Code of Conduct
Sacred Heart High School is a Catholic community committed to fostering respect and mutual support in recognition of each person’s uniqueness and giftedness. Enrollment in Sacred Heart High School indicates a willingness by students, parents, and staff to fully participate in creating a non-violent environment where creativity of expression and learning can take place. This obligation is extended to each member of the school community.
The traditions of Sacred Heart call for the highest standards of behavior and deportment. Sacred Heart students are to be courteous and respectful at all times to adults and to each other. The privilege to attend Sacred Heart High School and the responsibilities of this code apply not only to functions on the campus, but to all school sponsored activities.
Parents’ pivotal role as co-educators of their children, with the help of the school’s dedicated staff, must be seen by the students as collaborative and consistent. Parent-teacher communication is an essential element in the growth of each student. Sacred Heart High School is a conduit in broadening and reinforcing parental values. Parents and teachers can best serve the students by working together, discussing any misunderstanding or confusion, and mutually supporting one another.
Since teachers of Sacred Heart High School are dedicated to finding the best means of guiding and teaching students, classroom order and discipline are consistent with the school’s code of conduct. Rules and regulations are necessary for the safety and well being of the students. It is the obligation of all students to be familiar with this code of conduct.
1. Once a student arrives on campus, he/she is not permitted to leave the building (this includes the parking lot).
2. High School students are to use only the main entrance of the school when entering and exiting the building.
3. Students who drive to school are required to drive with caution in the parking lot and keep the volume of car radios at a respectful level.
4. Students are expected to be courteous and respectful when entering, riding or leaving public vehicles. Disciplinary referrals received by Sacred Heart High School from bus companies will result in disciplinary action against the student. The Principal can revoke any student’s privilege to ride a bus to or from school for misbehavior.
5. Students are to follow the school schedule and be present in the designated location. Students are not permitted to miss a class, be in any unsupervised location, or leave the building and campus without the administration’s permission.
6. Quiet and orderly behavior is expected in all areas of the school especially classrooms, hallways, lavatories, cafeteria, library, locker room, chapel, as well as on the buses. Running, horseplay, and “play” fighting are not permitted.
7. Students are not permitted to leave the cafeteria for any reason during lunchtime without the approval of a lunch monitor.
8. Respect for personal and school property is most important. Ownership and pride in the school and its property is the responsibility of each student. Proper care is to be taken of all books, supplies and school equipment. Any damage must be reported immediately. The student responsible will be held liable for the cost incurred.
9. Any item that would promote a distraction and disruption to the learning environment such as iPods and electronic devices are not permitted for use at any time except during lunch periods and only in the cafeteria. Such items will be confiscated and a $25.00 fine will be imposed as well as a detention.
10. Cell phones are not to be used anywhere in the school building including the cafeteria during the school day. Texting during the school day is not permitted. The taking of pictures or videos during the school day is strictly prohibited. If a student brings a cell phone to school it must be kept in his/her pocket. If it is taken out, it may be confiscated. A fine of $15 will be paid and a detention served before it is returned.
11. Students are not permitted to chew gum in school.
12. Students are not permitted to eat or drink in classrooms.
13. Students are expected to be honest at all times. Cheating, lying, plagiarizing and stealing are totally inappropriate and will not be tolerated.
14. Inappropriate language is not acceptable in or around the school building.
15. Any public display of affection is inappropriate and unacceptable.
16. Smoking anywhere on or around campus is not permitted. Students will be issued a detention and a $25.00 fine. Parents will be notified. Repeat offenses of this policy will result in suspension.
17. Gambling of any sort is strictly prohibited.
18. Verbal, physical or emotional bullying will not be tolerated. Cases of bullying are referred to the Dean of Students.
19. Fighting will result in immediate suspension or expulsion.
20. The use of illegal drugs including alcohol is unlawful and dangerous. Any student found possessing or using any unlawful substance anywhere on or around school grounds, or while involved in any school weekday or weekend activity is subject to immediate suspension or expulsion.
The administration and faculty, along with the essential support of the parents, will always expect appropriate behavior of the highest standards befitting Sacred Heart students. If expectations are clearly articulated to all members of the school community, so must the consequences. Students will be held accountable for inappropriate behavior. Misconduct at Sacred Heart High School may result in a verbal reprimand, a constructive writing assignment, a service-oriented project, a formal discipline report, confiscation of property, detention, probation, suspension or expulsion. The administration of the school reserves the right to institute, amend, or change the policies of Sacred Heart High School to meet the specific needs of a situation.
Detention
Detention is the first step in the disciplinary process. Detentions are given for minor infractions. These might include, but are not limited to:
- • Tardiness to school
- • Dress code violations
- • Vulgarity
- • Disruption in the classroom
- • Disrespectful behavior toward an authority figure, etc.
Detention is held Monday through Friday from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM in the Detention Room. Detention must be served for the day it is assigned. A student who does not report to detention will be required to serve two detentions.
Students are expected to report to detention on time and dressed in accordance with the Sacred Heart High School Uniform Dress Code Policy.
Saturday Detention is given to students who have chronic discipline problems or excessive latenesses. Saturday Detention may be held on any Saturday designated by the administration from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Failure to report to a Saturday detention will result in an immediate suspension.
In- School Suspension
In-School Suspension is the second step in the disciplinary process.
In-School Suspension is given to a student whose unacceptable behavior is deemed serious enough to warrant more than a detention. Behavior that warrants In-School Suspension might include, but is not limited to:
- • Serious disrespect of any kind
- • Repeated infractions
- • Defacing school property
- • Other violations at the discretion of the Principal
Probation
Probation is the third step in the disciplinary process.
Students who have accumulated multiple detentions will be placed on probation. A parent conference, to discuss the terms of the probation, is required before a student is placed on probation. Probation means that a student’s behavior is monitored by the Administration. A student who continues to be a discipline problem can be suspended or expelled. Behavior that warrants probation might include, but is not limited to:
- • Repeated infractions
- • Multiple failures
- • Lack of improvement – behavior and/or academic
- • Serious violation of school rules
Expulsion
Expulsion is the final and most dramatic step in the disciplinary process.
Expulsion refers to the immediate dismissal of a student who has violated a school rule or rules in such a grave manner that the student cannot be allowed to continue at Sacred Heart High School. Behavior that warrants expulsion might include, but is not limited to:
- • Possession, use, or sale of alcohol or any controlled substance
- • Possession of weapons
- • Fighting
- • Stealing
The school reserves the right, at any time, to suspend or request the withdrawal of any student whose conduct is deemed inappropriate or whose continued presence is considered detrimental to all concerned.
Students are here by invitation of Sacred Heart High School. At the end of the school year, the records of those who have been involved in disciplinary problems will be evaluated. Those whose behavior is deemed unacceptable may have their invitation to continue revoked. They will then have to withdraw from Sacred Heart High School.
Students