MILWAUKEE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL
POLICIES and PROCEDURES
Contents
1. Our Mission
2. Policies and Procedures
3. Chapel
4. Hall Lockers
5. Attendance Policy
5.1 Policy
5.2 Truancy/Skipping Classes
5.3 Attendance Procedures
5.4 Early Release
5.5 Tardy Policy and Procedures
6. Building Passes
7. Confidentiality of Student Records
8. Parking Lot Regulations
8.1 Regulations
8.2 Procedures for Parking Violations
8.3 Parking Lot Patrol
9. Discipline Policy
9.1 Policy
9.2 Behavior Resulting in Automatic Disciplinary Referral
9.3 Behavior Resulting in Automatic Suspension
9.4 Behavior Resulting in Automatic Expulsion
9.5 Academic Discipline
9.6 Academic Integrity Policy
10. Policy on Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Abuse
11. Dress Code
12. School Related Information
12.1 Student Identification Cards
12.2 Instructional Materials Center
12.3 Visitor’s Pass
12.4 Cafeteria Privileges
12.5 Building Hours
12.6 Health Services
12.7 Lost & Found or Stolen Items
12.8 Book Bag and Athletic Bags
12.9 Electronic Items
12.10 Gambling
12.11 Public Affection
12.12 Vandalism
12.13 Work Permits
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1. OUR MISSION
The Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee is owned and operated by a group of congregations of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod in the Milwaukee area. It functions as an educational agency of its member congregations.
The Association, formed in 1952, grew out of the first community Lutheran high school which was established in Milwaukee in 1903. The Association was founded to assure the continuing provision of quality secondary education from a Christian perspective for young men and women in the community. Our approach to teaching and working with others is based on God’s Word and is in accordance with the Lutheran Confessions.
Our mission is nurturing all students and empowering them to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of the future as disciples of Jesus Christ in service to others.
2. POLICIES and PROCEDURES
No society can function effectively without policies and procedures. Milwaukee Lutheran High School provides the opportunity for students to find identity, meaning, purpose and power for their lives in Christ by “growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Jesus lived and died by the rules, always being obedient to God and man. Because He died for our sins, He offers to each of us freedom from our sin. This act of love frees us to appreciate our successes and to grow from our failures, while always striving to do our best. As Philippians 3:14 says, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
High expectations come from God and are a part of every facet of school life. These rules and expectations are necessary to provide our students with a safe and orderly school environment where high achievement becomes the focus. These rules are kept at a minimum and are enforced. Students come to MLHS with backgrounds and experiences as varied as they themselves. Our students come as they are and we accept them as they are. Our common goal is that each student grows in relationship to Jesus Christ and to one another. “For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)
3. CHAPEL
The primary purpose of Milwaukee Lutheran High School is to help students find identity, meaning, purpose, and power for their lives in Christ (2 Peter 3:18). To this end, the students and faculty participate in chapel on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during a 25-minute period at the beginning of the day.
Chapel includes the following: liturgical devotional rites (matins, morning prayer, etc.), and devotions which include testimonies, prayer, and praise. Participants include faculty, students, pastors, other members of the high school family, and outside guests. On occasion assemblies are held in lieu of chapel.
Students and faculty usually gather together in the gymnasium for chapel. However, other locations may be used. Also, a variety of groupings may be used.
Chapel includes the following guidelines:
1. Chapel attendance is mandatory. 5. Handouts will be returned to the designated areas
2. Students should sit where assigned. at the end of the service.
3. Students should participate.
4. Students should not detract from 6. Students will go straight to class
the experience of others. after chapel.
If a student detracts from the chapel experience, a teacher may issue a citation notice to the Dean of Students, issue a referral, and/or remove the student from the chapel setting.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays devotions are shared over the public address system at the start of first hour. Each day ends with prayer over the public address system.
Free will offerings will be taken Fridays during the lunch period and given to the mission of the month.
4. HALL LOCKERS
1. Your locker is yours only and is a place where your property will be safe. Keep your combination confidential.
2. Locker combination changes require use of maintenance man-hours. Therefore a $2.00 fee is charged for a requested change.
