CHAPTER V. RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR SCHOOL COEXISTENCE AND DISCIPLINE

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR MANAGING SITUATIONS THAT AFFECT SCHOOL COEXISTENCE, HUMAN RIGHTS, SEXUALITY, AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Article 65. Premises and Basic Aspects of School Coexistence: In its positive conceptualization, coexistence is the ability of human beings to live in harmony with others, where mutual respect, tolerance, solidarity, and otherness are evident. From an educational perspective, discipline is understood as an essential element in the continuous formation process that leads to the conscious self -control of an individual's will, body, and character. At Colegio Bolívar, discipline accompanies the fulfillment of its mission on a daily basis to stimulate the development of a strong sense of responsibility in its students and facilitate their personal, academic, and social growth. The disciplinary policy of the institution is based on clear values such as respect for human dignity, honesty, and reciprocal collaboration. Colegio Bolívar assumes as an inherent premise of its work the unavoidable responsibility of providing an environment that fosters healthy coexistence and, as a necessary complement, a set of rules that allow for the realization of its educational mission. At the same time, it understands that the family is the first and direct educator in the formation of the personality and character of the children, adolescents, and young people who are enrolled in its classrooms.

Article 66. Definitions: For the purposes of this chapter, the following concepts are defined: a) Physical Aggression: It refers to any action aimed at causing or causing harm to the body or health of another person. It includes punches, kicks, shoves, slaps, bites, scratches, pinches, hair-pulling, among others. b) Verbal Aggression: It refers to any action that degrades, humiliates, intimidates, or disqualifies others through words. It includes insults, offensive nicknames, mockery, and threats. c) Gestural Aggression: It refers to any action that seeks to degrade, humiliate, intimidate, or disqualify others through gestures. d) Relational Aggression: It refers to any action that seeks to or negatively affects the relationships others have. It includes excluding individuals from groups, deliberately isolating them, and spreading rumors or secrets with the intention of negatively affecting the person's status or image in the eyes of others. e) Electronic Aggression: It refers to any action that seeks to or negatively affects others through electronic means. It includes the dissemination of intimate or humiliating photos or videos on the Internet, making insulting or offensive comments about others through social networks, and sending insulting or offensive emails or text messages, either anonymously or when the identity of the sender is revealed.

1. Citizenship Competencies: It is the set of knowledge and cognitive, emotional, and communicative skills t hat, when articulated, enable citizens to act constructively in a democratic society.

2. Conflicts: They are situations characterized by a real or perceived incompatibility between one or several individuals in relation to their interests.

3. Inadequately Managed Conflicts: These are situations in which conflicts are not resolved constructively and give rise to events that affect school coexistence, such as altercations, confrontations, or fights between two or more members of the educational community, of which at least one is a student, as long as there is no physical harm or harm to the health of any of the individuals involved.

4. School Aggression: It refers to any action carried out by one or more members of the educational community that seeks to or negatively affects other members of the educational community, of which at least one is a student. School aggression can be physical, verbal, gestural, relational, or electronic.

5. School Harassment (Bullying): According to Article 2 of Law 1620 of 2013, it refers to any negative, intentional, methodical, and systematic behavior of aggression, intimidation, humiliation, ridicule, defamation, coercion, deliberate isolation, threat, or incitement to violence or any form of psychological, verbal, physical, or electronic mistreatment against a child or adolescent by one or more of their peers with whom they maintain an asymmetrical power relationship, which occurs repeatedly or over a specified period of time. It can also occur by teachers against students or by students against teachers, with the indifference or complicity of their environment. School bullying has consequences on the health, emotional well-being, and academic performance of students, as well as on the learning environment and school climate of the school.

6. School Cyberbullying: According to Article 2 of Law 1620 of 2013, it refers to any form of intimidation that uses information technologies (Internet, virtual social networks, mobile phones, and online video games) to exert continued psychological mistreatment.

7. Sexual Violence: According to Article 2 of Law 1146 of 2007, it refers to any sexual act or behavior carried out against a child or adolescent using force or any form of physical, psychological, or emotional coercion, taking advantage of the conditions of helplessness, inequality, and power relations existing between the victim and the aggressor.

8. Violation of the Rights of Children and Adolescents: It refers to any situation of harm, injury, or prejudice that prevents the full exercise of the rights of children and adolescents.

9. Restoration of the Rights of Children and Adolescents: It refers to the set of administrative and other actions carried out to restore their dignity and integrity as rights holders and their ability to effectively enjoy the rights that have been violated.

Article 67. School Coexistence Committee and Incorporation of Definitions, Principles, and Responsibilities into the Code of Conduct: This Code of Conduct will include the definitions, principles, and responsibilities established by Law 1620 of 2013 for all members of the educational community. These will serve as a basis for the development of promotion, prevention, assistance, and follow-up components of the Comprehensive Care Route for School Coexistence within the Code of Conduct. Colegio Bolivar has a School Coexistence Committee led by the School Director with the support of the Coordinator of School Coexistence.

Article 68. Responsibilities of Educational Institutions in the National System of School Coexistence and Training for Human Rights, Sexuality Education, and Prevention and Mitigation of School Violence: In addition to the responsibilities established by current regulations that are specific to them, the School shall have the following responsibilities:

1. Guarantee respect for the dignity and physical and moral integrity of its students, educators, administrators, teachers, and other staff members in the context of school coexistence, human rights, sexuality, and reproductive rights.

2. Implement the school coexistence committee and ensure compliance with its functions in accordance with the provisions of Articles 11, 12, and 13 of Law 1620 of 2013.

3. Develop the prevention, promotion, and protection components through the Code of Conduct and the implementation of the Comprehensive Care Route for School Coexistence, in order to protect students against all forms of harassment, school violence, and violation of human rights, sexuality, and reproductive rights by their peers, teachers, or administrators.

4. Undertake actions that involve the entire educational community in a pedagogical reflection process on the factors associated with violence, school harassment, and violation of sexual and reproductive rights, as well as the impact of these factors. This should include relevant know ledge about self -care and relationships with others, promoting tolerance and mutual respect.

5. Develop strategies and tools to promote school coexistence based on evaluations and monitoring of the most common forms of harassment and school violence.

6. Adopt strategies to encourage attitudes among members of the educational community that promote and strengthen school coexistence, mediation and reconciliation, and the dissemination of these values.

7. Generate pedagogical strategies to integrate educational processes across different areas of study.

8. The School Director will lead the school coexistence committee in accordance with the provisions of Articles 11, 12, and 13 of Law 1620 of 2013. They are obliged to report cases of harassment, school violence, and violation of sexual and reproductive rights of children and adolescents in the educational institution, in accordance with current regulations and protocols defined in the Comprehensive Care Route. They are also responsible for following up on these cases.

9. Teachers must identify, report, and monitor cases of school harassment, school violence, and violation of sexual and reproductive rights that affect students in the educational institution, in accordance with Articles 11 and 12 of Law 1146 of 2007 and other applicable regulations, the Code of Conduct, and the protocols defined in the Comprehensive Care Route for School Coexistence. If the bullying situation is carried out through electronic means, it should also be reported to the coexistence committee to activate the respective protocol.

Article 69. Pedagogical Projects: The projects referred to in item 1 of Article 15 of Law 1620 of 2013 must be developed at all levels of the educational institution. They should be formulated and managed by teachers from all areas and grades, collectively constructed with other members of the educational community, and address specific contextual situations that are part of the institutional educational project or community educational project.

