Handbook
Disciplinary Policies & Procedures
When a rule is broken, the consequence will depend on the situation. Any faculty or staff member may handle a minor disciplinary issue in a manner appropriate to the offense. Consequences may include a verbal warning, a written apology, a work assignment, detention or recommended suspension. With any serious infraction, there will be a meeting between the student and teacher or teachers involved. If the situation cannot be resolved internally between the teacher(s) and student, or if the consequence is a detention or suspension, the parents will be notified. If a student is suspended for any reason, there must be a conversation between parent(s) and teacher(s) before the student can return to school.
Serious or chronic breaches of acceptable conduct that could result in suspension, probation or dismissal will be referred to the Early Childhood Lead Teacher for Early Childhood students; the Class Teacher for Grade School students; the Class Advisors for High School students. These individuals will make a decision regarding a suspension in consultation with the Level Chairperson.
Detention – Grades 6-8
When a student steps into the upper elementary grades, there is a more direct demand for individual responsibility and accountability. As part of the educational process, adolescents need to meet expectations, respect boundaries, and face the consequences of inappropriate behavior. Behavior that could lead to a detention may include but is not limited to the following:
• Rude or disrespectful behavior.
• Foul language.
• Disruptive classroom behavior.
• Chronic or defiant violation of the dress code.
• Unauthorized presence anywhere in the building.
• Purposeful destruction of school property.
• Actions affecting the safety of others.
A Grade School student who has received five or more detentions will automatically be withdrawn from any sports team and will be required to attend one Saturday detention from 8:00am – NOON. Students with repeated detentions will jeopardize their enrollment in the school. When a detention slip is issued, the person giving the detention and the
student will both sign it. The student must then take the detention home to be signed by a parent and return it to the Class Teacher the following school day. Failure to return a signed detention slip will result in another detention.
Detentions are served the Friday following the offense from 3:05am-4:00 pm.
Arriving late to serve detention, uncooperative behavior, or laziness in
assigned work may result in another detention. Students may not participate
in after school sports or activities until the detention is served.
Detention – Grades 9-12
High school students may receive detentions for any of the reasons listed above, and will also receive detentions for excessive tardiness. High School detentions are also served on Friday afternoons from 3:15–4:15 pm. Students are supervised by teachers and are assigned physical work within the school community.
Students who are scheduled for a detention may not participate in after school activities during the scheduled detention time. If a student cannot serve a scheduled Friday detention, a parent must notify the High School Office before 3:00pm on the scheduled Friday.
If a student is not excused for the detention and fails to show up, they are assigned a Saturday morning detention. If a student cannot serve a Saturday detention, a parent must notify the High School Office before 3:00pm on the Friday before.
If a student fails to show up for a Saturday detention, s/he will be suspended until a meeting with the class advisors and parents has been scheduled.
If a student receives more than three disciplinary detentions in one semester, s/he will be suspended until a meeting with the class advisors and parents has been scheduled. Repeated disciplinary detentions are a serious issue and may result in expulsion.
The consequences for excessive tardy detentions are explained under the attendance policies.
Suspension – Grade School & High School
Suspension is a response to a serious breach of trust between the student ant the school. Suspension is followed by a conference with the student, their parent(s) or guardian(s), Class Teacher or Class Advisors and any other relevant party the faculty deems important to attend the meeting. A behavioral contract that includes a probationary period may be required in order for the student to return to school following the suspension. Students who are suspended may be dismissed. Suspensions will be reported to the faculty and staff.
Disciplinary Probation
Disciplinary probation is preceded by a meeting between the student, the parents/guardians and the Class Teacher or Class Advisors, the Level Chairperson and any other relevant party that the Faculty deems important to attend the meeting. A behavioral contract that has been approved by the Management Team after reviewing the document in consultation with the school’s legal counsel will be presented to the family. If the parents/guardians and students agree to the behavioral contract, all parties will sign the agreement. Disciplinary probation status will be reported to the faculty and staff.
Disciplinary Dismissal
Disciplinary dismissal is the termination of the student’s relationship to the school for disciplinary reasons. Disciplinary dismissal may be recorded in the student’s permanent record and on the student’s transcript. Disciplinary dismissal will be recommended by the Class Teacher or Class Advisors to the Management Team for review. A member of the Management Team will convey the school’s decision verbally and in writing to the family. Disciplinary dismissals will be reported to the faculty and staff.
Non-Disciplinary Probation & Dismissal Policy
On rare occasions it becomes clear that the school is not meeting a student’s needs or that a student’s needs are having an adverse effect on the class as a whole. In such cases, the faculty will take the following steps:
• A student study or a meeting of all the student’s teachers and the Level Chairperson will usually occur.
• A meeting with the parents will take place, in which recommendations and a timeline of probation will be outlined. This meeting will be documented. A copy of the notes will be given to the parent(s) and another placed in the student’s file.
• Throughout the probationary period, the Class Teacher or Class Advisors, in consultation with the rest of the Level Faculty, will document the student’s work and behavior on a regular basis.
At the end of the probationary period, the Class Teacher or Class Advisors and the Level Chair will review the student’s record and determine future steps. These may include coming off probation, further probationary recommendations, or dismissal from the school.
Conflict of Interest
A faculty or staff member will be excused from participating in any disciplinary process if he or she has a conflict of interest in the particular case.
Appeal
A family who wishes to appeal a decision of dismissal should submit a letter to the College of Teachers. The College will convene an ad-hoc Review Committee to review the situation and will report its findings along with its recommendations for a resolution to the whole College. The decision of the College of Teachers is final.
Privacy
All disciplinary processes are conducted so that the privacy and the rights of the individuals involved are protected.