Code of Conduct Policy
Our Lady of Charity School
Code of Conduct
In keeping with our school’s philosophy, we at Our Lady of Charity strive to
instill within each student the self-discipline that is necessary for a
successful life. Being faithful to our Catholic tradition, we promote
acceptance and practice of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes as laws
for living. We strive to guide each child in a positive manner, affirming
the good that is done in an effort to encourage positive behavior.
Should a child decide to misbehave, consequences are included in the code.
They are intended to serve as a deterrent as well as a reminder to act
appropriately. It is our prayer that each student will come to accept rules
and regulations as a necessary part of our society and understand that these
are in place to promote the general well being of all in the Our Lady of
Charity Community.
All Students at Our Lady of Charity are expected to:
1. Be aware that their first responsibility is to serve God and others.
2.Cooperate with all school personnel by following directives willingly.
3.Give proper respect to all school personnel: administration, faculty,
staff and volunteers.
4.Accept correction graciously as that makes one learn and grow.
5.Respect schoolmates and the individuality of each student.
6.Use class time as effectively as possible, taking pride in their
contribution to the learning environment.
7.Be responsible for the timely completion of all assignments and
projects.
8.Take pride in their school, caring for the buildings, equipment and
supplies at their disposal.
9.Respect the dignity of human life by avoiding substance use,
fighting, foul language and abuse of any kind.
10.Display the characteristics of patriotism and citizenship, while at
the same time, honoring the cultural diversity that makes America great.
It is important to remember that the OLC Code of Conduct is a tool with which
we are able to work in union with our parents and guardians to foster
responsibility, respect, self-control and self-confidence in our children to
enable them to become productive students and citizens of the broader
community.
Our Lady of Charity Code of Conduct
Calendar Method
Concept:
The Calendar is a method of assessing the student’s
responsibility for “self” and for completing his/her daily routine and
assignments.
The calendar is an immediate communication with parents day
by day. It can show that a child has had a good day, as well as reporting an
incident of concern.
The calendar serves as a positive reinforcement and reminder
to the student that parents and school staff are working together with the
same expectations for conduct.
Method:
New children will be given a two week grace period at the beginning of the
school year, to become familiar with the expectations of their teachers,
parents and staff in the school community. Returning students are expected
to be aware of expectations and meet those standards.
A copy of the calendar will be given to each student at the beginning of each
month to be placed in the red home work folder. No child is to remove the
calendar from the folder. Only parents and teachers may remove the calendar
for the purpose of writing on it. The calendar must be presented to the
teacher or staff member by request so that comments may recorded for sharing
with adults at home. (It is important to note that children usually receive
oral corrections as a reminder of appropriate behavior. It is only when a
child fails to respond to intervention, that you will receive a note.)
Multiple marks may be given in the same day.
Any day that the child has a comment on their calendar, the child MUST have
the calendar signed that night and return the calendar to the teacher the
following day. We ask that all parents check and sign their child’s calendar
on Thursday night, the day communication envelopes go home regularly.
You are encouraged to also write positive notes on your child’s calendar for
a job well done. You are also encouraged to plan an “at home” reward system
that incorporates the child’s school calendar. At school, your child will
receive one homework pass for a perfect month.
You will note a positive legend at the bottom of the calendar. These
comments reinforce the Conduct Code expectations. However, if the number
from the legend is on your child’s calendar, it indicated the child HAS NOT
demonstrated that positive attribute.
Calendar Guidelines
All entries on the student conduct calendar will impact the report card grade
for personal development and/or effort.
A perfect calendar (without comments) at the end of the month will allow the
student to participate in the Good Citizenship Reward Lottery. Ten months of
perfect calendars will result in a year end award for Good Citizenship
presented in June.
Any supervising OLC staff member may issue a calendar mark or detention.
During the lunch hour students are responsible to maintain the expected
standard of polite behaviors. Multiple staff members will be supervising
during the lunch hour.
Five comments on a calendar within a month will result in a detention.
Two detentions within a trimester will result in referral to the Discipline
Review Board and may result in assignment to disciplinary probation. It is
mandatory that parents attend the assigned meeting during which strategies
will be structured for student monitoring and improvement of social skills.
Parents will also be required to attend any needed follow-up meetings. The
Board will offer two alternative meeting times to assist parents.
Failure of the parents and student to work with the Disciplinary Review Board
will result in dismissal from the school.
Assignment to a third detention within the same trimester for behavioral
issues (not including homework issues), will result in the issuance of a
suspension. The student will also be placed on Disciplinary Probations which
will make the child ineligible for participation in social events and field
trips.
