By Kaizeen Mody
The upper school deans have created a new detention system which will be finalized as soon as it is approved by the Sports Council.
New features will include the option of an after school detention as well as detentions during Monday activities periods.
After spearheading the project, the deans asked Head of School Dr. Jeanne Huybrechts for advice when noting the success of the Middle Schoolâs new detention and kudos system created last year.
“The activities period detentions would most likely be for minor infractions like cutting class once,” Attendance Coordinator Gabriel Preciado said.
However, the severity of after school detentions has been lessened as it will now be optional.
After the department heads of Athletics and Performing Arts heard of the plans to establish after school detentions, they requested that the deans not use this idea.
They said it could significantly affect students who would miss rehearsals or sports practices.
“In this case, it could end up hurting more than the child,” Huybrechts said. “A whole team or cast of a production could be affected.”
After school detentions will most likely be issued as a result of a series of offenses.
An example of this would be habitual tardiness. However, regular Monday and Wednesday morning detentions will still be an option.
What has stayed the same but is now being heavily stressed is a teacherâs privilege to assign detentions to students.
Many teachers were unaware of until this year and did not end up using much.
“Itâs always been in the handbook,” Preciado said. “I have to say itâs surprising to me that so few are familiar with these policiesâstudents and teachers.”
Many teachers who knew this already, however, can still choose to discipline students in other ways.
In the end, Dean Canh Oxelson, who was mainly in charge of designing the new system thinks that it will create better communication between students, faculty and deans.
“Ultimately, the new system encourages a better partnership between teachers and deans in making sure that students are meeting both their academic and citizenship responsibilities,” Oxelson said.
