Philosophy and Agreements
The Middle School discipline policy is designed to provide a structure for all of us to meet the goals of Sacred Heart education. The heart of disciplined behavior is understanding that our actions affect us and everyone else. In the following paragraphs the term "we" will be used to refer to all the students, parents, faculty, and staff.
Discipline is critical in these three areas:
Safety:
We must agree to work together to ensure the physical well being of all.
Community Building:
We all must agree to respect peers, adults, and ourselves and to practice genuine concern, courtesy, and consideration at all times. We also must agree to act responsibly and be accountable for our behavior, knowing that when we make decisions and choose our actions, we are also accepting the consequences of those decisions.
Enhance the Learning Environment:
We must agree to do our best, to keep a positive attitude, to be receptive to new ideas, and to be attentive and responsive to our classmates and to adults.
Expected Behaviors
These behaviors will ensure our success in each area.
Safety
Follow rigorously all procedures for fire and tornado drills
Follow proper procedures in any emergency situation
Community Building
Offer assistance to anyone in need
Greet visitors and adults in a polite and friendly manner
Be kind and thoughtful to peers
Assume personal responsibility for the order of the school
Be on time and pay attention during assemblies, programs, and liturgies
Treat the Duchesne uniform respectfully as a sign of membership in the community, as a way to promote community, and as a way to enhance our focus on learning.
Students need to remember that both on and off campus their uniform identifies them as a member of our school community and their behavior reflects on all of us.
Eat and drink only in the dining room or outside.
On special occasions students may eat in a classroom with faculty permission and supervision.
Eating and drinking are never allowed near the computers, in the Chapel, in the Theater, in any part of the Gym, or in other areas of the Middle School unless special permission has been granted.
Refrain from chewing gum any place on the Duchesne campus
Distribute birthday invitations or any other invitations only if the entire class is included.
Gifts and supplies for overnight stays or sleepovers may not come to school.
Enhancement of Learning Environment
Observe the honor code
Come on time and come prepared to class
Be attentive and responsive when addressed by an adult
Keep halls and lockers clean and in order
Use inside voices and keep noise at a level that does not interfere with learning
Keep all electronic equipment at home. This does not include the laptop purchased for school.
Do not bring these items to school or on field trips or school sponsored sporting events without special permission.
Keep cell phones off and in lockers during the school day.
Observance of Duchesne Academy Acceptable Use Policy for Laptops
Observance of the Honor Code
The Middle School Honor Code, written by the Student Council in accordance with the goals of the Sacred Heart, is our pledge to respect ourselves, others, and our education.
Middle School Honor Code
We pledge:
to value learning
to do our own work
to honestly earn all recognitions and rewards
to put honest effort into all our work
to recognize that work done to the best of our ability is valuable in itself
to recognize that learning from our mistakes is admirable
We agree that we will not plagiarize or cheat on any assignments, quizzes, or tests.
We believe that following our Honor Code will promote true self-esteem, increase our self-discipline, and help our love of learning grow. We are building our character now and for our future.
Our Honor Pledge is to be written:
On assignments and projects:
I have followed my teacher's guidelines and accepted only approved help on this assignment or project.
On tests and quizzes:
I have not given or received any information on this test or quiz.
I will not talk about this test/quiz with any of my classmates until it is returned to me.
serious Behavior That will not be tolerated
The following are examples of behaviors that seriously interfere with the safety of all, that prevent the building of community, and that preclude learning. These behaviors, therefore, will not be tolerated.
Disrespect or defiance toward adults or peers
Unkind or excluding behavior
Stealing or vandalism
Cheating or lying
Plagiarism
Vulgar or obscene language
Unexcused absence from school
Failure to sign in or out and failure to report to the dismissal area at the end of the school day
Leaving school grounds during the day without permission
Separating from the group while on school trips
Use or possession of illicit drugs, including -- but not limited to -- marijuana, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, and caffeine products such as No-Doz
Misuse of medication
Continued disregard for school rules
Behavior/action which endangers oneself or others (e.g. possession of weapons)
Harassment, bullying, or threatening behavior
Other inappropriate behavior, behavior divisive within the Middle School community, or any behavior unbecoming to a Duchesne student.
Follow Up Procedures
Counseling
In response to inappropriate behavior, faculty and administration assist students to grow in their personal responsibility. Students are counseled individually and in small and large groups.
Marking System
When a student chooses not to obey the rules, she will be given a "mark." The marks are totaled at the end of each week; a new marking period begins each Thursday afternoon.
Detention
A student will receive a detention if she accumulates three or more marks in a week. The purpose of a detention is to reinforce the student's agreement to act responsibly for her own welfare and the welfare of the community. The student will be given a formal "Detention Notification" form on Thursday. She will be required to get the signature of her parent, and return the form by her assigned detention date. It is an extremely important part of becoming responsible for a student to notify her parents of her inappropriate behavior and its consequences.In order to give advance notice of detention, a student will be notified on Thursday by 3:30 for the detention to be served the following week. All detentions will be served on Mondays from 3:35 to 4:35 pm and will be proctored by one faculty member. At 4:35 pm, detention students will then be sent to the Upper School dismissal area to be picked up to go home. At 4:40 pm any student not picked up will then go to the Dining Room for Extended Day. A student having more than three marks in a given week will be required to stay an additional fifteen minutes for each additional mark. Detention will be doubled for students who skip detention on their assigned day. Click here for a sample copy of the detention form.
Behavior Improvement Agreement
If a student receives three detentions in one trimester, she and her parents will be required to meet with the Middle School Head or the Dean of Students. A behavior improvement agreement will be developed at that time. A behavior agreement is not a punishment. It helps a student arrive at concrete steps so that she does not get into the same situation again. It also provides an opportunity for a student to show good will and give back to the school community in a positive way.
In-school Suspension
If, after three detentions and a behavior agreement, a student receives three more marks in any one week before the end of a trimester, she will automatically receive a one day in-school suspension, and she will lose her field trip privileges for the remainder of that trimester.
All work missed while on suspension must be made up in accordance with the directives of the teachers. No credit will be given for in-class daily work missed during the suspension.
Out-of-school Suspension
If, after an in-school suspension, a student receives three more marks in any one week, she will receive a one-day out-of-school suspension.
A student receiving an out-of-school suspension for any reason will receive zeroes for all class work, including tests done that day.
A second suspension (either an out-of-school suspension or a second in-school suspension in a second trimester) during the school year will result in the loss of all field trip privileges for the rest of the year.
Continued inappropriate behavior or insufficient improvement in behavior may result in a review of a student's re-enrollment in Duchesne or more immediate disciplinary action.
Expulsion
Most of Duchesne's students are positively oriented toward their life at school and are eager to receive all we have to offer. If, however, a student maintains a persistently non-receptive attitude even after patient counseling and follow-up procedures, and if that student's influence is deemed detrimental to the school community, she will be asked to withdraw from the school.
The school reserves the right to expel a student who has shown blatant disregard for school regulations or for poor academic performance.
Additional Information
Any behaviors deemed by the administration to be seriously inappropriate or dangerous will be handled individually by the Head of Middle School or Dean of Students. The behavior may result in an educational assignment, a work project, detention, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, temporary dismissal, or expulsion from the school. In the event of damage to the school or school property or to the property of others, the offending student will be required to make restitution. The Head of School is the final recourse in disciplinary situations and may implement or waive any disciplinary rule for just cause, at her discretion. The school administration reserves the right to examine students' lockers at any time.
