SJHS follows a process to address student behavior issues.
Level 1: Speak with the student. For minor disciplinary matters, an infraction will be issued. If there is no improvement, the next steps are disciplinary consequences with parent/guardian notification.
After three infractions or one misconduct, the student must serve a detention. After receiving six infractions or two misconducts, the student will serve a second detention. Any further violations will result in the student being placed on disciplinary probation.
InfractionsInfractions are issued for minor disciplinary matters and violations of the SJHS policies and regulations. The following is a list of behaviors that will earn an Infraction. (Note: This is not a comprehensive list):
- coming to class without supplies;
- disrupting class;
- eating/drinking or having food/beverages in classrooms;
- littering;
- chewing gum on campus;
- failing to return required forms within specified due date;
- doing tasks other than those assigned by the teacher, i.e., looking at pictures, writing notes, grooming,
- doing work for another class;
- leaving personal belongings unattended;
- failing to comply with and complete tasks assigned during Section;
- arriving tardy to school in the morning or to a class;
- violating the uniform policy or specified dress code (RESULTS IN AN AUTOMATIC DETENTION); and
- any incident that administration deems a violation of school policies.
Infractions are issued by any staff member, signed by the student, and overseen by the Dean of Student Life. The Dean of Student Life tallies infraction totals by semester and by school year.
MisconductsMisconducts are issued for more serious offenses. Misconducts result in detention and are issued for the following:
(Note: This is not a comprehensive list):
- violating the electronic communication policy or acceptable use policy;
- receiving food, beverages, or communicating via the fence or office from an unauthorized visitor;
- loitering in the hallways or bathroom while classes are in session;
- violating parking procedures;
- eating or drinking in the locker room, Flynn Center, or Jester Learning Center;
- disrupting class repeatedly;
- violating the same policy repeatedly;
- using profanity;
- inappropriate public displays of affection;
- going to the vending machines during class;
- continued violation of uniform policy or specified dress code;
- failing to return signed academic or disciplinary probation contracts by the specified due date; and
- any incident that administration deems a violation of school policies.
DetentionDetention is scheduled, when necessary, on Fridays from 1:20 to 2:20pm. Students must serve detention for the following reasons:
- students with three or more infractions,
- students who have been issued an infraction for being out of uniform,
- students who have been issued one misconduct,
- students who have been issued detention as a condition of probation, and
- students who have been issued three unexcused tardies.
Detention notices are sent home with the student two or three days before the scheduled detention. A parent/guardian and the student must sign her notice and return it to the Detention Coordinator on the day of her scheduled detention.
If a student cannot serve her assigned detention, it is her responsibility to notify the Dean of Student Life and arrange a make-up detention. If a student does not attend her scheduled detention without rescheduling, she will receive an additional detention.
- Multiple detention re-schedules are not permitted without valid reason.
- Medical appointments require a doctor's note for a rescheule.
- Athletic and co-curricular activities are not valid reasons.
If a student asks for a second re-schedule, the Dean will contact her parents/guardians.
Detention GuidelinesThe SJHS Detention process is aligned with the ADLA Administrative Handbook Section 13.9.3, Detention:
https://handbook.la-archdiocese.org/chapter-13/section-13-9/topic-13-9-3.- No student shall be required to remain in the classroom during the lunch break, or other break.
- 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.
- Under no circumstances shall a student be detained at school without the knowledge and consent of the parent or guardian, who should also be informed of the reason for detention and the exact time the period of detention will begin and end.
Disciplinary Probation
Student Success Team
The Student Success Team (SST), under the direction of the Dean, employs a proactive intervention process to assist any student who is struggling with attendance, academically, behaviorally, and/or emotionally so that the school and the family can work together toward positive changes in that young person’s life.
An SST may be convened when a student is on any level of Disciplinary Probation or following certain disciplinary actions that necessitate further guidance for the student. In such cases, the purpose of the SST is to develop a plan with the student and her parent/guardian to assist the student with making positive changes. Any teacher or parent/guardian can request an SST meeting for a student.
During an SST meeting,
- Student and her family are given an overview of the student’s academic record, behavioral performance, and attendance history.
