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All of the information that you will find below is directed toward the common good of the Academy and its maintenance as a place of learning and moral development. At VPA, we believe that habits of behavior play a significant part in forming habits of mind. The teachers at VPA will make every effort to enforce the rules below consistently, informatively, and with a heart of mercy for the student’s overall well-being.
Students at VPA strive to make the most of their educational opportunities. No less than their parents and the faculty, our students appreciate the overall environment that they help maintain for the good of the entire school community. It does not take long for our students to recognize the benefits of mutual encouragement, respect, courtesy, and helpfulness. As many students and parents will gratefully attest, VPA is a very good place to be.
Nevertheless, our students are human and sometimes make mistakes in speech or behavior. Usually these mistakes are normal consequences of their age and can often be overlooked. Sometimes, however, their mistakes can be disruptive to other students and to our teachers. Therefore, for the sake of orderly and productive community life, it is necessary to discuss school expectations and sanctions so that students and families can have a blueprint for conduct which contributes to a wholesome academic environment and to each student’s self-esteem and success.
The philosophy of VPA is that students are young adults in the making who will learn civil, polite and respectful conduct by the example of their teachers and other adults. Consequently, students will be treated with respect and courtesy by the VPA staff and will be expected to treat not only all adults on campus with such respect, but one another as well. Several very obvious signs of such respect are a student's willingness to refrain from talking in class when others have the floor; a respect for the property of the school and of other students; a willingness to refrain from sarcastic or critical comments towards others; and a willingness to ask (and give) forgiveness when someone has been wronged.
In conjunction with parents, VPA has the goal of developing not only habits of good scholarship and critical inquiry, but the character traits of courtesy, promptness, forgiveness, self-control, responsibility, diligence, courage, generosity, and magnanimity. Good behavior is expected of all students and will not be specially rewarded at school. It is its own reward in the esteem the student earns from his teachers and his fellow students.
VPA’s guiding policy is to be fair, firm, and consistent in the application of discipline for inappropriate behavior. However, the following guidelines for discipline are not intended to be exhaustive. The school reserves the right to exercise reasonable judgment as an individual circumstance might dictate.
Please note that a student may be disciplined for violating the Behavior Code while in the neighborhood of the Academy.
Students may be assigned detention, or lose the privilege of lunch-time recess or extra-curricular activity, or be required to perform some work detail, such as cleaning, depending on the nature and frequency of offenses such as: littering; possession and/or chewing of gum on campus; being late to class; talking out of turn or otherwise disrupting class; use of profanity or disrespectful speech toward other students; uniform and dress code violations; or other inappropriate behaviors. If a student repeatedly violates any of the above, the parent may be contacted and other disciplinary measures may be taken.
Students may not skip detention. Any student who fails to report to detention at the scheduled time will receive additional penalties (typically an additional detention). Students should not ordinarily ask to have a detention rescheduled; detentions are by their very nature inconvenient, and students should view the inconvenience that detention causes to be a direct result of the misbehavior that incurred the punishment in the first place. Exceptions may be made in the event of a family emergency or serious scheduling conflict. All matters pertaining to the scheduling and serving of detentions should be directed to the Dean of Students, or the faculty member designated as the Detention supervisor.
Detentions can be serious in nature and a high number of detentions can indicate a student’s general unwillingness to cooperate with the school. If a student has received six detentions for any reason in a quarter then he or she will be suspended for a duration determined by the Headmaster. A student may be suspended for a lesser number of detentions if many of the detentions are received for the same offence (such as tardiness), or if the Headmaster determines that the detentions are of a serious nature and warrant immediate action.
In the case of more serious misbehavior, such as forging a parent's signature, lying to an adult, cheating on exams and/or academic assignments, fighting, theft, willful destruction of property, defiance of authority, disrespect of adults, leaving campus without permission, skipping class, etc., the parent will be contacted and other disciplinary measures taken.
Please see the Academy Honor Code below for special information on academic dishonesty.
Threats of violence and physical, verbal or sexual harassment are illegal and will result in parent contact and, depending on the nature of the offense, may result in other disciplinary measures, including notification of law enforcement authorities, suspension, and expulsion.
