AKCS Discipline Policy

Discipline Policy

Rationale

The Scriptures command parents to train up children in the way they should go and raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Fundamental to this task is the elimination of negative character traits (lying, stealing, anger, selfishness, laziness, hatred, etc.) and the development of positive character traits (honesty, self-control, loving kindness, generosity, diligence, etc.) Because children are born with a sin nature, they inherit a tendency to sin and will do so if left to themselves. Parents have the responsibility to discipline their children using Biblical methods of reward and punishment to encourage positive qualities and discourage negative ones.

A child's sin nature will often manifest itself at school just as in the home, resulting in behavior which is disruptive to the educational process for both the offender and others. Parents, by enrolling their children in the School, delegate some of the responsibility for training their children to School representatives. Along with this responsibility comes the authority to take appropriate disciplinary measures which will further the character training begun at home and maintain a positive educational setting.

Policy

Parents are responsible to understand and support the goals and procedures of the Discipline Policy publicly and privately. They are expected to teach their children the importance of obedience to all legitimate authority. They are responsible to discuss any concerns regarding a specific disciplinary measure with the staff member involved.

Students are responsible to understand, support, and obey all school rules and graciously submit to correction when it is given.

School personnel are responsible to understand, support, and follow the goals and procedures of the Discipline Policy. They are responsible to enforce all school rules without partiality. They are responsible to take appropriate disciplinary action when rules are broken, taking into account the nature of the offense, the student's age and understanding, and the student's past behavior. They are responsible to keep accurate records of serious or repeated offenses.

Monitors are responsible to understand, support and follow the goals and procedures of the Discipline Policy. They are responsible to enforce all school rules without partiality and inform school personnel regarding infractions.

The Principal is responsible to ensure that parents, students, and teachers are informed of the Discipline Policy and School Rules each year. He is responsible for ensuring that both are followed consistently. He is to report to the Board regarding those incidents of behavior which, in his opinion, merit suspension for more than five days or merit expulsion.

This Policy applies at school, at all official school functions, and during transit to and from such functions. It further applies to any behavior outside of these settings which, in the opinion of the Board, is inconsistent with genuine Christian commitment or detrimental to the reputation of the school. In such cases, appropriate action will be taken by the Board.

Misbehavior off campus and out of school hours is first and foremost a parental responsibility. While behavior may be a concern to the school, as a rule this is only for very serious issues. In these cases, the school will contact the home and discuss the concerns with the parents. The school will work with the family to bring about any needed change in behavior. If the student fails to implement these changes, then s/he will be subject to disciplinary action.

Methods of discipline shall include, first of all, those positive elements with encourage good behavior and reduce the occurrence of bad behavior. These include such things as awards, stickers, encouragement, praise, close supervision (hallways, playground, exams), use of eye contact, reminders of expected behavior, etc. Where misbehavior does occur, various punishments will be employed to discourage it from happening again.

All discipline shall be administered fairly and consistently in an attitude of love, not vengeance. Whenever possible, punishment shall be a logical consequence of the misbehavior and appropriate in severity. School personnel are responsible for determining whether a specific event constitutes a Minor Offense or a Serious Offense. They are expected to discuss it with the child, and employ appropriate disciplinary measures based upon the following guidelines:

Minor Offenses such as horseplay, talking out of turn, disturbing others, homework not done, meddling with or accidentally damaging property, failure to fulfill a punishment, etc. warrant one or more of the following penalties:

Verbal reprimand
Writing assignments (essays, lines, spelling or vocabulary)
Isolation from the class (at back of class, out of class)
Detention (recess, noon hour, after school)
Restitution (payment for or restoration of damaged property)
In-house suspension (isolation for entire day including recess)
Community service (sweep walks, shovel snow, clean Library)
A note and/or phone call to Parents

Serious Offenses such as lying, cheating, stealing, swearing, willful defiance, disrespect to those in authority, possession of illegal drugs, tobacco, alcohol, firearms or graphic materials, false fire alarms, cutting classes, fighting, mistreatment of others, repeated critical or derogatory comments, deliberate or serious damage to property, immorality, repeated Minor Offenses, etc. will result in: a note and/or phone call to Parents AND any one or more of the following penalties:

Any of the penalties for minor offenses but with greater severity
A meeting with the Principal
A meeting with the Principal, Parents, and others as is appropriate.
Probation
Suspension
Expulsion

A written record shall be kept of all serious offenses, with a description of the offense and the penalty given.

Probation is a period of time during which the student's enrollment is in doubt. Initial probationary status may be imposed by the Principal’s at his discretion, but the duration of the probation and the specific changes expected of the student will be determined by Board review. Evaluation of the effect of the probationary period will be conducted by the Board and the Principal at the end of that period. The Board may then terminate, extend, or modify the probationary requirements.

Suspension for up to five days may be given to a student at the discretion of the Principal. Parents and the Board Chairman are to be informed as soon as possible. Suspension for more than five days may be given at the discretion of the Board after consultation with the Principal and Parents. Students will be expected to complete all assignments, tests, and notes given during the period of suspension within three days of the end of suspension.

Expulsion of a student occurs at the discretion of the Board after consultation with the Principal and Parents. Parents who wish to re-enroll an expelled student may request such by letter to the Board. The letter should indicate the evidence of a changed attitude and behavior sustained over a period of time which would warrant consideration by the Board. The Board may choose to re-enroll the student with or without probationary conditions or may refuse to accept the re-enrollment. Expulsion of one child, in of itself, shall not jeopardize the continued enrollment of any siblings; however, lack of parental support for the Discipline Policy may.
Copies of the Discipline Policy shall be distributed to every family every year.