DISCIPLINE

Bishop Conaty-Loretto High School 's philosophy of discipline aims at helping the student to become self-disciplined. Self-discipline is based on respect for self, others, and property, coupled with personal responsibility. The purpose of the discipline program is to promote genuine growth; to increase respect for duly constituted authority; to assist in the development of Christian values; and to provide an atmosphere that is conducive to learning. The disciplinary regulations are not designed as a form of punishment, but as guidelines that teach the student to be responsible for her own actions and to accept the consequences for her own behavior.

Standards of Behavior

Students of Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School are expected to embody the values of the school's Philosophy and Expected Schoolwide Learning Results (ESLRs). Specifically:

At all times, students are expected to show respect and compassion to themselves, their fellow students, the faculty and staff, the extended Bishop Conaty-Loretto community, and guests of the school.
As young adults, students are expected to accept responsibility for their decisions and actions.
Students are also expected to work cooperatively and collaboratively with their peers and teachers.
Students are expected to demonstrate tolerance towards others.
Students are expected to show reverence towards all religious aspects of the school.
Finally, students are expected to follow all the rules and regulations of the school and their teachers.

Honor Contract

As a sign of their willingness to abide by the guidelines and regulations of Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School, students sign an honor contract at the beginning of each school year.

Implementation

When students violate rules and regulations, consequences will occur. The nature and seriousness of the offense will determine the response. Under ordinary circumstances, when a student disrupts a class, the classroom teacher will handle the matter. When a student violates a school guideline, a demerit will be issued. In more serious situations or for repeated offenses, the Dean of Students may:

Schedule a conference with the student,
Schedule a conference with the parents,
Schedule a conference with the concerned teacher,

If a parent or student wishes to appeal the decision of the Dean of Discipline or other school administrator, a request for an appeal hearing before the Disciplinary Review Board must be made in a timely manner. Appeal procedures will be given to the parent/guardian at the time of the disposition of the disciplinary case.

Classroom Behavior

Students are expected to be on time for class and ready to begin on schedule. They should have with them the necessary books and supplies. During class it is expected that students be polite, open-minded, tolerant and respectful. Courtesy to the teacher and other students should be shown at all times. Any conduct contrary to these expectations may result in a demerit or teacher's detention.

Standards and Consequences of Infractions

At the beginning of each school year, every student is issued an honor card. Any teacher or designated member of the school community who observes a student breaking a school policy may issue a demerit. It is recorded on the student's honor card and a notice of demerit is sent to the Dean of Students . If there is a discrepancy between the honor card and the office records, the Dean's records are used as the official count.

A student may be issued a demerit for any of the following infractions:

Tardiness to school or class
Bringing food or drink into the classroom; eating/drinking in school building or gym
Chewing gum on campus
Failing to meet dress code
Failing to comply with school tote bag/purse policy
Missing a school detention
Leaving trash or litter on campus
Disregarding teacher or supervisor instruction
Using foul, vulgar or obscene language
Being in the hallway and/or unauthorized area without written permission or pass
Failure to carry honor card at all times. (Lost honor cards must be replaced by the Dean of Students for $5.00 fee.)

The consequences of receiving a demerit are as follows:

Any demerit received in a week will result in the loss of the next early Friday dismissal and Demerit Detention will be assigned. It is school policy that students will not be excused from Demerit Detention for any reason (athletic games, school sponsored events, transportation, appointments, work, etc.)
An accumulation of five demerits will result in a Saturday Detention. Saturday detention lasts four hours. Dates of Saturday Detentions are listed on the school calendar. The accumulation of an additional five demerits will result in a second or third Saturday Detention. Students who serve a second Saturday Detention will also be fined $15.00. A third Saturday Detention will result in a $25.00 fine and the student will be subject to disciplinary review. Any student in an unauthorized area, classroom, the locker room, or the gym without permission or adult supervision will automatically earn a Saturday Detention.
A citizenship grade will be issued in each grading period. The grade, based on the office record of total demerits, will be assigned as follows: No demerits: Outstanding; 2-9 demerits: Satisfactory; 10-14 demerits: Needs Improvement; 15-20 demerits: Unsatisfactory

Any student who accumulates 15 or more demerits in a school year will automatically be placed on probation. She is suspended from elected office, cheerleading and sports teams. She may not receive academic honors.

Any student who earns a demerit for bringing food or drink into the classroom; eating/drinking in school building or gym or gum-chewing will also be fined $10.00.

ANY STUDENT WHO RECEIVES 20 DEMERITS IN ONE SCHOOL YEAR MAY BE AUTOMATICALLY DISMISSED FROM SCHOOL.

A student may petition to earn back 2 demerits in a semester. To do this, she must fill out a petition form obtained from the Dean of Students. If the petition is accepted the student must perform two hours of service to the school as directed by the Dean of Students.