Electronic Devices and other Prohibited Items
I-pods or other portable music players, pagers, cameras, electronic games, laser pointers, skateboards, roller blades, and other toys that are not part of the academic or extra-curricular program are prohibited on campus. Students may be disciplined, and such items will be confiscated and returned only at the parent's request.
Tobacco and other legally controlled substances, lighters, matches, pocket knives, weapons of any kind, and sexually explicit materials are also prohibited on campus at all times. Possession of these items will result in immediate disciplinary action.
The use of cell phones during the school day is prohibited. The reason for such a prohibition is to promote an uninterrupted academic environment and to encourage the development of personal relationships among VPA students while they are at school. One can immediately see the disruption to classes and the interruption of communication among students were cell phones to be used at random on campus.
On the other hand, parents sometimes provide cell phones to their children in order to promote the safety of their children or to communicate regarding unanticipated changes in transportation. In light of this, the following restrictions/allowances apply:
1. A student may keep a cell phone turned off and stored in his or her locker during the school day.
2. A cell phone may be used to communicate only with one’s parents, only after school, and only in the front reception area or the area just outside of the campus doors.
3. Any other use on campus before school, during the school day, or after school will result in confiscation of the cell phone and disciplinary action.
Photography and Public Internet Postings
1. The name and crest of Veritas Preparatory Academy are the property of the school and may be used only for official school business, Any VPA student who, without written permission from the headmaster, posts the crest or logo of VPA on the internet or in any other public forum for purposes of identifying themselves or other students is subject to school disciplinary action.
2. All personal photography is banned on campus unless permission for it has been obtained, in writing, from the Headmaster. No photos taken on campus, whether authorized or not, may be posted on the internet or in any other public forum without written permission from the Headmaster. No photos of minors may be publicly displayed without the consent of the parent(s) or guardian. Any VPA student found to be in violation of these rules is subject to school disciplinary action.
3. Any public display or posting by a VPA student, in the internet or other forum, of derogatory, offensive, or harassing speech directed against another student, teacher, or other member of the school community is in violation of the standards of Veritas Preparatory Academy and is subject to school disciplinary action.
Policy on Hazing
Hazing, solicitation to engage in hazing, and aiding and abetting another person who is engaged in hazing is strictly prohibited. A person is considered a “student” who has enrolled, who has been accepted for enrollment, or intends to enroll within the next 12 calendar months. This policy applies to all students until graduation, transfer, promotion, or withdrawal from the school.
“Hazing” is defined as any intentional, knowing or reckless act committed by a student, whether individually or in convert with other persons, against another student, and in which both of the following apply:
- The act is committed in connection with an initiation into, an affiliation with or the maintenance of membership in any organization that is affiliated with an educational institution; and
- The act contributes to a substantial risk of potential physical injury, mental harm or degradation or causes physical injury, mental harm or personal degradation.
“Organization” means an athletic team, association, order, society, corps, cooperative, club or other similar group that is affiliated with an educational institution and whose membership consists primarily of students enrolled at that educational institution.
Violations of this policy do not include customary athletic events, contests or competitions that are sponsored by an educational institution or any activity or conduct that furthers the goals of a legitimate educational curriculum or legitimate extracurricular program.
It is no defense to a violation of this policy if the victim consented or acquiesced to hazing. All students, teachers, and staff shall take reasonable measures within the scope of their individual authority to prevent violations of this policy.
Students and others should report hazing to the Headmaster, but may also report hazing to another professional staff member. If an individual besides the Headmaster receives the report, the individual receiving the report will submit a report of the incident to the Headmaster. The individual shall respect the confidentiality of those involved, disclosing the incident only to those with a need to know or as required by law. Any incident of hazing that includes possible violation of state or federal statutes shall be treated as required by statutory requirements and reported to law enforcement.
A professional staff member who fails to inform the Headmaster of an incident of hazing no less than the next school day after the member becomes aware of the incident may be subject to discipline.
All violations of this policy shall be treated in accordance with the discipline procedures and penalties in effect for violation of the Academy’s Behavior Code and Discipline.
