Our philosophy of discipline is based on the premise of educating about appropriate behavior and of making restitution and restoring relationships when misbehavior has occurred.
When minor misbehavior interrupts the rights of others to teach and learn or shows disrespect, a verbal warning will be given. A student may also be given the opportunity to leave the classroom on her or his own volition if that is necessary to stop the disruption. If the behavior does not stop, the student will be asked to leave the classroom and a written warning or purple slip will be given.
If a student is late to school three times, is late to class once, leaves belongings lying about, or causes other minor disruptions, he/she will be given a “pink slip” warning. Three “pink slips,” convert to one “purple slip.”
Three warnings (“purple slips’) are equivalent to a time out/restitution and a 10 to 15 minute restitution will be negotiated with one of the reporting teachers. The restitution might be in the form of doing a project, spending time with the teacher in conversation, or working around the building or grounds of the Middle School.
If an egregious misbehavior happens–one that is very rude, may be dangerous, or breaks one of the major rules–the student will be given an immediate time out to the Middle School office. He or she will fill out the time out/restitution sheet and then be sent back to class. The offender will need to negotiate a 10 to 15 minute restitution with the reporting teacher.
What happens when time outs/restitutions accumulate? The following details the procedure each time a time out/restitution is received. Please remember that three warnings or purple slips are equivalent to a time out/restitution.
- 1st. Conversation between the Grade Level Team Leader and the student with a report to the student’s advisor
- 2nd. Phone conversation between parent and Team Leader or MS Head, conversation with student, advisor, and Head of Middle School or Team Leader
- 3rd. Behavior Review Committee: At this time a committee composed of the student’s advisor, the Head of Middle School, the Grade Level Team Leader and a teacher not currently teaching the student is convened to review the behavioral problems and how they might be resolved. If the offenses have been mean-spirited or egregious, the student may be placed on probation for three months. The restitution time is increased to 30 minutes each time the committee meets. Students and parents are notified of the outcome of the meeting.
- 4th. Same as for third above
- 5th. Same as for third above
- 6th. The student is automatically placed on probation for the next three months.
The point at which a student is placed on probation will be determined by the seriousness of the offenses, the efforts made to change behaviors, the responsibility taken by the student for the behaviors and the honesty shown by the student in dealing with the behaviors.
At the end of each semester, the discipline record of all students not on probation will be cleared so that students begin each new semester with a clean slate.
If a student is involved in an infraction of a major rule, e.g. stealing, physical abuse, leaving campus without permission, continued harassment, anything to do with illegal substances or weapons, etc., the student may be expelled or suspended and placed on probation for the following three months.
A behavioral probation runs for three months from the last offense. It is a time for the student to undertake serious changes in behavior with the help of parents, faculty and the advisor. If the student successfully completes the probationary period, she/he will be returned to regular status. Probations should be a clear message that without a change in behavior, the student will be asked to leave OES.
When a student is placed on behavioral probation, she or he will be given the option of creating a support group of students to help insure that the necessary changes in behavior are made. This committee will work with the student and the faculty to help formulate a plan of action.
WHILE ON PROBATION
If there is misbehavior during the probationary period, the parents will be asked to conference with us at each infraction. Because a student will have shown lack of responsibility by continuing to misbehave, the following guidelines for off-campus trips will be followed at each restitution.
- 1st. Student may go on field trips only if one of her/his parents accompanies the trip.
- 2nd. Student will not be allowed to go on off-campus trips.
- 3rd. Student will be asked to leave the OES community.
While we hope that we do not enter the more serious phases of this policy with any of our students, we want to be clear before the offenses happen.
Return to Top
of Page
|