Discipline

Disciplinary Procedures

The administration and faculty of Legacy Private Academy work with parents in training children to honor and obey authority and respect others. The word "discipline" comes from the same root work as "to disciple" and involves repetitive training, teaching, and correction ...all in the context of love. Discipline in not merely punishment, it is teaching students to understand what is right and wrong, and then helping them choose to do what is right on their own. Discipline is both encouragement and instruction, not merely consequences.

Legacy believes that self-disciplined students have the greatest opportunity to achieve success in life and reach their full potential. If students clearly understand behavioral expectations and see them consistently enforced, they will be responsive to authority and will be secure in knowing that they will always be dealt with in a fair and consistent manner.

The most important aspect of the discipline program at Legacy is cooperation between parents and the school. When students understand that their parents and the teachers are working together and are in agreement, they respond more quickly to correction and have a better attitude.

The Disciplinary Process in the Classroom

Each classroom will have age appropriate positive reinforcement systems and behavior systems. The following are the "steps" of discipline that will be used in dealing with our students.

Step One:: Behavioral problems in the classroom will first be handled with a private talk between the teacher and the student. The teacher will take the student aside and quietly explain what is expected in class and what needs to change in his or her behavior.
Step Two:: A note will be sent home or a phone call made by the teacher to notify the parent of a specific problem.
Step Three:: A conference will be held for the parents by the teacher in order to assist the parents in dealing with the child's behavior.
Step Four:: If the behavior or attitude problem persists, the student will be sent to the Assistant Principal's Office. At this time, the Assistant Principal will go over the problem with the student and parents and clarify what changes must be made. ( Note: Legacy does not use corporal punishment in dealing with students.) Serious offenses such as lying, cheating, fighting, stealing, using bad language, or defiance to a teacher or staff member, will result in an immediate trip to the office, a telephone call to the parents, and a suspension.
Step Five:: At the point the student is placed in Behavioral Probation and a parental conference will be scheduled to discuss the possibility of the student's dismissal from Legacy.

The Disciplinary Process on the Playground

Students who make a poor choice at recess or lunch will undergo the following disciplinary process:

Step One:: First, students will receive a warning. The Playground Supervisors will remind students of the rule and tell them it is a warning.
Step Two:: The second time students make a poor choice, they will lose the privilege of playing for a period of time. A Behavior Report may be written and the yellow copy will be sent home. The student's parents must sign the yellow copy and this must be returned to the teacher. The teacher will send it to the office.
Step Three:: The third time students make a poor choice, they will be given a consequence of work duty or loss of recess.
Step Four:: Severe behavior offenses such as fighting or disrespect to another will be immediately referred to the Assistant Principal.
Step Five:: After receiving three Behavior Reports in a trimester, a student will be called to the Assistant Principal's office. The student's behavior will be discussed, appropriate consequences given and parents notified. Each trimester begins with a clean slate, anew beginning.