In accordance with the philosophy and goals of St. Joan of Arc School, the discipline policy shall allow the child to grow and mature in self-discipline and personal responsibility. To achieve the kind of learning environment which these goals require, home and school must be mutually supportive. The school will be able to educate children only if the children abide by the school’s academic and disciplinary standards.

St. Joan of Arc Catholic School requires complete conformity to all recognized, accepted, and appropriate standards of dignified, civilized, Christian conduct. If an irate parent or any disrespectful person threatens to disturb the harmony necessary to a calm and Christian school environment, school authorities have the power (and duty) to take positive action to restore and maintain good order and discipline.

The school atmosphere should be one which allows the teacher to teach and every student to learn. All staff members are responsible for developing good discipline and all are accountable to the administration. The discipline policy applies to students at all grade levels. The age and maturity of the student as well as special circumstances will be taken into consideration when violations occur.

St. Joan of Arc School believes in the success of every student, the empowerment of parents/guardians through partnership with the school, and the integration of services to children by using a “team approach”.

Each classroom teacher will post his/her classroom rules within the classroom. Classroom rules will be discussed, modeled, practiced, reinforced, and reviewed periodically. All students will follow these rules as expected or consequences will be enforced.

The discipline policy is utilized by all faculty/staff members and the administration throughout the year. A copy of the discipline policy is sent home to all parents at the beginning of the school year. Each parent is asked to read it, review it with their child, and sign/return a slip indicating they have done so.

Minor infractions or problems will be handled at the classroom level. The teacher is expected to reteach behaviors. If the undesirable behavior continues, the teacher will contact the parent/guardian to discuss the situation and to discuss a solution. The teacher may also ask for support and assistance from the administration.

Major infractions or serious violations are generally referred to the administration. Resolution may involve a conference with the students and/or parent/guardian, or a conference with the Crisis Intervention Team to obtain clarification of the problem and accompanying penalty or sanction. These sanctions may be in the form of a warning, issuance of a pink slip, suspension, some other agreed upon course of action, or expulsion. When expulsion is the only solution, the Diocesan School Policy will be followed.

It is essential to maintain a good balance between teacher expectations and student rights to effect school rules which are fair and solutions which are just.

Students are expected to abide by the following general rules:

1. Arrive at school by 8:20am.
2. Listen to all adult supervisors and follow directions.
3. Be prepared…complete all assignments on time.
4. Dress code…follow the dress code policy. (see Dress Code Policy)
5. Absolutely no pushing, kicking, shoving, running, fighting or threats at any time.
6. No vulgar, obscene language, music, or gestures will be tolerated.
7. No gum on the school premises.
8. Respect all school property during and after school hours.

Lunchroom/Playground Rules

(All Lunchroom and Playground Rules are posted in the cafeteria)

1. Enter and exit the lunchroom and playground in an orderly manner.
2. Reasonable talking; no shouting and screaming.
3. Treat lunchroom/playground supervisors with respect at all times.
4. No throwing food or objects of any kind
5. Students will remain seated until dismissed.

Consequences

Consequences for continual misbehavior during each grading period are as follows:

• Step 1. Reteach behavior on student’s quality time.
• Step 2. After 4 reteachable behaviors, parental contact will be made by the classroom teacher.  There will be a meeting with the student and his/her teachers to discuss the situation and develop a behavior contract (as needed).
• Step 3. After 6 reteachable behaviors, students will be assigned to after school detention from 3:00-4:00 p.m. Notification will be made to parents/guardians 24 hours in advance and a parent conference will also be scheduled. After an additional 2 reteachable behaviors have occurred, another after school detention will be served. Parents/guardians will be responsible for providing transportation home after detention.
• Step 4. When a student receives 5 after school detentions, students who continue misbehaving will be assigned to Saturday School and placed on Disciplinary Probation. Notification will be made to the parent/guardian by the administration.
• Step 5. If the student continues misbehaving and a second Saturday School is assigned, he/she may be suspended (or expelled) for such behavior. If a student causes a severe disruption in the classroom, on the bus, on school premises, or at any school sponsored event causing unsafe or extreme interruption of the school day, the administration will assign the student to after school detention and any other appropriate disciplinary proceeding deemed necessary, including but not limited to disciplinary probation, suspension, and/or expulsion. Fighting will be considered a severe disruption. Consequences for fighting will result in a pink slip. Multiple pink slips may result in a suspension at the administration’s discretion.
  
• Note: Detentions may be issued directly (without following the steps listed above) when circumstances warrant such action. Discretion in this regard rests with the school administration.
  

