Disciplinary Procedures

LITURGICAL SERVICES AND FORMAL ASSEMBLY DRESS CODE

Girls are required to wear uniform shorts or pants to school on the days on which liturgical services or formal assemblies are scheduled. Skirts are not to be worn to school on those days.

LANCER DRESS CODE

Occasionally during the school year, there will be days when students are invited to dress out of uniform. These days are most often associated with special schedules or activities, such as rallies. All students have the privilege to participate provided they abide by the guidelines specified prior to the activity. Sometimes a particular theme or color scheme is required in order to participate. Generally speaking, these special “Lancer Dress” days are limited to wearing jeans and tennis shoes along with a uniform shirt, an official Amat shirt/jersey or specific color, depending on the selected theme. Jeans worn must be in good condition with no rips or tears. Jeans may not be too tight or too baggy and must sit at the waist. The only acceptable footwear is tennis shoes.

Students who violate the specified dress code are subject to disciplinary action, including simple suspension, sending the student home to change and/or denial of participation in future Lancer Dress Days.

DANCE DRESS CODE

Students are asked to keep Catholic ideals of modesty in mind as they make selections for dance attire. It is our hope that all involved (parents, Bishop Amat students, guests) will remember that the ideals of a Catholic society are distinctly different from those of secular society and are reflected in the dance dress code.

School Dances

The dress code for on-campus dances will be determined by the Vice Principal. It is expected that dress for all students and guests, if allowed, regardless of the dance theme, will be in accordance with school philosophy which takes into consideration modesty and safety. In general, students should follow the dress code listed under “Dress Code for Athletic Contests” when no special dress code has been established.

Generally speaking, the following outlines the dress code for semi-formal and formal school dances:

Girls: All girls must wear semi-formal or formal attire. Attire may not be tight. The length of attire must be at the knee and remain at the knee at all times. Dresses may not have see-through material in the area between the bust and the knee. Dresses that lack material anywhere in the front (e.g. material opens at the sides or has open indents toward the stomach) cannot be worn. Slits cannot be higher than the top of the knee. Necklines must be modest and not reveal cleavage. Necklines may not drop below the breastbone, whether or not cleavage shows. Backless dresses may not be worn. There must be at least two inches of material extending from the sides to the back. Backs must extend at least two inches up from the waist. Dresses need to be appropriate to the age of the student. Tennis shoes, flip flops, hiking shoes, and slippers are not acceptable.

Boys: All boys must wear a shirt and tie, a suit or a tuxedo, depending on the dance. Tennis shoes, deck shoes, hiking boots, and slippers are not acceptable. The only body rings that may be worn are traditional earrings. Boys must be clean-shaven. Hair cannot be dyed, spiked or display any other exaggerated style. Hanging chains, canes, and hats are not allowed.

Guests: The guest of a Bishop Amat student must comply with the school dress code requirements. The Bishop Amat student is responsible for communicating this to his/her date.

DRESS CODE FOR ATHLETIC CONTESTS

Bishop Amat students are expected to abide by school philosophy with regard to dress at all school functions, including public events, such as games, as spectators. Students should dress according to this casual dress code:

1. Jeans or any other non-uniform pants provided: a. They are in good condition; no rips or tears above the knee that show any skin b. They fit the student; no oversized pants or tight pants. c. They are worn at the waist.

2. Non-uniform shirts provided: a. They are not halter-tops. b. They are not low cut and do not expose a bare midriff. c. They are not exposing undergarments (No netted or sheer shirts which expose undergarments.) d. They have no writing or pictures that degrade individuals or groups of individuals, promote the use of alcohol or other illicit substances, or display sexually suggestive content. e. Shorts and skirts may be worn provided they are no shorter than 3 inches above the top of the knee.

DRUG POLICY

The illicit use of drugs and alcohol is one of the most destructive problems confronting American Society today. There is no doubt that many of our students will be faced with the question of whether or not to take drugs. It is our hope that the knowledge found at Bishop Amat and the values instilled in the students’ home will help students avoid drug use. However, students who become involved with drugs need to know that:

The possession, sale, use, distribution or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, as well as the possession, sale, use or distribution of drug paraphernalia on campus or at any school function are grounds for immediate dismissal.

On the other hand, we consider it our responsibility to help students who become involved with drugs through a program of counseling and guidance, including drug testing. Students who voluntarily come forward and seek help will not be forced to leave the school provided they agree to participate in a treatment program, developed in consultation with the student, the parents and school personnel. In order to ensure that our campus is drug-free, Bishop Amat uses the services of Interquest, a narcotics detection canine unit. Interquest will make random visits to our campus throughout the year. In order to ensure that our events are drug-free, we may use the services of Interquest.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

Classroom Discipline

Teachers in the classroom or supervisory personnel on campus are responsible for handling normal classroom disciplinary problems. Some of the alternatives available to the teachers are detention as discussed below, parent conferences, and counseling referrals.