- One of the Wellness Counselors defines the concerns
- The SST looks for ways to assist the student to make positive changes, such as improving attendance, following rules, attending tutoring, seeking counseling support or outside community services, when warranted.
Disciplinary Probation IProbation I is six weeks long and three detention periods. A student may be placed on Probation I for the following reason: including but not limited to,
- continued violation of rules, accrual of more than nine (9) infractions/three (3) misconducts;
- forgery (may be probation I or probation II, depending on severity of the circumstances);
- false representation of a parent/guardian;
- continuous inappropriate public displays of affection;
- in-house truancy - unexcused absence from class, leaving the classroom without permission, unexcused absence for a portion of a class, or conducting personal business during class time without permission; and
- any incidents the Dean of Student Life and Administration deem a violation of school policies.
During her Disciplinary Probation I, the student will serve 3 after school detentions within the six week period. She may also be barred from some activities, as specified by the Dean of Student Life. In some cases, organizations in which the student is involved may have policies in place that restrict her from participation during a Disciplinary Probation I.
Disciplinary Probation II
When a student has already served a Disciplinary Probation I and there is another disciplinary violation within the same school year (same or different violation) OR she violates one of the following regulations, she may be placed on Disciplinary Probation II:
- any conditions of Disciplinary Probation I contract are violated;
- student commits additional violations of the school policy warranting probation after being placed on Disciplinary Probation I during the dame school year;
- truancy, unexcused absence from school or from more than one class period during the day;
- forgery (may be probation I or probation II, depending on severity of the circumstances);
- any activity/behavior which brings discredit to Saint Joseph High School;
- violations of the bullying/harassment policies;
- behavior warranting probation III/suspension/expulsion where mitigating circumstances exist; and
- any incidents the Dean of Student Life and Administration deem a violation of school policies.
The Dean of Student Life will do the following before placing a student on Disciplinary Probation II:
- meet with the student, notify her of her Disciplinary Probation and discuss the terms and consequences; and
- notify her parents/guardians via email or phone.
The student will create an Disciplinary Probation II Aaction plan for the 8-week probationary period. If an action plan was drafted during a Disciplinary Probation I period, it will be reviewed and revised. The action plan will include, but not be limited to, the following:
- Serve three (3) after school detentions
- Write and submit a typed, double-spaced essay which includes the following: student’s perspective of the actions taken or choices made that resulted in the probation; student’s description of the community service experience; and student’s concluding remarks regarding what other actions, decisions or choices could have been made that might have been more reflective of (a) the SJHS ISOs, (b) the Gospel values, and (c) the six pillars of character.
- meet at least once with the Dean of Student life to review the student’s reflective essay and her progress toward the completion of the disciplinary probation.
Note: A student may be placed on Disciplinary Probation II without having been placed on Disciplinary Probation I.
During her Disciplinary Probation II, the student may also be barred from some activities, as specified by the Dean of Students. In some cases, organizations in which the student is involved may have policies in place that restrict her from participation during a Disciplinary Probation II.
Violation of the terms of the Probation II contract and continued violations of school policy may result in the convening of a discipline board.
Disciplinary Probation IIIA student may be placed on Disciplinary Probation III when the following occurs:
- any conditions of a Disciplinary Probation II contract are violated;
- Student commits additional violations of the school policy warranting probation after being placed on Probation II during the same school year;
- Student’s actions warrant expulsion but include mitigating circumstances; or
- any incidents the Dean of Students and Administration deem a violation of school policies.
Disciplinary Probation III is a consequence from a Discipline Board which allows a student to remain at SJHS under a Probation III Contract specified by the Discipline Board and approved by the Principal and her administrative team.
Probation III carries a term of ten weeks. During the Probation III period, the student will be required to:
- Serve three (3) after school detentions within the eight week period.
- Complete ten (10) hours of community service during the ten-week period, to be assigned and monitored by the Dean of Student Life;
- Meet at least once with the Dean of Student Life to review her progress in meeting the expectations specified by the discipline board;
- Meet with a Wellness Counselor to review progress;
- Meet all expectations of the Probation III contract as specified by the Discipline Board.
During her Disciplinary Probation III, the student will be barred from all athletics and co-curricular activities.
