Discipline
Source: "Student, Parents, and Teachers Handbook", v2021, "5. Maris Stella Students", page 14
All students do their part to help create and maintain a safe, happy and wholesome Catholic School environment by:
- Being present and punctual in all classes and in any school-related activities
- Being respectful of self, all others, and all school property
- Being neat, clean, and proud to display their school uniforms, wearing the proper school uniform at all times unless a specific exemption is announced:
- Male students: clean cut hair (one inch from the scalp and no styling nor carving) with ears exposed and not touching the collar of their Polo; a white Polo uniform shirt with the school emblem on the left chest; black or dark blue wash & wear pants or shorts
- Female students: a white button - down blouse under a green jumper with the school emblem on the left chest; only one (1) pair of studded earrings for girls is allowed
- ***Only plain white T-shirt is to be worn under the uniforms and not hanging below the uniform shirt/blouse.
- P.E. Uniforms: white and yellow jersey and matching shorts with the school emblem; students may also wear any CSW T-shirts and loose knee length short. Student come to school wearing their P.E. uniforms on designated P.E. day.
- Being prepared for school (enough sleep, breakfast, homework, books, etc.)
- Being the best learner possible with serious study and honest work
- Maintaining care of the campus and all school materials
- Being a doer of Christian service for others
For Respect, these things are NOT allowed at Maris Stella School:
- Bullying (physically or verbally), fighting, stealing, immodest language
- Body art (including tattoos), body piercing, hair dye, make up, and nail polish
- Wearing items that are not part of the school uniform
- Wearing of earrings for boys
- Birthday parties or graduation gifts for individuals in the school
- Arriving late for school
- Making disruptive noises
- Electronic devices except those provided by the school
- Littering, defacing property, vandalism
For Health and Well-being, these things are NOT allowed at Maris Stella School:
- Alcohol or illegal substances, tobacco, betel nut, chewing gum
- Dangerous weapons
- Gambling
- Unhealthy snacks and drinks other than water
Consequential discipline for disturbing our desired Maris Stella School environment:
- Lack of proper uniform: 3 warnings; after 3rd warning, disciplinary action or suspension
- Damage to school property: parents/guardians will be charged for repair of damages or replacement of lost or damaged school property. Repeated destruction or defacing of property could result in suspension or dismissal.
- Electronic devices being used during school hours will be confiscated; students will pay $5.00 to have it returned. Repeated confiscations will result in Parent/Guardian being contacted.
- Student use of alcohol or illegal substances, tobacco, or betel nut will be reported to the office and can result in dismissal after warnings and family consultations.
- Cheating and stealing are not tolerated but understanding why it happened is important.
Return of stolen property is essential. First offense warnings are issued; family consultations happen for cooperative behavioral change; dismissal could result for repeated offenses.
*** Teachers will post and review particular classroom rules and guiding principles for each class.
SPECIAL STUDENT POLICIES:
- As a member of the Catholic Mission Schools’ community, each Catholic Mission Schools’ student has the responsibility to promote the general welfare of all members of the school community. Part of this responsibility is the obligation to inform school authorities about persons or incidents that may threaten the safety and welfare of other students or the school, or cause injury to any member of the school community.
- Students are encouraged to be responsible members of the school community by stopping others from fighting. Any student who encourages or cheers others to fight will be subject to disciplinary action.
- In order to create a community of respect, neither students nor faculty and staff will use profane language.
- Catholic Mission Schools reserve the right to protect the health and safety of students by conducting searches of any of its facilities, classrooms, students’ bags, desks, lockers, and other personal belongings, or searching vehicles upon entry to and exit of campus if, in the judgment of school authorities, it is necessary to prevent a serious offense under investigation. Searches may be conducted by school authorities in the presence of at least one other member of the administration, or someone designated by the administration.
Unacceptable Offenses
Violations of the Schools’ Mission Statement, are not Christian behavior, and are in violation of National and State laws. The consequence for a violation of an unacceptable offense is immediate expulsion from Catholic Mission Schools.
- Use or possession of illegal drugs (at any time – on or off campus)
- Stealing: (Stealing is here defined as taking something that doesn’t belong to you without permission of the owner.)
- Possession and use of a deadly weapon
Serious Offenses
Violations of the Schools’ Mission statement, and are not Christian behavior.
