Parents/Guardians choosing Catholic school for their children frequently cite our commitment to structure and discipline as a major reason for their investment in Catholic education. Our students are to conduct themselves at all times according to Christian principles and exhibit the values of their family, the Church, and our school community. Good classroom order and a tight school structure help to insure the safety of all children, facilitate the learning for all students, and promote self-control and self-respect in the individual child.

While most Parent/Guardians find our approach to discipline to be very favorable, there are instances when a child breaks a rule and must suffer the consequences of his or her action. It is then that a Parent/Guardian may attempt to debate the fairness of the school policy or make excuses for the child’s misbehavior. The administration of this school does not engage in debates with Parent/Guardians about our rules and regulations, nor can it be supportive of Parent/Guardians who are interfering with a child’s growth in accepting personal responsibility for his or her actions.

By enrolling a child in this school the Parent/Guardian agrees to be supportive of the rules and regulations that we deem as critical in the spiritual, academic, and behavioral growth of the child.
Teachers are not permitted to use corporal punishment on any child. Perceived acts of corporal punishment should be reported to the principal of the school immediately by students or Parent/Guardians.

Teachers discipline students directly for minor classroom disruptions, for not coming prepared to class, not being in the complete school uniform, for not completing assigned homework/class work, for minor verbal disputes with other classmates, or other incidents which interfere in the teaching-learning process for the child and his or her classmates. In the event correction/discipline by teachers does not remedy the misbehavior, the teacher will notify Parents/Guardians who will be asked to help the teacher insure that inappropriate behavior is modified.

Teachers discipline students directly for behavior judged to be infractions of acceptable behavior. Some examples of unacceptable behavior are:

-  disrupting class; such as talking out, throwing objects, unnecessary movements, etc.
 - not meeting the requirements for class work/homework preparation and submission
 - violation of uniform code; wearing inappropriate clothing
 - using profane language
 - not returning required paperwork/communication
 
 It happens that some classroom discipline issues are referred to the administration of this school. This would include chronic minor problems listed above or major problems such as, but not limited to, chronic lateness, the verbal abuse of the teacher by a child; signs of disrespect to a teacher or another adult on the staff; fighting; physical, sexual, or verbal harassment of a fellow student; violent behavior; stealing; vandalism; or the possession of a drugs, alcohol, or a weapon. The administration handles such matters in a variety of ways depending on the severity of the incident. Some examples of such behavior are:

-   theft
 - cheating and other forms of dishonesty
 - evidence of violent and aggressive behavior that poses threats to the safety of others and to the school community
 - carrying weapons and other objects deemed to be potentially dangerous to others and to the school community
 - bringing to school amounts of money unrelated to standard school activities and events
 - showing by word or deed serious disrespect to other
 - behaving in a manner that suggest the use of alcohol or illegal drugs (see section on Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy)
 - possession of drugs or alcohol
 - possession of pornographic material
 - inappropriate use of technology (see section on Telecommunications Policy)
 - defacing or destruction of school property persistent misbehavior over minor matters that continue to be unacceptable
 - other behavior deemed inappropriate by the administration and faculty
 - bullying
 - disrespect of the race or gender of others
 - verbal, written and or physical threats made by any student toward any other student, staff member, and any other member of our school and parish community, or the physical plant.
 
The school employs a progressive discipline system for minor acts of misbehavior in order to encourage students to change inappropriate behavior so that sanctions do not increase in severity. For acts such as previously listed, students are often given conduct referrals, detention, etc.) Repeated violation of these rules and regulations may result in suspension from school or the non-re-registration of the child for the next school year.

Uniform Notices are issued indicating that a violation of the dress code has been displayed by a student. Conduct Referrals are issued indicating that a violation of the discipline code has been displayed by a student. More severe violations will be assigned a Detention Notice in lieu of a conduct referral. Violations by upper grade students are dealt with more severely than with lower grade students. Any combination of three uniform notices and/ or conduct referrals equal one detention. An accumulation of three detentions can be cause for suspension. An accumulation of suspensions can be cause for expulsion procedures.

