Parent and Community Center - St. Mary's Conduct Code

General Rules

It is important that learning take place in an orderly classroom atmosphere, where all persons are focusing on the task at hand.  A minimum number of rules have been set for all students to follow when in the classroom, on the playground, in the gym, in the activities room, and in the halls.

Students are expected to be courteous and respectful to others, including administrators , teachers, parish and school employees, volunteers, parents and students, in all of their interactions.  Students  who engage in name-calling, threats, bullying,  intimidation or other conduct or communication that has the purpose or effect of creating a hostile, offensive or abusive atmosphere, including such activity in online postings on social-networks will be disciplined, up to and including expulsion. Through the cooperation of home and school, a school climate where everyone belongs can be realized for the students at St. Mary’s.

Students are expected to take responsibility for their own actions.  They are expected to walk inside the school building. When traveling with their class, they are expected to walk quietly in line unless otherwise instructed.

In the classrooms, the children are expected to conduct themselves in a quiet, courteous, and business-like demeanor. They are to have the necessary supplies, to raise their hands in order to speak, and to remain seated unless otherwise instructed. Students are not permitted to eat, drink, or chew gum in class unless otherwise instructed. Students in grades 5-8 are expected to be in class, with all supplies, when the bell rings. Personal needs of those students should be taken care of during the five minute exchange of class.

Knives, sharp objects fireworks, or any other items that could harm another person or would disrupt the educational process are not allowed at school or at any school function. Dangerous weapons and fire arms are prohibited.  They will be taken and the student will be reported to the local police in keeping with state law.

Unauthorized tripping of the fire alarm system and/or unauthorized usage of emergency exit doors will result in suspension, fines, and prosecution under Michigan law. The responsible party or parties will be liable for any damages caused by these acts.

Non-related items to school, such as: large amounts of money, radios, toys, etc.  will be relinquished by the students at the request of the teacher or Principal. They can be returned either at the end of the school day or end of the school year as determined by school personnel. Enforcement will be at the discretion of the teacher or Principal.

Classroom teachers are the disciplinarians of the students. More disruptive students will be sent to a time-out area in the classroom or another classroom. Students who chronically misbehave or compromise the quality of learning in the classroom for any student will be sent to the Principal's office. When appropriate, parents will be contacted. Teacher/parent or teacher/parent/Principal conferences may be required to resolve unsatisfactory performance. Students who repeatedly violate classroom rules will be given a detention as determined by the Behavior Rubric. More serious violators will be given a suspension, or the student will be placed on disciplinary probation. Parents will be notified of a detention or suspension. Detentions are supervised. Disciplinary probation will require a meeting of the Principal, discipline committee, student, and parents. Students who repeatedly refuse to follow school rules will forfeit the right to attend school at St. Mary's. Parents will be notified. 

BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS

(Self contained classrooms)

Students have the opportunity to manage their own behavior so as to provide each student with the opportunity to form responsibility for his/her behavior and realize the consequences of decisions he/she has made.

Each student has a set of colored cards. Each day, each student begins on green which means “you’re doing great”. If the child breaks a classroom rule, he/she flips the card to yellow which means “warning”. If the child continues to misbehave, the card is flipped to orange and a consequence is issued. The final step would be that a student would flip their card to red which means “stop”. At this point a demerit is issued.  See the Demerit Policy below for consequences associated with demerits.

 DEMERIT POLICY

The demerit policy will be used to complement the Behavior Rubric.

1.     Demerits are cumulative for the year.

2.     Demerits are weighted. The issuing teacher or supervisor determines the weight each demerit carries.

3.     When a child has accumulated five demerit points, he/she will serve a detention.

4.     When a child has accumulated 10 points, the child will serve a second detention and a one-day suspension. The child and his/her parents must appear before a discipline committee. Parents and child will be notified of the severity of the situation and the consequences of accumulating five more demerit points.

5.     When a child has accumulated 15 points, he/she will serve a mandatory two-day suspension, reappear before the discipline committee, and will be informed that the child is now on disciplinary probation. The child will give up the opportunity to participate in any field days and field trips in May or June of the current school year and end-of-the-year field trips.

Upon accumulating 20 demerit points, the child will be expelled from St. Mary’s Catholic School

PROHIBITED ACTS

The following acts have been defined by St. Mary’s Catholic School as being prohibited in school or parish buildings, on school or parish property, or at school-sponsored events.

Among those acts listed are ones that are defined as being criminal by the State of Michigan. The commission of, or participation in, any activity listed is prohibited. Disciplinary action will be taken by school authorities regardless of any charges by civil authorities that may or may not result.  This list is not all-inclusive, and may be amended.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES DEFINITIONS

Detention

Students will be detained at school for one hour before the start of the school day. A written assignment or mandatory acts of service will be completed during this supervised detention. Homework may not be done during detention.