If an organization knowingly permitted, authorized, or condoned hazing activity, its permission to conduct operations at the Academy may be revoked or suspended.
Suspension
The Headmaster may suspend any student for up to 10 school days for serious cause, including, but not limited to the following: defiance of authority of VPA staff, disregard or disobedience of school rules and regulations as outlined in the VPA Family Handbook, violation of the Academy Honor Code, verbal abuse of adults or students, disruptive or disorderly behavior, violent or threatening behavior, bullying or harassing conduct, hazing, fighting, intoxication, possession of tobacco, or controlled substances, including illegal and prescription drugs, possession of over-the-counter drugs for non-medical purposes, destruction of school property or personal property, truancy, persistent absenteeism that is not due to certifiable medical illness or disability, and persistent tardiness.
In cases of out-of-school suspension, the Headmaster shall present the student with the reasons and evidence for suspension and provide the student with an informal opportunity to respond to the charges prior to the suspension. The school officials involved shall make reasonable efforts to verify facts and statements prior to recommending a discipline. Depending on the severity of the offense and the student's past behavior, the Headmaster may choose to impose a lesser discipline, including before- or after-school detention, in-school suspension from regular classes, parental conference, and/or work detail. In cases of inappropriate behavior observed by the teacher, the teacher has the discretion to assign detention or initiate a parental conference, or to recommend suspension orally or in writing to the Headmaster. In cases where the teacher assigns a detention or other discipline, the student has the opportunity of appeal, first to the teacher, and then to the Headmaster, whose decision shall be final. There is no right to appeal a short-term (less than 10 days) suspension imposed by the Headmaster. There will be no corporal punishment of students at VPA, though staff may use reasonable, necessary force to restrain a violent, disruptive, or disobedient student.
The parent/legal guardian will be notified (by phone or in writing) of the behavior problem and the corrective measures taken. In the case of suspension, the parent/guardian will be notified in writing and will be required to attend a conference with the student and the school prior to re-admission. If the school is unable to contact the parent/legal guardian, the suspended student will be held in school until the end of the day. The parent/legal guardian shall be held liable for all damages caused by a student. The Headmaster shall notify the Board of Directors in writing of all suspensions. Students are not entitled to appeal a short-term suspension.
Suspension over 10 School Days and Expulsion
The Headmaster may recommend to the Board of Directors, suspension for over 10 days and/or expulsion of a student for serious cause, including, but not limited to the following: defiance of authority of VPA staff, repeated disregard or disobedience of school rules and regulations as outlined in the VPA Family Handbook, verbal abuse of adults or students, disruptive or disorderly behavior, bullying or harassing conduct, hazing, violent or threatening behavior, fighting, destruction of school property or personal property, truancy, persistent absenteeism that is not due to certifiable medical illness or disability, persistent tardiness, possession of firearms or other dangerous weapons, possession of controlled substances, including illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drugs, and possession of over-the-counter drugs for non-medical reasons. In cases where the student has committed a crime or violation of local, state or federal law, law enforcement authorities will be notified.
The parent/legal guardian will be notified of the intent to suspend for over 10 school days or expel the student, and a hearing shall be held, after at least five working days' notice, and must include the student, the Headmaster or other staff, and the parent/legal guardian. Parents will have the right to request an open meeting or an executive session of the Board of Directors for the expulsion hearing and the right to reapply for admission after one year of expulsion. If a student is being recommended for a long-term suspension or expulsion, the parent will be provided with a complete copy of the Academy’s policies regarding these discipline procedures.
The Board of Directors has the right to deny admission of a student who has been expelled from another school or is in the process of being expelled, and to deny, upon review of a request, re-admission of a student previously expelled from the Academy.
The Academy will meet all requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the IDEA, and State laws regarding disciplining of students with disabilities.
Note:
Colleges routinely ask students and/or schools to report all suspensions or expulsions in the college application paperwork. VPA honestly answers such questions and reports all suspensions at the high school level. (Colleges will take into consideration the timeframe and nature of the suspension, and students with suspensions have been accepted into top colleges.)
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