Discipline Policy

The purpose of this policy is to facilitate a positive school climate in which all students and staff members feel safe and secure and where all students are provided with an environmental conducive to learning.

The students’ teachers are responsible for monitoring student behavior, establishing specific rules and expectations and applying consequences when necessary.

If appropriate, the teacher should assign consequences in a fair manner that reflects both the severity and the frequency of the offending behaviors. Such consequences may include the following actions:

  1. Verbal warnings
  2. Conferencing with students
  3. Parent contact by teacher
  4. A specific action plan developed by teacher to address concerns of a continuing nature
  5. Creating a dialogue with the students to monitor social responsibility and sound judgment. This would include encouragement of leadership roles within the classroom to continue to develop a rapport between instructor and student

If it becomes necessary to refer a student to the school disciplinarian(s), the following procedures should take place:

  1. Teacher completes a “pink slip” describing the offending behavior and/or incident which occurred
  2. Teacher describes in full detail the action(s) he/she has taken to address the behavior and/or incident
  3. Teacher places the “pink slip” in the mailbox in the main office which will be labeled as “disciplinarian”
  4. Student should remain in class for the remainder of the period, unless the nature of the behavior could threaten the safety of others. In cases such as these, the school security and/or NTA should be contacted to remove the student from class.

Discipline concerns, which have been referred, will be handled at a convenient time which will not interfere with the disciplinarian’s instructional time.

If a student should be referred, the following actions may be taken by the disciplinarians:

  1. Counseling, and the offering of support to encourage positive behaviors
  2. Warnings by the disciplinarian that further disruptive/inappropriate behaviors will receive further basis and monitored by a faculty member
  3. The assignment of after-school detentions which will be conducted of student attendance at out-of-school field or incentive trips
  4. Withdrawal of student privileges, including the cancellation of student attendance at out-of-school field trips
  5. Parent conferences in which the teacher and school counselor will attend
  6. Suspension and other such consequences as outlined in the SDP Student Code of Conduct Booklet.

As reflected in the policy’ procedure objectives, we remain committed to establishing and encouraging positive student behaviors. With this criterion in mind, it is essential for each teacher to promote and develop a rapport with students and to relinquish responsibility to a school disciplinarian only as a needed.