A.  HEALTH SERVICES:
   Vision and hearing tests are routinely conducted by Area Education Agency personnel. On occasion, other health related services are made available to Marquette students. All students are to have an immunization card on file in the office. Any medical emergency (for example, an injury) will be referred to the school nurse (if on campus) or to the office of the Medical Associates Clinic in Bellevue for initial treatment. It is desirable that the school have on file the names and locations of people to contact in the event of an emergency.

B.  MEDICATION:
    1.  Prescription Drugs: Dispensing of prescription drugs will be administered by a nurse or designated party with training and with the written consent of parent(s). A physicians signed, dated authorization including the name of the student, physician, medication, dosage, and medication schedule must be given to the school on or with the original container. A record of each dose of medication administered will be documented in the pupils health record. Contraceptives will not be dispensed.
    2.  Nonprescription Drugs: Dispensing nonprescription drugs may occur, provided the parents have signed and dated an authorization identifying medication, dosage, and time interval to be administered.

C.  AIDS:
   Children diagnosed as having any bloodborne pathogen disease, or with laboratory evidence of infection with a bloodborne pathogen associated virus (HILV-III/LAV) and receiving medical attention may attend classes in an unrestricted educational setting.  (Archdiocesan Board of Education policy 5141.2)

D. OLWEUS BULLYING PROGRAM:
    The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is a program designed to prevent or reduce bullying in schools.  A student is being bullied or harassed when he or she is exposed repeatedly and over time to negative actions on the part of one or more students.  Bullying implies an imbalance in power or strength.  The student who is bullied has difficulty defending himself or herself
    1. Goals:
          a) Reduce existing bully/ victim problems among school children.
          b) Prevent the development of new bully/ victim problems.
          c) Improve peer relations.
          d) Improve school climate.
    2. Elementary Rules:
           a) We will not bully others.
            b) We will help students who are bullied.
            c) We will include students who are easily left out.
            d) When we know somebody is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and/or at home.
    3. Junior High Rules:
            a) We will not bully others
            b) We will help students who are bullied
            c) We will make it a point to include all students.
            d) If we know that somebody is being bullied, it is our/my responsibility to tell a teacher and to tell a adult at home.
    4. High School Rules:
            a) We will not bully, haze, or harass others.
            b) We will help students who ar bullied, hazed, or harassed.
            c) We will work to include students who may feel left out.
            d) We report bullying to a responsible adult.
    5. Aggressive Behavior Consequences for grades K-8 are listed in the St. Joseph's Elementary School Disciplinary section of this handbook. Aggressive Behavior Consequences for grades 9-12 are listed in the Marquette High School Disciplinary section of this handbook.

E. HARASSMENT/BULLYING OF STUDENTS:
    1. Purpose: The Archdiocese of Dubuque and the State of Iowa are committed to providing all students with a safe educational environment in which all students of the community are treated with dignity and respect. A safe educational environment is necessary for students to learn and achieve at high levels. Harassing and bullying behavior can seriously disrupt the ability of employees and volunteers to maintain a safe environment, and the ability of students to learn and succeed.
    2. Policy
            a) It is the policy of the Archdiocesan Board of Education to maintain a learning environment that is free from any type of harassment/bullying. No student associated with the educational programs governed by the Archdiocesan Board of Education shall be subjected to any type of harassment/bullying while on school/parish property, at any school/parish function, or at a school/parish sponsored activity regardless of location.
            b) It shall be a violation of this policy for any school employee, volunteer, or student to harass/bully a student through conduct or communications as defined in Section III below.
            c) Each administrator shall be responsible for promoting understanding, acceptance and compliance with local, state, and federal laws and board policy and procedures governing harassment/bullying within the educational program.
            d) Violations of this policy will be cause for disciplinary action.
III. Definitions:
            a)"Harassment" and "Bullying" shall be construed to mean any electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or conduct toward a student which is based on any actual or perceived trait or characteristic of the student and which creates an objectively hostile school environment that meets one or more of the following conditions:

1) places the student in reasonable fear of harm to the student's person or property;     2) has a substantially detrimental effect on the student's physical or mental health;     3) has the effect of substantially interfering with a student's academic performance;     4) has the effect of substantially interfering with the student's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by the educational program. It includes but is not limited to:     1) epithets, slurs, negative stereotyping, or threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts;     2) written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group that is circulated within or placed on walls, bulletin boards, or elsewhere on premises where the educational program operates; and     3) name calling, sarcasm, spreading rumors, excessive teasing, and hazing.

