide staff development training and age-appropriate information for students, designed to create a school environment free from discrimination, intimidation or harassment.

·      Make all faculty, staff, students, parents/guardians, and volunteers aware of this policy and the commitment of the school toward its strict enforcement

• Remain watchful for conditions that create or may lead to a hostile offensive school environment.

It is the student's responsibility to:

• Conduct himself or herself in a manner that contributes to a positive school environment.
• Avoid any activity that may be considered discriminatory, intimidating, harassing, bullying or hazing.
• If possible, inform the other person(s) that the behavior is offensive and unwelcome.
• Report all incidents of discrimination, harassment, bullying or hazing to the principal or teacher.

·      As appropriate, the students involved may be asked to complete a formal, written complaint which will be investigated thoroughly and will involve only the necessary parties. Confidentiality will be maintained as much as possible.​

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