Some serious offenses will warrant immediate detention. These include, but
are not limited to: disrespect shown during any liturgy service or visit to
the chapel or church; lack of cooperation during any safety drill; disruptive
behavior on a school bus; out of bounds incident; deliberate disobedience or
disrespect of a teacher or supervising adult; use of profanity or
inappropriate street language; lying; cheating on a test or project; theft;
outbursts of anger directed at an adult or student; first verified use of
physical or verbal threats to any member of the school community; first
incident of harassment of any individual member of the school community in
school, at their home by phone or internet, on the bus or in any public
place. A second repetition of any of the above will result in a suspension.
First time suspensions will be served at five 7 a.m. detentions, but recorded
as a suspension. Second time suspensions will be served as two days out of
school. Students who have had two suspensions within the school year must
appear before the Disciplinary Review Board with their parents. The pastor
and principal will participate in this meeting to determine the fitness of
the child to remain within the school community.
Aggressive behaviors, poor attitude or overly physical behavior during
physical education class will result in a one or more day suspension from
that class. The child will be assigned to another room during the next
physical education class.
Disrespect or significant repeated failure to follow direction in technology
class or failure to respect computer equipment by mishandling will result in
a one or more day suspension from technology class and loss of permission to
use computers anywhere within the school. This is a very serious matter, as
use of computers is vital to completion of work in most upper grade subject
areas and inability to have access may impact academic subjects. Again, the
student would be assigned to an alternate classroom during the technology
class.
Improper behavior in any classroom which disrupts instruction will result in
removal from class. Parents will be called immediately to pick up their
child. The student will receive a suspension to be served as five 7 a.m.
detentions beginning on the next school day.
Transportation on a public school district bus is a privilege accorded to
those who show appropriate respect for the safety of others. Any report by
the bus driver of poor behavior on the bus will result in an OLC detention or
suspension as such behavior may jeopardize the safety of many. A school
district may suspend service to disruptive students after an official
warning. A second suspension from the bus service may result in withdrawal
of transportation privileges for the remainder of the year.
Detention will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays before school from 7:00 to
7:40 a.m. Students who are serving a first suspension are to report to 7 a.m.
detention the first day they return to school and are to attend for five
consecutive days. Assigned detentions must be served within one week of the
assigned day. A doctor’s note is required if the detention can not be served
within the week. Failure to serve the detention within the week without a
doctor’s note will result in an immediate suspension and assignment of the
family to meet with the Disciplinary Review Board.
Detentions may include a community service opportunity. In the event of
illness, documented by a doctor or parent, the student may attend beginning
the day he/she returns. If necessary, a School Holiday detention may be
required of students. This will often be the approach used for students with
excessive lateness or illegal failure to attend school.
The homeroom teacher and the school disciplinarian will receive copies of all
detention forms. The parent must sign their white copy and return it to
school. Records of detentions and suspensions will be placed in the
student’s permanent record as Pennsylvania State law requires that all
records of all disciplinary incidents be transferred with the student.
Parents do not have the prerogative to contest assigned calendar marks or
detentions or demand that the disciplinary action be cancelled or changed.
Staff members are very conservative in their use of the calendar. All
students are given appropriate warnings and reminders to encourage them to
self-correct inappropriate behavior. Parents may file a written complaint to
the pastor or principal if they have a concern about due process, but the
complaint will not result in a change of calendar marks or detention.
Calendar and detention marks must be signed the same day they are issued, and
the signed calendar or detention slip must be returned to the homeroom
teacher the next morning. If the signed paperwork is not returned as
required, the parent will be called to come to school and sign the
paperwork. If the parent is unable to do so, the signed paperwork must be
sent to school the following morning. The student may not return to school
unless the calendar or detention slip has been signed and returned. Such an
absence will be regarded as parental neglect. Students who misplace their
calendars are given a detention. If this occurs a second time during the
year, the behavior will result in two detentions; the third time, three
detentions, etc.
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Our Lady of Charity
Code of Conduct Contract
All parents and students are asked to sign a Code of Conduct Contract.
Failure to sign the Code of Conduct Contract does not eliminate the
responsibility of OLC Community members, including OLC school staff, to abide
by the OLC Code of Conduct.
Family Name: __________________________________________
Individual Grade
Student Names ________________________________ _____
________________________________
_____
________________________________
_____
________________________________
_____
We have read the OLC School Code of Conduct and are aware of the standards it
sets, and the repercussions for failure to support the Code of Conduct
standards. We will support our child/ren’s positive growth in social skills
by working with the educators in the OLC School community.
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signatures
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Date