            b) "Trait or characteristic of the student" includes but is not limited to age, color, creed, national origin, race, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical attributes, physical or mental ability, or disability, ancestry, political party preference, political belief, socioeconomic status, or family status.
            c) "Electronic" means any communication involving the transmission of information by wire, radio, optical cable, electromagnetic, or other similar means. "Electronic" includes but is not limited to communication via electronic mail internet-based communications, pager service, cell phones, and electronic text messaging.
            d) "Volunteer" means any individual who has a regular, significant contact with students.
IV. Standard:
The standard for determining whether verbal or physical conduct is sufficiently servere or persuasive to create a hostile or abusive environment is whether a reasonable student in the same or similar circumstance would find the conduct intimidating, hostile, or abusive. It is not necessary to show the victim was psychologically harmed.
V. Prevention:
Prevention is the best tool for the elimination of harassment. An educational program governed by the Archdiocesan Board of Education will maintain an environment free of harassment/bullying. Harassment/bullying conduct may be challenged evan if the complaining person is not the intended target of the conduct.
VI. Procedures:
            a) Any school employee, volunteer, parent, guardian, or student who witnesses or becomes aware of conduct in violation of this policy should file a complaint in writing directly to the victim's or perpetrator's teacher, immediate supervisor, principal, C/DRE, Director of Catechetical Services, or the Superintendent of Schools of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The complaint shall describe the perceived violation, name the perpetrator and the victim, and identify any potential witnesses to the incident.
            b) A school/parish employee, volunteer, student, or student's parent or gaurdian who promptly, reasonably, and in good faith reports an incident of harassment or bullying, in compliance with the procedures in this policy, to the apropriate school/parish employee shall be imune from civil or criminal liability relating to such report and to participation in any administrative or judicial proceeding resulting from or relating to the report.
            c) In the case of a student who threatens physical harm to another student for any reason, a "no-tolerence" stance will be taken. The perpatrator will be suspended from the educational program immediately. Reentry will be contigent upon a report from a competent mental health proffesional that the perpatrator is not perceived to be a threat to self or others. It may also be contingent upon a program of continued counseling.
            d) The filing of a complaint or otherwise reporting of harassment or bullying will not reflect upon the compliant's status nor will affect future employment or work assignments. School employees, volunteers, and studentss hall not engage in retaliation, reprisal, or false accusation against a complainant, victim, witness, or an individual who has reliable information about such an act of harassment or bullying.
            e) The right to confidentiality, both of the complaiinant and of the accused, will be respected to the extent possible. Confidentiality may be sacraficed, however, in light of the necessity to investigate allegations of misconduct and to take corrective action when such conduct is found to have occured.
            f) The local Catechetical leader (principal, C/DRE, youth minister) designated b the Superintendent of Schools (for schools) or DIrector of Catechetical Services (for parish education programs) shall investigate a complaint to determine if, under the totality of the circumstances presented, the conduct in question objectively constitutes harassment or bullying under this policy. A written summary of the investigation and its findings will be developed. If charges are substantiated, the investigator should contact the Office of Educational Services (for schools) and the Office of Catechetical Services (for parish education programs) for counsel.
            g) Local education programs should develop programs consistent with this policy to eliminate harassment and bullying from all educational programs in the Archdiocese.
            h) Annually, the school Improvement and Advisory Committee (SIAC) for school programs and/or the C/DRE in charge of religious education programs must present recommendations to the local Board of Education and Formation on preventing harassment or bullying, to include goals, programs, training, and other initiatives.
VII. Sanctions:
            a) A substaniated charge against a student in any educational program governed by the Archdiocesan Board of Education will subject that student to disciplinary action up to and including suspension or expulsion. (ABE 5144.1)
            b) A substanciated charge against an employee or a volunteer will subject that individual to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.
VIII. Notifications:
            a) Notice of this policy will be circulated to all educational programs governed by the Archdiocesan board of Education. This policy will be encorporated in employee, volunteer, and parent/gaurdian/student handbooks.
            b) Training sessions on this policy and the prevention of harassment shall be held for employees, volunteers, and students in all educational programs governed by the Archdiocesan Board of Education.
            c) School programs are required to develop and maintain a system to collect harassment and bullying incidence data. This information is to be reported annually to the local comminity as part of its Comprehensive School Improvement Plan.
 F.  HARASSMENT OF EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS:
I. Policy:
            a) It is the policy of the educational programs governed by the Archdiocesan Board of Education to maintain a learning and working enviroment that is free from any type of harassment. No employee or volunteer associated with these programs shall be sublected to any type of harassment.
            b) It shall be a violation of this policy for an employee, volunteer, or student to harass any employee or volunteer through conduct or communications as defined in Section II below.
            c) Each administrator shall be responsible for promoting understanding and accepting of and assuring compliance with local, state, and federal laws and board policy and procedures governing harassment within the educational program or office.
            d) Violations of this policy or procedure will be cause for disciplinary action.
II. Definition of harassment:
            a) Harassment may be on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, or disibility. If so, it also constitutes discrimination and, such as, violates civil law and the policies of the Archdiocesan Board of Education. Harassment may also occur without regard to any of the above categories. It also violates the policies of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
            b) