Discipine System (from the 2011-2012 Parent-Student Handbook)

Link’s Discipline System begins with the expectation that each student uses the Core Values to guide his/her conduct (actions and words) and that each student will reflect on his/her behavior and make the changes necessary for his/her positive growth and development.

LINK’S THREE-STEP DISCIPLINE SYSTEM
Step 1: When a student engages in inappropriate behavior or language, he or she will be given a verbal warning.

Step 2: Upon a second instance, the student will receive a “5-minute timeout” where he/she will reflect silently on the behavior and complete the “Return to Class Form”, as well as meet with the teacher to discuss the incident and strategies that can prevent continued similar behavior. The completed form will be returned to the teacher who will then give it to the Dean of Students.

Step 3: If the behavior continues, the student will be asked to go to the Dean of Student’s office, taking along the Return to Class form. The Dean of Students will determine the appropriate consequences. A Mandatory Student Conference will be held as a follow up.

During the Mandatory Student Conference, the student meets with the teacher and Dean of Students to discuss the incident and develop strategies to prevent unacceptable behavior in the future, the student will complete a Mandatory Student Conference Form to be signed by the parent and returned to school immediately.

If the Mandatory Student Conference is unsuccessful and/or the student continues inappropriate behavior, a Mandatory Parent Conference will be scheduled. The student, Dean of Students, the teacher involved and other staff members may be asked to be present for this meeting with the parents.

2. DETENTION
It is important that our students know that they are expected to live the Core Values as all times. If a student breaks a Core Value, the Dean of Students or another staff member may issue a detention for inappropriate behavior. Reasons for detention include, but are not limited to:
Tardiness (twice in one week)
Possession of gum or candy, or other food when not appropriate
Bad language
Dishonesty
Disrespect
Disobedience
Disruptive behavior
Excessive talking in class
Skipping conference, class
Use of cell phone, games, IPods
Uniform violations
Failure to complete/hand in homework

Detention will be served between 4 and 5 PM daily.

3. SCHOOL SUSPENSION
On occasion, student behavior or conduct will be of such severity that he/she will be suspended from school and temporarily removed from the community to consider the behavior or conduct that gave rise to the suspension. When the determination is made to suspend a student, the Dean of Students will call the parent/guardian and send a letter home with the student outlining expectations and action to be taken.

Suspension Based on Detentions
If a student accumulates five (5) detentions in a quarter, he/she will serve an in-school suspension (ISS).

If a student accumulates seven (7) detentions in a quarter, he/she will serve an out of school suspension (OOS).

After ten (10) detentions in a quarter, a Mandatory Conference/Expulsion Hearing will be held.

Other Reasons for Suspension
Students will be suspended for other reasons, such as (Core Values in brackets):
Serious or continued disrespect to a peer or teacher (Respect)
Disruptive behavior, including fighting (Caring, Responsibility)
Defiance of authority (Respect, Following Directions)
Violations of the Parent-Teacher Contract (Following Directions)
Defacing or destroying school property (Respect, Caring)
Truancy (Doing One’s Best)
Cutting classes (Responsibility, Honesty)
Repeatedly refusing to do homework or class work (Doing One’s Best)
Cheating/Forgery/Plagiarism (Honesty)
Repeated offenses related to lateness, uniform and cell phone violations

When the determination is made to suspend a student, the Dean of Students will call the parent/guardian and send a letter home with the student outlining expectations and action to be taken.

PLEASE NOTE LINK COMMUNITY SCHOOL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO GIVE YOUR CHILD AN OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSION WHEN NECESSARY.

Before a student is readmitted to school after a suspension, a parent conference must be held; the student must complete a required assignment; and the student must apologize to the school community with a parent or guardian present. The student may then be placed on probation if warranted.

4. BEHAVIORAL PROBATION
Students who have been suspended may be placed on behavioral probation. A student on behavioral probation will lose certain privileges such as participation in extra-curricular activities and programs including athletics and school trips. He/she will have to earn those back over a period of time. A student will have to demonstrate improved behavior over a period of time to be removed from probation. Parents of students placed on behavioral probation will be notified by letter and a conference will be scheduled.

5. EXPULSION
The administration reserves the right to discontinue the enrollment of any students at its discretion.

The expulsion process is imposed when a student commits a serious violation of Link’s Core Values (regardless of whether the violation takes place on or off school premises, or within or outside the school community), including but not limited to situations in which a student continually has not attempted to cooperate in meeting the requirements of the school; a student is found in possession of a weapon and/or drugs; a student has been accused of stealing; a student exhibits apathy towards learning through extended school absences; a student consistently or egregiously destroys school property; a student shows or threatens severe aggression towards another member of the Link community; or a student has been suspended three times.

The expulsion procedure consists of:
—written notification to the student and parent/guardian of an offense that gives rise to the consideration of expulsion.
the convening of an expulsion committee, consisting of the Head of School, Head of Academic Program, Dean of Students, the student’s advisor and at least one of his/her teachers.
—a meeting of the expulsion committee, student, and parents/guardian to hear the case. At this time, the student may make a statement about why he/she believes he/she should remain a student at Link Community School. Parents/guardians are also permitted to make a statement on the student’s behalf. The committee will ask questions of the student, and the student and parent will excuse themselves from the meeting.
—a deliberation by all members of the expulsion committee, except the Head of School. The group will make a recommendation to the Head of School, who will make the final determination.
a written and verbal notification of the outcome to be provided within 24 hours of the meeting.

6. OVERALL SCHOOL CONSEQUENCES
Link Community School retains the right to keep the overall student body or a portion thereof after school and to remove certain privileges when students have demonstrated negative, disrespectful or difficult behavior. Students will not be kept beyond 4:15 PM without notifying parents/guardians.