K-8 STUDENT DISCIPLINE POLICY

Student Discipline Policy and Responsibilities

As a school we will consistently work to emulate the Holy Family. Christian virtue will be the perpetual behavioral expectation. The rules and responsibilities established for our students are enforced as a means of assisting them in their journey as a child of God and as a soul destined for heaven. Do we expect perfection? No. We strive for perfection, yet realize that we are all human and that children like to know what the real limits are. It is normal for children to keep pushing until they find the limit. Some children push more than others, but it is all part of growing in maturity. It is not so important that children always behave well as it is important to make sure the child knows when and how he has crossed the acceptable limit. The key element is an appropriate consequence for inappropriate behavior. Without this consistent response to bad behavior, all discipline programs are ineffective.

In-School Expectations
Students are expected to follow these rules of behavior, accept responsibility for their actions, correct behavior that does not correspond to the rules, and develop self-control. At a minimum, we expect students to obey these rules from the motivation that they are the rules of Holy Family Academy. Beyond that, we as a community strive to instill in all students the desire to obey these rules because to obey these rules is an extension of the fourth commandment to honor one’s father and mother. Obedience to these rules is a form of obedience to God. Ideally, students will make their behavior correspond to these rules because they desire to please God.

Following are the general rules of behavior:

Students are expected to address all adults and visitors respectfully.
Gum, candy and food are not allowed in classrooms without permission.
All electronic and musical devices and/or accessories such as cell phones, cameras, iPods, or other belongings deemed inappropriate by the administration are not allowed on school grounds during school hours. If you have permission from the principal to have a cell phone at school, it may not be out of one’s backpack after drop-off or before pick-up.
Drugs, unaccompanied by the doctor’s prescription or a signed parent letter, and smoking are not allowed on school grounds; possession is grounds for immediate expulsion.
The use of impure language, immoral behavior, or even simply having a discussion supporting such behavior or supporting any communication media which is contrary to Christian morals is obviously not allowed.
All students must comply with the school uniform code; at the discretion of the teacher, an intentional uniform infraction will result in a Conduct Slip.
Any object classified as a weapon or a realistic-looking toy gun is not allowed on school grounds unless written permission is obtained from the principal.
Students must do restitution for any form of vandalism, rough-housing, or risky behavior that causes damage to the school grounds or school property.
Students are expected to respect the rights of other’s possessions and schoolwork by practicing a high degree of honesty and integrity.
Cheating, especially in the form of plagiarism, undermines the philosophy of Holy Family Academy and will result in a “0” for the assignment along with other possible discipline options as listed below. Plagiarism is any attempt to pass off the ideas and/or writings of another as one’s own work.
Children should do their best, but being overly competitive in academics, sports or relationships does not fit with being a good sport or the Christian spirit.

Out-of-School Expectations

Students are expected always, whether after school, on the weekend or even during the summer, to strive to act in accord with Catholic morality and good behavior. At a minimum, as long as one is a student at Holy Family Academy, whatever one does and wherever one does it represents our school.
Holy Family Academy exists, first and foremost, to assist parents in forming their children to lead a life of virtue and develop a loving relationship with Christ. We seek to foster an internal appropriation of the Christian life, not merely an external appearance of virtue. There is no virtue or love in behaving only when others are watching. Our goal is that the law of Christ is written on our hearts of flesh; i.e. that we obey because we seek to please Jesus, the love of our life.
Here are just a few examples of what is not consistent with who we are as a school:

Using foul language or being a bad sport on a team or at a get-together with friends,
Leaving Mass to waste time or visit with friends,
Dressing immodestly or in a rebellious manner (including hair styles),
Running wild unattended through the halls at an after school event,
Misbehaving at a school-sponsored event/party either on or off campus.

Discipline Options

When assigned silent lunch, students will sit at the silent lunch table throughout their lunch and/or lunch and recess period. If it is a homework lunch, students will complete their assignment during this time instead of participating in lunch and/or recess with classmates.

Silent or Homework Lunch

Conduct Slips

The use of conduct slips is a systematic and progressive procedure for the correction of behavior; they are sent home for parents to sign. Students may receive two conduct infractions in any given quarter without any further consequence. Should a third infraction occur in any one quarter, the student will be assigned detention. Depending on the severity of the situation as assessed by the teacher, it is possible for a student to receive three infractions for one single event. At the beginning of each quarter, students will begin with zero infractions, yet receiving two infractions for more than two quarters will be taken into account when assigning appropriate discipline.