Middle School Hierarchy of Consequences:

1. Individual conference/Parent Conference
2. Silent Lunch 
3. Detention 
4. Pink Slip 
5. Suspension from school

After school and lunchtime detentions are acceptable forms of discipline. When students are given after school detentions, a written notification will be sent to the parent/guardian. The student will serve the detention on the day indicated on the detention notification. Chronic lateness can result in detention. Lunchtime detention may be assigned when faculty and administration agree that removing a student from the company of their peers at lunch and recess will have a greater impact on changing negative behavior.

In certain instances of unacceptable behavior, administration reserves the right to ask that a student remain at home until an investigation of this behavior can be conducted. This situation would be required to insure the physical and emotional well being of all students and staff. These instances may or may not be considered suspensions depending on the severity of the infraction and the age of the student(s) involved. A conference with administration and parents/guardians will be held before the student is allowed to return to school. Under normal circumstances, this conference would be held within 5 school days.

Suspension and expulsion are measures that are reserved for chronic forms of misbehavior that have not responded to other remedial measures. Suspension and expulsion are also measures that are reserved for extreme form of misbehavior such as fighting, criminal acts, scandal, immorality, disruption constituting a threat to the physical or moral welfare of other students or staff members or acting in a way on of off campus that damages the good name and reputation of the school and parish.

Suspensions can be served as “in-school” or “out-of-school” penalties. During suspensions students are required secure all assignments and to submit all work upon their return to class. Suspended students however are not permitted contact with classmates, may not participate in any school functions such as practices, or games, etc, and may be prevented from completing tests administered on the day(s) of their suspension. Such exclusion will result in a grade of zero for any missed test.

Suspensions can be served as “in-school” or “out-of-school” penalties. During suspensions students are required secure all assignments and to submit all work upon their return to class. Suspended students however are not permitted contact with classmates, may not participate in any school functions such as practices, or games, etc, and may be prevented from completing tests administered on the day(s) of their suspension. Such exclusion will result in a grade of zero for any missed test.

For more serious acts of misbehavior such as fighting, stealing, vandalism, swearing at or being disrespectful to an adult in the building, and harassment, the student is immediately suspended for a period of one to five days. In cases of vandalism, the Parent/Guardian must pay the full cost of the repair or replacement of the item before the child may return to school. In cases of theft, the item is either returned in good condition or the cost of replacement is borne by the Parent/Guardian before the child can return to school.

In cases in which a child engages in a fight which causes injury to another child or adult, the police will be summoned and, then, the Parent/Guardians will be notified. Likewise, the possession of drugs or alcohol by a child are reported to the police. The school reserves the right to expel such a child.
In cases in which a child brings a weapon to school, the police are summoned, and then the Parent/Guardians are called. The school reserves the right to expel a child for the possession of a weapon. It is the expectation of this school that student behavior is exemplary both on and off school grounds. A student always represents his or her Parent/Guardians and the entire school community. Therefore, the school reserves the right to punish students for acts such as, but not necessarily limited to stealing, fighting, vandalism, harassment or any other type of threatening or inappropriate misconduct (personally, via the telephone or the Internet) and prohibited use of personal electronic devices including but not limited to cell phones, cameras, camera-phones, pda’s and the like. (See also the ADNY Telecommunications Policy) Such misconduct could result in any number of punishments including the possibility of suspension and/or expulsion.

Lastly, a child’s arrest for a crime on or off of school grounds, within or beyond the vicinity of the school, at any time could result in the child’s suspension or expulsion. A child’s conviction of a crime on or off of school grounds, within or beyond the vicinity of the school, will likely result in a child’s expulsion.
Poor behavior and conduct grades may prevent a student from participating in after school activities, clubs, practices, sports, etc.

Several grounds for disciplinary action or expulsion have been set forth in the “Discipline Codes” section of this handbook. It should be noted, however, that any listing of prohibited conduct is set forth by way of example only and to provide guidance to the student and his or her parents/guardians. It is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of improper conduct or resultant disciplinary action.