- Use or possession of alcohol or other controlled substances
- Breaking into and entering locked areas
- Intentional disrespect to teachers or other school staff
- Fighting that results in physical injury
- Repeating any violation in the “Moderate Offense” category
- Any act or omission analogous to any of the above
Moderate Offenses
- Use or possession of tobacco and or betel nut – 1st offense
- Cheating on academic work – 1st offense
- Lying with intent to deceive
- Damage or destruction of other’s property
- Possession of pornography
- Off-campus without permission
- Leaving the classroom without permission
- Skipping classes or other mandatory school functions
- Repeating any violation in the “Nuisance” category
- Any act or omission analogous to any of the above
Nuisances
- Failure to complete to complete work or duties
- Disrupting classes, study or the Library, cafeteria, science lab, or gymnasium
- hours – without specific permission from a teacher or administrator
- Failure to return checked-out sports, music equipment, or library books
- Using or writing offensive languages or gestures
- Violation of the dress code
- Chewing gum, eating or drinking in the Library, Computer Lab, Chapel or Science Lab
- Late for class, assembly or other school functions – 1st offense
- Entering restricted areas without permission
- Absent in class or other school’s functions without valid excuse
- Any act or omission analogous to any of the above
***Repeated violations of nuisances become a moderate offense.
PUBLIC SCANDAL
One of the primary aims of Catholic Mission Schools is the holistic education of the whole person; to challenge the student to develop leadership qualities in the areas of Responsibility, Concern for Others, Integrity, and Respect. The students are urged to take great care in their search for acquisition of values and principles that will characterize them as Christians. They must consider themselves as students of Catholic Mission Schools at all times and give witness to it with their behavior both on and off campus. Any behavior contrary to these brings dishonor to themselves, their families and their school, making them unworthy of the name “Student of Catholic Mission Schools”.
Examples of “Public Scandal” include (but are not limited to):
- pregnancy, fathering a child
- students living together in a de facto relationship abortion
- alcohol or drug use
- supplying drugs or alcohol to others
- Public Display of Affection (PDA) in any forms
Possible Consequences
- Consequences for Unacceptable Offenses will result in immediate expulsion from Catholic Mission Schools, as stated above.
- Consequences for Serious or Moderate Offenses will be determined by school administrators.
- Consequences for Nuisances may be specified by other members of the school supervisory staff, including teachers and the Principal.
The School administration reserves the right to assign consequences not listed here that are proportionate to the violations committed.
Detention Work
Students may be assigned to perform indoor or outdoor work on campus. The amount of work will be proportionate to the severity of the violations committed. When possible, the work will be related to the violation committed.
Parental Notification
The Principal notifies parents or guardians in writing of offense that, if repeated, could result in their child’s dismissal from Catholic Mission Schools.
Reflection Paper
Students may be assigned to write a paper related to the offense they have committed.
Loss of Academic Credit
Cheating, including plagiarizing is a violation of “Catholic Mission Honor”. Students who cheat copying work from another student or plagiarizing information from a printed source do not earn credit for the assignment or test that was not completely their own work. Students who assist others in cheating also lose all credit for that assignment or test. In addition, the Profile Grades of the students involved in these activities will reflect the seriousness of the offense. A student who has a second offense in this area is subject to academic and disciplinary probation.
Suspension
Students who commit serious offenses may be suspended from classes. Suspension can last from one to five days. The purpose of suspension is to give the student time to think over his/her situation, and make a plan to improve so that he/she might be able to continue at the school. Students receiving suspensions are usually placed on Disciplinary Probation. Suspensions may include physical labor and opportunities for guided reflection with a school administrator.
Disciplinary Probation
Students involved in serious disciplinary matters may be allowed to remain at the school on Disciplinary Probation. Students on Disciplinary Probation who participate in a second serious disciplinary incident are subject to dismissal from the school.
In cases where students are put on Disciplinary Probation, the Principal will write a letter to the parents or guardians, explaining the nature of the offense, and its ramifications. At the discretion of the administration, students involved in a serious disciplinary violation may be asked to sign a contract that will make clear the conditions for successfully making amends for the violation.
Dismissal
Dismissal may result if it has been repeatedly involved in serious disciplinary incidents. In rare instances, a disciplinary case is so egregious that dismissal from school is the immediate consequence. Decisions for dismissals are made by the Principal, after consulting with the Director of Catholic Mission Schools. But ultimate responsibility in matters regarding dismissal rests with the Director. Dismissal for disciplinary reasons include, but are not limited to, the following:
- acts of violence resulting in serious injury to another person
- gross disrespect to school staff
- public acts that damage the reputation of Catholic Mission Schools
- use or possessions of alcohol or other controlled substances – 2nd offense
- use or possession of betel nut or tobacco – 3rd offense
- cheating – 3rd offense
- stealing- 3rd offense
- any act or omission analogous to the above
Final Authority
As mentioned above, the Director has final authority in all disciplinary matters. The Director reserves the right to take what is deemed to be the appropriate action in any and all cases. Although the Director will seek the advice of others as needed, the decision of the Director is final.