The purpose of the Restorative Practices Program is the improvement of citizenship in an individual student resulting in the enhancement of the overall quality of life at Hanover High School. The Restorative Practices Program is designed for students who have a) violated the Academic Integrity Policy (AlP) or b) at the discretion of the Dean, been involved in other significant behavioral incidents. It is designed to help students take responsibility for their actions, recognize that their conduct caused harm to others, make amends, and reintegrate into the community. There are four key principals of the Restorative Practices process: respect, responsibility, restoration, reintegration. Students have the option not to participate in Restorative Practices.
A. In cases where the student has accepted responsibility for AIP violations, the Dean will:
1. Contact parents/guardians to set up a meeting
2. Inform attendees at this meeting:
a. of the purpose of Restorative Practices as outlined above
b. that the consequences will be determined by consensus during the Conference and recorded in a contract, which will be signed by all parties. If the student does not fulfill the terms of this contract he or she will receive the base consequences.
c. that the Restorative Practices process is outlined in the Student Handbook
B. In cases involving other significant behavioral incidents, the Dean will:
1. Through discussions with the Restorative Practices Coordinator(s) determine who has been affected by the student’s actions and if the case is appropriate for the program, considering how significant the behavioral incident is, if the student accepts responsibility of the action, and if holding a Restorative Practices Conference would have a positive influence on reintegrating the student into the school community
2. If it is determined by the Dean of Students and the Restorative Practices Coordinator(s) that the case is appropriate for the Restorative Practices, the Dean will:
a. Contact parents/guardians to set up meeting.
b. Inform attendees at this meeting:
i. of the purpose of Restorative Practices as outlined above
ii. that the consequences will be determined by consensus during the Conference and recorded in a contract, which will be signed by all parties. If the student does not fulfill the terms of this contract he or she will receive the base consequences.
iii. that the Restorative Practices process is outlined in the Student Handbook
Restorative Practice Program
If the student is interested in the Restorative Practices Program:
A. The Dean will contact the appropriate Coordinator of Restorative Practices.
B. The Coordinator will set up a meeting with the parents and the student to discuss this option and describe in greater detail what a Restorative Practices Conference entails.
C. If the student decides to pursue Restorative Practices, the Coordinator will:
1. Inform the Dean and the affected parties of the Restorative Practices case to ask if they would like to participate in the Conference. There is no obligation for those contacted to participate.
2. Determine the construction of the Conference, after conferring with all concerned parties. At the very least, the Conference will include the Coordinator, the student, and his/her supporters. It may also include the affected party or parties, their supporters, the Dean, and other members of the staff and/or administration.
3. In cases involving more than one student, each student will participate in a separate RJ process and conference.
D. The Coordinator will schedule a date and location for the Conference and inform all appropriate parties.
E. In pre-conference meetings held with all the participants, the Coordinator will preview a list of questions to be asked during the Conference. The Coordinator may pose follow-up questions during the Conference as needed.
Restorative Questions - I
(to respond to the challenging behavior)
- What happened?
- What were you thinking about at the time?
- What have you thought about since?
-Who has been affected by what you have done? In what way(s)?
-What do you think you could do to make things right or to improve the situation and move forward?
Restorative Questions - II
(to help those affected by other's actions)
- What did you think when you realized what had happened?
- What impact has this incident had on you and others?
- What has been the hardest thing for you?
- What do you think could happen to make things right?
F. During the Conference, the participating parties will generate a written contract to be signed and dated by all parties. At the very least, it will include the name of the student, the specifics of his or her violation, the time and place of the Conference, the names of the Conference participants, and a plan that will assist the student in realizing the four objectives of Restorative Practices: respect, responsibility, restoration, and reintegration. The consequences will be determined by consensus during the Conference and recorded in that contract.
G. The Coordinator and a team s/he selects will support the student as s/he works to fulfill the conditions of the contract. The team may consist of administrators, classroom teachers, counselors, parents, and/or other students. The RP Coordinator will oversee the fulfillment of the contract; if the student does not fulfill the contract, he or she will be assigned the appropriate consequences for his/her violation.
H. A copy of the signed and dated contract will be given to the student. Additional copies will be retained in the Dean's files as well as in the Coordinator's files.
The Restorative Practices Conference:
Passed by Council, April 25, 2014
The Restorative Practices (RP) Coordinator is responsible for organizing the RP Conference. The RP Coordinator determines who should be invited to attend the Conference by speaking with those involved, including the student, the Dean, the affected parties, and supporters. Those invited are not obligated to participate. If an individual chooses to participate, s/he is invited to meet with the RP Coordinator prior to the Conference. During the Conference, the student has the opportunity to acknowledge the impact of his/her actions and make amends. Those affected have the opportunity to have the harm or loss acknowledged. The RP Coordinator facilitates a respectful and collaborative process that helps the student identify actions s/he can take to repair the harm done. At any point, the student may elect to end the Conference and withdraw from the RP process. During the Conference, the participating parties will generate and sign a written contract. At the very least, it will include the name of the student, the specifics of his or her violation, the time and place of the Conference, the names of the Conference participants, and a plan that will assist the student to realize the four objectives of Restorative Practices: respect, responsibility, restoration, and reintegration. The contract will be signed and dated by all parties, and a copy will be given to the student. Additional copies of the signed and dated contract will be retained in the Dean’s files as well as the Coordinator’s files.”