LCHS Expectations for Discipline

Statements on this page comport with those found in the Student/Parent Handbook.

DisciplineThe Liberty Common High School will follow the Poudre School District’s Code of Conduct with the following emphases:

Behavior Expectations


All students attending Liberty Common High School (grades 7-12) are expected to be well behaved at all times, respecting themselves, others, and property.  Our philosophy toward discipline is that discipline policies and procedures should provide guidance and direction of acceptable behavior with the goal of developing a scholar’s own sense of self-discipline.  LCHS affirms that “effective student discipline is a prerequisite for good educational proactive and productive learning.”  (PSD Code of Conduct and Discipline).

Liberty Common High School Rules (grades 7-12)

Students will:

  1. Attend school consistently, be on time and take responsibility for making up work promptly when absent.  Each student will bear the responsibility for his or her own conduct.  Each student will respect the educational process and learning environment of others by attending class, being prepared and arriving on time.
  2. Follow directions when they are given.
  3. Follow all reasonable requests made by adults on premises with a positive attitude, show respect for others, for self, and for property.  Each student is expected to cooperate with and respect staff and peers, including administrators, teachers, secretaries, custodians and any other people working in the school.  Students are expected to communicate in an acceptable tone of voice using an acceptable choice of words (without profanity or disrespectful tone of voice or words).
  4. DisciplineFollow lunchroom, school grounds, field trip, lab, and individual classroom rules.  Each student is expected to follow school rules when participating in school-related events.
  5. Follow the Dress Code.
  6. Refrain from using threats or intimidation against any other person.
  7. Respect the health and safety of others, will follow all safety rules, and will refrain from using tobacco, alcohol or other illegal substances.
  8. Walk quietly in the halls and talk in a normal tone of voice in the school building.
  9. Remain in seats until dismissed.  The teacher, not the bell, dismisses students.
  10. Not throw or kick snow or rocks on the school grounds.
  11. Not litter or misuse school property.
  12. Not leave school property without permission from an appropriate school employee empowered to make such decisions.
  13. Not bring electronic devices (CD players, radios, games, etc.) to school.  They will be confiscated until the end of the year.  Palm Pilots will be allowed with approval from Headmaster or Director for school purposes only (such as recording assignments and test dates).  Cell phones may be used only to contact parents after school.  Cell phones are not to be used during regular school hours, and are to remain turned off in a locker or backpack and not to be visibly seen.  Acceptability of other electronic devices is at the discretion of the teachers and administration.  Each student will respect the school’s learning environment and will not interfere with the ability of other students to learn.
  14. Obtain permission from the Headmaster or Director to attend school activities (including but not limited to dances and sports events) when he or she has been absent from school on the day of the activity.

 

School Grounds and Equipment Rules

 

Equipment

  • DisciplineEquipment must be used in the manner for which it is intended.
  • Tag, pushing, shoving, chasing, wrestling or other horseplay is not allowed on or near any school or physical-education equipment unless directly related to and a function of classroom instruction.
  • Hanging on, swinging from or climbing on athletic goals or legs of other equipment is not allowed.
  • Please respect P.E. equipment and do not use it without permission.

Sports

  • Observe a “Hands-Off” policy.  Grabbing, holding, tackling, tagging, hitting, or wrestling is not allowed.

 

Behavioral Expectations

  • Students must pick up all trash and food and dispose of it properly.
  • Throwing or kicking of rocks, gravel, sand, dirt, snow, or inappropriate objects is not allowed.
  • Rude or profane language is not allowed.
  • Disrespect is not allowed.
  • Making giant snowballs is not allowed.
  • Hiding, stealing, or playing Keep-Away with another student’s clothing or other belongings is not allowed; bullying, intimidating, chasing, or pulling on another student’s clothing is not allowed.
  • Tell an adult immediately if you or another student is injured.
  • Students may not leave LCHS property during regular school hours without permission of an appropriate staff member authorized to make such an allowance.

