Behavior Code — GRCMS

Our desire is to foster a Christian community that is built on love and relationships and creates an atmosphere that is conducive to teaching and learning. We are preparing children to live by God's command to love their neighbor as themselves. Our responses to student issues at school are focused on restorative practices and encourage children to work through challenges and to restore community. We expect them to be God's healing agents in the world they live in.

Expectations for Behavior in Community

GRCMS is a community of faith and learning where students, parents, and staff partner together in order to create a safe and respectful environment. Both teachers and students have specific roles and responsibilities in achieving this goal. When addressing behavior that impacts the community, all students will be given due process, considering all sources of information when applying school discipline policies. School discipline problems will be documented and recorded.

1. In order for students at GRCMS to demonstrate respect for others and the community, to be part of a safe and positive environment, and to be ready for learning, the following expectations and rules have been established:
2. Behave properly in class
3. Be in class, prepared, and on time
4. Respect the safety of everyone in and outside of the classroom
5. Show respect for other students and their property
6. Show respect for staff members, visitors, and school policy
7. Be honest in all situations

When expectations are not met or community is disrupted, GRCMS uses three categories to identify the seriousness of the infraction and to help guide our response:

1. Warnings: Issued by teachers/staff members as a corrective measure to help the student change their behavior and attitude. 
2. Minors: Issued by teachers/staff members for behaviors disruptive to learning. Minor penalty examples:
   • Running, pushing, yelling in the halls
   • Dress code violations
   • Accumulation of three tardies and/or warnings in a given marking period
   • Unauthorized technology use
   • Non-compliance with expectations
   • *NOTE: The content of this list is by no means exhaustive.
3. Majors: Issued by teachers/staff members for actions that damage the community and/or put others at risk. Major penalty examples:
   • Abusive language, obscene gestures, or disrespect for God’s name
   • Leaving school grounds without permission during school hours
   • Vandalism/damage to school or personal property
   • Disrespect for others demonstrated in attitude, action, or speech 
   • Stealing
   • Fighting
4. Detentions: Outside of teacher-determined consequences for “warnings” or “minors,” the first step of in-school consequences is detention. Detentions may be given by any school staff member and are followed up by the GRCMS student life team. Detentions typically happen during the lunch hour.
5. In-School Suspension: An in-school suspension may be used as part of the disciplinary cycle supporting students in the modification of unacceptable behavior(s). Parents are notified when an in-school suspension has been issued along with a rationale for the disciplinary action. Below is the In-School Suspension procedure.
6. Suspension: Students may be suspended in school or from school for the following violations:
   • Possessing, using, distributing, or selling a controlled substance, or fireworks in, on, or near school property during the school day and at school-sponsored activities.
   • Pulling a false fire alarm
   • Physical harm to others  
   • Fighting and/or threatening other students
   • Harassment of others
   • Stealing or forgery
   • Abusing school property
   • Lighting fires
   • Defiance of school personnel or school
   • Possessing a weapon
   • Possessing obscene or pornographic materials
   • *NOTE: This is not an exhaustive list of violations.  ​​​​​​

7. 30-Day Social Probation: Students may be asked to refrain from attending after-school functions related to school for a period of time. This consequence may stand alone or be coupled with detention, suspension, or other disciplinary action.

8. Behavior Plans: In the life of our Christian school, there are times and cases where students demonstrate a pattern of behavior that compromises learning, the environment, relationships, trust, and the culture and community of Grand Rapids Christian Middle School. When the principal, in collaboration with teachers and the student life team, determines that a child’s behavior warrants an official behavior plan, the following process is followed:

• Teachers, support staff, the Student Life team, and the Principal draft a behavior plan.
• Parents and families are notified of the need for a meeting.
• The student, parents, teachers, and the principal sign the behavior plan.
• As much as possible, the school will pursue support services and opportunities for restoration on behalf of the student.
• Bi-weekly communication with parents is required when a child is on a behavior plan.  This communication comes from the Principal, student life team, or teachers and provides a report of progress toward the behavior goals and action steps established and agreed upon in the plan.
• If the student is able to demonstrate progress in meeting the guidelines and expectations of the plan, teachers, parents, and the Principal may agree to move to a “monitoring” status and away from an official behavior plan.

If the student is unable to make measurable progress in meeting the guidelines and expectations of the behavior plan, parents are notified. A meeting to discuss transitioning to an alternative educational placement and/or expulsion from Grand Rapids Christian Middle School will occur.