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Community Cooperation
PROLOGUE
Good discipline is necessary to maintain a safe teaching/learning environment. Upon the student's acceptance at De La Salle Institute, parents and students agree to uphold all school regulations. Each year, all students are required to purchase a Student Handbook for the current school year which they must have with them in school everyday. The Handbook is available in the school bookstore. The cost is $6.00. SCHOOL DAY The bell schedules for both campuses are printed on the back cover of this Handbook. The Administration of De La Salle determines when to close the school due to inclement weather. ATTENDANCE - ABSENCE - TARDINESS The first requirement for success in school is that the student be in attendance every day. According to the Illinois Attendance Code, school attendance is mandatory. If a student is sick, and cannot attend school, procedures for absences must be followed. Parents should, however, do everything in their power to see that their child gets to school each day. Students should not be absent from school to perform errands or make appointments during school hours. All appointments should be made after school. PROCEDURE FOR ABSENCE On the morning of a student's absence from school, his/her parent/guardian must report the absence by phone to the school office before 9:00 a.m. The reason for absence, along with the student's name and I.D. Number should be stated. Following the absence, a student is required to bring a note from a parent/guardian stating the reasons and the dates of the absence. The note should be presented to the Dean of Students Office before classes begin in the morning. Lack of either a phone call or a note is a discipline offense. Lack of both a phone call and a note is considered being truant. Students should report to the Dean’s Office by 8:00 a.m. following an absence. The Dean will issue an admit slip which the student is to show each of his teachers. Failure to obtain an admit slip before classes begin will result in detention. Failure to show the admit slip to each teacher will result in detention. Advance permission to be absent must be requested in writing by a parent or guardian. The absence permitted in advance must be verified by the Dean of Students. Students absent from school or class may not attend a school function in the afternoon or evening on the day of absence. In this case, the student will receive an automatic detention. Additionally, students will receive a detention if they are on school property on the same day that they missed school. APPOINTMENTS Students who must be absent, tardy, or have an early dismissal due to outside appointments during the school day, must present official verification of the appointment. Examples are official physician's or dentist's notes or appointment cards. The document must bear the date and time of the appointment, as well as the student's name. Failure to present such documentation on the day of the student's return will merit one detention for each class period missed. COLLEGE VISITS Each senior is allowed two days during the school year to visit colleges and/or attend college fairs. If the following procedures are followed, these two days will not be counted as absences on the student's attendance record. Procedure: A College Visit Form, located in Student Services, must be completed three days before a college visit. A phone call from a parent to the Dean's office must be made the day of the visit notifying that office of the student's absence and the student must present a note to the Dean's office upon his/her return to school. VACATIONS - HOLIDAY PERIODS Parents are to avoid scheduling family trips or vacations that would take their child out of school for one or more days. Doing make-up work for days missed is never the same as actually being in class. Parents are to notify the Dean of Students, in writing, in advance of these foreseen absences. EARLY DISMISSAL If a student becomes ill during school, he/she is to report to the Dean's Office. The Dean will call the parents to arrange for someone to pick up the student. Students who are ill or injured will not be allowed to leave school on their own under any circumstances. A student who is dismissed early must still present a note to the Dean the following day. If an early dismissal is foreseen for some important reason, the student must bring a dated, signed note from his/her parents to the Dean's Office the day before the early dismissal will occur. A phone number, where a parent can be reached during the day, must be provided on this note so that the early dismissal can be verified with a parent. If the request cannot be verified with a parent, the student will not be given an early dismissal. Phone calls requesting early dismissals will not be accepted unless it is an emergency situation and the parent is going to come into the Dean's Office to pick up the student and sign him/her out.Students on early dismissal are not permitted in the hallways during class time. TRUANCY Truancy is defined as being absent from school at any time without the permission of school authorities. Students who are truant will be required to make up time at detention. Students will receive seven (7) detentions for each infraction, a detention for each class missed. Anytime a student is absent, he/she will be considered truant unless the student and parents verify the students whereabouts through the proper school procedures for absence. Upon the second truancy the student will go to the Discipline Board. EXCESSIVE ABSENCE When a student is absent ten (10) days, the student and his/her parents/guardians may have to meet with school authorities. The student then will be put on PROBATION. He/she may be subject to failing classes and may be required to appear at a Discipline Board hearing. TARDINESS Morning tardiness means that a student has arrived late for the first period of his/her class schedule. All business must be taken care of before class begins. Students must be in the classroom before the 