Core Policies


DISCIPLINE POLICY
As a reflection of both Christian doctrine and biblical instruction on training our children, Trinity Classical Academy maintains that it is the primary role of the parents to instruct and discipline their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Simultaneously, Trinity also recognizes that the nature of community requires that degrees of discipline may occur outside the home. Thus, Trinity maintains the privilege to appropriately instruct a child in both loving one’s neighbor and teaching them to joyfully obey the rules and procedures set forth in a broader society (specifically the society of a Trinity classroom). While Trinity does not allow corporal punishment within the realm of its classrooms by either student or teacher, it does maintain the right, acting in the place of parents while the child is within our care, to enact other discipline procedures which would most appropriately meet four criteria:
 
  1. Acting in accordance with a biblical standard of both conduct and speech as is appropriate for a teacher to student relationship
  2. Acting in accordance with what will most effectively teach the child the gift of repentance and beauty of reconciliation
  3. Acting in accordance with what the teacher best understands to be the parents’ desires when disciplining their child
  4. Acting in accordance with what actions and speech will best aid the actions and work of the whole group 
 
It is our privilege to be commissioned by the family to teach the courses we offer. And thus, it is our privilege to be commissioned by the home to uphold a biblical standard of child discipline that both affirms the role of the parents and respects the role of the teacher. In this way, we seek to maintain constant communication with parents or guardians given an occasion for any disciplinary action.  
Likewise, Trinity maintains the right, according to the reason and wisdom of its leadership, to dismiss any child at any time, and for any amount of time, for any conduct which does not hold to the standard set forth by Trinity Classical Academy. Student behavior requiring disciplinary action could include but are not limited to the following:
 
  1. Inappropriate speech
  2. Inappropriate conduct (either harmful, sexual, or altogether negligent) whether to oneself, with another student, or with property belonging to another
  3. Plagiarism
  4. Threats made to harm oneself or another person
  5. Inappropriate speech or conduct on the part of a family member or friend (i.e. parent, sibling, et cetera)
  6. Any action which breaks state or federal law
  7. Any conviction by a state or federal court
  8. Consistent disruption of the class, affecting the learning environment of fellow students
 
In the event that one of the aforementioned criteria is met (or another which was not explicitly mentioned but still could require disciplinary action), administration should consider having all students and teachers involved complete an affidavit, reporting on a written document their own part of the story. Administrators and the Board will use all affidavits submitted to discern the best path forward. All affidavits will be kept on file for future reference. In some cases, there may also be a need for Administrators and the Board to collect statements from other students/teachers who may have witnessed the infraction.  In such cases, all discussions will be kept confidential.
Likewise, in the event that one of the aforementioned criteria is met (or another which was not explicitly mentioned but still requires disciplinary action), despite the length of attendance by the student, parents maintain responsibility to uphold their financial and parental obligations to Trinity Classical Academy.
 
Classroom Disruption Progressive Discipline (infractions are on a per teacher basis):
First infraction: Student initials on the board
Second infraction in a day: Student name on the board
Third infraction in a day: Teacher phone call to parents
More than 2 phone calls to a parent per semester:  Parents and students must meet with administrator to develop a behavior plan.  If the student’s behavior does not meet expectations, then parents will have to meet with the board for possible dismissal from the academy.