School Discipline Policy
Building character through clear expectations and consistent guidance
Rationale
The school provides a social context in which students need to be supported while learning to accept responsibility for their own behaviour. Discipline is essential for inculcating the right values, so that students grow up to be productive and responsible citizens imbued with good human values and principles. This policy is therefore prepared based on the mandates of the Education Act, and more specifically, the Manual for Principals and Teachers of Catholic Schools, and the School Rules. This discipline policy is expected to guide and provide a basis for the school to make timely interventions mainly by using preventative measures.
Despite this, any offense that is of a criminal nature is beyond the scope of this guidelines will have to be dealt in accordance with the laws of the state.
Objectives
To formulate clear rules and regulations and to familiarize them to the students
To maintain uniformity, consistency and fairness in addressing disciplinary issues
To create a safe, supportive and conducive learning environment
To aim at high expectations in academic and spiritual practices
To reiterate the importance of the inclusion of parents and other stakeholders
Preventive Intervention
This school discipline policy will primarily ensure the environment for the development of appropriate behaviour in students. The following are the preventive interventions to curb the disciplinary issues:
Set clear standards of behaviour, expectations and consequences
Be firm and consistent in implementing the school rules
Provide counseling services
Enhance life skills education
Address students' needs
Institute a parent support group
Institute an awards system in various fields
Ensure active engagement of students
Enhance spiritual (Christian Silent Meditation) and cultural education
Offences and Sanctions
However, if a student commits any offence or found guilty of any offence in school, non-threatening disciplinary action will be taken.
Level 1: Minor disturbances preventing school order
| No. | Offences | Sanction 1 | Sanction 2 | Sanction 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Absenteeism: Academic (instructional programme, literary programme, exams, tests, remedial class, extra class and related issues) | Admit chit, counseling and parents notification by class teacher/administration Reminder and counseling (class teacher and counselor) |
Assignments (updating previous lesson) and written statement (subject teacher) | Undertaking letter from parents (class teacher and administration) |
| 2 | Tardiness: Academic (instructional programme, literary programme, exams, tests, remedial class, extra class and related issues) | Reminder and counseling (class teacher, subject teacher and school counselor) | Parents notification, written statement (class teacher, subject teacher and administration) | Detention work for maximum of one hour (class teacher, subject teacher, and administration) |
| Tardiness: Non – academic (assembly, games and sports, clubs, prayers and like) | Reminder and counseling (class teacher, moderator and school counselor) | Parents notification, written statement (class teacher, and moderator) | Detention work for maximum of one hour; Compliance with club rules (class teacher, moderator and administration) | |
| 3 | Violation of school dress code | Counseling and reminder (class teacher, house parent and counselor) | Written statement and notify parents. (class teacher and house parent) | Undertaking from parents. (class teacher, house parent and administration) |
| 4 | Health and hygiene (hair, nail, dress and general cleanliness) | Reminder and counseling (class teacher, and counselor) | Inform parents (class teacher and administration) | Detention (any health related work for 30 mins. (class teacher, administration) |
| 5 | Graffiti (toilet, walls, doors, windows, table, chair and others) | Warning/counseling and maintenance (class teacher, subject teacher and administration) | Maintenance/compensation, written statement, parents notification (class teacher, subject teacher and administration) | Detention work for one hour and undertaking letter from parents (class teacher, subject teacher and administration) |
| 6 | Littering | Reminder and imposition (cleaning) (class teacher, concerned teacher) | Detention work (emptying dustbin for one week) (class teacher, concerned teacher) | Written statement and detention work for two weeks (class teacher, concerned teacher) |
| 7 | Misuse of electronic gadgets | Warning, seize and return to the parents only (staff) | Fine or comply with dictates of Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) written statement (concerned teacher and administration) | Comply with provisions of AUPs (concerned teacher and administration) |
| 8 | Foul/Indecent language | Reminder and advices (staff) | Written statement (class teacher and Pastoral Care Coordinator (PCC)) | Written statement, detention work of cleaning for one week (class teacher and Pastoral Care Coordinator (PCC)) |
| 9 | Negative peer pressure | Guidance, teacher-child conference (class teacher counselor, PCC) | Parents notification, written statement (class teacher, PCC, administration) | Undertaking letter from parents and detention work for three hours (class teacher, PPC and administration) |
| 10 | Mischief (unintended harm) | Guidance and counseling (staff) | Teacher-child conference (class teacher, subject teacher and PCC) | Written statement (class teacher, subject teacher and PCC) |
| 11 | Petty theft | Warning and return of items (class teacher, subject teacher and PCC) | Written statement, compensation and parents notification (class teacher, subject teacher, PCC) | Written statement, compensation (class teacher, subject teacher and PCC) |
| 12 | Disrespectful behavior | Warning and guidance (staff) | Written statement and parents notification (concerned teacher) | Undertaking letter from the parents and public apology (PCC, class teacher, concerned teacher and administration) |
| 13 | Harassment | Warning, written statement and counseling (class teacher, PCC) | Written statement and parents notification (class teacher, PCC, and administration) | Undertaking letter from parents and detention work for two hours (class teacher, PCC, and administration) |