The classroom teacher uses the conduct/citizenship comments on the report card to reflect the adequacy of behavior in the classroom. These conduct/citizenship comments on the student report card are also used to determine the behavioral eligibility of students in co-curricular programs and are as follows:

Comment G: The student’s classroom conduct/citizenship habits are GOOD. Comment C: The student sometimes needs CORRECTION. Comment N: Conduct/citizenship habits NEED IMPROVEMENT. Comment U: Conduct/citizenship habits are UNSATISFACTORY.

A classroom teacher will give the comment “N” if any of these statements apply. The student:

1. is frequently being reprimanded for talking or otherwise disrupting class.

2. is often out of the assigned seat without permission.

3. has been repeatedly corrected for throwing items in class.

4. uses foul or otherwise inappropriate language in class.

5. is generally disrespectful or challenging to the teacher. (Disrespect involving profanity or threatening statements is a dean matter liable to suspension or immediate dismissal and, therefore, out of the realm of this procedure.)

6. is disrespectful or inappropriate towards other students.

7. is disrespectful or inconsiderate of others during prayer service.

8. is often found to be chewing gum or eating in the classroom.

9. received a detention for three unexcused tardies and continues to be late to class without authorization.

A teacher who gives the comment “N” has given a teacher detention for the objectionable classroom behavior and has contacted the parents concerning the behavior. In spite of these steps, the student has not improved or the behavior has worsened. A teacher who gives the comment “U” has given a comment of “N” on the previous report card and has made the Dean of Discipline familiar with the behavioral situation by submitting multiple Reports of Misconduct to the dean concerning the behavior.

In addition, receiving more than one comment “N” and/or a comment “U” on the report card will effect a student’s eligibility to participate on any athletic team, performance group or activity group. These comments will also affect a student’s eligibility to run for a student government office or hold the office once elected, and a student’s eligibility to try out for Pep Squad, or participate on the Pep Squad if already a member.

To facilitate growth in needed areas, continuous violations of minor infractions in the classroom, or single instances of more serious infractions, may ultimately involve the student in the following process.

Misconduct Reports

In cases where a student has violated school rules outside of the classroom, where a teacher has given detention for tardies yet the student continues to arrive late to class, or where the teacher is no longer able to handle disruptive behavior by a student within the classroom, a “Report of Misconduct” is written and given to the Dean of Discipline. Reports are handled by the Deans according to the Steps of Increasing Severity.

Steps of Increasing Severity

Step 1: One-Hour Dean Detention (note sent home and signed by parent) Step 2: Two-Hour Dean Detention (note sent home and signed by parent) Step 3: Three-Hour Dean Detention (note sent home and signed by parent) Step 4: Disciplinary Referral Sent Home Four-Hour Dean Detention or Saturday at Dean’s discretion. (referral/detention sent home and signed by parent) Step 5: Disciplinary Probation (Contract signed by parent) Parent Conference - Suspension pending conference Saturday Detention Step 6: Suspension and Possible Referral to the Discipline Board Step 7: Referral to the Discipline Board

The Steps of Increasing Severity are followed in order ONLY for those violations not subject to probation or immediate dismissal on the first infraction. (See Disciplinary Actions)

There are a few exceptions to the detention schedule listed under the Steps of Increasing Severity. Specifically, students who are called to the Dean’s Office due to unexcused tardies will receive at least the hours listed under the step. They will receive more than the listed hours if their number of tardies calls for a higher number of detention hours, at the rate of one hour per teacher referral. In addition, students who commit any of the following violations will receive an automatic Saturday Detention on the first such violation:

1. Not checking in at the Attendance Office before going to class when arriving at school after 8:15 a.m. (or 15 minutes after the start of the first class block) 2. Violating student parking lot rules and expectations as stipulated in the student handbook and on the Parking Permit Application Form 3. Missing a dean’s detention for any reason without prior approval from the dean 4. Being in the Student Activity Center without authorization and/or not on official business 5. Not reporting to school in formal Mass attire on scheduled school

Mass days

Detentions

As part of the discipline process, students work for the school community through detention hours. There are five types of detentions:

1. Tardy Detentions

A description of tardy detention policies and procedures may be found in the Attendance section.

2 Teacher Detentions

A teacher may give detention for any violation that is liable to detention according to the Discipline actions set forth by the school. A 24-hour notice must be given. Detentions are given at a time convenient for the teacher. If the student fails to show for detention for other than a serious reason or if further infractions occur, the student is referred to the Dean.

3. One-Hour Dean Detentions One Hour Dean Detentions are held after school. Detentions begin 15 minutes after the last bell rings and end 50 minutes later. Parents will be notified in writing when their son or daughter is to report for a detention period. If a student does not appear for the assigned period, the number of periods is doubled. Failure to appear a second time will result in further action. 4. Two, Three and Four-Hour Dean Detentions

The number of hours a student must serve increases with each reported violation according to the Steps of Increasing Severity. These hours must be served at an after school Dean Detention session. The Dean may assign a student to work for a specific teacher. In that case, it is up to the student who is serving the detention to get verification of the hours served.

5. Saturday Detentions

Saturday detentions are held on Saturday mornings for three hours.

They are given according to the Steps of Increasing Severity as a