Discipline Policies

Discipline Procedures

The Westwood Board of Trustees leaves discipline up to the Headmaster’s discretion. Various methods of discipline are used at Westwood, not excluding corporal punishment. Each teacher maintains an assertive discipline plan that includes rules and consequences. The Headmaster and/or the teacher discipline committee handle all severe disruptions.

Discipline records are cumulative per semester. After a child receives 3 major discipline referrals, that student will be placed on a behavioral contract between the student and the school. The terms of this contract are at the discretion of the Headmaster.

If a student is suspended from school, he/she is not allowed on campus during school or after school for any extra curricular activity.

Minor Discipline Offenses

Minor discipline offenses include, but are not limited to those listed in this section. Discipline infractions will be collective, not by offense.

The following discipline ladder will handle minor classroom management offenses:

• 1st Offense- Break Detention (1 day)
• 2nd Offense- Break Detention (3 days)
• 3rd Offense- Early Morning Detention (1day)
• 4th Offense- Early Morning Detention (3 days)
• 5th Offense- In School Suspension

Classroom Misbehavior

Classroom misbehavior includes, but is not limited to, talking, being inattentive, not staying on task, not coming to class with the proper materials. Violators will be placed on the discipline ladder.

Interrupting a Class

Students are not allowed to interrupt instruction in any manner. Those who hinder classroom instruction will be placed on the discipline ladder or removed from the classroom

Misbehavior During Assembly Programs

All students are expected to behave properly at all school assemblies. Proper respect is to be shown for those conducting the assembly. Pep rallies are considered to be school assemblies.

Chewing Gum

Chewing gum is not allowed on the school campus during normal hours of operation. There is no warning for chewing gum. Students will automatically go to break detention for chewing gum.

Dress Code Violations

Westwood students must abide by the school dress code. Students will automatically go to break detention. If a student has on inappropriate clothing, he/she will be required to cover this clothing for the remainder of the school day.

Permissible Areas and Times

Once a student arrives in the school building, they must stay out of the parking lot. Students are not allowed to go to their cars for any reason. Students are not allowed in the building during break or during lunch. Students arriving early from PE, Lab, or Science must quietly wait outside the building until the bell rings. During lunch and break, middle and high school students who are outside must remain in the area behind the high school building or in the courtyard area. No student is allowed past the right field fence line on the baseball field during lunch or break. No student is allowed in front of the building during lunch or break.

Major Discipline Offenses

Major discipline offenses are not limited to those listed in this section. Discipline procedures are left to the discretion of the Headmaster and the teacher discipline committee. Referral for these offenses can result in the loss of senior privileges and removal from the National Honor Society.

Disrespectful/Defiant Behavior/Profanity

Action taken for this offense is up to the discretion of the teacher based on the level of the offense. If the teacher deems it necessary the student will be referred to the Headmaster. The second time a teacher refers a student who is a member of the National Honor Society to the office for disrespectful/defiant behavior or for profanity, he/she will be removed from the National Honor Society, and if a senior, the senior privileges will be lost.

Display of Affection

Any students showing display of affection including, but not limited to, sitting in laps, kissing, or close romantic hugging will be referred directly to the Headmaster. Fighting Any student who is reported for fighting must report directly to Administration with the possibility of in-school or home suspension.

Bullying/Hazing

Any verbal, physical, or mental intimidation of a student by another student is not acceptable at Westwood School. Students who intimidate, belittle, degrade, or inflict physical or mental harm to another student will be disciplined at the discretion of the Headmaster. Students guilty of this behavior will be assigned a conference with the school counselor. Repeat offenders will be placed on a behavioral contract between the student and the school. Violation of this contract could lead to suspension or dismissal from Westwood.

Destruction of Property

For any destruction of school property, whether willful or accidental, the student will be responsible for paying for the damage. For willful destruction, the student must complete supervised work on the school campus. The number of hours worked will be determined by the school discipline committee and contingent upon damage done to the school. Entering the building without a key will be considered destruction of school property.

Skipping School/Class

Westwood does not allow an individual or group of students to skip school. “Skip days” are not permitted. The school discipline committee will determine whether or not an individual or group is skipping school. Students may be required to make up the time they skipped after school or it may result in a 2 point deduction from the final grading period average in the class/classes skipped. Cases will be reviewed by the committee on an individual basis.

Senior Privileges

Any privileges given to seniors during the school year will be determined by the Headmaster. Seniors are the leaders of the school and should be the model for other students. Those who choose not to set a good example to other students by not following school rules or being academically responsible may have their senior privileges revoked.

College Visitation

The school allows one college visitation day for Seniors and Juniors under the following conditions:

1. Visits must be made prior to March 1st.
2. The counselor will set up the visitation and handle the paper work.
3. Students must obtain a College Day Form from the counselor to be signed by each of the student’s teachers. This form must be turned in to the counselor along with written permission from parent/legal guardian
4. Students must bring a verification letter from the college visited to the counselor upon returning to school. Failure to do so will result in an unexcused absence.
5. No visits are allowed immediately before or after a school holiday without prior approval.
6. Students are not allowed to miss a major test or exam to make a college visit. Teachers have the right to not excuse a student from their class for a college visit.
7. Juniors must take their college day the second semester of their junior year and before March 1st. The same procedures stated above apply.

**Failure to follow the college day procedures will result in the loss of senior privileges.

Electronic Devices

Cell phones, radios, walkmans, pagers, and other electronic devices are to be turned off and put away during the school day. If the device is out for any reason during school hours it will be taken up and kept for 5 school days. If there is a 2nd offense, the device will be confiscated and kept for 10 school days. Further offenses may result in the device being banned for that student.

Felonies

Students found guilty of felonies may be subject to further punishments at the discretion of the school administration and may either be suspended or expelled.

Possession of Flammable Materials-Irritants

Students are not to bring flammable materials or substances (matches, lighters, fireworks, mace, etc.) to school as prohibited by the Fire Marshall. Punishment will be decided by the Headmaster.

Hall Passes

When a student leaves a classroom while class is in session, he/she must obtain a hall pass from his teacher to account for his/her whereabouts. Students in the halls without hall passes can expect to face some type of disciplinary action.

Harassment

Verbal, sexual, or harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. Students who are victims of harassment must report it immediately to the nearest school personnel. Parents will be notified if such behavior is exhibited by a student and he/she will be disciplined at the discretion of the Headmaster.

Lockers

Lockers are the property of Westwood and can be inspected at any given time by school personnel. Students are to keep their lockers clean and orderly. Only athletic locker tags are allowed to be displayed on the outside of the lockers.

Marriage/Pregnancy

Married, pregnant, or students who have either given birth to or fathered a child are not allowed to attend or re-enter Westwood.

Phone Use

Students are not permitted to use the phone during class time. All phone calls are to be made at break or lunch using the designated student phone in the main office. The school secretary must give permission to the student before a call is placed. Students are not to use the business phone in the main office, teacher’s lounge, counselor’s office, Learning Lab, or the office in the gym.

Driving Privileges

It is a student privilege to be able to drive to school and park on campus. Driving privileges can be revoked if students fail to demonstrate driving/parking responsibility. Speeding, playing loud music, erratic parking, driving/parking on the grass in prohibited areas, and littering are grounds for driving privileges to be taken away.

Students Leaving Campus

Students will not be allowed to leave campus for any reason during the school day except for students on the Annual Staff who are selling ads. If a student has a doctor’s appointment that would require him/her to leave school, the parent must provide written or verbal consent to the office in advance. This includes hair appointments.

Incomplete Work

Incomplete report card grades must be made up within the first two weeks of the next grading period unless special permission is given. Failure to make up work within this time period will result in the student getting a zero for the work not completed.

Weapons In School

The possession of weapons on school property is detrimental to the welfare and safety of the students and school personnel and is a violation of state law. No person shall carry, possess, or have in their control any weapon or explosive compounds within a school safety zone, (1000 ft.), in any building, on the school premises, at any school sponsored function or activity, or in any personal vehicle parked on school property. Students are to be careful during hunting season not to bring firearms on campus. Students who do are in violation of school policy and state law and will face severe penalties. “Weapon” means and includes:

A. Any revolver, rifle, or weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind.
B. Any knife.
C. Straight-edge razor
D. Spring stick, metal knucks, blackjack, or any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a manner as to allow them to swing freely.
E. Any disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed blades which are designed to be propelled.
F. Bats, clubs, or other bludgeoned type weapons.

Penalties for violation of this policy will be determined by the Headmaster and may result in criminal prosecution and dismissal from school.

Prohibitions

Alcohol:

The consumption of alcoholic beverages by Westwood students or visitors is strictly forbidden before, during, or after any function sponsored by the school. Westwood functions held off campus carry the same prohibition. Students are reminded that they represent Westwood whether they are on or off campus. The Headmaster will use his/her discretion to add any other disciplinary action if a student violates this policy.

Drugs:

Any student found selling, possessing, or taking illegal drugs on the school grounds or at any school function will be turned over to the proper law enforcement agency and will be subject to expulsion from school.

Tobacco:

The use of any tobacco products by Westwood students is strictly prohibited. Penalty for the violation of this policy will be at the discretion of the Administration.