code of Conduct

Attitude

The following scriptures are to be considered in every aspect of our Christian walk: 

• Be Loving. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind…and your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39 

• Be Obedient. “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.” Hebrews 13:17 

• Be Self-controlled. “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” Proverbs 16:32 

Lake Country Christian School encourages every student to adopt a positive attitude that aligns with the ethical standards of Scripture. Our code of conduct is grounded in the commandments and principles found in God’s Word. Each day presents an opportunity to choose an attitude that honors the Lord.

While the administration, faculty, and staff will guide and support students in developing self-discipline, each student is ultimately responsible for their own choices and the resulting consequences. We expect all students, staff, and families at LCCS to maintain teachable hearts and coachable spirits. Attitude is a personal responsibility.

Chronic or repeated complaining, griping, or sullenness will be addressed. Students are expected to show respect in the classroom, during all school activities, and toward all speakers and adults. Ridiculing or mocking others—students or adults—is considered a serious offense and will not be tolerated.

If a student’s improper attitude continues after parental involvement, further disciplinary action will follow. For the well-being of the entire LCCS community, the school reserves the right to dismiss any student who consistently fails to demonstrate a teachable heart and/or coachable spirit.

Behavior 

To help students develop healthy habits and uphold biblical standards, Lake Country Christian School expects students to maintain Christ-honoring behavior at all times—24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. LCCS students represent God, their families, and their school at all times, both on and off campus.

Students who engage in illegal or immoral activities are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion, at the discretion of the administration. However, if a student is currently involved in such behavior and is genuinely repentant, they are encouraged to come forward voluntarily and speak with an administrator. In these cases, and at the administration’s discretion, an accountability plan may be offered as an alternative to expulsion.

LCCS reserves the right to conduct personal searches when deemed necessary. This may include searching pockets, backpacks, lockers, vehicles, cell phones, and other electronic devices. The school also reserves the right to require drug and/or alcohol testing when appropriate.

• Each student is expected to exercise common courtesy at all times, both in and out of the classroom.

• We hold our students to a higher standard and expect them to address the staff as “Mr., Mrs. or Miss,” and use polite expressions such as "please and thank you”, etc. Students are to show respect for all adults and peers. 

• Respect is to be given to flag salutes and prayer, whether in an assembly or in a classroom, to honor our Lord and our country.

• Students will also show respect and care for one another. They will refrain from any form of bullying and other abuse of fellow students will not be tolerated.

• Students must show respect for school property by not littering, mutilating, defacing, or otherwise harming the building and its contents, including textbooks and electronic devices. Any damage to facilities or its contents by the student and/or their guest will be the financial obligation of the student and their family. Charges will be submitted to the business office and families will receive a bill. 

• Students should show respect for the belongings of others.

• Students are encouraged to keep each other accountable to uphold these standards.

• Students are to maintain Christian standards of courtesy, kindness, morality and honesty. 

• The Bible is clear in regards to its standards of sex and sexuality. LCCS recognizes and respects wholesome opposite-gender relationships. LCCS believes that God created humanity in His image, intentionally designing each person as either male or female—distinct in design, yet equal in value and dignity. In light of this truth, we are called to honor and embrace God’s unique design and refrain from attempting to alter our biological appearance or adopt an identity inconsistent with His created intent. 

• LCCS believes in God's standards that marriage is the only appropriate context for sexual relations. All sexual activities outside the confines of marriage are contrary to God’s intention and are therefore sinful. As identified in scripture, these activities include but are not limited to adultery, homosexual activity, pre-marital sex, and the use of pornography. Students are expected to strive for purity in their dating relationships and should be above reproach in his/her behavior at all times. 

• Each student is expected to refrain from the use of profanity, indecent or offensive language, gambling, cheating, sexual immorality (including homosexuality, transgenderism, and the viewing or distribution of pornographic materials), stealing, and the use of tobacco, vaping products, drugs, or alcohol. Students are also to avoid any involvement in occult practices, unlawful behavior, or violent or destructive acts. 

Bullying/Cyberbullying

• Every student must conduct himself/herself in a manner conducive to fostering a Christian community; treat others with dignity and respect; make everyone feel welcome and included, and help others who are being bullied or picked on.

• Every student should avoid any activity that may be considered racist, discriminatory, intimidating, or harassing including verbal, non-verbal, sexual bullying, and cyberbullying.

• Students are expected to report any incidents of discrimination or harassment to school administration immediately. LCCS believes that staff, students, and parents share a responsibility to report any form of racism, bullying, or harassment. Even if an incident appears isolated, it may be part of a larger, ongoing issue. Delaying communication with school officials can allow the problem to worsen over time. 

