Presbyterian Pan American School

Code of Conduct

The life of our community is guided by the Golden Rule:

"Do to others as you would have them do to you" Luke 6:31
and
the PPAS School Pledge:

Acknowledging my privileges, obligations, and responsibilities as a child of God and trusting upon God's help and directions, I pledge to lead a life of Christian Leadership, Inquire, Faith, and Enterprise (LIFE) as long as I remain a member of the Presbyterian Pan American School. I will endeavor myself to be persistent in the pursuit of learning, diligent in seeking spiritual, emotional, and physical maturity, and intentional in upholding the Christian principles and values for which Presbyterian Pan American School stands.

The authority of the school derives from the consent of the student and the approval of the parents or legal guardian. A student's conduct shall be under the guidance of the school staff.

By enrolling and remaining in the community of Presbyterian Pan American School, a student accepts the mission and the program of the school and agrees to do what is expected at all times, on or off campus, and whether or not a staff member is present.

Mere compliance is not enough, however. It is only a start. No one can really be satisfied until he/she lives in accord with the golden rule. Actions of consideration for others, spirit of service, diligence in duty, and of goodwill cannot be completely catalogued. We can list examples of conduct, but have greater expectations than enumeration.

Every community must have rules. Rules are necessary to fulfill the special purpose of the school and to protect the rights and meet the needs of every member of the community. In order for the school to maintain a distinctive clearly identified Christian character, universal adherence to basic rules throughout the school is essential; therefore, the school is run on the honor system.

Each student must learn to make decisions and accept responsibilities within clearly established limits of acceptable behavior. Students must learn that all actions have consequences.

Offenses:

    1. Acts of dishonesty: e.g., cheating, stealing, and lying. Cheating is defined as: Giving or receiving written or oral assistance for work that is designed by the teacher as individual work, using material from another person's paper during a test, plagiarizing, that is submitting work as original work that has not been done by the student.
    2. Possession, use, or evidence of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, non-prescribed controlled substances, illegal drugs, or any form of fireworks or weapon.
    3. Malicious damage to school property or to the property of others, or any acts of hazing.
    4. Serious lack of cooperation, including excessive tardiness/absences, and behavior reflecting a poor attitude toward the school and the educational process.
    5. Conduct which reflects serious discredit upon the school, including acts of violence or scandal and acts involving trouble with legal authorities.
    6. Inappropriate behavior between male and female students.
    7. Use of foul language.
    8. Leaving campus without permission; or being absent from room after hours.

Room Search
Presbyterian Pan American School reserves the right for personnel to search dormitory rooms when deemed necessary for the general welfare of the campus community.

Disciplinary Procedures
The following will serve to regulate disciplinary action at Presbyterian Pan American School. They are based on the premise that no student has a right to disrupt the community life, a class, or a school function; or to interfere in any way with a teacher or staff member's obligations to teach; or to keep another student from learning; or to endanger the safety of any member of the community. The following steps will ordinarily be followed, in sequence:

Step I First offense: Teacher or supervisor will give a warning and counsel with the student regarding misbehavior.

Step II Second offense: Student conference with the Principal/Student Life Director. The Principal/Student Life Director may consult with the teacher/supervisor to determine appropriate action.

Step III Third Offense or Extraordinary cases: Student conference with the Student Life Committee to discuss the student's status and to determine appropriate disciplinary action. The student will be placed on Probation whereby the student will be given conditions, which will include losing all school privileges for a given period or be placed on Suspension whereby the student shall be sent home for a period of no less than one week. The Student Life Director shall notify the parents of the discipline problems and of the actions taken by the Student Life Committee.

Step IV Fourth Offense: The Student Life Committee shall consider suspending or expelling the student. The Student Life Director will contact the student's parents to inform them of the action being taken by the Student Life Committee.

Step V Fifth or Subsequent disciplinary offenses: The Student Life Committee shall expel the student. The Student Life Director will contact the student's parents and inform them of the action taken by the Student Life Committee.

Suspension
The student is dismissed temporarily from the school.

Expulsion
The student is dismissed permanently from the school.

The final decision whether probation, suspension, or expulsion made by the Student Life Committee will depend in large measure on the student's previous record and general attitude toward the school as well as the student's effect on the well-being of the school community. If, at the discretion of the administration, it is deemed that a student is no longer able to act in a manner consistent with the school's traditions, the student will be dismissed permanently from the school. Disciplinary action taken will become part of the student's permanent record.

Due Process
In order to ensure that the student has been dealt with fairly, the student (and parents if possible) will have an opportunity to present his/her case before the Student Life Committee arrives at a final decision. However, in extraordinary cases involving clear and present danger (e.g. a student who is obviously intoxicated, on drugs, who possesses a weapon, or who is otherwise immediately dangerous to himself or others) the Student Life Committee is empowered to consider immediate dismissal. In all cases, the decision of the Student Life Committee is final on all disciplinary matters. While the Student Life Committee will make the final decision, parents have the right to appeal the decision directly to the President. In the case of the dismissal of a student, the school will supervise the student until he or she is delivered to the family, or designate of the family, which could be a common carrier.

Upon expulsion from Pan American School, school officials will work with the student and family to find counseling and/or help for the student in a new setting in so far as it is possible. Provided that the balance in the student's account has been cleared, the school will forward the student's records to assist in the process of transition.

Absences
All students are expected to be present to all classes, meals (except as announced), and designated school activities. An excused absence is one caused by illness or medical or dental appointments and must be supported by the school nurse, dormitory supervisor or a note from the student's physician. Other reasons will be reviewed by the Academic Council to determine whether or not they may be considered excusable. A day student who has been absent from classes must bring to the school's office, on the morning he or she returns, a written note signed by his or her parent/guardian or physician stating the reason for the student's absence. The student is responsible for meeting with the teacher and making up work or test missed as a result of an excused absence.

Any other absence is an unexcused absence. The teacher will record a grade of zero for any work or assignment due and tests administered during the student's absence.

Tardies
A student is tardy when he/she arrives after the designated hour a class or other school activity is to begin. A tardy is excused only with a pass or note of explanation, properly signed by a teacher or other authorized personnel. If the student arrives more than ten minutes late, an absence is recorded.

A student is expected to arrive at class or study hall with his/her own books, papers, and other items required for the class; therefore, permission to return to the dorm will not be granted. A student needing to leave class to get these items will be counted tardy. Dormitories are off limits until after lunch. Students are expected to bring materials needed for all morning classes to avoid returning to the dormitories.

Students are encouraged to be 3 to 5 minutes early to all activities, such as classes, meals or work, in order to be ready at the appointed hour.

Penalties for tardiness & absences
(Campusing) Students with excessive tardiness and absences will be restricted to campus or assigned work detention:

  1. Removal from class counts as an unexcused absence for that class.
  2. One unexcused absence to a class or school activity or two absences from meals or a cumulative average of four tardies in any one week shall mean automatic exclusion from participating in the weekly town trip and from any other off-campus activities on Saturday as well as the Saturday evening activity.
  3. Day students who accumulate four tardies in any one-week, shall be required to meet with the principal for appropriate action.


*Student Life Committee is composed of the Director of Student Life, Chaplain, two Faculty members, and one male and female student who are appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Academic Council. The Director of Student Life will be a nonvoting member unless there is a tie.