"No student will interfere with the learning, welfare, or property of another."
All school faculty and staff responsible for care and supervision of students are authorized to hold students accountable for any conduct that is in violation of that principle. This applies to students while at school, students at, or traveling to/from, any extra-curricular activities or events sponsored by the school, and any other time that students are under the supervision of school staff.
Students may be assigned to serve detentions before- or after-school, in-school detentions, Friday detentions, Saturday detentions, out-of-school suspension or expulsion, based on the nature and seriousness of the offense.
All policies have been reviewed by the Board of Education and conform to Board Policy on discipline.
When students make bad choices, they are accepting all the consequences that go along with those choices. Below is not an exhaustive list of offenses and punishments, but is published for your benefit to make clear the consequences of some of bad choices.
Tardies
A tardy is defined as late to class up to 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, it is considered an absence.
First Offense: Teacher conference with the student.
Second Offense: Parent notified by teacher.
Third Offense: Before- or after-school detention.
Fourth Offense: Friday detention.
Fifth Offense: Saturday detention.
Fifth Offense if related to driving: Forfeiture of parking pass.
Truancy
Truancy is defined as not attending part or all of a day of school without parental consent and clearance through the office. Parents may not excuse a student who leaves school during the day after the fact; they must notify and clear the absence with the office in advance.
First Offense: Saturday detention.
Second Offense: Two days out-of-school suspension.
Third Offense: Ten days out-of-school suspension and probation when the student returns.
Fourth Offense: Expulsion for the remainder of the semester.
Insubordination or Disrespect Shown Toward Those In Authority
This is defined as a continuous disregard for school rules; failure to respond to a reasonable direction; a threat to the authority of a staff member.
First Offense: Three days out-of-school suspension and a conference with the teacher, parents, student, and administrator before returning.
Second Offense: Five to ten days out-of-school suspension and probation upon returning.
Third Offense: Expulsion for the remainder of the semester, but not less than thirty days.
Disrespectful Language/Behavior Toward Teachers or Staff
First Offense: Three days out-of-school suspension and a conference with the teacher, parents, student, and administrator before returning.
Second Offense: Five to ten days out-of-school suspension and probation upon returning.
Third Offense: Expulsion for the remainder of the semester, but not less than thirty days.
Profanity
First Offense: Two days in-school detention.
Second Offense: Saturday detention.
Third Offense: Three days out-of-school suspension and probation.
Forged Passes
First Offense: Saturday detention.
Second Offense: Three days out-of-school suspension and probation.
Dress Code Violation
First Offense: Parents notified; student sent home or asked to change.
Second Offense: Parent conference.
Third Offense: Saturday detention.
Cheating
Cheating on any assignment, test, and/or research paper will result in a zero on said work and can dramatically affect a student’s grade. The incident could also be used later to withhold honors or awards or even scholarships from a student.
First Offense: Office referral for student file, parents notified, zero assigned, and one-day out-of-school suspension.
Second Offense: First offense consequences and conference with teacher, student, parents, and administrator. Probation assigned, as well as three-day out-of-school suspension.
Third Offense: Expulsion.
Classroom Referrals and General Discipline
All classroom referrals that are not addressed specifically by other headings will be worked out between teacher, administrator, parents, and student on an individual basis. Possible outcomes are: reprimand, detention(s), suspension, or expulsion.
Possible outcomes are: reprimand, detention(s) assigned, suspension, or expulsion.
Driving Violations
Students must observe the 15 mph speed limit at all times on school grounds.
First Offense: Forfeiture of parking pass.
Parking Violations
Students must park in designated areas only.
First Offense: Conference with the Administrator - parents notified.
Second Offense: Before-or after-school detention.
Third Offense: Forfeiture of parking pass.
Theft
Stealing or attempting to steal private property or school property is forbidden.
First Offense: Suspension for ten days or less and restitution must be made.
Second Offense: Suspension for the remainder of the year and a police report filed. Meeting with parents, student, and administrator to determine if the student can return the following year.
Extortion
No student shall obtain property from a fellow student by means of any written or oral threats, or take any actions to intimidate fellow students.
First Offense: Suspension for ten days or less and restitution must be made.
Second Offense: Suspension for the remainder of the year and a police report filed. A meeting with parents, student, and administrator will determine if student can return the following year.
Public Display of Affection
Students should not kiss or embrace while at school or any school function - on or off school property.
First Offense: Conference with the Administrator and notify parents.
Second Offense: Saturday detention.
Third Offense: Three-day out-of-school suspension.
Alcohol/Tobacco Use or Distribution
Possession/use of any tobacco or alcohol product at school or any school function (on or off school property) will be dealt with harshly. Attendance at any school function under the influence of alcohol (on or off school property) will not be permitted and will carry the same consequences.
First Offense: Suspension for one hundred eighty days or less or other punishment that the Administrator deems appropriate. Prior to re-admittance the student shall meet with the Board of Education, the Administrator, and his/her parents to decide whether or not re-admittance is in the best interest of the school.
Drug Use or Distribution
Possession/use of any controlled substance at school or any school function (on or off school property) will be dealt with harshly. Attendance at any school function under the influence of any controlled substance (on or off school property) will not be permitted and will result in immediate expulsion from school.
Assault or Battery of a Fellow Student
Oral assault or battery of a faculty or staff member: any act or words, at or away from school, that create reasonable apprehension in the faculty or staff member or any harmful or offensive contact to the staff member’s body; or any act which brings about any offensive contact to a staff member’s body is considered an assault.
