Code of Behavior
Responsibility of carrying out the code of behavior is shared by parents, students, and faculty. School rules are in effect and are enforced at all school functions, on or off campus.
Philosophy & Purpose
School discipline is an important part of the success of a Catholic High School. Its purpose is to promote genuine growth, to increase respect for authority, to foster development of Gospel values, and to provide an atmosphere conducive to learning. Practicing positive virtues is the best way to avoid problems with disciplinary infractions. The Christian message of “Love one another” is a solid foundation for human behavior. Students must observe the virtues of respect, honesty, responsibility, tolerance, and trust.
Early in the year the administration schedules times to instruct the students in their responsibilities and privileges in the classroom, on school grounds and at school functions. The school reserves the right to discipline students for conduct, whether in- side or outside school, that is detrimental to the reputation of the school.
Unacceptable behavior or violation of school policies may result in referral, detention, suspension, probation, appearance before the Discipline Review Board, or a request for the student’s withdrawal from the school as determined by the administration.
*The principal reserves the right to waive and/or deviate from any and all disciplinary regulations for just cause at his or her discretion.
Definition in Discipline Procedures
Ordinary Discipline Procedures apply for a violation of the rules and regulations that do not require immediate suspension or dismissal from school (i.e. dress code, behavior in class, tardiness, failure to attend teacher's detention, etc.).
TEACHERS’ DISCIPLINE/DETENTION
Teachers in the classroom and personnel on the campus are responsible for handling normal discipline problems. Among the alternatives available to a teacher, when a discipline problem arises, are teacher’s detention, parent conferences, counseling referrals, and for serious persistent reasons a referral to the Dean. Teachers are to keep a record of each time these disciplinary procedures are employed. In scheduling a teacher’s detention, the time is to be determined by the teacher, on a day convenient to the teacher, before or after but not during school hours, and with 24 hour notice for the convenience of the student’s parents.
Dean’s Referral
Teachers should refer a student to a Dean when serious problems arise, or when the teacher has attempted to correct a discipline problem over a period of time without success, or when a student is out of dress code, or when a violation outside the classroom has occurred. A Dean's Referral should be handled as a serious matter. Upon accepting a Referral, the following options are available to the Dean: Dean's Detention, a parent conference, suspension, referral to the Disciplinary Board, counseling by the campus minister.
Dean’s Detention
Dean’s Detention is held under the supervision of the Dean of Students or their representatives for one hour. Students will be notified in writing when they are to report for the detention period. If a student does not appear for his detention, he is liable to further disciplinary action.
1st Offense - Parent Referral Warning
Second Offense - 1 hour Dean's Detention
Third Offense - 2 hour Dean's Detention
Fourth Offense - Parent Conference
Fifth Offense - 1 day suspension & Probation
Sixth Offense - 2 day suspension & Strict Probation
Seventh Offense - Dismissal from School
PARENT CONFERENCE
Either a teacher or the Dean may request a parent conference. When the Dean requests a parent conference, parents should be aware that it is for more than ordinary disciplinary reasons.
MINOR SUSPENSIONS
Students may be suspended for violations of the dress code. These are minor suspensions that are in effect until the problem is rectified. Other minor suspensions may involve removing several students from campus or the classroom until it can be de- termined which of them may have been the cause of a serious disruption or violation.
SUSPENSION
For serious or persistent reasons, a student will be suspended. The purpose of suspension is to remove the student from the ordinary educational environment because of his or her potentially disruptive influence. Suspensions may be “in school” or at home. “In-School” suspensions remove the student from the normal classroom while still requiring his or her presence at school.
PROBATION / STRICT PROBATION
Disciplinary Probation
A student will be placed on disciplinary probation or strict disciplinary probation for serious or repeated violations of school regulations. A student placed on disciplinary probation may lose extracurricular activities as determined by the Dean of Discipline.
Disciplinary Strict Probation
A student will be placed on strict probation or dismissed from school for any violation of the rules while on disciplinary probation as determined by the Dean of Discipline. A student on strict probation will be restricted from participation in extracurricular
activities.
DISCIPLINARY REVIEW
At the end of the school year, students with excessive discipli- nary records will be reviewed to determine whether they will be invited back for the next school year, upon recommendation of the Disciplinary Review Board. If the student is invited to attend Paraclete the following year, he/she will be placed on discipli- nary probation for a length of time to be determined by the ad- ministration. The probation contract will be considered a condition for the student’s return and cannot be appealed.
