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Guardian Angels Catholic School | Progressive Discipline Policy

Progressive Discipline Policy

In recognition that all people are created in the image and likeness of God and, as such, have

the right to be treated with dignity, respect and fairness, Guardian Angels Catholic School’s

Progressive Discipline Policy has been developed to support a safe, inclusive, and accepting

school climate in which every student can reach his or her full academic and spiritual potential.

Progressive Discipline Defined

Progressive discipline is part of a whole-school approach which involves all members of the

school community in maintaining respectful relationships throughout the school community.

Progressive discipline involves the use of a continuum of prevention programs, interventions,

supports, and consequences that include learning opportunities for students in order to promote

positive behaviour and healthy relationships.

When inappropriate behaviour occurs, our disciplinary measures will be applied within a

framework that shifts the focus from one that is solely punitive to one that is both corrective and

supportive.

Promoting and Supporting Positive Student Behaviour

Guardian Angels Catholic School provides a wide-range of supports to encourage positive

student behaviour and healthy relationships, including:

● Class placement

● Differentiated instruction

● Program modifications and/or classroom accommodations

● Encouragement and positive reinforcement

● Character formation focused on the gospel values and Catholic Graduate Expectations

● Individual, peer and group counseling

● Conflict resolution

● Mentorship programs

● Anti-bullying and violence prevention programs

● Student success strategies

● Peer Meditators

● Seek Justice Club

● Make a Difference Awards

● School, Board and community support programs

● Social emotional learning tools such as the Third Path, WITS, and the Zones of

Regulation to help students identify and regulate their emotions.

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Guardian Angels Catholic School | Progressive Discipline Policy

The school also provides the following student engagement and leadership initiatives in order to

foster a positive school climate:

● Intramurals

● Clubs (A full listing can be found on the school website)

● Spirit days

● Peer Helpers

Responding to Student Misbehaviour

Guardian Angels Catholic School is committed to addressing inappropriate student behaviour,

including bullying and harassment, with a range of measures that are both corrective and

supportive and that are progressively more serious for repeated misbehaviour.

The range of interventions, supports and consequences are developmentally appropriate and

provide opportunities for the student to focus on improving his/her behaviour.

In some circumstances, short-term suspension may be an appropriate response. In the case of

a serious incident, long-term suspension or expulsion, which is further along the continuum of

progressive discipline, may be the response that is required.

Mitigating & Other Factors

Disciplinary action and consequences will reflect consideration of mitigating and other factors

that are specific to the student involved in the misbehaviour.

Mitigating Factors:

● The student does not have the ability to control his or her behaviour;

● The student does not have the ability to understand the foreseeable consequences of

his or her behaviour;

● The student’s continuing presence in the school does not create an unacceptable risk to

the safety of any person.

Other Factors:

● The student’s academic, discipline and personal history;

● Whether a progressive discipline approach has been attempted with the student, and if

so, the progressive discipline approach(es) that has/have been attempted and any

success or failure;

● Whether the activity for which the student may be or is being suspended or expelled was

related to any harassment of the student because of his or her race, ethnic origin,

religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation or harassment for any other reason;

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Guardian Angels Catholic School | Progressive Discipline Policy

● How the suspension or expulsion would affect the student’s ongoing education;

● The age of the student.

For students with special education needs, interventions, supports, and consequences must be

consistent with the student’s strengths, needs, goals, and expectations contained in his or her

Individual Education Plan (IEP).

In consideration of a suspension or expulsion, the following other factors shall be taken into

account for students who have an Individual Education Plan:

● Whether the behaviour was a manifestation of the pupil’s exceptionality;

● Whether appropriate individualized accommodation has been provided;

● Whether the suspension or expulsion is likely to result in an aggravation or worsening of

the pupil’s behaviour or conduct.

It should be noted that mitigating may mean the shortening of duration of a suspension; it does

not necessarily mean that a suspension is not used as a corrective measure.

The Continuum of Interventions

The continuum of interventions in our progressive discipline model begins at the classroom

level, between the teacher and the student, and then includes additional resources and

partners, including parents/guardians.

Classroom Interventions:

● Teacher-student meeting

● Verbal reminders

● Written reflective assignment

● Time out/quiet area to work

● Teacher or peer mentoring

● Withdrawal of classroom privileges

● Community service

● Conflict mediation

● Contact with parent/guardian

● Referral to counselling

● Meeting with parent/guardian

● Office referral

● Detention

● Restitution for damages

● Restorative practices

● Follow up meeting with parent/guardian

Whole-school Interventions:

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