Our discipline philosophy at Laurel School has two main goals. First, we want to maintain a safe, responsible, and respectful environment for all students by stopping inappropriate behavior. Second, we want to help children to learn self-responsibility for choosing appropriate behavior. At Laurel we focus on the three R.E.D. rules:

Respect = Keep hands and feet to yourself

Empathy = The closest person to an injured student, usually the person who caused the injury, is expected to take care of the student until they feel better.

Disagreement = If a disagreement arises during a game, the students involved need to leave the game, until the issue is resolved. Seek adult help if needed.

Behavioral guidance

School personnel recognize their responsibility in helping children learn and grow not only academically, but socially and emotionally too. Every attempt is made to resolve behavioral difficulties children may be having by providing guidance for their acceptance of responsibility for their behavior. The classroom teacher and Principal (if necessary) will keep you informed through phone calls, notes, weekly reports, etc. of your child’s behavior.

Misbehavior

In the event of misbehavior, time is taken to discuss with a child his/her actions, why they are inappropriate, and what actions might be taken to correct the behavior. Consequences are made as appropriate to the misbehavior as possible.

Conflicts

Conflicts between students are handled through Conflict Resolution strategies: Students work with an adult to listen to both sides of the story, come to a common agreement as to what the problems are, and suggest solutions they could use to resolve the problem. The focus is on the resolution of the problem. Disciplinary consequences will be made by the adult, if deemed necessary, after hearing the story of both children.

Bullying

Bullying among children is aggressive behavior that is intentional and involves an imbalance of power or strength. A child who is bullied has a hard time defending him/herself. Usually bullying is repeated over time. Laurel School emphasizes that you work with the staff at our school to find a solution to stop the bullying for the sake of your child as well as other students.

Discipline Referrals

Progressively intensive consequences are enforced should misbehavior continue. All students are expected to follow the campus rules and school behavior standards. Students not following the rules may be issued a Discipline Referral. Discipline Referrals may be issued by any employee of the school district and are processed through the school office. Discipline Referrals will be sent home to inform parents of the problem and resulting action.

Students that choose to break any classroom or school rules may face one or more of the following consequences:

1. Classroom consequences

2. Referral to the office

3. Student conference

4. Reflective writing on what happened (i.e., My part, What I could have done, Lifeskill I could have used, and what I could do next time)

5. Apology note

6. Detention (before or after school, recess, lunch)

7. School service

8. No activities list

9. In-school suspension

10. Home suspension

11. Shortened or modified schedule

12. Recommendation to the board for expulsion

Suspension And Expulsion

A student may be recommended for suspension or expulsion for the following reasons:

1. Damaged or unlawfully acquired school or private property/Knowingly received school or private property

2. Caused, aided in causing or threatened to cause, physical injury to another person

3. Willfully used force upon the person of another

4. Possessed, used, sold or furnished tobacco, controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, alcohol or prescription drugs

5. Caused or attempted to cause damage to school or private property including but not limited to electronic files and databases.

6. Committed obscene act, profanity, or vulgarity

7. Disrupted school activities, defied authorities

8. Possessed firearm, imitation firearm, knife, explosive or other dangerous object

9. Caused or attempted to cause, an act of hate violence

10. Committed sexual harassment

11. Committed robbery or extortion

12. Committed, or attempted to commit, sexual assault or battery

13. Harassed, intimidated, or threatened a student who is a complaint witness or a witness in a school disciplinary action

14. Aided or abetted, as defined in Penal Code section 31, the infliction or attempted infliction of physical injury to another person.

15. Committed, attempted terrorist threat against others/school

16. Bringing objects of no useful purpose to school (i.e. paintballs, bullets, etc.)

17. Intentionally create a hostile or intimidating educational environment directed at either school district personnel or pupils

Any student possessing, furnishing, selling, using or is under the influence of any illegal drug or alcohol will automatically be referred to the Oakley Union School District Board of Trustees for possible expulsion.