                      

Bullying

 

Bullying, intimidating, chasing, handling or pulling on another student’s clothing is not allowed.  When it does occur, students and staff are required to adhere to the following protocol:

  1. BullyingAsk the person who is physically or verbally harassing you to stop.  Don’t joke around or make light of it.  Look the person directly in the eye and state that you would like him or her to stop that behavior.
  2. That student now has two choices.  He or she can stop the behavior or continue it.  If the behavior stops, that problem has been eliminated.
  3. If the problem persists, the student has to have the character to do what is right.  This means reporting the problem to someone in control.  This usually means the classroom teacher.
  4. The teacher then should address the problem with the student and the student’s parents.  Expectations should be clearly defined for the student doing the harassing.
  5. If the harassing continues, this will then become a concern of the Headmaster or Director.  They should be informed of the history of the situation and then establish a behavior contract with the student.
  6. If the student does not adhere to the behavior contract, then he or she is subject to In School Detentions, Out-of-School Suspensions, or eventually an Expulsion may occur.

Bullying is the use of coercion to obtain control over another person or to be habitually cruel to another person. Bullying can occur through written, verbal or electronically transmitted expression or by means of a physical act or gesture.

Bullying is prohibited on school property, at school-sanctioned activities and events, when students are being transported in any vehicle dispatched by the school, or off school property when such conduct has a nexus to a school curricular or non-curricular activity or event.

A student who engages in any act of bullying is subject to appropriate disciplinary action including but not limited to suspension, expulsion and/or referral to law enforcement authorities. The severity and pattern, if any, of the bullying behavior shall be taken into consideration when disciplinary decisions are made.

Cyber-Bullying

 

Cyber BullyingLiberty’s electronic devices, computer networks, or other property, whether accessed on campus or off, during or after school hours, may not be used for the purpose of harassment.  All forms of harassment over the Internet, commonly referred to as “cyberbullying,” are unacceptable and viewed as a violation of Liberty’s acceptable
computer-use policy and procedures.

Malicious use of Liberty’s computer system to develop programs or to institute practices that harass other users or gain unauthorized access to any entity on the system and/or damage the components of an entity on the network is prohibited. Users are responsible for the appropriateness of the material they transmit over the system.

Hate mail, harassment, discriminatory remarks or other antisocial behaviors are expressly prohibited.  Cyberbullying includes, but is not limited to the following misuses of school technology: Harassing, teasing, intimidating, threatening or terrorizing another person by sending or posting inappropriate and hurtful e-mail messages, instant messages, text messages, digital pictures or images, or website postings, including blogs. It is also recognized that the author (poster or sender) of inappropriate material is often disguised (logged on) as someone else.

Students and community members who believe they have been the victim of such misuses of Liberty-owned technology, as described herein, should not erase the offending material from the system. A copy of the material should be printed or otherwise preserved and brought to the attention of the Headmaster or Director.

For situations in which cyberbullying originates from a non-school computer, and is brought to the attention of school officials, any disciplinary action shall be based upon whether the conduct is determined to be severely disruptive of the educational process so that it markedly interrupts or severely impedes the day‑to-day operations of the school and is in violation of a publicized school policy. Such conduct includes, but is not limited to, threats, or making a threat off school grounds, to harm an employee, student or Member of the Board of Directors of The Liberty Common School.

Disciplinary action may include, but is not limited to, loss of computer privileges, detention, suspension or expulsion for verified perpetrators of cyberbullying.

Always feel free to confer with the Headmaster or Director if you have any questions or concerns.

Students possess the right of privacy as well as freedom from unreasonable search and seizure as guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.  This individual right, however, is balanced by the school’s responsibility to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all its students and to ensure compliance with school rules.  School employees (usually administrators) may conduct searches of property or person when they have reason to suspect the health, safety, or welfare of students or staff may be endangered.

Liberty is not responsible for loss, theft, or breakage of items brought to school.