• Anyone who witnesses bullying, and then encourages it, will be considered to be engaging in bullying. Students should conduct themselves in a Christ-like manner in all areas, therefore, this policy applies at all times. A student participating in any form of bullying will face disciplinary action and may be at risk of dismissal. 

• Bullying is defined as aggressive, unwelcome behavior that is intentional, repeated over time, directed toward one or more individuals or groups, and involves an imbalance of power or strength, whether real or perceived. Often, single or isolated incidents are not considered bullying.

• Bullying can take various forms, including one or more of the following: 

  • Physical – when one engages in physical force against another, such as hitting, punching, pushing, kicking, pinching, or restraining another. 

  • Verbal – when someone repeatedly uses his or her words to hurt another, such as belittling or calling another person hurtful names, including racial slurs

• Cyber-bullying – the intentional, overt, and repeated act or pattern of aggression toward another person or group through any technological tool: email, instant messaging, text messages, digital pictures or images, smart phone “apps,” or website postings (including blogs, social media, or networking sites), which may include, but are not limited to: 

• Sending or posting mean, vulgar, or threatening messages or images

• Posting sensitive, private information about another person

• Sexting of any kind (electronically sending or receiving sexually explicit messages or images, regardless of a party’s willingness to participate)

• Pretending to be someone else in order to make that person look bad

• Intentionally excluding someone from an online group

 * Remember: your online activities are monitored and retained.

Public Displays of Affection: “Public Displays of Affection (PDA),” such as hand-holding or kissing, is not allowed at any time when LCCS students are on campus or attending school-sponsored events. 

Sexting: Sexting is the act of sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit or suggestive messages, photos, or images via cell phone, social media sites, computer, or other digital devices. The school considers sending, sharing, possessing, or even viewing pictures, text messages, or emails that contain a sexual message/image a violation of the school conduct policy. This will result in school discipline, up to and including expulsion. The school also reserves the right to notify local law enforcement depending on the scope of the incident.

Harassment

Beloved, let us love one another. For love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love, does not know God for God is love.” I John 4: 7-8

LCCS is committed to providing a school environment free from harassment, which includes racism and bullying in any form. LCCS condemns such acts as being antithetical to Christian teaching and values.

LCCS does not tolerate harassment of any of its employees, students, parents, or vendors. The school will treat allegations of harassment seriously and will review and investigate such allegations in a prompt, confidential, and thorough manner. A charge of harassment shall not, in and of itself, create the presumption of wrongdoing. However, substantiated acts of harassment will result in disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion.

All students, faculty, staff, and parents who are subject to, witness, or know of harassing situations are responsible to contact school authorities immediately regarding the situation. A student who aligns himself or herself by their presence with a person who is actively harassing someone is also guilty of harassment. Consequences of failure to report harassment will fall under the LCCS disciplinary code. Choosing to be a “silent witness” evidences complicity with harassing behavior.

Reporting

Any alleged incidents of harassment, racism, or bullying are to be reported directly to the appropriate dean for review, investigation, and the necessary disciplinary action. Consequences may include parent conferences, scheduling changes, detention, loss of privileges, suspension, and expulsion from school as well as potential criminal charges. All reports of harassment, racism, or bullying will be investigated as promptly as possible.

LCCS prohibits any retaliation against individuals who make a complaint under this policy. Any individual who believes he/she is being retaliated against should contact a teacher, Dean of Students, or Principal immediately. Individuals who violate the no-retaliation policy shall be subject to appropriate discipline.

We provide an online anonymous reporting system in the resource depot for any/all students to report incidents of bullying/harassment.

Academic Dishonesty 

Honesty is a value that holds each person to tell the truth and to defend the truth. Honesty supports intellectual growth and creates a fair learning environment. Integrity is firm adherence to our values with or without the presence of others. In an environment of honesty and integrity, it is important that the work we turn in as our own is our own.

Academic dishonesty includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter which include but are not limited to: any knowing or intentional help, attempt to help, or plan to help another student commit an act of academic dishonesty. Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses. Consequences will occur whether you give or receive information. Teachers will inform students when collaboration is appropriate. Cheating is destructive to the entire school community since it damages the trust relationships between teachers and classmates. Ignorance about what constitutes cheating is not a defense. Academic dishonesty also points to character issues that may need to be addressed further.  Any occurrence of academic dishonesty will result in communication with both parents and administration. 

DEFINITIONS 

Plagiarism - All students are expected to cite each web page, book, or other source each time they include any information in an essay or project of their own.