| 14 | Bringing, reading and watching inappropriate materials | Warning and seizure the materials (staff) | Written statement and parents notification (class teacher, PCC, concerned teacher) | Undertaking letter from parents and detention work for three hours (class teacher, PCC, and administration) |
| 15 | Business transactions | Reminder and notification to parents (class teacher, PCC, warden/matron) | Seize and return to parents (class teacher, PCC, concerned teacher) | Permanently seize; undertaking letter from the parents (class teacher, PCC, concerned teacher, administration) |
Level 2: Violation of school rules and frequent violation of level 1 offences
| No. | Offences | Sanction 1 | Sanction 2 | Sanction 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frequent violation of level 1 offences | Repeated offences of level 1 will tantamount to sanction 2 of level 2 | ||
| 2 | Disobedience (insubordination) | Teacher – child conference, counselor – child conference, principal – child conference, principal – parent conference with written statement from the child. | Discipline committee's intervention, undertaking letter from parents, written warning and detention work after class hours for a week. | Suspension for 6 school days and no consideration on attendance. |
| 3 | Substance abuse (alcohol, tobacco, correction marijuana, etc…) | |||
| 4 | Dishonest behavior | |||
| 5 | Plagiarism | |||
| 6 | Hooliganism | |||
| 7 | Inappropriate relationship with opposite gender | |||
| 8 | Possession of harmful items (weapons, drugs and chemicals) | |||
| 9 | Defamation/Insult | |||
| 10 | Prowling/looting | |||
| 11 | Discrimination (economic status, caste/creed, religion, region, etc) | |||
| 12 | Gambling | |||
| 13 | Bullying | |||
| 14 | Quarreling | |||
| 15 | Misbehavior with teachers and staff | |||
| 16 | Fighting (with or without weapon) | |||
| 17 | Theft | |||
| 18 | Mobile | Seize or fine as stated in AUP (return to parents after paying fine) | Seize and retain in the school | Seize, retain and detention work of one hour daily for a week after school hours |
Repeated offences in level 2 will tantamount to level 3 sanctions
Level 3: Severe violation of school rules and national laws or frequent violation of level 2 offenses
| No. | Offences | Sanction 1 | Sanction 2 | Sanction 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frequent violation of level 2 offenses | Repeated offences of level 2 will tantamount to sanction 2 of level 3 | Suspension for up to 12 school days and handover the child to parents | Expulsion (reflected reason for expulsion in the transfer certificate) |
| 2 | Groupies for ulterior motives | Discipline committee intervention, written warning, written statement from child and notify parents. | Undertaking from parents, suspension for 12 working days with no consideration for attendance. | Expulsion (reflect reason for expulsion in the transfer certificate) |
| 3 | Gang fight/fight with weapon | |||
| 4 | Damage to property (vandalism) | |||
| 5 | Malpractice in exams | |||
| 6 | Break – ins | |||
| 7 | Substance abuse (hard drugs: cannabis, cocaine, brown sugar, and alike) | |||
| 8 | Battery | |||
| 9 | Forgery | |||
| 10 | Assault on school staff (verbal): a. By student b. By parents |
Discipline committee intervention, written warning, written statement from child and notify parents. In case of parents, the matter will be intervened by SMB and written warning issued. | Undertaking from parents, suspension for 12 working days with no consideration for attendance. In case of parents the matter will be forwarded to police. | Expulsion (reflect reason for expulsion in the transfer certificate) |
| 11 | Manhandling: a. By student b. By parents |
Involve SMB/Committee, expulsion for students and forward the matter to police in case of parents. | ||
Restorative Discipline
Students who are chronically suspended are more likely to drop out of school and engage in risky behaviours and crime. The male population among students at school are potentially even more at risk.
The main objectives of employing restorative discipline are to:
- Reduce suspensions
- Reduce office referrals
- Reduce aggression
- Improve social skills
School Rules
The St. John's Primary is a Catholic school in which a Catholic education is given to all students
A. A Catholic Education includes:
- Instructions in the Catholic faith and recognition of Catholic church leaders e.g. the Pope, Archbishops, bishop, priest, brothers, nuns, other religious, etc.
- Daily prayers, including those formulated by the Catholic faith or Sacred Scripture
- Participation in school assembly where said prayers are recited
- Occasional church attendance
- Praying for our country, singing the National Anthem, reciting the Pledge
- Participating in other school activities
B-J. General School Rules:
B. Every student is expected to participate fully in the activities of the school except where (s)he has a valid reason for being exempted from participation
C. Teachers are allowed to discipline children (when necessary) in accordance with the Education Act.
D. Parents will be alerted if their child's behaviour warrants it, and parents are expected to respond promptly.
E. Under NO circumstances should parents scandalize, harass or victimize any member of staff concerning any problems relating to school affairs
F. Parents should at NO time confront or interrogate any person's child concerning any incident that has occurred. Any person who wishes to see any student must first have permission from the Principal.
G. No bubble gum is allowed on the school compound.
H. Students must be well groomed.
I. No cellphones, tablets, smart-watches, or other electronics during school hours
J. Maintenance fees for each school term shall be paid within 1 week of the beginning of the term. We are understanding, if you have a problem please inform the school.
A NEAT and SIGNED excuse must be provided if a child:
I)
Is or has been late or absent
II)
Is unable to wear complete school uniform
III)
Has insufficient textbooks or stationery
IV)
Has failed to do their homework
V)
Fails to attend compulsory school activity