Infractions

Dress CodeFor purposes of handling discipline, Liberty Common High School will consider infractions of rules as either major or minor.

Special note about dress code violations:  Students in violation of dress code may be required to call home for appropriate clothing.  Students must be strictly in code to attend class.  Students out of code may do class work in the office or in an isolated workspace until dress is in code.  Continued dress code violations will require stronger consequences including suspensions and a conference with the parent.

Examples of Minor Infractions include, but are not limited to the following:

Yelling; slamming; kicking; throwing; running in halls; causing minor damage to personal property (without intent to injure others); losing school property*; disobeying school and classroom rules; clowning around in class or halls; continual patterns of misbehavior in or out of class; ridiculing others or using profane language or gestures; showing disrespect to an adult through face, body, or action; three unexcused tardies per quarter; continual late arrivals to classes.

Examples of Major Infractions include, but are not limited to the following:

Any minor infraction or pattern of activity that is detrimental to the welfare or safety of other students or repeatedly interferes with a school’s ability to provide educational opportunities to other students; hitting, shoving, biting, or physically assaulting another student; verbal intimidation or threats, physical intimidation, or sexual intimidation or harassment; possession of matches or cigarette lighter (or other dangerous items); willful destruction or defacing of school property*; theft*; actions of continual willful disobedience or open persistent defiance of proper authority; cheating on a test; plagiarism; tampering with any document; providing false statements of any kind; leaving the school property without permission; truancy; or cutting class.

Fines*Fines will be levied to parents for vandalism or theft.  Fines will also be levied for lost or damaged school property.  Students may also be required to be involved in the maintenance or repair of damaged property.

 

Discipline procedures

Minor infractions are generally handled by a student’s classroom teacher, but may also involve the Headmaster or Director.  Anytime a student is required to see the Headmaster or Director, a learning opportunity arises.  Every student is encouraged to be responsible for this or her own actions, and students are instructed to share the incident with their parents.  If and when necessary, the interaction between the student and the Headmaster or Director will be followed up with a phone call or written communication to the parents as soon as possible after the incident. 

The Headmaster or Director or faculty members may assign consequences.  Depending on the nature of the offense, damages to others, and continued pattern of offenses, consequences may include detentions, service, student behavior plans, fair remuneration, relinquishing privileges, apologies, required extra work, and/or activity restrictions.  Should a situation become more severe, a parent conference will be required immediately.  For major infractions, suspension procedures will be followed.

All detentions for discipline will be served soon after the infraction.  If the discipline situation warrants notification of the parents, an attempt will be made to notify them the day the detention is given.  Students serving a detention or suspension on the same day as an after school activity will not be allowed to participate in the activity until the detention is served.  Any change in the detention or suspension date(s) will be at the discretion of the Headmaster or Director.

Major infractions may require an immediate parent conference prior to suspension, during which time appropriate follow-up actions are discussed.  These actions may include activity restrictions, creation of remedial student discipline plans, and requirement of parent to attend class with student for a specified time or other plans.  Discipline referrals and suspensions become part of a student’s permanent record.

If a student has been given an In-School Detention or an Out-Of-School Suspension two or more times during the year, or if the student has received more than 8 tardies in a quarter, the Headmaster or Director  reserve the right to restrict the school events or field trips that the student may attend.  All decisions concerning this matter will be made at the discretion of the Headmaster or Director.

Formal Discipline Proceedings

DisciplineAccording to CRS 22-33-105 2a) and b), a student may not be suspended for time exceeding 25 school days.  Opportunities will be given for a student to make up school work during suspension; however, the school will determine the amount of credit the student shall receive for this makeup work.

Suspensions at Liberty Common High School can be assigned only by the Headmaster or Director.  Prior to suspension, the student’s parent will be notified and a parent conference will be required before the student returns to class. Notice of suspension shall be given in writing.  An informal hearing will be offered to a parent and student after receipt of notice of suspension lasting less than 10 days, by the Headmaster or Director.  A parent conference involving the Headmaster or Director, student and student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) may be required before a student will be readmitted following a suspension.  A suspension lasting more than 10 days will be given a formal hearing. 

