Discipline

Personal discipline is considered an essential aspect of human, moral and spiritual development. Respect for oneself and others is fostered at Saint Rose Catholic School through a basic code of conduct. A positive, respectful attitude towards students, staff and visitors is expected at all times. Inappropriate behavior is considered a violation of our basic code of conduct and will be addressed immediately. Threats of any kind will be considered serious. Appropriate actions, including involvement of law enforcement and expulsion, may be used.

Discipline Notices
If a Discipline Notice is sent home, parental support is required to correct the situation. Discipline Notices must be signed and returned to the school the following school day. If continued Discipline Notices are issued, the student will be placed on disciplinary probation and considered for expulsion.

Detention
For students who choose to pattern inappropriate behavior, there will be detention assigned during lunch and parents will be informed.

Disciplinary Probation
A student with serious behavior problems will be placed on disciplinary probation. Parents will be notified in writing and a conference will be scheduled. The student will not be eligible for financial aid for one year. If improvement is not evident within one quarter, the student will be considered for expulsion.

Suspension and Expulsion
Suspension or expulsion from school are serious punishments and are only used when all other corrective measures have failed or a serious offense is committed. When a student is suspended or expelled, the parents will be notified of the suspension or expulsion and the reasons. The following criteria can be used at Saint Rose Catholic School for suspension or expulsion (quotes taken from the California Education Code).

E.C. 48903 Continued willful disobedience, habitual profanity, vulgarity, open and persistent resistance of the authority of the school personnel, or assault and battery upon a student, upon school premises or while under the authority of school personnel, or any threat of force or violation directed toward school personnel, at any time or place shall constitute good cause for suspension or expulsion from school...

E.C. 48901 Smoking or having tobacco on school premises constitutes good cause or suspension of a pupil...
E.C. 48904 The school may suspend or expel a pupil who has on school premises or elsewhere used , sold, or been in the possession of narcotics or other hallucinogenic drugs or substances...
E.C. 48907 The school may suspend or expel pupils for misconduct when other means of correction fail to bring back proper conduct...
E.C. 48909 Any minor who willfully cuts, defaces, or otherwise injures in any way property, real or personal, belonging to a school is liable for all damages so caused by the minor...

Expulsion Due to Student Behavior
Expulsion from school occurs when all other discipline procedures have failed to bring about the desired changes in a student's behavior.
Students are expected to show Christian behavior toward faculty, staff, fellow students and visitors. Lack of effort in this area is grounds for suspension or expulsion.
The final decision to expel a student rests with the Principal, Pastor and Superintendent of Catholic Schools.
Full credit shall be given for all work accomplished by the student prior to the time of expulsion.

Expulsion Due to Family Member's Behavior
Family members actions which negatively impact the school may be cause for a student expulsion. All such cases will be processed through the Superintendent of Catholic Schools in accordance with Diocesan School Policy.

Academic Probation
All students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average to avoid Academic Probation. Grades from all core subjects will be used to compute a student's grade point average. Students will remain on Academic Probation until the next report card is issued. Any student with unsatisfactory marks in conduct will be placed on Behavioral Probation until the next report card is issued. Students who are unable to maintain academic and behavioral expectations will not be eligible for financial aid for one year and may be asked to leave Saint Rose Catholic School. Students on probation for more than 2 quarters will be asked to leave the school.

Sexual Harassment
The Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Monterey have adopted a written policy against sexual harassment as it pertains to students. Sexual harassment is defined in California Education Code, Section 212.5 as "...unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, visual or physical conduct of a sexual nature made by someone from or in the ... educational setting, under any of the following conditions: ... (c) The conduct has the purpose or effect of having a negative impact upon the individual's ... academic performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive ... educational environment."

• Examples of behaviors which are considered sexually harassing include:
• Pinching, grabbing or cornering another student
• Sexual comments toward or taunting of another student
• Pulling down pants and/or underwear of another student or snapping a student's bra.
• Use of derogatory words or phrases directed toward another student
• Assaulting or molesting another student
• Basically, any behavior by one student to another which, at a minimum, has a negative effect on the person who receives the behavior, may be considered sexual harassment.
  

The penalties for sexual harassment by students are numerous and severe. First, a student who has sexually harassed may be suspended from school or expelled. In addition, there are three different sets of monetary fines which can be assessed against the parents of a child who has sexually harassed another student.

Under the California Civil Code, a fine can be assessed against the parents of a minor who causes injury to another student. The fine cannot exceed $10,000.00. In addition, under California Education Code, a second fine can be assessed against the minor's parents. Finally, if a reward is given for information leading to the identity and apprehension of a minor who has willfully caused injury to another, the California Government Code provides that the minor's parents are to be held liable for the amount of the reward, not to exceed $10,000.00

To educate students on proper and improper conduct, the schools of the Diocese of Monterey will continue the sexual harassment awareness training. In addition, we encourage you to discuss this serious subject with your child.