Discipline Policy & Code Of Conduct

Discipline Policy & Code Of Conduct

Discipline is about teaching children appropriate behavior and helping them become independent and responsible people. The purpose of discipline is to encourage moral, physical, and intellectual development and a sense of responsibility in children. We believe that children have an innate moral compass that, when nurtured by positive example in an atmosphere of consistency and fairness, will guide them in making good, ethical choices. Ultimately, as children mature and develop, they will do the night thing, not because they fear external reprisal, but because they have internalized a standard of behavior modeled and reinforced by parents, teachers and other caretakers. In learning to rely on their own resources and to reflect on their attitudes and behaviors, children develop judgment, discernment, confidence and self-respect.

• Discipline is about giving children the tools to succeed in life.
• Discipline is based on building the night relationship with a child more than using the right techniques. It is for helping children develop inner controls that last a lifetime
• Discipline is about teaching, not about punishing According to Dr. Jane Nelson in her book Positive Discipline, "Discipline is a word that is often misused. Many people equate discipline with punishment-or at least believe that punishment is the way to help people achieve discipline. However, discipline comes from the Latin word discipulus or disciplini, which means a follower of truth, principle, or a venerated leader Children and students will not become followers of truth and principle unless their motivation comes from an internal locus of control, that is, until they learn self-discipline.”
• True freedom comes from true self-discipline. It leads to freedom from anxiety and fear, bringing about self-reliance in individuals.

DISCIPLINE CODE OF CONDUCT FOR STUDENTS

• We will reach school on time, so we are prepared for the day.
• We will reach class or assemblies on time, so that we can fully participate.
• We will submit all assignments on time, to develop the right work ethic.
• We will participate fully in all classes, events and trips.
• We will pay attention and cooperate with our teachers at all times.
• We will speak politely and respectfully with our teachers, peers and others.
• We will behave with integrity and accountability.
• We will eat during the break time in designated areas only and will throw garbage in bins.
• We will walk quietly in a queue in the corridor and on stairs in order.
• We will switch off all the lights and fans when not in use, in order to save energy.
• We will maintain cleanliness in the classroom and school as it is a sign of healthy living.
• We will always be ready to lend a helping hand and accept whatever work is assigned to us graciously.
• We will take good care of our I-cards and wear them each day to increase security and a sense of community.
• We will enter or leave the classroom only with the teacher’s permission.
• We will bring all necessary equipment to class, including books and stationery.
• We will be peacemakers, acting with self-control in all situations.
• We will take good care of school property so that others can use it too.
• We will speak truthful, kind words about others.
• We will only bring materials to school that will help us study, and leave cell phones, personal music devices, and electronic toys at home.
• We will follow the rules on school safety and child protection and treat each other and ourselves with respect and dignity.
• We will observe healthy habits on and off campus avoiding the consumption, possession or distribution of controlled or any other illegal substances, as these are harmful to our physical and mental health.
• We will treat each other with respect and care avoiding spoken or written words or actions which cause emotional or physical injury or which intimidate or humiliate.
• We understand that this code will be reinforced across the school and that violation of any part of it will lead to consequences and sanctions.

DISCIPLINE MATRIX

Rationale:

From time to time, even in the most progressive and nurturing of school environments and among generally sincere, well-behaved students, it becomes necessary to handle issues where students have violated established rules and policies. We have therefore created a matrix which outlines categories of behavior, lists examples of violations and specifies how these violations are likely to be handled, depending on the level of severity and/or the pattern of misbehavior that emerges for individual students.

It is helpful to think of violations in terms of their consequences, which generally include harm to self, harm to others and harm to property-including shared facilities but also intellectual property (ie internet violations, cheating, plagiarism). The outline below is meant to be illustrative and instructive rather than exhaustive and, from a philosophical perspective, should be consistent with the rationale and definitions which are included elsewhere in this manual-including our IT Acceptable Use pohcy, field trip policy, dress code and policy on academic honesty, among others.

Level One Offense:

Includes minor or first-time offenses, which are handled by the classroom teacher and recorded in the discipline management system. Consequences include reprimand/ apology/ detention, removal of privileges, fines/restitution, school service or loss of access (see IT policy).

Examples:

Harm to Self: including but not limited to

• distortions of the truth, copying homework or other violations of academic honesty
• inattentiveness or minor disruption in class
• tardiness
• dress code violations
• forgetting study materials or ID tag

Harm to Others: including but not limited to:

• disturbing others in the classroom or other shared spaces, including the bus
• minor physical encounters (shoving, play-fighting)
• "borrowing" without asking permission
• name-calling or other misuse of language (ie inappropriate words or expressions)
• disrespect or "cheekiness"

Harm to Property/Abuse of Access or Privilege: including but not limited to:

• minor or first-time AUP violations (unauthorized sites such as games, social networking)
• making or leaving a mess

Level Two Offenses

Includes violations of a more serious nature, or repeated Level One offenses, handled by the program leader, recorded in the discipline record and to parents in writing, with a follow-up conference counseling assigned as needed, possible in-school or out-of-school suspension or after-school detention, removal from teams or representative groups, temporary removal from transportation, placed on Behavior Probation.