Pedagogical projects on sexuality education, which aim to develop competencies in students to make informed, autonomous, responsible, enjoyable, healthy decisions, and to learn to handle situations involving propositions that affect their physical or moral integrity, should be developed gradually according to age, starting from each of the mandatory areas indicated in Law 115 of 1994. These projects should address topics related to the body and human development, human reproduction, sexual and reproductive health, contraception methods, as well as reflections on attitudes, interests, and skills related to emotions, the cultural construction of sexuality, gender cultural behaviors, sexual diversity, sexuality, and healthy lifestyles. These topics are fundamental for the construction of the student's life project.

Education for the exercise of human rights in schools implies the experience and practice of human rights in everyday school life. Its objective is to transform learning environments, where conflicts are seen as pedagogical opportunities that allow for their resolution through dialogue, negotiation, and recognition of differences. This enables children and adolescents to develop competencies to act as active rights holders in the school, family, and community contexts. Therefore, the pedagogical project will emphasize human dignity, human rights, and the acceptance and appreciation of diversity and differences.

In the curriculum, the educational institution must explicitly state the time and conditions devoted to these projects, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 76 to 79 of Law 115 of 1994 regarding the curriculum and study plans.

Article 70. Family Participation: The family, as part of the educational community within the framework of the National System of School Coexistence and Training for Human Rights, Sexuality Education, and Prevention and Mitigation of School Violence, in addition to its obligations in accordance with the provisions established in Article 67 of the Political Constitution, Law 115 of 1994, Law 1098 of 2006, Law 1453 of 2011, and other current regulations, must:

1. Provide their children with spaces and environments at home that generate trust, affection, care, and protection for themselves and their physical, social, and environmental surroundings.

2. Participate in the formulation, planning, and development of strategies that promote school coexistence, human rights, sexuality, and reproductive rights, participation and democracy, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

3. Permanently and actively accompany their children in the pedagogical process carried out by the educational institution regarding coexistence and sexuality.

4. Assume responsibilities in activities for the use of their children's free time to develop citizenship skills.

5. Comply with the conditions and obligations established in the coexistence manual and take responsibility when their child fails to comply with any of the defined rules.

6. Know and follow the Comprehensive Care Route when a case of school violence, violation of sexual and reproductive rights, or a situation that merits it occurs, in accordance with the instructions provided in the coexistence manual of the respective educational institution.

7. Use the existing legal mechanisms and those established in the Comprehensive Care Route referred to in this law to restore their children's rights when they are violated.

Article 71. Actions of the Promotion Component: Institutional policies that focus on promoting coexistence and improving the school climate, in order to create an environment for the real and effective exercise of human rights, sexuality, and reproductive rights as established in Law 1620 of 2013, are considered promotion actions. In accordance with the promotion component, the School Coexistence Committee must undertake the following actions:

1. Propose institutional policies that promote individual and collective well-being, which can be developed within the framework of the Institutional Educational Project (PEI), in accordance with the provisions of Article 73 of Law 115 of 1994.

2. Lead the development of training initiatives for the educational community on topics such as human rights, sexuality, reproductive rights, citizenship skills, child and adolescent development, coexistence, mediation, and conciliation, in order to strengthen the National School Coexistence System.

3. Strengthen the implementation and evaluation of pedagogical projects for sexuality education and citizenship development from preschool onwards, which correspond to the socio-cultural particularities of the context in which the educational institution is located. These projects must guarantee the right of girls, boys, and adolescents to receive information based on scientific evidence, so that they progressively develop the skills that facilitate autonomous decision-making regarding the exercise of sexuality and the pursuit of life projects.

4. Coordinate the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of projects for the development of citizenship skills aimed at strengthening a positive school and classroom climate, addressing topics such as clarifying rules, defining decision-making strategies, reaching agreements, negotiating interests and objectives, and exercising communicative, emotional, and cognitive skills in favor of school coexistence, among others.

5. Generate mechanisms and tools for the development of citizenship skills and education for the exercise of human rights, sexuality, and reproductive rights to be carried out transversally in all mandatory and fundamental areas of knowledge and training established in the institutional educational project.

Article 72. Actions of the Prevention Component: Prevention actions are those that seek to intervene timely in behaviors that could affect the effective exercise of human rights, sexuality, and reproductive rights in order to prevent them from becoming patterns of interaction that disrupt the coexistence of members of the educational community:

1. Identify the risks of occurrence of the most common situations that affect school coexistence and the exercise of human rights, sexuality, and reproductive rights, based on the particularities of the school climate and the analysis of external family, social, political, economic, and cultural characteristics that influence interpersonal relationships within the educational community, in accordance with the provisions of numeral 5 of Article 17 of Law 1620 of 2013.

2. Strengthen actions that contribute to mitigating situations that affect school coexistence and the exercise of human rights, sexuality, and reproductive rights, identified based on the aforementioned particularities.

3. Design protocols for the timely and comprehensive attention to the most common situations that affect school coexistence and the exercise of human rights, sexuality, and reproductive rights.

Article 73. Actions of the Attention Component: Attention actions are those that assist members of the educational community in situations that affect school coexistence and the exercise of human rights, sexuality, and reproductive rights, through the implementation and application of internal protocols in educational institutions and the activation, when necessary, of the attention protocols implemented by the other actors that make up the National School Coexistence System within their competence.

Article 74. Classification of Situations: Situations that affect school coexistence and the exercise of human rights, sexuality, and reproductive rights are classified into three types, which include at least the following procedures:

1. Type I Situations: This type includes inadequately handled conflicts and sporadic situations that negatively affect the school climate but do not cause harm to the body or health. Examples of these situations include:

• Disrespectful gestures or acts with sexual connotation.

• Situations where individuals are excluded or targeted based on gender or sexual orientation.

• Verbal aggression that makes others feel bad through insults, offensive nicknames, mockery, threats of aggression, and morbid expressions.

• Physical aggression and interactions that harass or invade another person's intimate space, which may or may not have a sexual nature.

• Pulling or disarranging clothing.

• Relational aggression that negatively affects one's status or image in relation to others.

2. Type II Situations: This type includes cases of school aggression, school bullying, and cyberbullying that do not constitute a crime and meet any of the following characteristics: a) They occur repeatedly or systematically. b) They cause harm to the body or health without generating any incapacity for any of the individuals involved.

Examples of these situations include:

• Repeated threats, physical, verbal, and emotional abuse.

• Repeated aggressive actions with a sexual nature, such as cyberbullying and sexual aggression due to homophobia and transphobia.

• Repeated use of homophobic or sexist nicknames and comments.

• Repeated unsolicited sexual compliments and touching.

• Sexually offensive messages written in public spaces such as bathrooms, walls, boards, and desks, as they can be considered school bullying.

3. Type III Situations: This type includes cases of school aggression that constitute alleged crimes against freedom, integrity, and sexual development, as referred to in Title IV of Book II of Law 599 of 2000 (Penal Code), or when they constitute any other offense established in the current Colombian criminal law.

Examples of these situations include:

• Cases where there are indications that a child or adolescent has been a victim of rape, whether by an adult or a minor.

• Children or adolescents who are sexually abused by a family member.

• Situations where a child or adolescent has been subjected to caresses or touching, and the aggressor has used physical force, deception, or intimidation.

• Cases where the victim has been sexually abused after ingesting any substance that has rendered them unable to resist or oppose sexual activity.

• Sexual activity with a child or adolescent with cognitive disabilities, where the aggressor takes advantage of their limitations to obtain consent or understanding of the nature of such an act.

• Any sexual activity involving an adult and a minor under 14years of age.

• A child or adolescent who, coerced by a third party, allows their classmates to touch parts of their body in exchange for money.

• A child or adolescent who is offered for sexual purposes to an adult in exchange for money.

• A child or adolescent who is harassed or stalked for sexual purposes by an adult.

• A child or adolescent who has been contacted by adults through social networks to engage in sexual activities.

• A child or adolescent who provides sexual services through a human trafficking network.

Article 75. Protocols of Educational Institutions - Purpose, Content, and Application: The protocols of educational institutions are aimed at establishing the necessary procedures to provide timely assistance to the educational community in situations that affect school coexistence and the exercise of human rights, sexuality, and reproductive rights.

These protocols must define, at a minimum, the following aspects:

1. The manner of initiation, reception, and filing of complaints or information regarding situations that affect school coexistence and the exercise of human rights, sexuality, and reproductive rights.

2. Mechanisms to guarantee the right to privacy and confidentiality of physical or electronic documents, as well as information provided by individuals involved in the proceedings and all information generated within them, in accordance with the Political Constitution, international treaties, Law 1098 of 2006, Statutory Law No. 1581 of 2012, Decree No. 1377 of 2013, and other applicable regulations.

3. Mechanisms to protect those who report situations that affect school coexistence and the exercise of human rights, sexuality, and reproductive rights from possible retaliation.

4. Strategies and alternative solutions, including pedagogical mechanisms, to consider these situations as opportunities for learning and the practice of citizenship skills within the educational community.

5. Applicable consequences that are proportional to the situation and the measures taken, and are in line with the Constitution, international treaties, laws, and coexistence manuals.

6. Ways to monitor cases and measures taken to verify the effectiveness of the solution. The protocols of Colegio Bolívar for the situations established in the School Coexistence Law are developed in the following articles of this Manual.

Article 76. Protocol for the Attention of Type I Situations: In accordance with the law, to address type I situations as referred to in numeral 1 of Article 40 of Decree 1965 of 2013, the following minimum procedure must be followed:

1. Immediately convene the parties involved in the conflict and mediate in a pedagogical manner for them to express their points of view and seek the repair of damages caused, the restoration of rights, and reconciliation within a climate of constructive relationships in the educational institution.

2. Determine an impartial, equitable, and fair resolution method aimed at seeking the repair of damages caused, the restoration of rights, and reconciliation within a climate of constructive relationships within the involved group or the educational institution. This action shall be documented.

3. Follow up on the case and commitments to verify the effectiveness of the solution or determine whether it is necessary to resort to the protocols established in Articles 43 and 44 of Decree 1965 of 2013.

Article 77. Protocol for the Attention of Type II Situations: In accordance with the law, to address type II situations as referred to in numeral 2 of Article 40 of Decree 1965 of 2013, the following minimum procedure must be followed:

1. In cases of harm to the body or health, ensure immediate physical and mental health care for those involved by referring them to the competent entities. This action shall be documented.

2. When measures are required to restore rights, refer the situation to the administrative authorities in accordance with Law 1098 of 2006. This action shall be documented.

3. Take measures to protect those involved in the situation from possible actions against them. This action shall be documented.

4. Immediately inform the parents, guardians, or caregivers of all students involved. This action shall be documented.

5. Create spaces for the parties involved and the parents, guardians, or caregivers of the students to express and clarify what happened while preserving the right to privacy, confidentiality, and other rights.

6. Determine restorative actions aimed at repairing damages caused, restoring rights, and promoting reconciliation within a climate of constructive relationships in the educational institution. Also, determine the applicable consequences for those who have promoted, contributed to, or participated in the reported situation.

7. The Coordinator of the School Coexistence Committee shall inform the other committee members about the situation and the measures taken. The committee will analyze and monitor the case to verify the effectiveness of the solution or determine whether it is necessary to resort to the protocol established in Article 44 of Decree 1965 of 2013.

8. The School Coexistence Committee shall document all occurrences and decisions in minutes, which shall be signed by all members and participants.

9. The Coordinator of the School Coexistence Committee shall report the case information to the application implemented in the Unified School Coexistence Information System.

Article 78. Protocol for the Attention of Type III Situations: In accordance with the law, type III situat ions as referred to in numeral 3 of Article 40 of Decree 1965 of 2013 must observe the following minimum procedure:

1. In cases of bodily harm or injury, guarantee immediate physical and mental health care for those involved, by referring them to the competent entities, which will be duly documented.

2. Immediately inform the parents or guardians of all the students involved, which will be duly documented.

3. The Coordinator of the School Coexistence Committee shall promptly and expeditiously notify the National Police of the situation, which will be duly documented.

4. Notwithstanding the previous provision, the members of the School Coexistence Committee shall be summoned in accordance with the terms set forth in the code of conduct, which will be duly documented.

5. The Coordinator of the School Coexistence Committee shall inform the participants in the committee of the facts that led to the meeting, while preserving the confidentiality of any information that could compromise the right to privacy and confidentiality of the parties involved, as well as the report made to the competent authority.

6. Even if a situation has been reported to the competent authorities, the School Coexistence Committee shall immediately take appropriate measures within the scope of its competencies to protect the victim, the alleged aggressor, and the individuals who have reported or are part of the situation, which will be duly documented.

7. The Coordinator of the School Coexistence Committee shall report the case information to the application implemented in the Unified School Coexistence Information System.

8. The cases subject to this protocol shall be monitored by the School Coexistence Committee, the competent authority, and the Municipal, District, or Departmental Coexistence Committee that has jurisdiction over the educational institution where the incident occurred.

Article 79. School Coexistence and Code of Conduct: Within the framework of the National School Coexistence and Education for Human Rights, Sexuality Education, and Prevention and Mitigation of School Violence System, and in addition to what is established in Article 87 of Law 115 of 1994, the codes of conduct must identify new ways and alternatives to encourage and strengthen school coexistence and the exercise of students' human rights, sexual and reproductive rights, which allow for learning from mistakes, respecting diversity, and resolving conflicts peacefully, as well as possible situations and behaviors that threaten the exercise of their rights.

The code of conduct grants the educator the role of guide and mediator in situations that threaten school coexistence and the exercise of human rights, sexual and reproductive rights. Students are granted an active role in participating in the definition of actions to handle these situations within the framework of the comprehensive care pathway.

Disciplinary Process

Guiding Principles, Disciplinary Offenses, Classification, Procedures, Corrective Actions, and Sanctions

The guiding principles serve as the basis for the development of any disciplinary procedure or action. They establish the framework within which one must act at all times, and the evaluation of the procedures will be determined by compliance with these guiding principles.

EQUALITY: All individuals are equal before the law, regardless of race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, origin, nationality or family background, language, religion, political or philosophical opinion.

DUE PROCESS: Once the commission of a disciplinary offense is reported, in pursuit of justice, in accordance with the provisions of this handbook, the competent authority must initiate the corresponding investigation, guaranteeing due process, the right to defense, and the right to challenge the evidence, in compliance with the procedures established in the Colombian Political Constitution, this handbook, and the law.