3. Only your things should be kept in your locker. Likewise, do not put your things in anyone else’s locker. Sharing lockers is not allowed!
4. Keep your locker neat and clean. Only magnets or masking tape may be used to hang items on the interior walls. Avoid hanging anything that would be offensive to anyone.
5. Your locker is the property of the school. Periodic inspection will be made.
6. Do not kick, pound, scratch, hang on, or deface your locker. Costs to repair damaged locks and/or lockers will be charged to the student.
7. Should you need to bring something especially valuable to school, do not put it in your locker. Take the item to the Attendance Office for safekeeping. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen articles from your locker.
5. ATTENDANCE POLICY
5.1 POLICY
a. Regular attendance is viewed to be essential for the earning of credits at the high school level.
b. Course credit will be forfeited following the sixteenth (16) absence in a semester.
c. Acceptable absences are those approved and accounted for by the student’s parent/guardian. These absences include illness, family emergencies, vacations required by parent’s employer, special family events, doctor appointments, and absences approved in advance. All other absences are considered truancy. NOTE: Where extended absence is required for emergency reasons, the administration may waive the regulations on the forfeiture of credit.
d. When a student is absent from school, educational opportunities that are available only during class time are lost. Make-up work and due dates are at the discretion of the teacher. Parents may request assignments after three (3) consecutive days of absence.
e. The home will be alerted following the tenth absence and the fifteenth absence in a semester.
5.2 TRUANCY/SKIPPING CLASSES
All truancies are channeled through regular school disciplinary procedures. Students who are truant
will not be allowed to return to class without a parent/school administrator contact and/or conference.
The student who skips a class will not be allowed to return to class without a parent contact by a school
official. In both cases the student will receive a reduction of credit for time and work missed due to the
absence.
5.3 ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES
a. Absences must be reported to the Attendance Office (414-461-6062) by a parent prior to 9am on the day of the absence. A written excuse must also be submitted to the Attendance Office on the day the student returns to school. Parents are asked to call each day the student is absent. Extended absences may be reported on an every-other-day basis.
b. If it is necessary for a student to leave during school hours, a note signed by a parent must be presented to the attendance secretary before 8am. The student will receive a pass to report back to the Attendance Office at the designated time and be given a ‘permit to leave’ slip. If at any time during the school day a student should become ill, he/she should report to the Attendance Office. The student’s parent/guardian will be contacted and asked to give permission for the student to leave school. Do not leave school without reporting to the Attendance Office for permission to leave school.
5.4 EARLY RELEASE
a. Seniors with a 2.00 cumulative GPA and second semester juniors with a 3.00 cumulative GPA may petition for early release. Early release forms are available from the Attendance Office.
b. Students who have been granted early release are to leave campus following their last class and are not to be loitering in the building.
c. Students who have been suspended from school are subject to losing early release once their suspension is over.
d. Students involved in extra curricular activities will not be eligible for the early release program. (Exceptions must have administrative approval.)
5.5 TARDY POLICY and PROCEDURES
a. The school places a high premium upon punctuality. Students are encouraged to exercise responsibility with
respect to their arrival for all classes.
b. A student who receives 3 or more tardy marks in an individual class during the 6-week grading period will be referred to the office and placed in the disciplinary cycle, and is subject to a Saturday detention and a 1-1/2 hour $10 fee for each detention slip. Unexcused/skipping detention will result in a double the required fine and double the fee.
c. Further consequences may include detention, parent conference, and suspension.
d. A student should report directly to class when late. If attendance has been collected, the teacher will send the student to the Attendance Office for an ‘admit to class’ slip.
e. If a student is late to school on a chapel day, he/she must report immediately to the resource study hall and remain there during chapel. The student must obtain a pass at the end of the chapel period from the study hall supervisor in order to be admitted to their first hour class.
f. If a teacher or other staff member detains a student, a ‘building pass’ will be issued to the student by that person. The student should go directly to the next class and give the pass to the teacher.