Examples:

Harm to Self: including but not limited to

• cheating on a minor assignment or quiz, copying homework
• late assignments, lost or forgotten materials
• Skipping a class
• Refusal to accept assigned homework help or tutorials

Harm to Others: including but not limited in

• Fighting, especially on the bus but also in classrooms, corridors or on fields
• Disrupting class or study time
• Stealing or intimidating (eg “whacking” food or property of sports equipment with or without “permission” if it is judged that coercion was used)
• teasing or using harsh or insulting language

Harm to Property/Abuse of Access or Privilege:

• Vandalism, intentional damage to school property
• possession of a controlled substance (te, weapon, tobacco, pornography, etc.)
• more serious IT violations (eg misuse of software, copyright violation)

Level Three Offenses:

Includes more serious offenses or repeated Level Two offenses, handled by Principal and Operation: Manager, recorded in school discipline record system, conference with parents, principal and program leader, loss of marks or points, removal from teams or activities: possible request for withdrawal or expulsion, legal action if necessary, required outside counseling placed on Behavior Probation.

Examples:

Harm to Self: including but not limited to

• Substance abuse, including tobacco, alcohol or other controlled substances
• Use of inappropriate materials, including pornography or material which is inflammatory or Derogatory in nature, on or off the internet
• (absence from school without notification)
• Major cheating (eg. On a test or important assignment, plagiarizing or copying or purchasing information or a product that is represented as original work)

Harm to Others: including but not limited to:

• Bullying or harassment: physical, emotional, social, sexual, through direct contact or social media
• Serious fighting on school property, including school transportation
• Disrespect or insubordination

Harm to property/Abuse of access or privilege including but not limited to:

• Serious violations of AUT (keystroke or password capturing, identity theft, violation of copyright laws)
• Intentionally breaking, damaging or stealing school property
• Breaking bounds (1.c. absconding while on a school trip)

Amnesty Provision

As we deal with young adolescents, we fully recognize that they are tempted to experiment with substances and practices that are both appealing to them and potennally harmful to them and which they Jack the maturity or discretion either to avoid or to control. Examples include tobacco, alcohol or drugs as well as sexual intimacy or obsessive behaviors such as compulsive stealing.

In an effort to ensure that students get the help they need when dealing with behaviors of an addictive or particularly dangerous nature, without fear of punishment which would prolong disclosure to the extent that the risk of harm or addiction is actually increased, the school has created an "Amnesty Provision The provision allows students to seek that help by appealing directly to the counseling department before the behavior comes to the attention of teachers or school administrators as a matter requiring discipline.

Here is how the provision works:

• A student can tell an adult or a friend that s/he needs help dealing with an addiction or a compulsive behavior or habit
• The adult or friend of the student must report the concern directly to one of the school counselors
• The counselor then informs the Program Leader and Principal, who will sanction use of this provision as long as the behavior has not already been reported as a confirmed discipline matter
• The counselor meets with the student and makes it clear that the student must tell the truth and must Genuinely seek help to quit the harmful behavior
• The counselor must set up a meeting with the parent and the student to identify an intervention strategy for addressing the issue. The strategy should include any or all of the following:
  a. Enrollment in a registered, respected drug or alcohol addiction and rehabilitation program, with confirmation of enrollment and attendance by the organization running the program
  b. Ongoing counseling with the school counselor
  c. An affidavit, signed by the parents, which promises to support the objectives of the rehabilitation program and to seek further help (e family systems therapy) as identified in the intervention strategy
  d. A time frame within which significant progress must be demonstrated and confirmed by a representative of the rehabilitation program and/or outside counselor
  e. The counselor will inform the student and the parents, and obtain a signed acknowledgement, that if the student is caught violating a school policy at any time during or after the intervention strategy has been implemented, the provisions of the Discipline Matrix will be invoked and the Amnesty Provision will be revoked

BEHAVIOR PROBATION

As with Academic Probation, our system of Behavior Probation is designed to support students while holding them accountable for making good choices rather than continuing on a negative path that may create a pattern that is difficult to break, leading to serious consequences down the line.

• Students who commit a SECOND Level 2 violation, which is actually considered a Level 3 violation, will be placed on Behavioral Probation
• This means they are assigned to a counselor
• They are also required to meet periodically with the Academic coordinator, Class Teacher and Parents for monitoring
• Behavior Probation is extended only once
• If even after an extension the behavior still does not improve, the student may be asked to find another school.