LEGALITY: Aware of the primacy of the law over the will of individuals, once there is knowledge of a possible disciplinary offense, the competent authority, in its initial analysis, based on sound logic, objectivity, impartiality, etc., before initiating the corresponding investigation, must analyze whether the reported behavior falls within any offense described in this manual, the guidelines established by the school coexistence committee, or conduct classified as a crime under the law.

PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE: The Colombian Political Constitution, as the norm of norms, establishes the fundamental right of defense, which means that any person subject to a disciplinary investigation is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

RES JUDICATA: No student can be investigated or sanctioned twice for the same act. The act can be by commission or omission. It is an act when something prohibited is done. It is an omission when something that should have been done is not done. The act is defined by the circumstances of place, time, and manner.

FAVORABILITY: When two or more norms regulate a circumstance, the most favorable one for the student will be preferred.

FUNCTION OF DISCIPLINARY SANCTION: The sanction aims to provide integral reparation for the harm caused, establish prevention and correction policies to prevent the offense from recurring.

PRINCIPLE OF PUBLICITY: The student shall be informed orally and/or in writing, physically or electronically, of all actions taken during the investigation.

PRINCIPLE OF CONFIDENTIALITY: Only the student, parents or guardians, and those conducting the investigation should be aware of the investigation's details.

SCOPE OF APPLICATION: It applies to students who violate the rules within the educational institution as well as those who commit offenses outside, causing harm to the institution, its reputation, property, or in spaces or places where members of the educational community represent the institution due to their activities.

PROPORTIONALITY: Disciplinary sanctions or educational measures must correspond to the degree of evaluation of the offense committed, whether it is minor or Type I, serious or Type II, or very serious or Type III.

Article 80. Dress Code - Personal Presentation: Students must maintain good personal hygiene when attending Colegio Bolívar. Daily uniforms are not mandatory at Colegio Bolívar, except for physical education uniforms, in order to guarantee students' right to free personal development. At the same time, rules regarding attire are established to contribute to the educational process for all students, from El Nido to Twelfth Grade.

A. Clothing.

• All garments must be in good condition (without tears or rips) and should not depict pornography, obscene words, discriminatory messages, political propaganda, illegal products, or be offensive from the perspective of Colegio Bolívar Values.

• During physical education class, uniform is mandatory. The use of accessories that pose a risk to the students' safety is not allowed.

• The continuous use of footwear that guarantees student safety is mandatory. The use of flip-flops, backless sandals, heels, or platforms is not permitted.

• Students' attire must comply with the following specifications: o Shorts, skirts, and dresses must reach at least mid-thigh. o Undergarments should not be visible. o Students cannot participate in school activities with bare torsos. o For swimming activities, the use of swim shirts is recommended.

• The use of sunglasses is not allowed during class unless there is a medical condition.

• Visible tattoos cannot depict pornography, obscene words, discriminatory messages, political propaganda, illegal products, or be offensive from the perspective of Colegio Bolívar Values.

• The use of facial hair (beard or mustache) is allowed as long as the student keeps it properly groomed.

Article 81. Right to Petition: Every person has the right to present respectful petitions to the authorities, for reasons of general or particular interest, and to obtain a prompt solution (Colombian Political Constitution, Article 23). The educational institution has 15 business days from the receipt of the petition to provide a response.

Article 82. Special Offenses that Affect both Discipline and School Coexistence: Acts of bullying or school aggression may be considered as behaviors that affect school coexistence and disciplinary offenses within the category of serious or very serious offenses, according to the provisions of this Code of Conduct. Regarding a special conduct committed by a student of the institution that is simultaneously considered a serious or very serious offense and a Type II or Type III situation, the following two (2) parallel and independent processes will be followed: a) Due Disciplinary Process: This will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. b) Protocol for addressing Type II or Type III situations that affect school coexistence, under the jurisdiction of the School Coexistence Committee.

Article 83. Disciplinary Offenses: Disciplinary offenses are the failure to comply with the duties outlined in this Code or any other acts described as offenses in this Code or any other mandatory document or acts that are considered inappropriate for the integral education of the students.

Also considered offenses are reprehensible behaviors in which students of the institution engage, even outside the school premises, when they do not represent the school in academic, cultural, or sports activities. However, the external conduct of the student must have a significant projection or influence that directly or indirectly affects the institution, compromises its good name, sets a bad example for the educational community, seriously affects individuals or institutions, or poses threats to the student's coexistence with other classmates, parents of the institution, or the school staff.

Article 84. Classification of Disciplinary Offenses: Disciplinary offenses or behaviors are classified as Minor, Serious, and Very Serious for the purposes of determining the disciplinary measures to be applied. The evaluation of offenses will also consider their nature and effects, the modalities and circumstances of the act, the determining motives, and the student's personal background.

Article 85. Minor Offenses: Minor offenses are considered to be any conduct that hinders the normal development of students' autonomy and responsibility and, secondarily, disrupts the normalcy of school activities. Behaviors or incidents that can be characterized as a Type I situation, according to the School Coexistence System, are highlighted. Among others, these offenses include:

1. Negatively affecting the learning environment or the normal development of school activities through undue disruptions in classes or general events of the educational community.

2. Engaging in acts of indiscipline in school spaces and activities that do not constitute serious or very serious offenses.

3. Inciting and/or participating in disorder on the school bus route, classrooms, or any area of the school.

4. Ignoring or failing to comply with the dress code requirements.

5. Repeated lateness in meeting the schedules and deadlines established by the school.

6. Unjustified absences from activities or meetings called by the school.

7. Leaving the classroom, school activity, or school premises without authorization or justification.

8. Organizing, promoting, or participating in gambling games involving bets within the school premises or outside when participating in an activity sponsored by the institution or on its behalf.

9. Selling products or services within the school without proper authorization. In the event of committing this offense, the products will be confiscated and later returned to the parents or guardians by the academic section principal

10. Inappropriate displays of affection between students.

11. Improper use of cell phones, sound or video players during class hours.

12. Disregarding the instruction to use seat belts on school buses and/or vehicles.

13. Manifest or notable discourtesy in addressing academic or disciplinary observations.

14. Use of disrespectful language and rude treatment towards classmates, teachers, or any other member of the educational community.

15. Neglecting personal hygiene and actions that affect the cleanliness of the school.

16. Consuming food in the classroom without authorization.

17. Not having the required work materials for classes without any justification.

18. Misusing the institution's property and facilities.

19. Disrespecting institutional and national symbols.

20. Driving vehicles within the school premises and its surroundings, except in cases permitted by the administration.

21. Violating the provisions established in sections regarding change of address, permits and passes, birthday celebrations at school, lost or found objects, and use of environmental section lockers, policies, and procedures in this Code.

Article 86. Pedagogical Measures, Corrective Actions, and Due Process for Minor Offenses: In the case of a minor offense, one or more of the following corrective actions and/or pedagogical measures may be applied, which are of a reflective, preventive, and formative nature. These actions can be led by the Academic Section Principal, Discipline Dean, Teachers, and/or Counselors.

The actions listed below are not hierarchical or sequential, and the selection of the appropriate action depends on the determination of the responsible leader.