5.6 ABSENCE RESULTING FROM APPROVED FIELD TRIP(S)
All students who participate in a school-sanctioned field trip will be responsible for all the work in other classes for that day. The student is also responsible for the requirements of work given on that day and any other deadlines for projects, quizzes, and tests as established by the teacher in each class.
6. BUILDING PASSES
1. Teachers may only give a student a pass to four areas if a student shows the teacher their ID and student planner.
a. Student planners are to be used for bathroom and locker passes only.
b. Green passes are to be used for sending a student to another class or office.
2. If a student requests a building pass to an area other than the above four, the teacher will issue a pass to the
Attendance Office where a pass may be issued to the specific area.
7. CONFIDENTIALITY OF STUDENT RECORDS
In compliance with the Federal Family Right and Educational Privacy Act and Wisconsin Statutes Section 118-125, be it RESOLVED
1. All records maintained by the school for the pupil shall be confidential.
2. Progress Reports, which contain only objective pupil data (transcripts), shall be kept permanently.
3. Behavioral Records, which include psychological tests, personality evaluations, together with anecdotal records, shall be maintained one year following graduation and thereafter destroyed.
4. The responsibility for the maintenance of school records is vested in the principal. He shall report his compliance to the superintendent annually in June.
5. Parents of minor students or adult students have the right to inspect their records. Said parent or adult student so desiring to inspect their records shall address a request to the principal in writing.
6. The procedure for challenging records shall be:
a. Written notice to the principal requesting a hearing;
b. If satisfaction is not achieved, a statement of challenge shall be addressed to the superintendent who will give hearing/arrange for a hearing with the Board of Directors.
8. PARKING LOT REGULATIONS
8.1 REGULATIONS
a. Driving to school is considered a privilege. All vehicles must be registered and all parking regulations must be followed; failure to do so may result in disciplinary action. (See “Procedures for Parking Violations” below.)
b. All cars must be parked in the designated parking lots accessed via Grantosa Drive. Students are not allowed to park in the fire lane, or in spaces designated for reserved, handicapped, or visitor parking. PARKING ON THE STREETS AROUND SCHOOL IS DISCOURAGED!
c. Students who drive to school must register their cars. The cost of registration is $10.00. A parking permit will be issued at registration. This permit is valid for the 2007-08 school year. A student who drives more than one car to school must register all cars. The permit may be transferred from one registered car to another car belonging to the same student. Replacement of a permit is $5.00. A registration form and permit are available in the Attendance Office. Parking spaces are available on a first come-first served basis only. Unauthorized vehicles will be towed at owners’ expense.
d. Vehicles that do not fit in the school’s parking spaces may not be driven to school.
e. Students who drive to school must remember that their cars are to be used only for transportation to and from school. Drivers can give rides to others, but should not cruise the city streets or neighborhood.
f. Students are not allowed to go to the parking lots during the school day without a pass from an administrator.
g. Students may not drive their cars during the school day without permission from a parent or a school official.
h. Student drivers should exercise caution and restraint at all times. Excessive speed, unsafe activities, or unnecessary noise will not be tolerated.
i. If you drive an unregistered car to school, you must report location, car, make, and license number to the Attendance Office Secretary.
8.2 PROCEDURES FOR PARKING VIOLATIONS
It is each student driver’s responsibility to follow all driving and parking regulations. Parking violation records will be destroyed at the end of each school year. Discipline steps for parking violations are as follows:
a. On the first violation, the student will be notified and warned that a second violation will result in a fine.
b. On the second violation, the student will be assessed a $10.00 fine.
c. On the third violation, the student will be assessed a $20.00 fine and a parent/guardian will be notified.
d. On the fourth violation, the student will receive a disciplinary referral for refusing to follow driving and parking regulations. The student will not be allowed to return to class without paying all fines and attending a student/parent/school official conference. Loss of driving privileges should be expected.
e. Unregistered and unreported cars will be towed at owners’ expense.
8.3 PARKING LOT PATROL
a. Students are asked to volunteer for the Parking Lot Patrol. Students patrol the lots during a free period for the purpose of protecting the vehicles, reporting inappropriately parked vehicles, and ticketing said vehicles.
b. Milwaukee Lutheran High School is not responsible for theft and/or vandalism to vehicles parked on school property.
