STANDARDS FOR STUDENT CONDUCT (from Handbook)

CODE OF CONDUCT

With the cooperation of students, teachers, parents, and administrators, Roanoke Catholic School fosters positive behavior in a Christian setting. Order and self-discipline are essential elements of an atmosphere conducive to learning. Moreover, the safety and well-being of all members of the school community must be the first consideration in establishing discipline policies. The students should show respect for the needs, rights, and property of others through Christian caring, cooperation, sharing, and sacrifice.

As a Catholic school which holds Jesus Christ as the ideal for human behavior, Roanoke Catholic sets before its students as their code of conduct the teachings of Jesus contained in the Gospel. All students at Roanoke Catholic are expected to exercise self-control and conduct themselves as Christian young men and women at all times. The behavior of students should reflect the standard of good citizenship and the Christian way of life.

Students must respect the authority and the rights of others. High personal standards of courtesy, decency, morality, clean language, honesty, and wholesome relationships with others must be maintained.

Roanoke Catholic students are taught that their behavior has consequences and they must accept responsibility for their behavior. Consequences for inappropriate behavior are issued as a teaching method; the system of discipline seeks to be educational, not punitive.

BEHAVIOR AND DISCIPLINE

Unacceptable Behavior

While Roanoke Catholic School enjoys a safe and respectful atmosphere, the school wants all students to be aware of specific behaviors considered inappropriate. Any inappropriate behavior will be subject to disciplinary action.

Students are expected to treat each other and all adults with proper respect;

• bullying behavior will not be tolerated
• Follow all rules, both inside and outside the classroom
• discipline themselves at all times
• obey all laws governing schools
• be honest
• refrain from fighting, the appearance of fighting, and other violence
• refrain from the use of unacceptable language or gestures
• refrain from writing or passing personal notes
• leave any weapon or any facsimile of a weapon at home
• leave all electronic equipment, including cell phones, at home
• take care of school property, both inside and outside
• be properly equipped with books, homework, supplies, parent/teacher correspondence, etc. at the appropriate times
• take care of their own belongings and textbooks, including covering all texts and protecting them in sturdy bookbags
• respect others' property
• comply with the uniform code
• comply with established bus safety rules
• refrain from chewing gum on school property
• follow the school's policies regarding use of the Internet

Disciplinary Procedures Unacceptable behaviors may be addressed in one or more of the following ways:

1. Loss of Privilege: silent lunch, no recess, loss of other school privilege.
2. Conference: discussion involving students, parents, teachers, and an administrator.
3. Detention: teacher-supervised time before or after school or on Friday afternoon.
4. Suspension:
   • In-School Suspension (ISS): dismissal from classes. Parents will be notified. The suspension is served on school grounds under the supervision of school personnel. The student is responsible for completing all assigned work.
   • Out-of-School Suspension: dismissal from school. Parents will be notified. The student serving OSS is prohibited from attending all school social and athletic activities. The student is responsible for obtaining and completing all assigned work. The student is read- mitted after a conference with parents and an administrator.
   • Expulsion: removal from school. Expulsion is a very serious matter and is used only when required by law or when the student has repeatedly failed to correct an unacceptable behavior.

Interdependent Disciplinary Committee

After repeated documented attempts by faculty members to correct a student's behavior, the student will be referred to the Interdependent Disciplinary Committee. The IDC is made up of the current teacher, a previous teacher, a third classroom teacher, and an administrator. Once a student has been referred to the IDC, two meetings will be scheduled. The parent and the student are required to attend all meetings. The first meeting will be to discuss the infractions and the second meeting will be held to present and implement a behavioral contract.

If the student does not adhere to the behavioral contract, the student will meet before the IDC again. At this point further consequences will be implemented with the possibility of OSS or expulsion.

The definition of bullying behavior will be thoroughly taught in each classroom. At the conclusion of the program, infractions involving bullying will be subject to the following guidelines:

• 1st offense – Teacher will send a note to parents. The student will serve a detention and perform a reconciling action toward the affected student.
• 2nd offense – Principal will conference with parents and student. School community service of two hours under a parent’s supervision and a reconciling action toward the affected student will be required.
• 3rd offense – Student will receive an out-of-school suspension and a letter will be placed in the student’s permanent record file.

CLASSROOM CONDUCT

Teachers post lists of expected classroom behaviors and the consequences for not complying. Teachers will make these available shortly after school begins.