In these cases, the following summary procedure will be applied. The authorized person applying one of the following actions must listen to the reasons and accounts of the involved student(s), verbally or in writing. Within a maximum period of three business days, the following actions may be taken, which will be notified verbally unless parents are notified, in which case it will be in writing:

1. Verbal reprimand: This is a call made by a Teacher, Counselor, Academic Section Principal, Administrative Staff, Transportation Monitors, or School Support Staff to a student to correct their behavior whenever a minor offense is being committed.

2. Exclusion of the student from the respective activity or group for a period ranging from fifteen mi nutes to one class hour, or a maximum of two hours in extracurricular hours. During this time, the student can reflect and/or work on their behavior. After that period, the student will be reintegrated into the activity or group. This temporary removal from class may be imposed by a Teacher, Counselor, Academic Section Principal, or School Director. If reflection periods are conducted during extracurricular hours, throughout the day, or even on Saturdays, the academic section must inform parents or guardians at least two (2) business days in advance.

3. Assignment of special activities during regular school hours or in extra hours after the school day: These activities may be defined and imposed by the Academic Section Principal or School Director on students who commit minor offenses, and they will be directly related to the specific offense committed.

4. Written admonition, which will be recorded in the student's files. This is a call for a student to correct their behavior whenever a minor offense is being committed. It will also be communicated to the parent or guardian via telephone call or email.

Paragraph 1. Notifications and Appeals for sanctions for minor offenses: Students who commit minor offenses will be allowed to provide their explanations orally or in writing before any pedagogical measure is imposed. If deemed necessary by the competent authority, parents will be informed when their children commit minor offenses.

There are no appeals available against the pedagogical measures derived from minor offenses. However, students and parents may submit requests for reconsideration regarding the imposed measures.

Article 87. Serious Offenses: Serious offenses are considered to be any behavior that significantly harms the harmony, justice, peaceful coexistence among members of the educational community, as well as the smooth functioning of educational activities, the physical or moral integrity of other students, and/or the good reputation of Colegio Bolívar. Therefore, to assess a student's behavior, their social conduct will be taken into account not only within the school premises or in activities organized and supervised by the school authorities but also any social behavior that is considered public and, in particular, that damages or calls into question the position or reputation of the school as an educational institution. This type of behavior hinders the proper functioning of the institution's educational activities. Behaviors or incidents that can be characterized as a Type II situation, according to the School Coexistence System, are highlighted. Among others, these offenses include:

1. Attacks on the dignity and rights of any member of the Educational Community.

2. Deliberately inducing members of the Educational Community to commit offenses.

3. Being an accomplice or covering up offenses against the Code of Conduct.

4. Engaging in fraud, plagiarism, or any other violation of academic rules; falsifying or altering signatures, books, documents, grades, or other school communications. Cheating or deliberately using unauthorized materials, devices, or mechanisms, information, and/or educational aids in any academic exercise. This may include the following behaviors: a. Looking at or copying exams, tests, essays, or other work of another person or using a cheat sheet during an exam. b. Submitting a research paper that has been bought or received from another source. c. Submitting the same work more than once without permission from the teacher. d. Using any unauthorized electronic equipment that contains or serves to obtain information for the exam or evaluation. e. Using someone else's answers to complete homework or assignments. f. Lying about the source of information or authorship of work. g. Providing answers to other students from different sections of the same class.

5. Possessing, consuming, or supplying tobacco or smoking/vaping devices (e-cigarettes) or alcoholic beverages in any school activity or in activities organized by the school in other locations.

6. Displaying inappropriate behavior during drills or activities related to the emergency or disaster prevention plan.

7. Stealing, damaging, destroying, or attempting to harm the private property of the school or any member of the school community.

8. Transporting, possessing, or using items that may be dangerous or engaging in any other conduct that may jeopardize the health or well-being of other members of the School Community.

9. Behaving in or outside the school in a manner that damages or threatens its good name or that of any member of the educational community.

10. Using vulgar language within the school, on school routes, or in academic, cultural, artistic, or sports activities held outside the school premises.

11. Committing acts of physical or verbal aggression against any member of the educational community.

12. Manifestation of racial, social, ethnic, cultural, sexual, or religious discrimination.

13. Disrespecting gender identity or sexual orientation.

14. Repeating three or more minor offenses or unjustifiably disregarding the Pedagogical Measures for a minor offense.

Article 88. Pedagogical Measures, Corrective Actions, and Due Process for Serious Offenses: In the case of a serious offense, one or more of the following corrective actions and/or pedagogical measures may be applied, which are of a reflective, preventive, and formative nature. These actions will be led by the Academic Section Principal and Discipline Dean.

The actions listed below are not hierarchical or sequential, and the selection of the appropriate action depends on the determination of the responsible leader.

Once the disciplinary process is exhausted, the following actions may be applied:

In cases of fraud and/or plagiarism (item 4 of Article ___), the following Corrective Measures will be applied (one or all of the measures may be applied depending on the severity):

• A grade of zero for the assignment and/or evaluation.

• Notification to parents/guardians of the committed offense.

• Removal from the Honor Society (if applicable).

• Notification in the student's transcript upon accumulating 2 or more offenses.

• Notification to universities upon accumulating 2 or more offenses (Grades 9-12).

• Withdrawal or suspension, following the corresponding disciplinary procedure.

In other cases of serious offenses, the corrective actions may include (in addition to those established for minor offenses):

1. Temporary suspension within the school: the student will be present at the school to carry out their educational activities in the "detentions" classroom, completing academic assignments under the supervision of the assigned teacher. Students must attend the suspension with all necessary materials and be prepared to work. The academic section will keep an individual record of these suspensions. Reflection time may also be assigned during extracurricular hours depending on the severity of the offense. The type of activity, date, and duration will be determined at the time of imposing the measure, without exceeding ten (10) days. If the student fails to comply with the suspension, an additional one will be assigned. Failure to comply with a suspension without just cause will result in an out -of-school suspension.

2. Probationary Period or Conditional Enrollment: This consists of changing the student's Ordinary Enrollment to Conditional Enrollment, subject to review after a period of six (6) months from the moment the respective sanction becomes final.

3. Temporary suspension outside the school: This consists of the temporary cessation of academic activity for a period of one (1) to fifteen (15) days. During this time, the student may not attend the school or engage in activities related to the school. Students who are subject to this disciplinary measure must catch up academically on the day of their return to school. For extended suspensions, a recovery plan for the missed days will be agreed upon with the Academic Section Principal

4. Deprivation of representation: The Coexistence Committee, Academic Section Principal, or Discipline Dean may determine that the student shall not have the right to represent Colegio Bolívar in sports, cultural, civic, and/or social activities within and outside the school.

5. Revocation of mandate: If the student is part of the school government, their mandate may be revoked.

6. Commitment Agreement: It involves signing a commitment agreement before the School Director Its effect will be for the duration of the school year from the moment the respective sanction becomes final.

7. Temporary withdrawal: This involves the temporary removal of the student from Colegio Bolívar for a maximum period of one school year, with the purpose of continuing their studies in another educational institution duly endorsed by the Municipal Education Secretary. Once the student has successfully completed the school year at the other educational institution, they may reapply for reenrollment and continue their education at Colegio Bolívar. The student must demonstrate having passed the school year at the other educational institution, pass the reentry exams at Colegio Bolívar, and comply with the therapeutic and academic support recommended by the respective academic section.