9. DISCIPLINE POLICY
9.1 POLICY
Lutheran high schools are Christian education settings in which God seeks to accomplish His good and gracious will for students. Students, as children of God, are both sinners and saints simultaneously. Therefore, Lutheran high schools endeavor regularly to lead all students to recognize themselves as sinners, to repent, and accept and trust Jesus Christ as their Savior. Living in the assurance of God’s love, mercy and forgiveness, students are encouraged by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit to live Christian lives in accord with God’s will for them.
When a student conspicuously or consistently violates a rule(s) of Christian conduct, administrators and staff must deal with and minister to such a student with the goal of leading that student to a recognition of his/her behavior as sin against God, repentance, acceptance of God’s forgiving love in Jesus Christ, and a demonstration of intent to live a Christian life with the help of God. If appropriate, the administration and staff will utilize the resources of a student’s pastor, his parents, and other resources and agencies that may help achieve the goal of ministry for the student. Within the context of ministry, it may be appropriate that a student be deprived of school privileges, including suspension, so that the student and the entire student body recognizes the seriousness of sin against God, and value the Christian setting in which God seeks to accomplish His good and gracious will for His children.
In the event a student apparently refuses to accept the ministry offered him/her and willfully or consistently demonstrates his/her unwillingness to live a Christian life, the student, by virtue of his/her own attitude and action, disqualifies him/herself from continued ministry. When, as a result of continued ministry, a student demonstrates and expresses his/her desire to return to the Christian education setting so that God may accomplish His good will for the student, the school administrators should seek to provide for re-enrollment.
Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee
a. After a student has received 5 referrals a review of the student by an administrator and school counselor will be conducted.
9.2 BEHAVIOR RESULTING IN A SCHOOL CITATION
The citation will be used to determine whether a student’s behavior is a consistent problem that needs to be addressed by the Dean of Students. Citations will be issued primarily for minor issues occurring in out-of-class settings such as passing times and chapel, including
a. questionable language and/or improper topics of discussion:
b. borderline dress code infractions;
c. chapel behavior that causes concern but does not warrant a referral.
The teacher will inform the student of the citation and get his/her name from the school ID. Citations will be given to the Dean of Students at the end of each school day. Three citations in any area will result in a Disciplinary Referral. Citation records will be cleared at the end of each semester.
9.3 BEHAVIOR RESULTING IN AUTOMATIC DISCIPLINARY REFERRAL
9.4 BEHAVIOR RESULTING IN AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION FROM SCHOOL
a. Any instruments normally considered weapons are not permitted on school property at any time. Violation of this rule will result in the weapon being confiscated and could result in expulsion from school.
b. Smoking is not permitted in the school building, on the school grounds, or in cars on the school grounds. Furthermore, a student should not have cigarettes, tobacco, or lighting materials in his/her possession. This rule also holds for school functions both at home and away.
c. Fighting will not be tolerated and is not permitted in the school building, on school grounds, near the school, or at school sanctioned events.
1. Fighting results in a five-day school suspension.
2. The second offense in the same school year will result in recommendation for expulsion.
3. The third offense in a students’ career will result in recommendation for expulsion.
d. Theft will not be tolerated, continued enrollment will be reviewed, and the proper authorities will be notified. The perpetrator will be financially responsible for replacing all stolen items.
9.5 BEHAVIOR RESULTING IN AUTOMATIC EXPULSION FROM SCHOOL
a. If a student has in his/her possession any illegal drug, including alcohol, at school or at a school function either home or away, the student will be expelled from school.
b. Any student who consistently shows and demonstrates disrespect toward teachers, staff, and others in
Authority will be expelled from school.
9.6 ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE
a. Students who refuse to do homework will receive an academic referral and be sent to the Guidance
Office to their assigned counselor for diagnosis and counseling.