Pink Slips

Pink slips may be issued for serious violations of the Discipline Policy and/or repeated offenses. The process is as follows:

1. The student is given the opportunity to discuss and explain his/her actions to the teacher, principal, and/or assistant principal.
2. A pink slip is issued in the student’s name to the parents/guardians. It explains the situation, actions taken by school personnel, and may include recommendations.
3. The pink slip is signed by the parent/guardian acknowledging receipt, and returned to the school office when the student returns to school.
4. Any student receiving one pink slip may be placed on disciplinary probation and issued an automatic detention. Disciplinary probation gives the student notice that he/she needs to improve in effort and/or conduct. While on probation, the student may be excluded from all school extra-curricular activities. A student can be taken off of probation only at the discretion of the administration. Also, the student may be excluded from parish extra-curricular activities.
5. Multiple pink slips may result in suspension or expulsion.
   

Major Infractions

Some examples of major infractions, which may result in suspension or expulsion, include the following:

• Alcohol use
• Arson or attempted arson
• Profanity or obscenity by words or gestures
• Assault, battery and/or fighting
• Breaking and entering
• Serious disorderly conduct
• Conduct unbecoming to a SJA student
• Serious disrespect
• Drugs
• False fire alarm
• Technology abuse
• Threats (oral or written)
• Theft
• Forgery
• Trespassing
• Gambling
• Vandalism
• Harrassment/Bullying
• Possession of, or promoting the use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, explosive materials or weapons, drug paraphernalia, or pornographic materials
• Any other good and just cause upon the discretion of the principal or assistant principal

Harrassment

In keeping with its philosophy, St. Joan of Arc recognizes the dignity of every human being. Therefore, the school will not tolerate at any time, in any situation, or for any reason, the harassment, by word or action, of any member of the SJA community, whether on or off school property.

Threat to School Safety

Any student who acts in such a way as to threaten the safety of him/herself or any other person in the school building or is in possession of, or brings onto school property, any article or substance that endangers him/herself or any other person in the school building will be suspended immediately and may be subject to expulsion.

Search and Seizure

The administration of the school and/or their designee retains the right to search: students, student lockers, student desks, student possessions, and/or seize possessions at any time.

Speech and Publications

St. Joan of Arc has the right to determine what is appropriate in school and at school sponsored or school related activities or events with regard to verbal or written expression. The school also reserves the right to control all publications which directly or indirectly pertain to school, school staff, or school related issues.

Classroom Movie Policy

• Grades K – 4      G-rated movies
• Grades 5 – 8      PG-rated movies

Suspension

“Suspension” is a short term (less than a semester) removal from school and/or exclusion from participation in some or all school activities, served in or out of school. Suspension from school is imposed for serious misbehavior and then only by school administration. The administration reserves the right to place a student on home study for conduct deemed inappropriate and contrary to the philosophy of the school. (This includes, but is not limited to, fighting or making threats toward others).

Expulsion

St. Joan of Arc School will do all within its power to assure its students the right to just and fair treatment as it befits a Catholic institution. Sometimes, in spite of all that is done by the school personnel to guide and work with students, their continued presence in the school may be judged detrimental to their own welfare or the welfare of others. The expulsion of students will be considered only when, in the estimation of the principal, all other means of correction fail to change unacceptable conduct. “Expulsion” is a semester long or permanent removal and exclusion of the student from school. A decision to expel a student is very serious and should only occur when all other recourse and reasonable efforts to conform a student’s conduct have been exhausted. Expulsion may also result from a single major disciplinary infraction, inside or outside of school. The principal and/or pastor retain discretion in deciding such matters. The principal and/or pastor may expel or suspend students for conduct inside or outside of school that is damaging to the reputation of the school or is conduct unbecoming to an SJA student.

All expulsions and suspensions shall result in exclusion from all school-related activities during the period of expulsion or suspension unless specifically excepted. An appeal of the administrator’s decision will be permitted only with the pastor’s consent. The Catholic Youth and School Services Office shall be notified in all cases of expulsion.

Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment is not consistent with the school philosophy and goals and will not be used.

All discipline matters will be handled with respect for the dignity of the individual and in a spirit of reconciliation.

The administration has full authority in matters of discipline, and may waive any disciplinary rule for just cause at his/her discretion.
Rules for all areas of the school day may not be listed in this handbook. Be assured that your child will be informed and reminded periodically. The consequences for breaking the rules will be covered as well.

SJA strives to recognize the positive behaviors that the majority of our students do display. Rewards for good behavior will be given throughout the school year.

We feel that a child’s education is an extremely important aspect of his/her life. Self-discipline is the goal of our school. Hopefully, the school and parent/guardian working together as a “team” will help us achieve the goal of every child being a “success” in school, behaviorally as well as academically.

BACK TO TOP