Article 89. Very Serious or Gravest Offenses: Very serious offenses are those that injure or impair the dignity, physical or moral integrity of any member of the educational community, and that prevent the enjoyment of the right to education by other students in conditions of safety.

Some very serious offenses may also be identified as Type III situations according to the national coexistence system. This includes situations of school bullying that constitute alleged crimes against freedom, integrity, and sexual education, as referred to in the Penal Code, or when they constitute any other offense established in the current Colombian criminal law.

The classification of the offense will also take into account the following points:

A. Re-incidence in two or more offenses considered as serious or very serious or unjustified disregard of the Pedagogical Measures imposed for a serious offense.

B. Being an accomplice, remaining silent, or refraining from reporting the commission of a VERY SERIOUS offense or Type III situation.

The behaviors or incidents that can be characterized as a Type III situation, according to the School Coexistence System, are highlighted. Among others, these Very Serious or Gravest Offenses include:

Offenses related to harassment, threats, and physical violence:

1. Intimidating classmates to benefit from tasks, assignments, evaluations, or material possessions.

2. Defamation or violation of the good name, or false accusations against a member of the Educational Community.

3. Threatening, blackmailing, or bribing any member of the educational community to obtain personal or collective benefits.

4. Appropriating the belongings of others or the institution, engaging in fraud in any of its forms.

5. Verbal or physical aggression towards any member of the educational community.

6. Inciting hatred or violence, promoting dangerous or antisocial behaviors.

Offenses against sexual and reproductive rights:

1. Engaging in sexual activities within the school or in the context of any extramural program organized by the school.

2. Engaging in or coercing another person, willingly or against their will, within the school or in activities organized by the school, inducing abusive, demeaning, dishonorable practices, or in any way violating their sexual freedom or negatively influencing their sexual education.

3. Engaging in or inducing classmates to engage in improper sexual behavior that violates modesty and decency, such as prostitution, exhibitionism, pornography, sexual harassment or abuse, human trafficking, among others.

4. Sharing real or altered images of a sexual nature of members of the Colegio Bolívar community with others.

Offenses related to the use, sale, and incitement to try psychoactive substances, alcohol, and vaping devices:

1. Entering, carrying, ingesting, or being under the influence of alcoholic beverages, narcotics, or psychoactive substances on school premises or when acting on behalf of the school.

2. Carrying or using vaping devices with or without nicotine and/or cannabis, cigarettes, or other tobacco or cannabis-derived products, narcotics, or psychoactive substances on school premises or when acting on behalf of the school.

3. Carrying or consuming narcotics, psychoactive substances, or drugs within or outside the school.

4. Inciting, selling, distributing, giving away, or providing alcoholic beverages, vaping devices, tobacco or cannabis-derived products, narcotics, synthetic drugs, or medicinal products to minors INSIDE OR OUTSIDE the school.

5. Failing to comply with or refusing to undergo assessments or rehabilitation treatments when the consumption of psychoactive substances or alcohol has been detected or is presumed.

6. Student's refusal or family's non-authorization to undergo inspections, tests, medical evaluations, or laboratory tests when there is a presumption of possession or consumption of psychoactive substances or alcohol.

Security and public order:

1. Forming, belonging to, or inciting others to form or participate in gangs, illegal groups, and/or groups that commit acts that undermine the dignity of the human person or disrupt public order.

2. Inviting gangs, illegal groups, and/or groups dedicated to disrupting public order to threaten or assault any member of the educational community or to engage in acts of vandalism or criminal activities.

3. Bringing, carrying, or manipulating real, trauma, or BB guns, sharp objects or toys, explosives or pyrotechnic materials, flammable liquids, or other items that endanger physical integrity and life and/or toxic substances into Colegio Bolívar's premises, or when acting on behalf of the school.

4. Engaging in practical jokes (acid, allergens, gunpowder) and/or rough play that threatens the health or physical integrity of any person in the educational community.

5. Interfering, manipulating, or damaging security devices, including alarms, fire prevention systems and extinguishers, security cameras, smoke and vapor detectors.

6. Encouraging other students to participate in challenges or activities that jeopardize their safety and/or integrity, whether in person or through online platforms.

School Integrity:

1. Defying or disobeying an instruction given by a teacher, school official, or employee of Colegio Bolívar, or engaging in open insubordination that creates a situation endangering the safety, fundamental rights, or dignity of the members of the community.

2. Committing actions, making tendentious or reckless accusations that interfere with the normal operations of school systems or affect the academic or administrative activities of the educational institution.

3. Abandoning the school without authorization, fraudulently, or by deceit during school hours.

4. Filming, photographing, manipulating, or altering images of teachers or other members of the educational community within or outside the school with the intention of ridiculing, defaming, or threatening them.

5. Stealing, altering, hiding, damaging, falsifying, or tampering with signatures, seals, assessment records, minutes, certificates of study, notifications, or other documents, including magnetic media and information stored in the school's platforms and systems.

6. Inducing, manipulating, threatening, or forcing another person to commit an academic or disciplinary offense or engaging in any behavior that violates morality, law, health, and good conduct required by the school.

7. Engaging in academic dishonesty in external exams (e.g., SAT, PSAT, SABER 11, AP) and/or in activities of high academic value (senior project, final exams, etc.).

Norms and rights

1. Committing an act defined by law as a crime or offense and any act that contributes to criminal intervention, judicial involvement, loss of freedom, or placement in rehabilitation and observation centers for minors or therapeutic communities.

2. Engaging in acts that violate the dignity of any member of the community and their human, sexual, gender, and reproductive rights.

3. Appropriating, hiding, disappearing, or destroying belongings, items, documents, and personal belongings of classmates, teachers, administrative staff, or individuals, and/or property of Colegio Bolivar.

4. Publicly making statements that harm the good name of Colegio Bolívar or any member of the educational community, teachers, administrative staff, classmates, or individuals working within the educational institution.

5. Using fake documents and/or identification cards within or outside the Colegio.

6. Bribing or attempting to bribe school officials, teachers, or administrative or service staff to obtain educational, academic, or service benefits.

7. Disrupting the educational community of Colegio Bolívar by being involved in public scandals.

Digital environment and media use

1. Carrying, disseminating, or accessing any type of pornographic material through printed, virtual, digital, or other means within the school.

2. Inappropriately using educational, scientific, technical, or technological resources available at Colegio Bolívar that endanger the safety, fundamental rights, or dignity of the community members.

3. Creating, promoting, or following groups, pages, etc., on social media with the purpose of denigrating, affecting the fundamental rights of the community, sharing sexually explicit images, engaging in cyberbullying, or committing any other offense, without direct participation.

4. Publishing, creating, using, or showing any defamatory, inaccurate, racially offensive, abusive, illegal, obscene, profane, derogatory towards religion, culture, sexual orientation or gender, or threatening material in public or private messages.

5. Changing settings, deleting, or moving essential files of programs, apps, and the platforms and systems of the school.

6. Activities to "hack" and/or any attempt to bypass the security and/or filtering of the school network, create "Hotspots," or access and configure proxies or virtual private networks (VPNs) or actions that intentionally disrupt the functionality of the school's networks.

7. Obtaining unauthorized access to the school's computer resources, platforms, and systems, making copies or modifying files or other data, or obtaining and disclosing passwords belonging to other users.

