Suspension may be given to a student for serious infractions of the school rules. Or to a student who has a pattern of less than satisfactory conduct or effort. The student will be removed from the classroom for one to three days. In the case of an In School Suspension the student will be removed from class and supervised by an adult. All assignments must be completed and credit of up to 80% may be given for assignments or tests. For an Out of School Suspension parents must provide supervision and student receives a zero for all assignments due or completed during the time of the suspension. In addition, the student is placed on Probation until the next Progress Report or Report Card is distributed. During this time the student is ileleigible to particpate in any school sponsored activity.
Expulsion
After two formal suspensions a student is liable to dismissal. Such dismissal is not required if school authorities judge it is not appropriate. Such action will be at the discretion of the Principal after consultation with the Pastor and a meeting with the parents. Certain infractions may warrant immediate dismissal. Examples of these would include the use or possession of weapons, drugs, alcohol, physical threats to a student or staff member either written, verbalized, or over the Internet and any destruction of school property. The above plan may be entered into at any step that the seriousness of the misconduct warrants.
Tuition and fees will not be refunded if a student is dismissed. The principal and/or pastor is the final recourse in all disciplinary situations and may waive any and all regulations for just cause at his or her discretion.
A student who continues to disrupt the school setting may be placed on conduct probation for one marking period. This may serve as an alternate to suspension/expulsion, allowing the student an opportunity to make positive changes. However, serious offenses may result in suspension/expulsion with no opportunity for probation.
Please notify the principal in writing at least two weeks in advance stating your reason for withdrawal of a student. Library books and texts belonging to the school are to be returned and all school accounts settled, then the transfer will be issued from the school office. No records will be forwarded unless tuition is current.
In case of an expulsion, the Pastor and Principal may also require the withdrawal of siblings.
Sexual Harassment
For purposes of this policy, the term “sexual harassment” refers to any unwelcome sexual attention, sexual advances, and other verbal, visual or physical contact of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment is unacceptable conduct and will not be tolerated. All students are responsible for ensuring that this school is free from all forms of sexual harassment. The school will investigate all allegations of sexual harassment and will take appropriate corrective action when warranted. Any students or parents who are determined, as a result of such an investigation, to have engaged in sexual harassment in violation this policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to an including dismissal.
Students need to be aware that the internet/e-mail can be considered as a vehicle for inappropriate conduct/sexual harassment when it directly or indirectly names and/or offends students or teachers of the school.
Diocese of Orlando Acceptable Use Policy
The Diocese of Orlando, Office of Schools, knows that the Internet and other emerging technologies allow students an immense opportunity to learn and grow globally. The Office of Schools' goal in providing the privilege to staff and students is to promote educational excellence in schools by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication. The use of the Internet or other emerging technologies will be guided by the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP).
The Diocesan Schools may not be able to technologically limit access to services through the Internet for the purpose of instruction, study, and research related to the curriculum. Parents/guardians are advised that a determined user may be able to gain access to services on the Internet and other technologies, which the Diocesan school has not authorized for educational purposes. By participating in the use of the Internet or other technologies, students may gain access to information and communications which parents or guardians may find inappropriate, offensive, or controversial. Parents/ guardians assume this risk by consenting to allow their students to participate in the use of technology and the Internet.
Teachers and school designees are responsible for ensuring that the Diocese of Orlando technology users are knowledgeable about this policy and regulations. All Diocese of Orlando technology users are required to sign a written AUP and to abide by the terms and conditions of the policy and its accompanying regulations.
The Diocese of Orlando does not sanction any use of the Internet and other available technology that is not authorized by or conducted strictly in compliance with this policy and its regulations. Users who disregard the AUP may have their use privileges suspended or revoked. The Diocese of Orlando reserves the right to suspend or revoke such privileges in the event any teacher, administrator, or principal believes the user's conduct to be inappropriate or non-compliant with the AUP. Users granted access to the Internet and other technologies through Diocesan Schools assume personal responsibility and liability, both civil and criminal.
Regulations:
The Diocese of Orlando, Office of Schools, believes that the Internet and other emerging technologies offer vast, diverse, and unique resources to students, teachers, and other users. The Office of Schools' goal in providing this privilege to staff and students is to promote educational excellence in schools by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication. Technology is used to support learning and enhance instruction. With access to computers and people all over the world, comes the availability of material that may not be of educational value in the context of the school setting. We, the Diocese of Orlando, firmly believe that access to the valuable information and interaction available on the worldwide network will far outweigh the possibility that users may procure material that is inconsistent with our educational goals.
Students, teachers, and other users are responsible for appropriate behavior on school computer networks at all times, just as they are in classrooms on school premises. At a minimum, school rules for behavior and communications apply, and are in no way to be interpreted as limiting the regulations outlined in the AUP. The network is provided for students, teachers, and other users to conduct research and communicate with others for educational purposes only. Students or other users do not have any reasonable expectation of privacy when using the Internet or other technologies provided by or through the Diocese of Orlando. The Diocese of Orlando maintains the right to monitor any Internet or technological usage derived from or utilized through its computers, whether it is on-line, down-loaded, or through printed material. All computer pass- codes or passwords must be made known to the Diocese of Orlando, and use of unknown passcodes or passwords is prohibited.