Detention

Detention is served on the first Wednesday following the infraction from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. The student’s age and the severity of the situation may mitigate the length of the detention. The average student serves the entire hour-long period. Detention supersedes all extracurricular events, meetings and school practices. If a student skips or is late for detention, or does not obey detention protocol, at the very least he will be assigned an additional detention to be served the following Wednesday. Parents should pick students up promptly at 4 p.m.

Probation

Students who receive three detentions in any given quarter, or are involved in a situation that requires immediate probation without the use of progressive conduct slips, will be placed on probation. This is an urgent alert to the student and parent that the student’s behavior needs immediate improvement. Probation will remain in effect for six weeks from the time of issuance. While on probation, a student may be given work duty or prohibited from participation in any extra-curricular events sponsored by the school as determined to be most effective by the administration. A significant violation of school regulations while on probation is cause for suspension.

Suspension

In-School Suspension
Students who receive detention while on probation may be placed on in-school suspension, although it may be given for other similarly serious situations. While on in-school suspension, students will be removed from their classroom and spend the school day doing their work in the school office or other conducive location.
Out-of-School Suspension
Students who have already served in-school suspension in any given quarter and acquire another detention may be given out-of-school suspension. Only the principal may impose this penalty. A suspension will be removed only after a conference is held with the principal, parent, and if applicable, the teacher. If reinstated in school, the student returns on probation for a minimum of twelve weeks or until suspension is removed by the principal.
All homework is still due daily according to the classroom teacher’s assignments. The student will have to arrange to get their work to school on time during their suspension.

Expulsion

Students who have received two out-of-school suspensions in any given quarter may be expelled; students may also be expelled for other egregious offenses. Expulsion is the termination of a student’s enrollment at Holy Family Academy. Obviously, this is the most severe penalty that can be imposed on the student; the principal has the final say in this matter and is the only one who can impose it.

Homework & Conduct Journal

All students in grades 1-8 will receive a Homework & Conduct Journal. This journal is used to record daily homework and provide a regular conduct report for first through fourth grade students; the conduct report may also be used for fifth through eighth grade students should the need arise. The journal is to be signed daily by first through fourth grade parents (or as requested by the teacher). The following number values have been assigned and will be used by all adults given charge over students:

5 - excellent behavior,
4 - good behavior,
3 - minor disciplinary problems, discipline options may have been used,
2 - many disciplinary problems, discipline options used,
1 - severe discipline problems, parents called, conference is necessary.

Bullying Policy

All bullying is unacceptable. Deliberate unkindness of any action that gives hurt, whether verbal, physical, or relational, is bullying and will not be tolerated. It is the duty of everyone who sees an instance of bullying, or potential bullying, to act to stop it. This duty applies to all students, teachers, and other members of staff. Parents who have concerns about bullying issues should contact their child’s homeroom teacher about their concerns.

The three main types of bullying are:

Physical, included but not limited to violence, theft, and destruction of property.
Verbal, included but not limited to name calling, making faces, telling secrets, teasing and mocking.
Relational, included but not limited to cyber bullying, spreading rumors, making gestures, writing notes, excluding someone from social groups, malicious email and prank phone calls.

Proper bullying report/response procedures by all teachers, staff, and students:

Bullying incidents must be reported immediately to staff.
Once reported, the staff member in closest proximity to the event will record reported bullying and give the report to the homeroom teacher.
The bullying behavior or threats will be investigated either by the initial staff member or by the homeroom teacher quickly and fully, with both victim and perpetrator informed that the behavior will/must stop immediately.
If the homeroom teacher deems it appropriate, the bullying perpetrator will meet with the principal and his parents to discuss the seriousness of his actions and to establish appropriate means of changing behavior.

Further options and outcomes:

In serious cases, suspension, expulsion or criminal charges will be considered.
If feasible, both victim and bully will meet with the administration to discuss the problem and brainstorm ideas for reconciliation.
After the incident has been thoroughly investigated and dealt with, faculty will monitor both students (including regular “check-ins”) to ensure that bullying does not resume or reoccur.

Holy Family Academy teachers will:

Teach self-respect and promote a sense of self-worth.
Model assertive behavior and good social skills.
Teach children ways to respond to bullies.
Encourage children to stand up for a child being bullied and stress the importance of reporting bullying to a trusted adult.
Teach the following responses to bullying:
- to avoid, ignore or walk away from a bully.
- to stay calm and not fight back.
- to forcefully say to the bully, “Leave me alone.”
- to realize that the problem is mostly that of the bully, not the victim.