DISMISSAL
Students will be dismissed from school or asked to withdraw for reasons of a serious or continuing nature. Once a student is withdrawn or dismissed, he or she shall not be readmitted, or allowed to enter the campus or attend any of the activities of Paraclete High School. Expulsion remains as a portion of a student's permanent record. A student asked to withdraw or be dismissed from Paraclete for disciplinary reasons may not reapply to attend Paraclete for at least two semesters.
STUDENTS REQUIRED TO WITHDRAW FOR DISCIPLINARY REASONS
Students who have been dismissed from Paraclete or asked to withdraw are not allowed to return to the campus or attend school activities and events.
Disciplinary probation and strict probation will be for a period of time determined by the Dean of Students.
DISCIPLINE BOARD
When a student is dismissed from Paraclete High School for disciplinary reasons the parents may appeal the dismissal to the Discipline Board. The appeal must be made, to the appropriate Dean within two school business days.
The board is composed of the Deans of Students, 5 faculty representatives, and the Assistant Principal. The Board meets with the parents and the student listens to the appeal, and then makes recommendations to the Principal in order to advise him as to whether or not to uphold the dismissal of the student
A Detention Notice is a warning of unacceptable behavior and may be given to students by a member of the faculty any time an infraction occurs.
Detention is the established measure for student violation of school regulations. Detention is given on the recommendation of the proper person in authority. Students serve detention after school the day following the issue of the Detention Notice. Students and parents may be asked to sign Detention Notices as a record that they have received the notice. Students who fail to serve an assigned detention without the expressed approval of the Dean of Students will be assigned an additional hour of detention. Students may not attend or participate in any school event or activity if they have accumulated unserved detention hours.
A Discipline Referral can be given by a teacher or administrator without previous detentions for more serious infractions. Generally, Discipline Referrals are sent home to parents to be signed and returned as notification that a more serious problem may be developing, or the Dean may schedule a conference with the parents.
No student shall be required to remain in the classroom during any recess or lunchtime; all students shall be required to leave the school rooms at recess and lunchtime, unless it would endanger student health. Detention before or after school hours is considered an appropriate means of discipline. A student shall not be detained in school for disciplinary or other reasons for more than one hour after the close of the school day.
The school must give a notice of the detention to the parents/guardians verbally by phone, in writing (hard copy or electronic), or in person during a conference. Under no circumstances shall a student be detained at school without the knowledge and consent of the parents/guardians, who should also be informed of the reason for detention and the exact time the period of detention will begin and end.
Detentions are served on Monday through Friday beginning ten minutes after dismissal of the last class for the day. If a student is late for any reason, he or she will not be admitted.
Suspension is the removal of the student from attendance in the school and may be imposed in serious matters, or when other means of correction fail to bring about proper conduct. Only the principal, or principal's designee may suspend a student from school. The length of the suspension is determined by appropriate school personnel. When a student is suspended from a class or from school, the parents are notified and arrangements for a conference with the appropriate school personnel are made.
The purpose of the Disciplinary Review Board is to furnish Paraclete High School with a system of "Christian due process", in which the rights of both the school and the individual student are respected and treated justly when dismissal for disciplinary reasons is a possibility. The Disciplinary Review Board is a standing committee consisting of five members of the faculty, and a member of the administrative team. The Dean of Students attends as a non-voting member and presents all documentation on the student for the Board to make a recommendation to the Principal regarding the student's continued enrollment at Paraclete High School. Legal council is not allowed to be present at the meeting of the school's Disciplinary Review Board. Only parents or guardians are to accompany students at a Disciplinary Review Board.
Expulsion is the permanent exclusion of a student from the school. In cases which might result in expulsion, the principal or principal's designee contacts the parents or guardians of the student. A conference is scheduled during which the nature of the offense and the consequences of the offense as well as the school's policies governing student conduct and discipline are reviewed. If a student is expelled, the Department of Catholic Schools and the local school district are notified.
Students accused of a serious wrong can be placed on suspension pending the outcome, adjudication, completion of an investigation, or until a court decision is made and as determined by the Principal.