Any Offense: Expulsion from school. Law enforcement officials may be notified and may result in arrest of the student.
Assault or Battery of a Faculty or Staff Member
Oral assault or battery of a faculty or staff member: any act or words, at or away from school, that create reasonable apprehension in the faculty or staff member or any harmful or offensive contact to the staff member’s body; or any act which brings about any offensive contact to a staff member’s body is considered an assault.
Any Offense: Expulsion from school. Law enforcement officials may be notified and may result in arrest of the student.
Vandalism, Abuse, or Willful destruction of School Property
No student will be allowed to cause or attempt to cause damage to any property belonging to the school, a staff member, or a fellow student.
First Offense: Suspension for ten days or less and restitution must be made.
Second Offense: Suspension for one hundred eighty days and restitution must be made. Police report may be filed.
Possession or Use of Potentially Dangerous, Hazardous, or Inappropriate Items
Students are prohibited from possessing or bringing into school or on to school grounds any item that is considered potentially dangerous. This includes, but is not limited to, fireworks, chains, and laser light devices.
First Offense: Suspension for the remainder of the semester and conference with parents, student, and the Administrator.
Possession or Use of a Weapon
A weapon is defined as any firearm, knife, explosive or anything capable of firing a projectile, whether or not the weapon is operable. No student shall carry, have in his/her possession, store, keep, carry, leave, or put into the possession of another student, on any school premises, in any school vehicle or vehicle used by the school for school purposes, in the school building or other buildings used for school functions, whether or not any person is endangered by such actions.
Any Offense: Immediate expulsion. Violator will be referred to the proper law enforcement agency.
Possession or Use of Electronic Communication Devices
Pagers, beepers, cell phones, and other means of electronic communication should be kept turned off and stored during the school day in a locker or vehicle.
First Offense: Saturday detention. The student will forfeit the device to a staff member. The device will only be returned to a parent or guardian.
Second Offense: Two-day in-school suspension.
Fighting
First Offense: Three-day out-of-school suspension. Law enforcement officials may be notified. Student must submit to counseling by the Administrator upon return.
Second Offense: Ten-day out-of-school suspension. Prior to re-admittance the student shall meet with the Board of Education, the Administrator, and his/her parents to decide whether or not re-admittance is in the best interest of the school.
Sexual Harassment
No student or staff member, either male or female, shall be subject to unwelcome overtures or conduct, either verbal or physical.
Any Offense: Conference with parents, student, and administrator. The Administrator shall determine all other consequences.
Second Offense: Suspension from three to ten days.
Harming the Testimony of the School
Any serious act in or out of school that has an adverse affect on the testimony of the school will be dealt with on an individual basis involving the student, his/her parents, the Administrator, and possibly the Board of Education. Suspension or expulsion is possible.
Probation Policy:
Probation gives the student an opportunity to correct a serious problem. If he/she does not improve to a satisfactory level, the consequences will be suspension - forced absence from the school for a number of days to be determined by the school administrator, then expulsion - forced withdrawal from the school.
A review date will be set at the time the discipline is administered. Specific improvements to be made shall be established. The Administrator will determine the length of the probation. At the end of the probation period, if the student has corrected the problem areas outlined by the Administrator, he/she will then be taken off of probation and be held as a student in good standing.
Definitions:
- Before or After School Detention: 7:30 am to 8:25 am or 3:30 pm to 4:25 pm.
- Friday Detention: 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm.
- Saturday Detention: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.
- In-School Detention: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm during assigned school days. Students are allowed to make up work for credit.
- Out-of-School Suspension: Removal from school for the length of time imposed by the Administrator. Students shall not be allowed to turn in work for credit, attend any functions of the school, or participate in any extracurricular activities or programs.
- Expulsion: Imposed withdrawal from school.
Before-school, after-school, Friday, Saturday, and in-school detentions are an effort to correct poor behavior without suspension and without the loss of credit. Students are expected to be on time, to bring classwork or books, and to be courteous and polite to the detention provider. If a student is late, not prepared, disrespectful, or uncooperative at the detention, he/she may be asked to leave and a referral would be turned in to the office.
Classroom Atmosphere:
Each teacher is responsible for setting the climate of his/her classroom. This climate for learning is essential so that all students may succeed. Clean, well-kept classrooms are a must in promoting good student behavior and respect for the school and each other. Students are expected to follow these guidelines to assist us in keeping our classrooms neat and orderly.
- Snacks and candy (including gum) are not permitted in the classrooms. Parties are only permitted at the discretion of the administrator.
- Students should not bring pop bottles, water bottles, cans or cups of any liquid into any classroom.
- Students may not wear hats or headgear during school.
- Students may not lounge on the furniture or lie prone on the classroom floor.
- Students should leave the classroom as they found it.
- Students should not write on desks, walls, or anywhere else other than paper.
- Cell phones, music playing devices and video game devices are subject to confiscation on school grounds and will only be returned to the parents.
Search and Seizure:
PHCA Administration/Staff reserves the right to search students’ personal belongings, including but not limited to, lockers, backpacks, purses, cars, and electronic devices. Parents can be assured that searches will only take place with reasonable suspicion of violation of school policy. If students are found to be in violation of school policy, appropriate discipline will be administered.
All discipline will be handled with the utmost discretion by the staff and the Administrator, keeping in mind the balance found in God’s Word between justice and grace. Parents will be informed of any office referral and may be called in for a conference with any discipline. Again, this is not an exhaustive list of offenses or consequences, but information to make all aware of the high standards of conduct expected at PHCA.