Note that a student may be placed on Probation III without having brrn placed on Probation I or II depending on the violation
Discipline Board
A Discipline Board convenes when a student commits a serious violation or accumulates multiple violations, in spite of prior disciplinary actions. The student, with her parents/guardians, will appear before the Discipline Board (legal counsel is not allowed to be present).
A Discipline Board shall consist of a Wellness Counselor, a faculty member chosen by the student, additional members of administration as needed, and the Deans, who coordinates the meeting. The purpose of the Discipline Board is to make recommendations to the principal and administration concerning the student's status in the school.
The following process is followed for a Discipline Board:
- Dean of Students creates the Discipline Board and schedules the meeting with the board, student and her parents/guardians
- Dean of Students shares the past discipline record of student with the board.
- Dean of Students informs the parents/guardians and the student of the process and of the offense that brought the student before the discipline board.
- Parents/guardians are asked to leave, and the student remains to discuss her situation with the discipline board.
- Parents/guardians are then asked to rejoin their daughter. The Dean of Students reports what transpired during their absence; the parents/guardians are invited to speak on behalf of their daughter.
- The Dean of Students informs the family that they may leave, and that they will be notified of the discipline decision within 48 hours.
- Discipline Board discusses the student’s case, and makes recommendations to the principal and her administration.
- Principal and the administrative team review the Discipline Board’s recommendations and accept, revise, or reject the recommendations.
Note: SSTs, disciplinary boards, and disciplinary conferences of any kind will only consider one student’s case at a time in order to preserve the dignity and privacy of the student and her family.
Further Disciplinary Action: Professional Counseling Recommendation
In a discipline case, if a recommendation for professional counseling is made by one of the school’s counselors, the family must present a document from the mental health professional confirming assessment within the time given by school personnel. The school may decide that a student will not be allowed to return if this documentation is not produced as required.
Further Disciplinary Action: Student Suspension
The administration or the Discipline Board may suspend a student if she committed a serious violation of school policies or rules.
- Although the student has the right to a hearing process, immediate suspension may be required for an activity, which resulted in serious damage to the school or serious consequences affecting the welfare of any person.
- Suspension may be imposed by the school for a serious infraction of rules necessitating an investigation of the incident without the student present on campus.
- Suspension may be imposed during the entire police investigation of a crime.
When a student is suspended, may not attend school activities and arrangements are made for them to attend class on and must remain at home until a meeting with the student, her parents/guardians, the Dean of Students and an administrator takes place. Days missed are considered excused absences. The student is responsible to make up any schoolwork missed during the suspension.
The Dean of Students arranges makes a meeting with the student, her parents/guardians, and the appropriate school personnel. At the suspension meeting, the following procedure will be followed:
- The Dean of Students provide an explanation of the offense and seeks the cooperation of the parents/guardians.
- The Dean of Students will notify the parents/guardians when their daughter may return to school.
- Parents/guardians will be reminded of the school rules of which they were informed when they registered their daughter.
- Conditions for probation will be clearly explained to the parents/guardians and student, as well as the consequences for violation of these conditions.
- The student and the parents/guardians will sign a probation contract as a condition for re-admittance after suspension.
Further Disciplinary Action: Student Expulsion
The Saint joseph High School Disciplinary Policy gradually increases the interventions and consequences, and could lead to student dismissal. At times SJHS may judge that a student can no longer remain at Saint Joseph High School because the presence of the student is not a positive force contributing to the good of the student or the good of the school.
Non-disciplinary Causes for Suspension, Expulsion, Recommended TransferThe following are non-disciplinary causes for suspension, expulsion or recommended transfer:
- academic requirements published by the school;
- severe emotional challenges (emotional handicaps); or
- uncooperative or destructive attitude of parent.
Home StudyCircumstances may arise which 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. Students may be given tests, etc., outside school hours so that grades can be reported.
Termination from SJHS Activities
Whether a student is expelled, asked to withdraw, is suspended, or asked to transfer her attendance at, and participation in, SJHS and Bosco activities is prohibited. SJHS always reserves the right to refuse admittance to any student who has withdrawn, who was suspended, who transfers, or who was expelled. The names and status of these students are also shared with St. John Bosco for events held together.