8. Engaging in illegal or malicious activities, making insulting, pornographic, or obscene statements or disseminating them through electronic or in-person means.

9. Committing acts that constitute school bullying and/or cyberbullying, understood as any negative, intentional, methodical, and systematic behavior of aggression, intimidation, humiliation, ridicule, defamation, coercion, deliberate isolation, threat, or incitement to violence, or any form of psychological, verbal, physical, or electronic mistreatment against a member of the educational community by a student or several peers with whom there is an asymmetric power relationship, which occurs repeatedly or over a certain period within or outside the school.

10. Committing acts that constitute virtual school aggression (cyberbullying), understood as any behavior of intimidation using information technologies to exert psychological mistreatment within or outside the school.

Actions or behaviors not covered in this article but having similar connotations may also be considered Very Serious/Extremely Serious Offenses or Type III Offenses.

Paragraph 1. If any of the situations referred to in Article 40 of Decree 1965 of 2013 demonstrate a violation of the rights of the children and adolescents involved, the School Director or the Coordinator of the School Coexistence Committee must report the situation to the competent administrative authority with supporting evidence of the actions taken, so that, after the relevant verification, they can take appropriate measures in accordance with the provisions of Article 50 and following of Law 1098 of 2006. This is without prejudice to the educational institution continuing with the necessary disciplinary procedure to restore the school climate.

Paragraph 2. In the event that during due process it is observed that a crime may have been committed, the School Director shall inform the relevant authorities for further action within their jurisdiction.

Paragraph 3: It is important to recognize that alcoholism and drug addiction are treatable diseases, which is why parents of students who are detected with dependency problems will be required to seek counseling and undergo prompt and appropriate treatment in order to prevent academic and personal underperformance of the student (Article 19 of Law 1098).

Article 90. Pedagogical Measures, Corrective Actions for Very Serious/Extremely Serious Offenses: These are applied in relation to a student's conduct that transgresses the normal functioning of an educational institution. The objective of the applied sanctions or corrective measures is to encourage the student to reflect on their behavior and to foster personal growth. Disciplinary instances have autonomy in determining the corrective action, as long as they adhere to the provisions of this Handbook regarding the classification of offenses, strategies and procedures for coexistence, compliance with due process, as well as the conditions of proportionality, reasonableness, and necessity. These actions will be led by the principal of the academic section and the School Direct or.

The actions listed below are not hierarchical or sequential, and the selection of the appropriate action depends on the responsible leader's determination. After hearing the reasons and accounts of the involved student(s) and conducting due process, the following actions may be taken:

1. Temporary suspension within the school: The student must attend the school to carry out their educational activities in the "detentions" classroom for a period of more than 10 days and up to 30 days. Students must attend the suspension with all the necessary materials and be prepared to work. The academic section will keep an individual record of these suspensions. Likewise, reflection time may be assigned during extracurricular hours, depending on the severity of the offense. The type of activity, date, and duration will be determined by the Principal of the academic section or the Discipline Dean, as applicable. If the student fails to comply with the suspension, an additional one will be assigned. Failure to comply with a suspension without just cause will result in a suspension outside the school. If a student repeats disciplinary offenses, the application of a Probationary Period or Conditional Enrollment may be considered.

2. Temporary suspension outside the school: Temporary cessation of academic activity for a period of more than 15 days and up to 30days. In this case, the student is not allowed to attend the school or participate in any school-related activities during the suspension period. Students who receive this disciplinary measure must catch up academically upon their return to the school.

3. Revocation of representation: The student is prohibited from representing Colegio Bolívar in sports, cultural, civic, and/or social activities within and outside the school.

4. Revocation of mandate: If the student is part of the school government, the School Director may revoke their mandate through a School Direct or's resolution.

5. Commitment Agreement: Signing a commitment agreement before the School Director. Its effect will be for the current school year from the moment the respective sanction becomes final.

6. Temporary withdrawal: The temporary withdrawal of the student from Colegio Bolívar for a maximum period of one school year, in order for the student to continue their studies in another educational institution duly accredited by the Municipal Education Secretary. Once the student successfully completes the school year at the other educational institution, they can reapply as a returning student and continue their education at Colegio Bolívar. The student must demonstrate that they have passed the school year at the other educational institution, pass the readmission exams at Colegio Bolivar, and comply with the therapeutic and academic support recommended by the respective academic section.

7. Non-renewal of enrollment contract for the following school year: Refrain from renewing the enrollment for the next school year for a student who has committed serious or very serious offenses with aggravating circumstances and who, after applying other corrective measures, shows no change in their behavior.

8. Cancellation of Enrollment Contract: Cancellation of enrollment for the involved student, indicating immediate and permanent exclusion and non-renewal of enrollment for the following school year, thus losing the status of a student at Colegio Bolívar.

Article 91. Criteria for Determining the Severity of Offenses: To determine the severity of offenses, the competent instance will take into account the following criteria, among others:

1. The degree of culpability and intentionality.

2. The severity of the impact on ongoing educational activities.

3. Lack of consideration for classmates, teachers, and other members of the educational community

4. The repetition of the conduct or behavior.

5. The student's representativeness within the educational community.

6. The disruptive effect of the conduct on the educational community.

7. The modalities and circumstances in which the offense was committed, considering the planning and preparation of the act.

8. Committing the offense by taking advantage of the trust placed in the student.

9. The degree of participation in the commission of the offense.

10. The determining motives behind the irregular behavior.

11. The involvement of multiple individuals in the commission of the offense.

12. Committing the offense to conceal or carry out another offense.

13. Committing the offense by taking advantage of the physical or psychological inferiority of other individuals.

14. Acceptance of the offense and intention to make amends for the damage caused.

Article 92. Criteria for Imposing Corrective Actions and Mitigating or Aggravating Pedagogical Disciplinary Measures: In all cases, corrective actions will be imposed based on the following criteria:

1. Proportionality between the offense committed and the corrective action to be imposed.

2. The structural, social, idiosyncratic, and psychological components that gave rise t o the conflict.

3. Reasonableness, meaning that the corrective action seeks pedagogical purposes.

4. Necessity of corrective action, which is expressed in the absence of an effective alternative means to preserve coexistence and ensure the appropriate formation of students.

5. Compliance with due process and the right to defense.

To determine the graduation of the corrective action, the competent instance will consider the following criteria, among others:

1. The social behavior of the student(s) involved in the offenses, both within the school premises and in activities organized and supervised by the school authorities, as well as in other public settings.

2. The structural, social, idiosyncratic, and psychological components that gave rise to the conflict.

3. The degree of damage to Colegio Bolívar's image and its function as an educational institution.

4. The age, psycho-affective development, mental and volitional aspects, as well as personal, family, and social circumstances of the accused student.

5. Premeditation, treachery, and advantage when committing the offense.

6. The student's reaction to the process and their disciplinary situation.

7. Agreeing to improvement commitments and failing to fulfill them.

8. Making amends or compensating for the damage caused before the sanction is imposed.

9. The student's disciplinary record.

10. Acting out of noble or altruistic motives.

11. Being induced to commit the offense by another person who is older and/or more mature psychoaffectively.

Article 93. Principles of Due Disciplinary Process: The application of the disciplinary process involves conducting an inquiry into the actions that may constitute serious or extremely serious offenses. This strategy is based on the presumption of innocence of the students and is carried out with due process and the right to defense as elements prior to determining and applying corrective actions. Its purpose is to protect the members of the educational community from behaviors that harm them and to ensure the responsibility and co-responsibility of the students. In no case may the decision of the second instance worsen the sanction imposed by the first instance.