1st period bell rings or the student is considered tardy. When a student arrives late in the morning, he/she is to report immediately to the Dean's Office for a tardy slip. This type of tardiness will be recorded on the report card and permanent record. This will result in a detention. If a student enters the building after the first period has ended, a detention will be given for every period the student is late. Student's morning tardiness will only be excused with a written mechanics bill to verify "car trouble" or police accident report. A note from a parent does not excuse a tardy. An excused tardy will be at the discretion of the Dean's Office. Simple tardiness means that a student has arrived late to a class other than the first period of the day. This tardiness will result in a detention. Any student who is more than 15 minutes late for any class of the day is considered to be cutting class and will receive two (2) detentions for this kind of tardiness. EXCESSIVE TARDINESS If a student's tardiness to his/her first period is chronic, the parents will be notified. Upon the tenth (10th) tardy to school, over the course of the entire year, the student will be dropped from his/her first period class with a loss of credit which will have to be made up in Summer School. A student in this case will be given a grade of "WF" which means a loss of credit. Excessive tardiness may also result in a Discipline Board hearing. DRESS/APPEARANCE CODE The primary responsibility for the dress and appearance of the student belongs to the parents. Concern for daily appearance is essential to the student's progress in maturing. It is, therefore, expected that students be neat and clean. The manner of dress should be appropriate to the serious nature of study. The following regulations are made so that the student will develop a consciousness of the necessity of a neat personal appearance, not only when he/she is in school, but at all times in the public eye. Any violation of Dress/Appearance Codes will result in detention and/or parent notification. If a student is sent home because of a dress code violation, he/she will receive a detention for each class missed. The Dean of Students interprets these regulations. Students should arrive to school and leave school in dress code attire. This rule applies to young ladies visiting the Main Campus and young men visiting the West Campus before, during, or after school. Students must wear dress pants or skirts properly: up around the waist not down around the hips. Students will not be allowed to wear two pairs of slacks at one time.
STUDENT CONDUCT De La Salle students are expected to be courteous and respectful at all times. A mutual respect is expected among students, teachers, and parents. De La Salle does not condone any student being involved in hazing, initiation rites, or harassment of any kind. Immediate disciplinary action may be taken. At all times, whether in school, in public, at social events, athletic contests or on public transportation, good manners and courtesy should be the mark of the De La Salle student. A student's conduct reflects not only on one's self and one's family, but also on many other people associated with De La Salle. Serious breaches of this policy are cause for dismissal. For these reasons De La Salle students are expected to observe the following rules of conduct. BEHAVIOR Courtesy to all faculty members, staff members and visitors is expected at all times. Faculty and staff members are to be addressed as "Brother", "Father", "Sister", "Mr.", "Mrs.", "Miss" or "Ms.". Pushing, shoving, running, unbecoming language, shouting, throwing of objects in any circumstances in or around the school or on buses will not be tolerated. Student approval at assemblies should never be shown by whistling or shouting. Booing at assemblies or athletic events is not allowed since it shows bad taste and reflects negatively on the student body. Students are not allowed to post signs, distribute pamphlets or flyers on the premises without the approval from the Dean of Students/Assistant Principal. STUDENT PARKING Applications for limited parking spaces may be submitted to the business office on the book sale day. There is a fee for the student parking located in the faculty/staff lots. The Business Office will assign parking places and issue parking stickers to be displayed in the left hand corner of the rear window. Students are to only use their assigned parking places. Parking on campus is a privilege and may be revoked if abused by reckless driving. TRANSPORTATION Students who ride the school bus are expected to behave properly. The bus driver reserves the right to bring the bus back to school if students are out of order. Should this happen, parents will be called to come to school and pick up students responsible. The Dean of Students may cancel the school bus for reasons of misconduct or may exclude particular students from the bus program. Students who misbehave on the bus are subject to suspension and expulsion.Students who are reported by the CTA or RTA as misbehaving on public transportation are subject to detention, suspension or expulsion. GAMBLING Card playing, coin pitching, participation in athletic contest pools and gambling of any kind are not permitted in the school or on school grounds. VANDALISM Any student involved in defacing or damaging school property will be expected to make restitution and is subject to suspension and expulsion. FIRE DRILLS During a fire drill the following rules are to be observed:
