This structure provides a general framework for understanding disciplinary expectations at GRACE. As such, it is a general framework, and the administration/staff reserve the right to discipline each situation as they believe are in the best interests of the Kingdom, GRACE, and the student. Consequences for technology violations may range from Level I to Level V, depending on the severity of the offense.
Level I
All Grades: Classroom Discipline
The Administration provides each classroom teacher guidelines to handle minor classroom offenses.
- 1st Offense: Verbal Warning
- 2nd Offense: Redirection
- 3rd Offense: Parent Signed Reflection (Lower Campus) or Student written action plan (Upper Campus)
Level I offenses that may result in Classroom Discipline may include, but are not limited to:
- Classroom disruption
- Disobedience/defiance
- Disorderly conduct
- Dress code violation
- Minor technology violation
- Not completing assigned work
Level II
TK-6th Grade – Administrative Discipline
The Lower Campus Administration supports discipline policies established by classroom teachers. At times a student may reach the level on the classroom management plan that requires a visit to the office. For some students, this may be a conversation with an administrator to correct the behavior or address the classroom discipline issue. For some offenses, additional administrative discipline is required.
Level II offenses that may result in Administrative Discipline may include, but are not limited to:
- Inappropriate language (profanity, obscene, inflammatory language or gestures)
- Intentionally being in an unsupervised area; avoiding staff/faculty supervision
- More than 3 technology violations
- Repeated Level 1 offenses after parent contact
- Use of physical force to resolve conflict
7th-12th Grade – Administrative Detention
Administrative detentions will be served on specified days. If a student cannot make the detention, they will need to serve two detentions to make up for the one. Students are to be on time for their detention, or they will face additional discipline. Issues leading to a detention can include, but are not limited to:
- Repetitive classroom issues such as: disruption of class; chewing gum; food/drink in class, etc.
- Inappropriate behavior
- Inappropriate language
- Outside of class without permission
- Repetitive school offenses, including technology and dress code violations
- Public displays of affection
- Loitering after school
- Intentionally being in an unsupervised area; avoiding staff/faculty supervision
- Accumulated more than 6 tardies in a semester
- Three dress code violations in a semester
Level III
TK-6th – Detention
Administration may determine that the next level of discipline is detention. Administrative detention will be served on specific days. If after school detention is required, the school will provide parents 24-hour notice so that arrangements can be made. Students are to be on time for their detention, or they will face additional discipline.
Level III Some offenses that may result in detention may include, but are not limited to:
- Bullying: either physical, cyber, or verbal
- Destruction of school property
- Disrespect to a faculty or staff member
- Excessive tardies
- Inappropriate behavior/gestures
- Lying
- Possession of toy or simulated weapons
- Repeated Level 1 or 2 offenses
- Repeated dress code violations
- Stealing
- Weapon Facsimile
Repeated misbehavior may result in a student being placed on probation.
7th-12th Grade – Administrative Detention
Administration may determine that the next level of discipline is detention. Administrative detention will be served on specific days. If after school detention is required, the school will provide parents 24-hour notice so that arrangements can be made. Students are to be on time for their detention, or they will face additional discipline.
Level III Some offenses that may result in detention may include, but are not limited to:
- Destruction of school property
- Violation of standardized testing guidelines
- Annoying/Disruptive Behavior
- Repeated level 2 infractions
- Disrespect to a faculty or staff member
- Skipping class/school
- Leaving school without permission
- Profane, obscene, or vulgar language
- Lying
- Weapon Facsimile
Level IV: Suspension or Explusion
TK-12th Grade – Suspension
Any student violating level IV disciplinary offenses will be subject to suspension from GRACE Christian School. The period of suspension is at the discretion of the administration depending on the severity of the infraction. The offending student may be given off-campus suspension, in-school suspension, or a virtual instruction only option at the administration’s discretion with the inclusion of additional consequences as determined by the administration. Students serving suspension will be required to make up all work missed during the suspension. Tests and quizzes must be taken in the office at the same time as the regular class. All make-up work, other than the tests or quizzes completed during the suspension period, must be handed in to the student’s respective teachers on the first day the student returns to class after the suspension. Make-up work will be graded without penalty if handed in on time. Although work may be made up, suspensions are unexcused absences. Students serving an in-school suspension will be required to pay a $50 administrative fee per day of suspension. The fee will be billed through Blackbaud. During the duration of a suspension, students may not participate in or attend any school activities, including athletics (games and practices), dances, theater productions, etc.
Level IV offenses that may result in suspension or expulsion can include, but are not limited to:
- Cheating, plagiarism, and copying homework (subsequent offenses)
- Bullying: either physical, cyber or verbal
- Stalking: either physical or cyber including text, emails, DMs, social media etc.
- Fighting
- Eighteen tardies in a semester
- Repeated level 3 infractions
- Unauthorized use and/or entry of computer files, including by-passing any security measure installed (such as a VPN or personal device hotspots) on computers without faculty permission. In addition to suspension, the student will receive a zero on the test or assignment.
- Possession, use, supplying, or selling of tobacco, tobacco products, alcohol, or illegal drugs
- Defiance
- Possession of pornography; computer/internet use for pornographic, defiant, malicious, or vicious purposes
- Selling or supplying prescribed drugs
- Improper use of over-the-counter drugs or prescription drugs on or off school property
- Harassment or threats related to the school environment and/or to people
- Sexual misconduct
- Contact of a sexual nature
- Verbal abuse of a sexual nature
- Sexual innuendos and gestures
- Other serious sexual misconduct
- Possession or use of a weapon in a threatening or dangerous manner which is perceived to be capable of inflicting physical harm
- Possession, transfer, sale, or discharge of any gun (including a starter gun or pellet gun), firearm, or any other explosive device of any type, whether loaded or unloaded, on school property or at any school-related activity
- Repeated violations of discipline
- Immoral or illegal activities
- Obstruction of an investigation concerning a violation of school discipline policy
- Vandalism
- Theft
- Racist behavior, language, or symbolism
Level V: Expulsion
TK-12th Grade – Expulsion
At the discretion of the administration, students may be given the opportunity to withdraw from GRACE rather than face expulsion. Students who are asked to withdraw under these circumstances may not be present on campus for any activities without the express permission of the administration.
Expulsion is the last resort of disciplinary action. Expulsion of a student will be determined by a division-level principal and the Head of School. Grounds for expulsion include any serious misconduct or pattern of behavior in violation of the Code of Conduct as described previously. Expelled students are to leave the campus immediately and are not to return without permission of the administration. Expelled students forfeit the tuition for the remainder of the semester in which the action takes place.
Restoration after Expulsion
All requests for re-admittance to GRACE after an expulsion will be considered on a case by case basis, and the decision of the administration is final. Guidelines for student restoration after an expulsion are as follows:
- Any student requesting re-admittance to GRACE after an expulsion must make an application for admittance as a new student.
- A student’s request will not qualify for consideration until a minimum of one year has passed since the expulsion.
- The administration may require that the student receive counseling by a pastoral counselor or licensed professional counselor approved by both the family and the school, and may require monthly progress reports to the administration for six months and then quarterly thereafter.
- Any student allowed to return to GRACE following an expulsion will return on probation status.
- Conditions for the probation will be determined on a case by case basis by the administration.
- Appropriate apologies and restitution will be required as deemed necessary by the administration.
- The requesting student and parents will be required to meet with members of the administrative team prior to any re-admittance.
- The student will be required to submit a letter to the administrative team, detailing lessons learned, repentant heart and behavioral commitments if allowed to return to GRACE by the administration.