Plagiarism includes but is not limited to the following instances: 

• Including the words of another writer without including proper citation. Copying and pasting from the internet, utilizing AI, or other electronic sources - even one sentence- is considered plagiarism unless there are quotation marks and proper citations.

• Citing sources but copying and pasting without quotation marks or proper citation methods. 

• Presenting the ideas of another writer or speaker (scientist, programmer, artist, etc.) as one’s own original thought. Though a writer shares the opinions of other writers, unless the writer of record has original thoughts, the information must be credited properly. 

• Submitting another student’s work as one’s own, for example, an essay written by a sibling or a friend. 

• Presenting a paper or art work, etc. purchased from an internet essay site. Purchase of online materials does not give you the right to present it as your own. 

Cheating - Some examples of what cheating looks like (non-exhaustive): 

• Copying another student’s work or assignment (including homework) to submit as one’s own. 

• Allowing another student to copy your assignment (including homework) with the intention of submitting to a teacher for credit. 

• Using unauthorized materials during a test or quiz, such as AI, cheat sheets, graphic calculators or other electronic devices during a test or quiz. 

• Helping another student without permission during a test/quiz or providing information concerning a test/quiz. 

• Stealing or borrowing or removing an exam from the classroom or taking it from a teacher without explicit permission. 

• Modifying or in any way altering a teacher’s grades or official records. 

• Using a teacher’s notes, manuals, or guides without explicit permission. 

• Submitting an assignment in two separate classes for different assignments without explicit permission from your teachers (in both subjects). 

• Duplicating, including but not limited to, screen captures, photos, electronic copies and/ or video is prohibited without direct permission from the teacher or the owner of the work. 

CONSEQUENCES 

All incidents of cheating and plagiarism will mandate the following: 

• A zero on the assignment, regardless of the assignment weight for the student who cheats and the student who willingly gives the information. In addition, a detention will also be issued.

• Repeated acts of academic dishonesty may include additional consequences such as: loss of membership privileges/leadership roles and other disciplinary actions deemed appropriate by the administration.

Vandalism 

Vandalism is the willful or malicious defacement or destruction of any property belonging to LCCS, its employees, or its students. It includes such things as graffiti and tampering with electronic devices. Any student found to have committed vandalism, either individually or as part of a group or as a class prank, will be subject to school discipline. Such discipline may include suspension or expulsion, and possible police intervention in severe cases. The full cost of repair and/or replacement will be charged to the student. 

Forbidden Items 

The following articles, some of which are illegal, are not permitted on campus or at LCCS events: 

• Tobacco, electronic nicotine delivery systems (such as electronic cigarettes, vape pens, etc.)

• Alcohol

• Illicit drugs 

• Marijuana 

• Weapons, knives, and dangerous sharp objects of any size 

• Matches and lighters 

• Toxic or flammable materials 

• Inappropriate magazines/books/comics/websites

Other Unacceptable Items 

The following items are also not permitted on campus or at LCCS events at any time without administrative approval: 

• Water guns or water balloons 

• Laser devices 

The following may be used for transportation to and from school, but not ridden on campus: 

• Skateboards 

• Scooters 

• Bicycles 

• Roller Blades 

• Hoverboards 

LCCS is not responsible for any damage that may occur when items are brought onto campus. Bike racks are available for use and are located by the Main Office. 

Obscene/Profane Language 

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Therefore, a student who uses obscene or profane language, either in jest, anger, or absent-mindedly, will be subject to school discipline. Suggestive remarks or actions will be dealt with similarly. This also applies to comments made in yearbooks, on electronic devices, as well as on social media. 

Employee and Student REPORTING Responsibility

● Conduct himself/herself in a manner conducive to fostering a Christian community; treat others with dignity and respect; make everyone feel welcome and included, and help others who are being bullied or picked on. 

● Avoid any activity that may be considered racist, discriminatory, intimidating, bullying, or harassing. 

● Inform anyone harassing him or her that the behavior is offensive and/or unwelcome.

● We provide an online anonymous reporting system for any/all students to report incidents of bullying/harassment.

● Immediately report all incidents of discrimination or harassment to the appropriate school authorities. We believe staff, students, and parents have a moral obligation to report any form of racism, bullying, or harassment. Even though it may have only been encountered once, it may be an ongoing problem. Delayed communication with school officials only makes the matter worse over time.

*If LCCS personnel have cause to believe that a student’s physical or mental health or welfare has been or may be further affected by abuse or neglect, that person is required by law to report within 48 hours any allegation of child abuse to Texas Child Protective Services.