BEHAVIOR

            An important element in Catholic education is helping students learn to make responsible choices and seeing how these decisions impact the greater community.  However, there are times when some students’ choices of behavior are inappropriate in or out of school.  When a student’s behavior or attitude harms the St. Mark Parish community or reputation, the student becomes subject to consequences appropriate to the infraction.

What Happens If…?

Disrespectful or irresponsible behavior:

These behaviors call for a student-teacher conference to change the behavior. 

Speaking rudely to or about adults or students

Chronic tardiness

Chewing gum

Being out of uniform

Behavior that is disruptive or unsafe, such as running in the halls or pushing and being too rough on the playground

Using inappropriate language

Most serious behavior that is harmful to the community or to the individual:

These behaviors call for a student-teacher-parent conference to remedy the situation.

Repeated disrespectful behavior

Disobeying reasonable requests made by adults

Dishonest behavior, including lying, cheating, forging signatures

Vandalism

Fighting

Smoking

Leaving the school grounds

Conduct harmful to the school’s reputation

Forming cliques or excluding others

Spreading rumors (written or spoken)

Inappropriate use of technology, including malicious “Instant Messaging”; plagiarism

Stealing

Observing harmful behavior without taking appropriate actions

Repeated rough behavior on the playground

Most serious behavior:

These behaviors call for review of the student’s ability to continue as part of our school community

Repeated behavior, which harms the community

Bullying or harassing behaviors that target other people

Major vandalism or destruction

Stealing

Physical or verbal violence or threats

Destroying another person’s reputation

Skipping school repeatedly

Possession or use of alcohol or drugs or related paraphernalia, or providing of the same to others, on or off the school grounds

Possession of a weapon or any object that could be used as a weapon

*St Mark School is a gun free zone.  Any gun, (even a toy gun) will not be allowed on campus.

CONSEQUENCES FOR INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR

Inappropriate behaviors may be dealt with by any school personnel, including teachers, playground supervisors, and the school administrator. 

            Such variable as the infraction itself, the age of the child, and his/her pattern of previous behaviors will determine consequences for inappropriate behavior.  Possible consequences include one or more of the following.

            Rule Reminder Defined as a “time out” for student to reflect upon a behavior incident and make a plan for change in the future.  Parental signature is required on the slip in order to alert parents to any school incident.  Discuss the incident with your child, but no further steps are being asked of you.

            Behavior Report These indicate repeated or more serious behaviors as outlined.  Please treat these as very serious incidents.  A consequence will go along with the report.

            Restitution In some cases students may be asked to make restitution for their behavior through such things as an apology, community service, or replacement of damaged property.

            Behavior Monitoring Students may be put on an on-going plan to monitor their behavior through such tools as regular meetings with a teacher or administrator, a behavior contract, or weekly behavior reports to parents.

            Suspension occurs when the student is instructed to remain at home (or in a supervised situation at school), until the parents, student, administrator, and other involved parties have come to an agreement about the terms for the student’s return to school.  Suspension normally occurs after repeated misbehavior by the student and communication among parents, teachers, and administrators.  In certain circumstances, immediate suspension may take place at the discretion of the principal.

            Expulsion is defined as a request for the student to leave the school and find education accommodation in another school.  This would normally occur only after all efforts had been made to resolve the problem and when, in the opinion of school authorities, the student would not gain by continuing in the school and/or the student’s continued presence would be detrimental to the good of the whole.  Repeated offenses after a period of suspension would indicate this decision.  Immediate expulsion may take place, at the discretion of the principal. 

            Procedure for Suspension or Expulsion:

1.       Parents will be notified and required to pick up their child immediately.  A conference will be arranged at the earliest date possible.

2.      Terms will be specified for resolution of the problem.

3.      The principal shall record all parts of the agreement in writing.

4.      The suspended student will return to school according to the terms of the agreement.

5.      In cases of expulsion an appeal may be made to the Pastor who will consult with all concerned in rendering a decision.

Police Involvement: In situations, which are unsafe or in which laws are broken, school personnel will call the Shoreline Police Department for support and assistance.