According to City Ordinance 193-7-12, it is unlawful for students to use or have electronic paging devices such as (2-way radios, beepers or cellular phones) in their possession while on school property or at school functions. Electronic devices such as cellular phones, radios, CD players, pagers/beepers are not to be used or carried ANYTIME during the school day. All such devices must be turned off and put away out of view before entering the school building and secured in school locker. If a student is found to be in violation of this policy, the electronic devices will be confiscated and held until the student serves detentions and the student's parent/guardian comes to school to pick up the device. A second offense will result in a SUSPENSION and detentions. Again, all such devices will be confiscated and held until the student's parent/guardian comes to school to pick up the device. A third offense will result in a conference with the Discipline Board. PHONE CALLS/DELIVERIES Telephones are available for student usage before school, after school, and during lunch periods. Students are never allowed to receive phone calls, messages, or deliveries of any kind during the school day. All students who attend Summer School are required to follow and abide by the same policies and guidelines, as stated in the calendar/handbook, for the regular school year. STUDY HALLS Study halls are to be treated as any other academic period. Students may use study hall only for quiet study, doing homework assignments, and reading class work or other material related to class work. Students are to be on time for study hall every day. Students may not leave the room without the teacher's permission, nor are they to roam the halls during study periods. Daily attendance at study hall is mandatory, even if it is the student's last period of the day. The dress code and all other school rules apply to study hall. SMOKING Smoking inside of the school building or outside on the campus is considered a serious offense and will result in detention. Possession of cigarettes in one's hand, even though not lit, is considered as an intent to smoke and thus a violation of school regulations and will result in detention. Matches, lighters and cigarettes are not allowed to be on one's person or in one's locker at any time during the school day. This rule applies to the possession and/or use of chewing tobacco as well. STUDENTS VISITING OTHER SCHOOLS De La Salle students are encouraged to attend regularly scheduled activities at other schools, such as athletic contests, math tournaments, band concerts, etc. Students may visit other schools if they are in the company of their parents or legal guardian, or an official representative of that school, such as a teacher or a coach. If De La Salle receives a complaint, by an individual, school or other establishment, the student(s), is subject to disciplinary action such as a detention, suspension or expulsion. RESTRICTED AREAS /OUT OF BOUNDS De La Salle is a co-institutional closed campus for young men and young women at two separate locations. Once students are on school grounds, they are not permitted to leave the school premises until dismissal at the end of the school day. Commercial establishments within a two-block area of the west or main campus are out of bounds. Students are prohibited from trespassing on personal property neighboring the west or main campus. Failure to comply with this is a major disciplinary offense. During class time a student will be considered "out of bounds" and subject to detention if he/she is found to be in any area of the school without an official Hall Pass. GANGS De La Salle's stance relative to gang activity and involvement is in full cooperation with city and community anti-gang programs. Visible symbols of gang affiliation or representation are strictly forbidden. Gang graffiti or symbols in text books, notebooks, lockers or on clothing may result in expulsion. SUBSTANCE POSSESSION AND USE The primary function and main responsibility of the school is the education and welfare of the student body. Therefore, in the best interest of the students and school environment, the school, acting in loco parentis, must act responsibly in responding to any questionable behavior or possession of alcohol, narcotics drug paraphernalia or controlled steroids, narcotics, chemicals or other non-prescribed drugs or drug-related paraphernalia at De La Salle Institute or at any school activity are subject to discipline up to and including expulsion from school. Students under the influence of drugs or alcohol at a school function will be detained until parents come to school. When a student is not expelled, an alcohol/drug treatment program or counseling and alcohol/drug testing will be required. WEAPONS Students are not to possess or handle weapons. A "weapon" is defined as any object which is designed to cause bodily harm. Storage of a weapon in a student's locker is considered possession of a weapon. Suspension, probation, or expulsion may result. DETENTION Detention is held daily. Students who are assigned to detention must report on time on the day the detention is given. They are to bring a pen and paper with them to detention. They are not to bring books, bookbags, coats, or other items to detention. Students who are late will receive an additional detention. Students who fail to appear are liable to additional detentions and suspension. No student will be excused from detention without the advance, expressed permission of the Dean of Students. The only valid excuse from an assigned detention is a doctor's appointment verified by an official doctor's note. A student may be assigned to one detention for every minor offense he/she commits. Some examples of minor offenses are dress code violations, tardiness, minor classroom or hallway misconduct and other minor infractions as determined by the Dean of Students. A student may also be assigned two (2) or more detentions for any major infraction of school rules. Some examples of major offenses are: cutting class; insubordination; smoking; vandalism; theft; possession of another student's or school property; forgery; extreme tardiness; and other offenses as determined by the Dean of Students. For each offense, a student receives an "Offense Slip" indicating the infraction. The student is to have this slip signed by a parent and returned to the Dean's Office by 8:00 a.m. the next school day. Failure to return this slip on time merits another detention. Students may only serve one detention at a time. If a student receives more than one detention on the same day he/she must