The following are some of the infractions that will result in a referral to the Dean of Students and/or the Discipline Review Board:

Disobedience or continued disregard for school policies
Repeated cheating and/or plagiarism
Disrespect for authority or disruption of classes and/or school activities, and any language which is vulgar or obscene
Use, possession, sale or distribution of drugs, alcohol, or any other harmful substances
Injury or harm to persons or property, or threat of injury or harm through verbal, written, electronic or graphic means
Theft or dishonesty; writing graffiti or marking up of any school property
Touching teachers' personal property
Forging or using forged notes or excuses
Assault with, or possession of a lethal weapon
Smoking or possession of tobacco
Membership or active involvement in a gang or group that is responsible for coercive or violent activity
Tampering with fire alarm/equipment
Abortion
Being the means by which violence comes to the campus or school events
Violation of Civil Law
Hazing or Harassment
Association with any person or group that poses any kind of threat to the school community.
Misuse of school computers and the Internet.
Unauthorized student Internet web sites.
Scandalous, illegal or immoral conduct on or off-campus at any time while the student is enrolled in the school.

A student may be suspended or expelled for any of the above infractions. These may occur while the student is on school grounds, or while she is going to or coming from school, or while she is participating in any school sponsored event or activity.

Falsifying school records will result in automatic dismissal from school.

Discipline Conferencing

If a student wishes to challenge a disciplinary referral she should follow, to the point of satisfaction, the sequential procedure listed below:

Conferencing with the teacher
Conferencing with the Dean of Students and teacher
Conferencing with the Dean of Students and parent
Appeal to the Disciplinary Review Board
Obtaining forms from the principal for redress by Department of Catholic Schools.

Disciplinary Probation

There are times when a minimum sanction is not sufficiently effective to impress upon a student the seriousness of the offense; also, there are instances when a student receives several disciplinary referrals within a short period of time, or many disciplinary referrals for the same offense. In such situations, disciplinary probation is in order.

When a student is placed on disciplinary probation, her attitude, behavior and observance of school rules are closely observed. She is expected to demonstrate, through the exercise of self-discipline and personal responsibility, that she can live up to the standards expected of students of Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School. During this time she is expected to report to the Dean of Students at least once a week to discuss her progress and behavior. During the probationary time, a repeated offense of the infraction which caused the student to be placed on probation will result in suspension or may mean that she will be asked to withdraw from the school. During the probationary period, the student may not function as a class or club officer or ASB representative, nor may she participate in athletic or spirit club activities. Other conditions may also apply.

The length of the probationary period is determined by the Dean of Students, based upon the nature of the offense.

If a student is placed on disciplinary probation a second time within the same academic year, she will be suspended until her parents have a conference with the Dean of Students and the Principal. She may be asked to withdraw from the school.

Students who receive 15 demerits are automatically placed on probation.

In-School Suspension

The purpose of in-school suspension is to remove a student from her regular schedule of classes and to provide an opportunity for her to consider changing her unacceptable behavior within the school environment. This is an alternative to a regular school suspension which may sometimes be interpreted as a “day off” from school.

A student subject to in-school suspension reports to school at the regular time in full uniform, bringing her lunch. Each teacher will give her written assignments which she must complete under the direct supervision of the Dean of Students. She will not attend any classes and will be supervised during lunch in an assigned room. It is up to the teacher's discretion whether or not to award credit for this work completed during the in-school suspension and/or to permit the student to make up any missed tests or other credit work.

Disciplinary Review Board

The Disciplinary Review Board is made up of two teachers or staff members appointed by the principal and one teacher selected by the student. They act as an advisory board to the principal regarding disciplinary matters. A student may request that the Disciplinary Review Board review disciplinary decisions. Students must be accompanied by parents when a disciplinary review board session is called.

Academic Dishonesty, Cheating and Plagiarism

Cheating, plagiarism, and other manifestations of academic dishonesty are contrary to the philosophy and teachings of Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School. The school does not tolerate such behavior, and violations of this policy will result in the following consequences:

For the first incident of cheating or plagiarism by a student:

The student earns no credit for the work.
The teacher calls the parents the day of the incident and informs them of the incident and its consequences.
The teacher may assign Teacher Detention.
The teacher informs the Dean of Discipline, in writing or by e-mail, of the incident and, if possible, gives him/her a photocopy of the work in question.

For the second incident of cheating or plagiarism by a student:

The student earns no credit for the work.
The teacher reports to the Dean of Discipline.
The Dean calls the parents and informs them of the incident and its consequences.
The student earns an In-School Suspension.
The student is placed on Disciplinary Probation.

For further incidents of cheating or plagiarism by a student:

The student earns no credit for the work
The teacher reports to the Dean of Discipline.
The Discipline Review Board is convened to evaluate the status of the student, and the student may be dismissed from school.

Serious incidents of academic dishonesty, cheating and plagiarism will result in immediate dismissal from school.

Policy Regarding Gangs

Because gang culture is completely contrary to Christian values, gang association and/or imitation cannot be tolerated in any form at Bishop Conaty-Loretto High School . Prohibited are any expressions of gang membership, association or imitation, including, but not limited to: attire, clothing accessories and personal belongings, hair style, make-up, signs and gestures, wiring and graffiti, vocabulary and language. If a student, while on campus or in school uniform, or while participating in school functions, displays any association with or imitation of gang culture, depending upon the seriousness of the offense, she may be given any of the following: (a) a demerit, (b) suspension, followed by a conference of her parents with the Dean of Students; or (c) expulsion.