DISCIPLINE AT SPBS

We believe that discipline is very different from punishment. The aim of discipline at SPBS is primarily to institute and maintain satisfactory learning conditions free from distracting and/or inappropriate behavior. Based on respect for authority and welfare of the group, helps develop the student's ideals, attitudes and habits required for Christian living. Discipline at SPBS is therefore designed to help lead students to self-discipline and ultimately to discipleship. We believe that children can be taught self-discipline skills as a part of the total school curriculum. While each classroom may institute a separate discipline plan, a school-wide program is also utilized. Our discipline program is designed to encourage students to develop the ability to make good choices.

 School-Wide Discipline Program

Discipline comes from the word "disciple", which means student or pupil. Consequently, to discipline means to teach. Our goal at SPBS is to teach students to help them grow in the Christian characteristics of respect, spirituality, and responsibility. A respectful person is one who believes in the dignity and worth of individuals and acts accordingly. A spiritual person could be defined as one who lives their Catholic faith. A responsible person is one who strives to meet personal, school, and community obligations. The purpose of discipline at SPBS is to help provide a school environment and climate conducive to learning, and one that promotes character development.

The SPBS school-wide discipline plan requires consistent commitment on everyone's part – faculty, staff, parents, and students. We strongly believe that this discipline plan will help create and foster a positive learning atmosphere and students will demonstrate increasing maturity. This will in turn lead to increased feelings of self-esteem, pride, and accomplishment in our students. Therefore, the SPBS school-wide discipline program is designed to help students become morally-mature individuals, capable of making good choices both in and out of the school setting. It should, therefore, be noted that the “legitimate interest" of the school in terms of student discipline and/or character development extends beyond the actual school day and beyond the prescribed hours of school operation.​

Objectives:

• Notify parents of inadequate student work habits, unacceptable behavior, or tardiness.
• Provide parents an additional avenue of communication with the school.
• Give students the opportunity to explain action and cause, through due process.
• Remind students of desired behavior/work habits.
• Modify work habits and behavior to achieve desired goals.
• Reward appropriate work habits and behaviors.
• Provide consistent reinforcement of school and classroom rules and expectations.
• Create an environment which encourages students to make morally-based, good choices and which enhances learning.
  
  Areas for Assessment

• Work Habits - Each student is expected to exhibit a good effort in all facets of our school curriculum, to fulfill homework and classwork obligations; and to develop personal responsibility.
• Behavior - Each student is expected to control their behavior and/or conduct, to help create a school environment that is conducive to learning and growth for themselves and their fellow students.
• Punctuality - Each student is expected to arrive at school and/or classes in a timely manner, in proper dress code for the day. Parents/guardians are expected to facilitate their student's on-time arrival to school.
  
  Notification System
  
  Student Notices/Referrals: 
  May be issued by SPBS faculty, staff, yard duty and administration for infractions in the areas of:

• Work Habits
• Behavior
  
  Student Notices/Referrals are considered a warning to the student and provide information for the parent. A Student Referral is not a punishment, but a formal communication that a problem is occurring. Copies of any Student Notices/Referrals issued are sent home with the student. In addition, they may be viewed by parents by logging into their Gradelink account. Parents are to sign and return Student Notices/Referrals when indicated on the Referral. We recommend that parents monitor the frequency and type of Student Referrals received by their child and have a discussion with them when warranted. We feel Student Notices/Referrals are an important component of our system of communication between school and home. Student Notices/Referrals will have a positive effect on behavior and Work Habits, when used as a communication tool between parent and child, and not as a form of punishment. They are only one way SPBS lets parents know that an expectation was not met in a certain area by the student. 
  
  In Grades K-5, Student Notices/Referrals are used in conjunction with the individualized classroom discipline program. After a student receives four (4) Behavior Referrals in a trimester, a Detention will be issued in conjunction with the 4th Student Referral.  Any student receiving six Tardy Slips in any one Trimester will receive a morning detention at the time of the sixth tardy. 
   

All Student Notices/Referrals affect the student's overall Work Habits/Behavior report card grades at the end of the Trimester in which they were received. ​

REWARDS PROGRAM

Bear P.A.W.
To recognize student growth in the areas of Work Habits and Behavior, a reward certificate called a “Bear P.A.W." (Positive Action Wins) will be given to students by the faculty, staff and administration. Bear Paws are given for Work Habits and for Behavior; they may be given for supporting Ecology, and during liturgical seasons in support of our school's SLEs. Bear Paws can be redeemed for items at the Bear Cave (Student Store) and other items as defined in each classroom.
Bear Paws are also awarded each week in the areas of Work Habits and Behavior to each Junior High student who has not received a Student Referral during the week in that area. Bear Paws are frequently given out to students in Grades K-5 to encourage appropriate actions. In addition, Junior High students may redeem Bear Paws for “NUT" (Not in Uniform Today) passes for use only on specified days.
 
“Caught Being Good" Tickets
Random acts of kindness and positive behaviors may also be rewarded with a "Caught Being Good" certificate. These certificates are deposited in the school office for a drawing for Bear Paws and other items during a morning assembly.
Individual Classroom Rewards Programs 
Grades K-5 use many methods of positive reinforcement, as a part of their individual classroom discipline programs.
N.U.T. (Not in Uniform Today) day passes
Junior High students may trade Bear Paw certificates for a NUT Day Pass at the Bear Cave on Tuesdays, as an incentive for positive behavior/work habits. NUT Day Passes may only be redeemed on the following designated NUT Day Pass “free" dress day.​