In special cases or when circumstances warrant it, at the discretion of the respective instance, the identity of students, families, and/or employees testifying within a specific disciplinary process may be protected. Security camera recordings may also be considered as evidence within disciplinary processes.

On the other hand, the pedagogical measures or disciplinary sanctions are the strategies, means, and decisions adopted by Colegio Bolívar to strengthen the student's sense of self-discipline, leading them to reflect on the committed offense, how to restore the damage caused, and to change their attitude towards compliance with institutional rules.

The school authorities are autonomous in determining the pedagogical measure or corrective action, as long as they adhere to the provisions of this Handbook regarding the classification of offenses, strategies and procedures for healthy coexistence, compliance with due process, as well as the conditions of proportionality, reasonableness, and necessity.

In any case, no corrective action shall represent scorn for the student or in any way affect their personal dignity. No student shall be subjected to cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment.

When appropriate, in the case of minor offenses or improperly handled relationships among members of the educational community, mediation may be used. Mediation is a tool that involves supporting conflict resolution through dialogue within the community. This mechanism seeks to achieve negotiated solutions, not only among members of the same group but also among different groups within the school community (students, parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators). It aims to bring the conflicting parties closer, proposing communication strategies, and facilitating the achievement of an agreement that restores good relationships and treatment.

It is understood that any parent or guardian may represent the student before the institution. Therefore, if they are called to appear before any disciplinary instance of the school, the presence of one of the parents and/or guardians will suffice for all legal and institutional proceedings related to the student's school life to be considered served and notified.

Article 94. Due Disciplinary Process for the Imposition of Pedagogical Measures or Corrective Actions resulting from the commission of Serious and Very Serious Offenses:

1. The member of the educational community or any external person who observed the offense or became aware of the incident shall report it to the Principal of the academic section and/or the Dean of Discipline, who, together with the section counselor or Coordinator of School Coexistence, will analyze the situation and determine if it warrants the initiation of the disciplinary process and/or a school coexistence process. If there are grounds to initiate the disciplinary process and/or present it before the School Coexistence Committee, the person shall be asked to formalize the information about the alleged offense through a written statement.

2. As a precautionary measure, depending on the severity of the alleged offense, while the due process is underway and a final decision is made in the disciplinary procedure, the Section Principal may, when deemed pertinent and necessary, decree the temporary suspension or provisional withdrawal of the student from the school. Likewise, in cases of flagrancy, teachers or school administrators may take the necessary measures to prevent the continuation of the behavior, without prejudice to the respective determination of responsibility and the imposition of sanctions provided for in this code at a later time.

3. The Principal of the respective section and/or Dean of Discipline shall notify the student of the complaint and the initiation of due process, and a meeting of explanations with the student and the parents or guardians shall be convened, either through a phone call or email. The Principal of the respective section, the Dean of Discipline, and the section counselor may make a provisional assessment of the behavior indicated as a disciplinary offense.

4. During this meeting of explanations, the student involved will give his/her free and spontaneous version in the presence of his/her parents or guardians. Minutes will be signed by the participants. If the parent or guardian does not attend the school's call or refuses to sign, the section counselor will be called as a witness to the notification, delivery of evidence, and explanations. No individuals other than members of the educational community, such as students, parents, guardians, teachers, counselors, or administrators, will be allowed to attend this meeting.

5. The student and his/her family have three (3) business days, after the signing of the minute, to submit in writing or verbally other evidence, to challenge the initial evidence against them, and to provide the necessary evidence to support their explanations and defense.

6. The Principal of the academic section, together with the Dean of Discipline and the counselor, will review the student's disciplinary situation and prepare a decision minute within a maximum period of 6 (six) business days from the receipt of the committee's recommendation (if applicable) or from the date of the explanation meeting. These minutes must include: the observed event, the investigations, the student's free version, evidence of charges and explanations, and any recommendations or corrective actions deemed necessary, as well as strategies for repairing and reconciling with the victim, if necessary. A copy of this minute shall be sent to the student's parents or guardians and the School Director

7. Regarding the imposition of corrective actions established by the Section Principal for serious or very serious offenses (excluding temporary withdrawal, cancellation of the enrollment contract, or non-renewal of the contract for the following school year), both the student and the parents or guardians may file an appeal with the Director of Colegio Bolívar within three (3) business days following the date of notification of the disciplinary decision or receiving the decision minutes.

8. The appeal regarding the decision of the Section Principal shall be granted suspensive effect and shall be resolved by the Director of the school within ten (10) business days following the submission of the appeal. During this period, the School Director may request additional meetings with the parties involved or additional evidence. The resolution by the School Director must be duly motivated and consistent. This administrative act must be notified to the student and the parents personally, by email, or certified mail.

Corrective Actions or Disciplinary Sanctions directly affecting the student's continuity in Colegio Bolívar, such as Temporary Withdrawal, Non-Renewal of the Enrollment Contract for the following school year, or Immediate Cancellation of Enrollment and Dismissal from the Institution, shall be taken exclusively by the Director of the school or their delegate, based on the recommendation of the Section Principal, after following the procedure established in sections 1 to 7. The Section Principal shall inform the student and parents of this recommendation and send the case file to the School Director’s Office. The Director shall issue the decision minutes within a maximum period of six (6) business days, and during this time, they may meet with the parties involved and request additional evidence.

The student and the parents or guardians have the right to file a Motion for Reconsideration with the School Director (Art. 41, section 7 - Law 1098) and, alternatively, an appeal with the Board of Directors against the Resolution imposing the sanction within three (3) business days following the notification of the decision.

• The Motion for Reconsideration shall be resolved by the School Director within three (3) business days following the expiration of the term to file it. If the Director does not reconsider their decision within the three (3) days they have to resolve the motion, the complete case file shall be transferred to the Board of Directors to decide on the appeal.

• The appeal , which shall be considered by the Board of Directors, shall be resolved within ten (10) business days following the receipt of the case file. The decision shall be notified in accordance with the provisions of this code of conduct.

If no appeals are filed within the specified period, the decision shall become final.

Paragraph 1: The Committee may invite a member of the educational community who is knowledgeable about the facts, with voice but without vote, in order to gather additional information.

Paragraph 2: In the event of a conflict of interest or a cause of disqualification as established in Article 11 of Law 1437 of 2011, the Administrative Contentious Code, it shall be referred, by the party with knowledge, to the School Director, who shall decide immediately within a period of three (3) days and, if necessary, assign an ad hoc official to continue the process.

Likewise, a student may be permanently dismissed if:

1. They continuously struggle with the process of learning English, affecting their performance in other subjects taught in that language (reading, comprehension, oral and written production).

2. They have been non-promoted for two consecutive school years.

3. They fail a second year, even if not consecutive, and their case shall be analyzed by the Evaluation and Promotion Committee, based on their academic performance, behavior, and attitude. The committee may recommend whether they should continue at the school or not.

4. Upon receiving a warning letter from the Director, they do not comply with the stipulations therein or fail the academic year.

5. The parents do not comply with improvement plans, requested tutorials, external referrals suggested for their children, or assigned duties outlined in the Code of Conduct