Suspension

Student is sent home for designated period of time, or remains in school under the supervision of Principal or designated person. Students remanded to home are not permitted on school property or at school functions until the suspension is completed.

Expulsion

Student is deprived of attendance at St. Mary’s Catholic School and St. Mary’s Catholic School functions. No refunds will be given with regard to registration and/or school tuition if a student is expelled.

Authority to Suspend

The Principal has the authority to suspend or expel a student. Severe infractions of school rules will lead to suspension or expulsion. Any suspended students who, without permission from the administration, return to the school grounds may be recommended for expulsion.

WEAPONS POLICY

Students are prohibited from bringing weapons to or having weapons in school. Any student who carries, possesses, conceals, transfers to another to hold or hide, etc., any weapon on school premises, or possesses a weapon in the vicinity of the school, shall be immediately excluded from classes pending investigation. Any student suspected of carrying, possessing, concealing, or transferring a weapon on school premises or in the vicinity of the school also shall be immediately excluded from classes pending investigation. Students possessing a gun will be expelled from school immediately, per 20 U.S.C. Chapter 7.

A weapon is any object that can be used to threaten or injure another. It includes, without limitation: guns, knives, chains, karate sticks, sharpened instruments, ammunition, etc. School premises include the school building and the adjacent grounds; e.g., parking lots and playgrounds, and student lockers.

Investigation may include an inspection and search of students and their book bags, purses, lunch boxes, lockers, etc. Investigation also may include questioning by the Pastor, Principal, a teacher, or other person acting in his/her place and/or the police.

Any student found to be in violation of the above rule, or who fails or refuses to cooperate in an investigation, shall be excluded permanently from the school.

If investigation discloses that a student has not violated the above rule, the student will be readmitted to classes after a meeting among the Pastor or Principal, the student, and his/her parents/guardians.

HARASSMENT POLICY

It is the policy of the Archdiocese of Detroit and St. Mary’s Catholic School to make every effort to provide an educational environment, as well as a work environment, free from all forms of harassment. This policy applies to the actions of all faculty, staff, and students at St. Mary’s Catholic School, as well as others who may be in a working relationship with the school. The Archdiocese of Detroit and St. Mary’s Catholic School are open to respect the complaints brought under this policy

Respect for the dignity and worth of each individual is a basic tenet of St. Mary’s Catholic School. Each individual faculty member, staff member, student, or others who are in a working relationship with the school are entitled to work/attend school in an environment free from discriminatory practices, including sexual and other forms of illegal harassment. All will be held to standards of conduct that ensure that the school is free from sexual and other forms of illegal harassment. Verbal or electronic threats against a person or person’s property are considered a form of harassment.

St. Mary’s Catholic School will tolerate neither sexual harassment nor reprisals against any employee, student, or other persons who made a sexual harassment complaint. Any faculty or staff member who violates this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, which could include termination of employment. Any supervisor or faculty member who receives a complaint of sexual harassment and fails to take corrective action pursuant to this policy is also subject to disciplinary action, which could include termination of employment.

Students are expected to treat all persons, including each other, with respect and dignity. Accordingly, sexually inappropriate behavior directed at faculty, staff or other students will not be tolerated.  Such behavior will result in disciplinary action, which could include exclusion from school.

Penalties

A student or employee who sexually harasses another individual could be terminated from the school. Retaliation in any form against a person making a complaint is strictly prohibited, and will result in disciplinary action, including termination.

PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS

Possession or use of any performance enhancing drug is not permitted and shall subject the student to the same penalties that the school has established for possession/use of tobacco, alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs. 

SEARCH PROCEDURES

The following procedures will be used if it is reasonably suspected that a student has illegal material in his/her possession. Illegal items would include such things as drugs, weapons, firecrackers, dangerous or prohibited matter, or goods stolen from the school or from members of the staff or student body.

1.          The student will be called or escorted to the privacy of the Principal's office, and asked to submit to a search. The search will be conducted by a school administrator or by a designee.

2.         If a student does not consent to being searched, the parent will be contacted and asked to come to the building and to cooperate in resolving the problem.

3.             If the resulting situation so warrants, the police department will become involved. 

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

It is counterproductive and damaging to take your concerns to anyone other than the person who can most effectively help you to resolve the issue.

If you experience a concern that you want to address at St. Mary’s, use the following steps:

1.          Go to the person with whom you have the concern and resolve it privately with them. If you must go further,

2.         Go to the Principal and try to resolve it. If you must go further,

3.         Go to the Pastor or Parish Administrator and try to resolve it. You must have evidence that you have gone through Steps 1 and 2 before taking this matter to the Pastor or Parish Administrator.