serve one day for each detention received (two detentions issued the same day will result in two consecutive days in detention). All detention time must be served before the end of the school year. Detention time can be served after final exams. However, no extensions will be given into the summer. Students may be required to serve Saturday detention. Students assigned to detention may be required to work on projects determined by the school. Parents and students consent to this school policy by the student's enrollment at De La Salle. Teachers may detain students after school for a reasonable length of time. LEGAL SEARCH De La Salle Institute is private property: therefore, the administration of De La Salle Institute reserves the right to search students, their lockers and property, including any vehicle parked on De La Salle school grounds. The search will be made in circumstances where the school has a reasonable belief that a crime has been or is in the process of being committed, or that the school has reasonable cause to believe that the search is necessary to maintain school discipline or to enforce school policies. The student must comply or the school will require that he/she withdraw from school. PROBATION A student may be placed on probation by the Dean of Students for accumulated major and minor infractions of school rules and regulations. Any student who accumulates ten (10) detentions will be placed on probation. If an appreciable improvement in behavior is not evident, the student will be brought before the Discipline Board for a conference. SUSPENSION If a student's misconduct is considered serious enough, he/she will be suspended from school by the Dean of Students for a period of time until his/her parents come to school for a conference with the Dean or with the Discipline Board. Suspension keeps the student away from school, presumably at home and out of class. It is a method of dealing with unacceptable student behavior. During suspension the student may not attend class, receive academic credit for work that is missed, make-up tests or quizzes, or participate in extra-curricular activities. Suspension or in-school suspension may be imposed on a student for a variety of reasons, but all of them deal with a very serious breach of school regulations. While the examples given here are not an all-inclusive list, they are reasons for suspension of a student. A student may be suspended immediately for cutting detention, for being involved in a fight or for being involved in the use of alcohol or drugs. A student may be suspended for any major offense, such as insubordination, theft, possession of another student's or school property, violation of dress code, vandalism or forgery and violation of the electronic devices policy on school grounds. Suspension or in-school suspension may be imposed on a student for varying lengths of time, depending upon the offenses involved. There is no set standard of days; each offense is dealt with as a separate incident. Suspension for most major offenses usually lasts until there has been contact with the parents, either by phone or in person. Students are usually not suspended for more than three days; in most cases the normal length of time necessary to contact the parents is one school day. Usually, the length of the suspension depends upon the availability of the parents. An example of a one-day suspension is a fight between two students. The students are usually sent home to prevent further confrontations between them. Another example of suspension for one day is a case where a student is suspended after appearing before the Board of Discipline. This is to allow the Principal time to review the recommendation of the Board and to make his final decision. In very serious cases, a student may also be suspended prior to his/her conference before the Board of Discipline. Students who are suspended are not to participate in any school activities whatsoever. They may not practice for or participate in athletic contests. They may not attend school functions such as club meetings, school dances or athletic contests. Students and parents will be notified by the Dean of Students of all terms regarding the nature of the suspension. EXPULSION Expulsion is the last resort against a serious offense. Offenses warranting expulsion include theft; possession of another student's or school property; possession, sale or use of drugs or alcohol; any instrument which may be considered to be a weapon; tampering with protective fire equipment; continual discipline problems; and very serious breaches of conduct which reflect unfavorably on De La Salle or threaten the good order and well being of the school community. The above mentioned items are not all inclusive; they are simply examples of actions that may warrant expulsion. The Principal reserves the right to expel a student. Students who have been expelled are not allowed to attend any De La Salle functions, games, dances, etc. De La Salle has no obligation to render any normal school services to any student who has been expelled. DISCIPLINE BOARD If a student is continually uncooperative or if the student commits an offense liable to expulsion, he/she will be brought to the Discipline Board for a conference. The Board will consist of three (3) faculty members, appointed by the Principal, who will review the case and make recommendations to the Principal. The Board will hear the student's side of an issue as well as anything his/her parents wish to say on the topic. The Board will recommend expulsion, reinstatement or strict probation in the case. Strict probation is the most serious sanction of the school before expulsion. The specific terms are established by the Board. If a student violates the terms of his/her strict probation it could result in immediate expulsion. Failure of a student and one of his/her parents to appear for a scheduled Discipline Board conference could result in automatic dismissal of the student. The Principal makes the final decision in these cases. |
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