Diciplinary Actions

Range of Possible Disciplinary Actions

The challenge of determining a range of potential consequences is to develop a means for staff to be consistent in dealing with unacceptable behavior while retaining the flexibility to decide the most appropriate and effective response. With a commitment to a progressive discipline plan, the following list of disciplinary actions is provided as a general guideline.

The Discipline Matrix tables located at the end of this section will be used to determine disciplinary consequences.

Verbal Warning

This is an informal warning in which a student is notified of their inappropriate behavior. The best corrective action is one that is self-imposed to prevent repeated infractions.

Official Warning

The student will sign a statement acknowledging the infraction, the warning, and the consequences of repeated behavior. This statement will become part of the student’s disciplinary record and serves as an opportunity for self-imposed behavior correction.

Daily Report

The student will circulate a daily report. After each class, the teacher will sign the report and comment on the student’s performance for that period. Daily Reports must be submitted to the Head of Academic Affairs/Head of Student Affairs at the end of each day.

Detention

Behavior deemed inappropriate, disruptive, or disrespectful by teachers will result in a detention, which is served at lunchtime or after school and is supervised by the issuing teacher or administrator. Detentions will also be issued for skipping class and repetitive disruptive behavior.

Parental Notice

Parents will receive notification of any behavior issues that result in behavior intervention. NIS encourages parents to assist in their child’s behavioral management.

Community Service

Students will be required to perform a range of community service projects for an assigned amount of time. Projects can include supervised cafeteria duty, school beautification, or other activities that benefit the school community.

Parental Conference

Parents will be required to attend a conference to discuss their student’s serious or habitual behavioral issues with the appropriate administrator.

Behavior Contract (BC)

A student with several disciplinary referrals will be put on a Behavior Contract, signed by the Head of Student Affairs and the Principal. Students who violate the terms of the contract may be subject to dismissal and non-reenrollment.

In-School Suspension (ISS)

An In-School Suspension enables suspended students to continue their academic program and receive credit for assignments but without the benefit of socializing and being in their regularly scheduled classrooms. Students in ISS are confined to a single classroom under strict supervision and guidelines, segregated from the student population, and have a separate lunch time and supervised restroom breaks. It is the student’s responsibility to request daily assignments from teachers in all scheduled courses. All daily work must be submitted at the end of each day. Any violation of ISS guidelines will result in an Out of School Suspension for the rest of the assignment.

Out of School Suspension (OSS)

OSS is used for serious discipline problems or if a student has repeatedly been cited for improper behavior. Suspended students do not receive any school privileges and must remain off school property entirely, including any sports/team sports, dancing, music, and clubs on or off campus for the duration of their suspension. It is the student’s responsibility to request daily assignments from teachers in all scheduled courses. All work must be submitted at the end of the suspension period for credit.

Long Term Suspension

Long Term Suspension may be recommended and issued when all corrective actions have been exhausted, parent cooperation is severely lacking, or a student has committed an infraction that seriously endangers the safety of students, staff, faculty, or property of NIS. Students who receive Long Term Suspension may not attend class at NIS until the end of the current academic year and only after a conference with the Principal to determine eligibility.

Non-Reenrollment Contracts

Non-Reenrollment Contracts may be recommended for students with multiple infractions and behavioral problems that do not improve, have multiple In-School and Out of School Suspensions, have been on Long Term Suspension, and/or violate the provisions and criteria set forth in the Behavior Contract.

Appeals for Suspension

If a student or parent/guardian disagrees with a decision of the Administration, they may file a written request for appeal within 3 business days of receiving the decision. The school may, at its discretion, accept an oral request for appeal. An appeal will be reviewed by the Administration and a decision rendered.