Levels

If the student continues to be disruptive and exhibits inappropriate behavior or actions, the student will be placed on levels.  A level 1 is an indication that the student is exhibiting behavior or actions that are not acceptable.  A level 2 status indicates that the student is continuing with the inappropriate actions or behavior.

A level 3 will result in expulsion from the school and the school district.  Liberty Common High School reserves the right to place the student at any level at any point according to the severity of the offense.

Step 1, Initial suspension

An initial suspension will occur after a major infraction or a series of minor infractions, depending on the severity of the infraction(s).  Step one, initial suspension, will include a minimum of a one-day, and a maximum of a ten-day suspension.  A remedial student discipline plan may be created during the conference between parent, student, and Headmaster or Director depending on the severity of the infraction.  A parent-student-Headmaster or Director conference may be required before student re-admittance to the classroom.  Depending on the severity of the infraction, the student may or may not be placed on a level 1 at this point.

Step 2, Secondary suspension with remedial discipline plan review and revision

SuspensionA secondary suspension is the second step of formal discipline proceedings and will occur after one or two major infractions following initial suspension, depending on severity of offense, and/or as a result of the student’s violation of his or her remedial discipline plan.  Step 2 suspensions will include a minimum of two days and a maximum of no more than ten days total suspension.  A required parent-student-Headmaster or Director conference will be held before student is allowed to return to school.  If a remedial student discipline plan already exists, it will be reviewed and revised.  If a remedial student discipline plan has not been created as yet, one will be created for the student at this point.  Depending on the severity of the infraction, the student may or may not be placed on a level 1 or 2 at this point.

Step 3, Final suspension

A final suspension from Liberty Common School High School is the third and final step of formal discipline proceeding.  After a final suspension, and prior to movement toward a declaration of “habitual disruption” (placing the student on a Level 3) or the expulsion proceedings, a student may appeal the decision and obtain a hearing from a representative of the Board of Directors.  In addition, “The board of education of each district may deny admission to, or expel for any period not extending beyond one year, any child whom the board of education, in accordance with the limitations imposed by this article, shall determine does not qualify for admission to, or continued attendance at, the public schools of the district. (CRS 22-33-105 2c).

According to Colorado statute, a student may be declared habitually disruptive after being suspended three times in one year on the grounds set forth in CRS 11-33-106 for causing a material and substantial disruption in the class, on school grounds, on school vehicles, or at school activities or events because of behavior that was initiated, willful, and overt on the part of the student, and the suspensions were made for

  • DisciplineContinual, willful disobedience or open and persistent defiance of proper authority;
  • Willful destruction or defacing of school property;
  • Behavior on or off school property, which is detrimental to the welfare or safety of other students or of school personnel;
  • Serious violations in a school building or in or out of school property;
  • Repeated interference with a school’s ability to provide educational opportunities to other students;
  • And other grounds found in CRS22-33-106(1)(a),(b),(c),(d), and (e).

Expulsion from Liberty Common High School shall be mandatory for the following violations:

  • Carrying, bringing, using, or possessing a dangerous weapon (including a firearm or firearm facsimile, any pellet, or BB gun or other device operational or not, designed to propel projectiles by spring action or compressed air, fixed blade knife with a  blade that measures longer than three inches in length or a spring loaded knife with a blade longer than three and one-half inches, any object, device, instrument, material, or substance, whether animate or inanimate used or intended to be used to inflict death or serious bodily injury;
  • The sale or possession of a drug or controlled substance;
  • Death threats to other students, faculty or administration, other school personnel or Members of the Board of Directors.
  • The commission of an act, which if committed by an adult would be robbery or assault other than third degree assault.

Expulsion is also mandatory if a student is declared habitually disruptive.

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