Suspension/Disciplinary Measures for Grave Offenses
LIABLE TO SUSPENSION & PROBATION
Reckless driving on school property.
Truancy.
Leaving campus at lunch or break without permission.
Falsified excuses dealing with absences or tardiness. Forgery or use of forged notes or passes.
Tampering with fire alarms, extinguishers, bulletin boards or absentee lists.
Failure to return property belonging to the school when loaned to the student. The student with his or her parents will be held liable for the return of the property when requested by an employee of the school authorized to make the demand.
The harassment of other students.
Possession or use of cigarettes, tobacco or related paraphernalia on or near campus, or at school activities.
Gambling or card playing on campus.
Unacceptable behavior on bus trips.
Cheating on quarter or semester examinations.
Possession or use of water guns or water balloons.
Unacceptable behavior on other school campuses.
Opening another student's locker without permission.
An accumulation of offenses.
Possession or display of inappropriate materials.
Excessive horseplay which may lead to serious injury.
Unacceptable behavior at a dean's detention.
Truancy to a dean's detention.
Lying to school authorities.
Minor violations of computer use policy.
Inappropriate/unacceptable behavior at Mass.
The participation in any unacceptable and inappropriate behavior as determined by administration.
LIABLE TO DISMISSAL WITHOUT WARNING
Any action of disrespect, defiance or disobedience to a member of the faculty or other school personnel by word or action.
Immoral conduct in speech, writing or action. Profanity or obscene language.
Fighting on or near campus, or at any school sponsored function off campus.
Assault/Battery: Any threat of force or violence directed toward anyone on or off campus, or toward the school.
Scandalous, immoral conduct detrimental to the reputation of Paraclete High School as determined by the administration.
The use, sale, distribution, possession or being under the influence of any alcoholic beverage on or near campus, or at any school sponsored activity.
The use, sale, distribution, possession or being under the influence of nicotine, marijuana, narcotics, dangerous drugs, or other harmful substances. Also, possession of any drug paraphernalia.
Possession of harmful weapons and materials, or objects that can be used as weapons.
Procuring, causing or encouraging an abortion especially where the situation has become a matter of general knowledge.
The possession or use of firecrackers or any explosive de- vice, including smoke or stink bombs, on campus at any school related activities.
Continued and willful disobedience; persistent or flagrant contempt of authority and school regulations.
Vandalism or destruction of school property, or the property of others at school. This includes graffiti of any type. Any dam- age to the halls, lockers, classrooms or other portions of the campus and property of the school will be charged to the student or students and their parents.
Any action of vandalism, tampering or willful destruction of any property, real or personal, belonging to the faculty, other personnel or other students.
Violation of the school’s AUP/iPad AUP, where damage occurs to the school network, computers, or any system ie. hacking, downloading malicious content, etc.
Unauthorized possession of school property such as keys, grade books, exams, etc.
Theft of any school, student, faculty or staff property.
Gang/Crew involvement; e.g., anything that signifies gang affiliations: the wearing of gang colors; the writing of gang graffi- ti; association with any person or group that poses a threat to Paraclete High School or its students. (Criminal gang-like activity involving membership in a gang is defined as an ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, having as one of its primary activities the commission of one or more criminal acts.)
Vandalism, tampering with or illegal use of computer hardware, software or other-related equipment. Parents will be expected to financially reimburse the school for the value of all- related damages.
Any action of a sufficiently serious nature as determined by the Principal.
Cases Involving Grave Offenses
In a case involving a grave offense, which may include a violation of law or actions so outrageous as to shock the conscience of the community, the student is immediately suspended and there is no requirement to hold the initial conference. The school should follow this procedure when the continued presence of the student at school (even for a short period of time) will pose, in the reasonable judgment of the principal, a serious threat to the health and welfare of students, faculty, or staff.
When a student is immediately suspended and expulsion is probable, the school should clearly explain the rules and consequences of the violation to the student and his or her parents/guardians while the case is being investigated.
A school may immediately expel a student if the reasons are urgent. Only in exceptional cases shall a school be allowed to expel a graduating student who has been in the school one or more years.
If an expulsion happens during the last semester in the case of a graduating student, the school needs prior approval of the Department of Catholic Schools before the expulsion can take effect. It is recommended that high schools consult with the Department of Catholic Schools before expelling a graduating student.
Even if they occur at the end of the school year, all expulsions are to be reported by phone to the assistant superintendent at the Department of Catholic Schools within 24 hours and subsequently submitted in writing.
The principal retains the right to make exceptions in cases where mitigating circumstances call for a different response than policy suggests. The school shall immediately notify the county office of education of expulsions.
Certain circumstances may dictate that a student, at the discretion of the principal, be excluded from school attendance for a period of time. This is a remedy for unusual situations and is not considered a suspension. The school may give students tests, etc., outside school hours so that grades can be reported. A student placed on home study is expected to pay full tuition. Parents/guardians are responsible for supervising a student on home study.
At the discretion of the principal, any student who is accused of a felony may be placed on home study until the case is resolved.
Suspension
Any of the listed reasons for expulsion with mitigating circumstances are adequate cause for suspending a student. The suspended student shall be responsible for all academic assignments while on suspension.
No student shall be suspended from school for more than two consecutive weeks, unless there is an ongoing archdiocesan investigation or a police investigation of a possible crime, in which case the student may be suspended during the entire investigation.
The school must give notice of the suspension to the parents/guardians verbally by phone, in writing (hard copy or electronic), or in person during a conference.
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 school can cooperatively encourage the student to improve his or her behavior. The suspended student may be present at the conference.
In no case will a teacher on his or her own authority suspend a student.