The Diocese of Orlando retains the right to access such codes at any time. If a user violates any of these provisions, his or her privileges may be terminated and future access may be denied. Students, teachers, and other users who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner and who obtain the necessary signatures on the AUP form will be authorized Internet access.
The AUP form is a written agreement, signed by students, teachers, and other users outlining the terms and conditions of the AUP. Anyone wishing to use the Internet or other forms of technology is required to sign the AUP form. The Diocese of Orlando is responsible for providing the principals, teachers, and designees with the Student and Employee AUPs.
Principals, teachers, and designees are responsible for ensuring that all technology users under their supervision are made aware of the AUP and have signed the agreement. They are further responsible for explaining the AUP to students and instructing students on proper technology usage and etiquette.
Principals, teachers, and designees are responsible for distributing the signed agreement forms to the appropriate parties and for providing their principal with the signed student forms. The original signed forms, as archives will be kept in the school office.
Parents and guardians are responsible for discussing the AUP with their child. By signing the agreement, parents/guardians give their permission to allow students to use various forms of technology in the school. Parents and guardians must understand that by authorizing use of the Internet and other technologies, students may gain access to material that they may find controversial, inappropriate, or offensive. Parents and guardians assume this risk by consenting to allow their child to participate in the use of the Internet and other forms of emerging technology. The Diocese of Orlando is not responsible should any user access information that is outside the scope of instruction, study, or research related to the curriculum.
Diocese of Orlando technology users are responsible for abiding by all the terms and conditions of the AUP and accompanying regulations. The Diocese of Orlando does not authorize any use of the Internet and other technology that is not conducted strictly in compliance with this policy. Your signature on this document indicates that you have read the terms and conditions carefully and understand their significance.
Users who disregard or violate, in any way, the AUP may have their privileges revoked. Users granted access to the Internet and other emerging technologies assume personal responsibility and liability, both civil and criminal, for uses of the Internet and other technology not authorized by the Diocese of Orlando's AUP.
Principal's Letter
Dear Parents
Over the years the Diocese of Orlando and the Office of Schools have taken steps to ensure the safety of your children. We continually review the measures we have in place to protect your children, and we oftentimes ask for your support in inplementing new measures and procedures designed to make our schools a safe haven for your children.
To this end, we hope you will share the following with your children to help us ensure that wrongful conduct does not occur in our schools. The intent of this letter is not to alarm you, but rather to help all of us understand the limits of proper conduct we expect in our schools. While we never hope to have these problems in our schools, we want it clearly understood that the Diocese does not condone or authorize its employees, volunteers, coaches or students to engage in the following activites:
-threatening or causing personal harm or injury
-threatening or causing damage to school or Diocesan property
-providing medical advice
-conducting physical examinations of or providing shots to students (other than school sponsored or sanctioned exams for scoliosis, vision, hearing, athletic fitness, diabetic treatments, or other medical treatments, all of which require written permission from a parent or guardian)
-administering drugs, including any over the counter medication, in the absence of express written permission from a parent or guardian per Diocesan policy.
-providing massages or other physical therapy
-taking blood samples or perfoming any other medical procedure
-examining the genitalia of any student, for any reason
-touching an individual inappropriately
-smoking or encouraging smoking on school property
-asking a student to undress or observing a student while he or she is changing clothes at school or a sporting event other than necessary supervision in a locker room or approved changing area.
-denigrating or abusing any child, volunteer or employee
We also ask you, as parents, to help us idnetify these and any other inappropriate activites that take place in our schools. Please report them immediately to the Principal or the Office of Schools. Similarly, if your child observes or experiences these or similar activities, he or she should feel comfortable telling you, the Principal or the Office of Schools. Our experience and that of experts, particularly in the area of school violence, is that tell-tale signs (eg severe mood changes, emotional outbursts or irrational conduct, fascination with guns or incidents of violence, indirect or direct threats) usually exist before the actual violent act occurs. Early intervention, therefore is the key to avoiding a tragic situation. We cannot possibly identify all the improper conduct that might occur, but we as you as parents to use your common sense and report anything that you believe is inappropriate. Yout cooperation in enforcing these guidelines is greatly appreciated.
Working together, we can continue to provide your children a caring, loving environment and the best Catholic education. Please call me if you have any questions or concerns about this letter.
Rights of Principal: The principal reserves the right to determine the seriousness of student behavior. The principal will also determine if certain cases of misconduct require stronger measures. The principal may waive any disciplinary rule for just cause at her discretion.
School/Principal Right to Amend: The principal retains the right to amend the handbook at any time for just cause and parents will be given prompt notification if changes are made.