Policies

While a complete list of policies may be found in the Cornerstone Academy Parent/Student Handbook for Middle School, several polices are especially important and worth emphasizing here.

Discipline
Students are expected to obey the school rules, pursue the prescribed course of study, respect and respond to the authority of school personnel, and be courteous to all members of the school community.

Teachers initiate disciplinary measures and dialogue with students. Disciplinary matters not resolved in this manner are referred to administrators and parents. The school seeks to teach love and respect to students throughout such measures. If the student is not responsive, the school reserves the right to impose probation, suspension, and expulsion of the student.

Serious infractions, including but not limited to those listed below, may result in suspension or expulsion, even on the first offense:

• Threat to the safety of the student body or faculty

• Possession of weapons or facsimiles

• Possession or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol

• Theft or extortion

• Harassment or intimidation

• Profanity toward school personnel

• Unexcused absences or truancy

• Repeated breaches of school rules

• Assault on a faculty member or fellow student

While many disciplinary infractions are handled internally, a police report will be filed if deemed appropriate or if mandated by state or federal law.

Formal written notification will be provided to the parents of any student suspended or expelled. No student will be suspended or expelled without being informed of the reason. The student will have the opportunity to present his/her side of the incident and any supporting evidence or testimony. However, immediate suspension or expulsion may be imposed in an emergency situation at the discretion of the school.

Harassment
Every member of the school community must strive to maintain an environment free from harassment. Harassment of or by any student, teacher, or staff member is prohibited and will not be tolerated. This includes harassment directed toward members of the same or of the opposite gender. The school considers harassment to be a major offense which will result in an immediate investigation and, if necessary, disciplinary action including possible dismissal of the offending person(s).

Harassment is unwelcome advances, requests for sexual favors, and other written, verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a tormenting nature. Sexual harassment includes visual conduct such as leering, making sexual gestures, displaying of sexually suggestive objects or pictures, cartoons, or posters; verbal conduct such as making or using derogatory comments, epithets, slurs, and jokes, verbal abuse of a sexual nature, graphic verbal commentaries about an individual’s body, sexually degrading words used to describe an individual, suggestive or obscene letters, notes, or invitations; or physical conduct such as touching, assaulting, impeding, or blocking movement. Such conduct has a negative impact upon an individual’s performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

Any student, teacher, or staff member who believes that he/she is being harassed is encouraged to report such an incident. A prompt, thorough, and fair investigation will be conducted and every reasonable effort will be made to maintain the confidentiality and protect the privacy of all parties, consistent with the school’s responsibility to investigate and address such complaints.

Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is a fundamental tenet of the educational process. Cheating, including but not limited to plagiarism, on tests or homework will not be tolerated and will result in zero credit for the test or assignment. 

Plagiarism is copying word-for-word paragraphs or phrases from an author without giving credit to the author or using an author’s ideas, even if written in the student’s own words, without giving credit to the author. Plagiarism also includes submitting any work not performed by the student.

Consequences for academic dishonesty may include a one day suspension for the first offense, up to a five day suspension for the second offense, and withdrawal or expulsion for the third offense.