CODE OF CHRISTIAN CONDUCT COVERING STUDENTS AND PARENTS/GUARDIANS-ARCHDIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES POLICY

Our students' ability to receive a quality, morally based education is enhanced when students, parents, and the school collaborate. Normally, differences between these individuals can be resolved. In some rare instances, however, the school may find it necessary, at its discretion, to require parents/guardians to withdraw their children due to a lack of parental collaboration and/or expressions of open hostility toward the school expressed by the parents on an ongoing basis - verbally, in writing or online via any of the various public “social media" outlets.

It shall, therefore, be an expressed condition of enrollment at SPBS, that students and parents shall conform themselves to standards of conduct consistent with the Christian principles of this school, as determined by SPBS at its discretion. These principles include, but are not limited to, any policies or procedures set forth in this Parent/Student Handbook.​​

These Christian principles further include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Parents/guardians are expected to work courteously and cooperatively with the school to assist the student in meeting or exceeding the academic, moral, and behavioral expectations of the school. These concerns should never be expressed to or around their children, who are enrolled in SPBS.
• Students and parents/guardians may respectfully express their concerns about the school operation and its personnel. However, they may not do so in a manner that is discourteous, scandalous, rumor driven, disruptive, threatening, hostile, or divisive.
• Any parent/guardian or other person whose conduct in a place where a school employee is required to be in the course of his/her duties materially disrupts class work or extracurricular activities or involves substantial disorder is guilty of a misdemeanor. This statement does not apply to any otherwise lawful employee concerted activity, including but not limited to, picketing and the distribution of handbills. 
• Any parent/guardian, or other person who insults or abuses the Principal or any teacher in the presence of other school personnel, students or parents and at a place which is on school premises or public sidewalks, streets, or other public ways adjacent to school premises or at some other place if the Principal or teacher is required to be at such other place in connection with assigned school activities, risks the continuation of their child in the school.
• These expectations for students and parents/guardians include, but are not limited to all school-sponsored programs and events (extended care, athletics, field trips, etc.).
  
  SPBS reserves the right to determine, in its discretion, when conduct is of such a severe nature as to warrant immediate action without warning. The action may include removal of a family and subsequent withdrawal of their students from the school.​
  

COMMUNICATION

Good communication between school and home cannot be overemphasized. At SPBS we enjoy a wonderful sense of community and warmth among our school families, students, and faculty/staff. In an effort to facilitate this spirit of cooperation and good will, we have outlined our expectations below:

• It is expected that our parents will support the teachers and administration of SPBS with regards to the implementation of school standards, class rules and the spirit of both academic and athletic disciplines. The students will achieve better results, develop higher moral standards, and grow into more responsible and successful young people when the school and parents work together as a team. 
• In the event that a parent would have a question or concern, the correct process is to begin by discussing the situation directly with the staff member involved. If there are still questions or concerns remaining of a serious nature, the parent should then approach the administration. We will not accept parents assuming an adversarial role by defending the improper actions and/or behavior of their child(ren), and challenging the established rules and policies of the school. This type of behavior benefits no one, and in fact, has been shown to discourage student respect. 
• The school makes parents aware of policies, schedules, events, etc., by sending the Principal's newsletter, the “Bear Paw", home weekly in the Family Envelope. Parents also receive information, and communicate with members of the school faculty, by means of the Parent/Student Handbook, parent-teacher conferences, emails from the school office/administration, phone “auto calls" from the Principal, parent meetings, the weekly “Sports Paw" and the parish bulletin. In addition, each classroom teacher helps ensure clear communication regarding student progress through various methods such as: sending home weekly folders of student work, emails, weekly newsletters (K-5), Reading and Math Contracts, mid-trimester Academic Evaluations, Behavior and Work Habit Referrals, Student Action Plans, STEP (inclusion) Programs, and weekly online posting of grades in 4^th-8^th Grade. Report Cards are sent home at the end of each Trimester, following the grading guidelines set by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Parents are urged to ask their oldest student for the Family Envelope and to read all the contents very carefully. (See Family Envelope section.) Parents are requested to return it to school on the morning following.
  
   
  
  The following guidelines should be followed when communicating with Teachers and staff via email:
1. First and foremost, as with any communication between home and school, respect and proper Christian civility should be used at all times. We are all imperfect beings. Hence, differences and problems will arise. Email communications may not be used to air out those differences in a way contrary to the high level of respect the teachers, staff, and administration at this school deserve. Parents should expect the same level of respect from communications by the faculty and staff.
2. Teachers spend their day instructing the students and will often be unable to check their email during the school day. If it is an immediate issue that needs to be conveyed, please contact the school office.
3. The expectation for teachers to return emails is within 24 hours (weekday). Weekends are their own time, and teachers are not expected to be checking email during that time.
4. Please do not expect teachers to answer questions during the evening for clarifications on homework or for other matters. Their personal lives and family time are incredibly important, and should be their focus after they leave school for the day.
5. One of the main goals for our middle school students is to train them to become self-advocates. It is the expectation that students in grades 6th-8th come to the teacher concerning any questions or issues that may arise from assignments and assessments. Parents of middle school students should not email the teachers regarding these questions unless the student has met with the teacher and the matter is still unresolved.
6. Emails are a confidential conversation between the parent and student and should not be forwarded to others. In addition, per archdiocesan policy, teachers are unable to state specific grades of students in an email communication.​
   

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