9.7 ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY
God encourages His people to have integrity. Integrity is a high calling that allows an individual to walk with the Lord. That high calling may be found in Micah 4:2, “Let’s go to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways so that we may live by them.”(GWN) Personal integrity helps individuals walk in God’s way. Integrity keeps them from giving in to temptation and helps the follow God’s plans. Nothing can destroy integrity faster than dishonesty. Lying, cheating, and theft may seem appealing at times, especially if they might go undetected. But all of these behaviors are wrong and, in the long run, cost more than maintaining integrity. In accordance with God’s Word, Milwaukee Lutheran High School students accept and understand that they exist in a Christian community that seeks to glorify God and follow His instructions.
PLAGIARISM
“Plagiarism” comes from the Greek root word “kidnapping” and is the theft of someone else’s ideas, words, or other work without clearly acknowledging the creator and using that material as one’s own. Plagiarism includes an exact copying of another’s work, or a rewording, paraphrasing, partial quotation or summarization of another’s work without properly acknowledging the creator of the original work. Plagiarism includes copying presentations, programs, class assignments, lab reports, graphs, charts, essays, compositions and term papers.
Plagiarism is a form of intellectual and academic dishonesty that can be done intentionally or unintentionally. Intentional plagiarism is the deliberate presentation of another’s work or ideas as one’s own. Unintentional plagiarism is the inadvertent presentation of another’s work or ideas without proper acknowledgement because of poor or inadequate practices. Unintentional plagiarism is a failure of scholarship; intentional plagiarism is an act of deceit.
Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Downloading information from the Internet or other source and submitting it as one’s own work
- Submitting as one’s own work that which is copied or translated from another source
CHEATING
Cheating is the deliberate or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information, technology, study aides, or unauthorized group work on assignments, projects, tests, or other academic exercises during class or outside of class. The student is responsible for consulting with the teacher concerning whether group work may be permissible. Any attempt to give or receive improper assistance is cheating.
Representing or attempting to represent oneself as another or having or attempting to have oneself represented by another in the taking of a test, preparation of an assignment, or other similar activity constitutes cheating.
Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Forging a signature for the purpose of earning credit in a class
- Providing access to materials or information so that credit may be dishonestly claimed by others
- Creating and distributing copies of one’s own work so that credit may be dishonestly claimed by others
- Giving or receiving unauthorized assistance on an assessment
- Falsifying or altering grade related documents, programs, or information
DISCIPLINARY MEASURES
When an act of academic misconduct may have occurred, the classroom teacher will notify the student of the incident in person. It is recommended that a third party be present whenever possible. The student will be given the opportunity to respond to the allegation. The teacher’s professional judgment will then be used to determine whether an infraction has occurred.
Following the first violation of the Academic Integrity Policy, all or some of the following steps will be taken:
- The classroom teacher will require the student to redo the work involved (a test, paper, essay, quiz, homework assignment, etc.), receive a reduction of credit for the work involved, and/or receive a zero for the work involved.
- The classroom teacher will contact the student’s parent/guardian, Dean of Students (via referral), and counselor. The Dean of Students will record the incident in the school data system.
- The principal and organization advisors will review the student’s eligibility for honor societies and academic awards.
- The Dean of Students will notify the student and parent in writing that any two future infractions in any class will result in an F grade and removal from the class in which the third infraction occurs.
Following the second violation of the Academic Integrity Policy, all or some of the following steps will be taken:
- Steps A, B, and C for a first infraction.
- Administrative disciplinary action which may or may not include suspension.
- The Dean of Students will schedule a student, parent, and assistant principal meeting. At that meeting the parent and student will be notified in writing that any further infraction will result in a loss of credit.
Following the third violation of the Academic Integrity Policy, all or some of the following steps will be taken:
- Steps A and B for a second infraction.
- The Dean of Students will arrange a meeting with the student, his/her parent/guardian, the student’s guidance counselor, and the assistant principal. The student will earn no credit for the class in which the third infraction occurred.
Any infraction beyond the third incident will result in a referral to administration for disciplinary action that may include expulsion.
Students are responsible for complying with the Academic Integrity Policy throughout their high school career. The record of a student’s infractions is maintained from year to year and is not cleared at the beginning of each new school year.
APPEALS PROCESS
The student and his/her parent/guardian