Letter to JH/HS Parents Regarding Disciplinary Steps
Dear parent / guardian:
The faculty and staff at Pond Creek-Hunter (PC-H) Schools value respect and work to instill that respect among its students. Fortunately, disciplinary infractions at this school are typically quite mild. The credit belongs to your efforts in raising respectful children. However, as part of our commitment to teach the respect for rules and to prepare students for life beyond high school, it is necessary to address some misbehavior that has become a chronic issue.
The chronic misbehavior consists of tardiness, dress code violations, skipping class, public displays of affection, and inappropriate technology usage. Although these infractions seem harmless, they often lead to serious consequences in the workforce. According to various polls and surveys, the number one reason employees are fired is due to tardiness; 44% of employers have had to address dress code violations; and 30% of employers have fired workers for inappropriate technology usage. With this in mind, it is important to reinforce the importance of respecting rules.
At PC-H, tardiness is defined as not being inside the classroom prepared to learn by the tardy bell. There is a one-minute warning bell that rings before the tardy bell each class period. The most common dress code violations are wearing short tops showing the midsection, inappropriate content on shirts, covering heads with hats or hoodies inside the building, short shorts, and leggings paired with shirts that do not fully cover the bottom. Please read the student handbook page 22. These dress code violations have less to do with distracting others as they do with looking respectable. Skipping class means the students did not report to their designated teacher. This includes reporting to mentor period each day or on days the students do not have a college class as well as reporting to their assigned teacher during the students’ independent study time. Public displays of affection includes holding hands, wrapping arms around each other, or any other inappropriate physical contact between students. Inappropriate technology usage mainly consists of playing video games, watching YouTube videos and/or Hudl without the teacher’s permission, and having cell phones and/or wireless headphones visible. In their free time, students are encouraged to study, read, or take advantage of the personalized learning format by working ahead of pace. Again, these are seemingly minor infractions; yet when the misbehavior occurs repeatedly, it becomes an issue of defiance.
It was previously mentioned how these misbehaviors can negatively affect the students’ future work experiences, but how do these issues affect students’ lives today? There are many negative consequences for chronic misbehavior in school, such as missing important class instruction and assignments, becoming unreliable to classmates and/or teammates, lowering scores, etc. The lack of regard for school rules and policies will likely continue after students move into life beyond high school unless there are effective interventions in place.
Your child has been informed of these behavior issues and expectations. The teachers at PC-H want your child to be successful in his or her school experience and to be prepared for life beyond high school. Therefore, the following disciplinary steps have been established to help your child remain successful in school:
Step 1: Parent notification (due signed and returned next school day or the student moves to the next disciplinary step)
Step 2: Parent notification (due signed and returned next school day or the student moves to the next disciplinary step)
Step 3: Parent notification and after-school detention (to be served from 3:05-3:20 on the day of infraction or next school morning from 7:40-7:55 or the student moves to the next disciplinary step; transportation must be arranged by the student; student will develop a plan of success)
Step 4: Parent notification and after-school detention (to be served from 3:05-3:20 on the day of infraction or next school morning from 7:40-7:55 or the student moves to the next disciplinary step; transportation must be arranged by the student; student will review the plan of success)
Step 5: Parent notification and suspension due to chronic misbehavior
Pond Creek-Hunter Schools has terrific students and supportive families. By addressing these minor yet chronic issues, it will see benefits to the individual students and the overall school climate as well. We appreciate your support in helping your child be successful and anticipate a great school year. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school principal at (580) 532-4241.
1 https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7725-employees-late-for-work.html
2 https://rh-us.mediaroom.com/2018-05-08-What-You-Wear-To-Work-May-Be-Preventing-You-From-Getting-A-Promotion
3 https://www.workplacefairness.org/social-network-computer-privacy-workplace