Disciplinary Actions

2. Strict Disciplinary Probation

A student may be placed on Strict Disciplinary Probation as the result of a recommendation made to the Principal by the Discipline

Board. This occurs when there has been a serious violation of school regulations, but, according to specific circumstances, the violation is determined to be insufficient to warrant immediate dismissal.

Any violation of the specific terms of strict probation results in the student’s immediate withdrawal from the school. Strict probation will be followed by a probation period.

Discipline Board

The Discipline Board, composed of appointed faculty members, convenes when a student commits a serious violation of the Discipline Code or accumulates violations against the code, in spite of prior disciplinary actions administered according to the Steps of Increasing Severity. The purpose of the Board is to make recommendations to the Principal concerning a student’s status with the school. The Discipline Board may recommend terms of strict probation, withdrawal from the school, or expulsion from the school. Meetings of the Board are called, as needed, by the Vice Principal after consulting with the Dean of Discipline. At least one parent or guardian must be present with the student. The student may also request that his/her counselor or another teacher be present at the meeting. Legal counsel is not allowed to be present at the meeting of the school’s Discipline Board.

The results of a Discipline Board are reviewed with the school Principal and are communicated to the parent by the Vice Principal. Appeals to that decision are made through the Vice Principal to the school President whose decision is final. Any appeal should be made based on new information that was not previously considered by the Board..

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

Violations of the Bishop Amat Disciplinary Code will be handled according to these disciplinary actions. The circumstances involved, as well as the occurrence of multiple problems, will determine the final action taken with each student, and may warrant more serious action than stated below.

A student may be asked to withdraw or may be expelled for violations of school rules committed while on school grounds, while going to or from school, or during or while going to or from a school-sponsored activity. These are some of the violations in increasing severity:

1. Violations That Make a Student Liable for a Dean’s Detention

or Saturday Detention

a. Repeated offenses of gum chewing or eating in these restricted areas: library, chapel, computer labs, science labs, hallways, and in the classroom during class time b. Refusal to pay fines for chewing gum on campus or eating in a restricted area c. Entering cars or the parking area during the school day (Student is liable for Saturday Detention) d. Littering anywhere on campus e. Loitering in the hallways or any unauthorized area at any time when classes are in session (Student is liable for Saturday Detention) f. Opening another student’s locker without permission g. Writing on desks h. Excessive displays of affection on campus or at a school sponsored activity i. Repeated unexcused tardies j. Failure to follow attendance procedures (Student is liable for Saturday Detention.) k. Partial truancy l. Violation of dress code m. Cheating on homework or class work assignments, quizzes, or tests n. Possession of any material that will help a student cheat on any schoolwork or testing, including illicitly annotated textbooks, as determined by the classroom teacher o. Plagiarism on homework or other minor assignment p. Unacceptable behavior in class q. Throwing food or other objects on campus or in the classroom r. Reckless driving on school property (Student may also lose parking lot privileges.) s. Failure to serve a teacher detention or dean detention (Student is liable for Saturday Detention.) t. Violation of cell phone policy. Cell phone going off in class or using a cell phone in class, in the hallway, or in the restroom during the school day. Cell phone found to be turned on or not in the student’s purse, backpack or locker. This includes using or having smart watch, headphones/air pods, speakers or other electronic device. u. The use of a Chromebook, laptop, tablet or any electronic device for anything other than academic purposes under the direct guidance and supervision of a teacher in an academic area

2. Violations That Make a Student Liable for Disciplinary Probation:

a. Distribution or posting of unapproved materials on campus b. Gambling c. Habitual profanity or vulgarity in word or writing (obscene gestures included) d. Continued and willful disobedience e. Open and persistent defiance of the authority of a teacher f. Repeated instances of cheating on homework or classroom assignments, quizzes or tests g. Cheating on major examinations, mid-terms or semester examinations; copying or plagiarizing on major projects h. Fighting on campus, near campus, or at a school-sponsored function off campus. (All active participants in a fight situation will be suspended and placed on probation regardless of who caused the fight.) i. Forgery, or use of forged notes or passes - tampering with absentee lists is included j. Truancy k. Tampering with fire alarms or fire extinguishers l. Smoking, having tobacco on one’s person, using or being in possession of tobacco, vaping or juuling devices on campus. This includes, but is not limited to, smokeless tobacco. Smoking within two blocks of the school or at any school-sponsored activity is included. m. Disruption of school activities or other willful defiance of valid authority of supervisors, teachers, or administrators n. Behaving in a manner that contributes negatively to the school environment or perception of the school by the community. o. Posting any information (text, photo, video, recording, etc.) online using any electronic device that communicates negatively about any member of the school community or that contributes negatively to the school environment or the perception of the school by the community

3. Violations that Make a Student Liable for Immediate Dismissal from the School

a. Violation of a Disciplinary Probation Contract; disobedience and continued willful disregard for school policies b. Stealing, tampering with, or any unauthorized handling of teacher’s grade books, textbooks, answer keys, handbooks, keys, classroom or office computer(s), school forms, or other belongings c. Stealing or purchasing a copy of a quiz, project, test or examination or knowingly receiving such a copy from another student d. Use of an electronic device to illegally store and/or distribute answers to a quiz, test, or examination e. Threat of force or use of profanity by word or action to a teacher or staff member on or off campus. In addition, any parent or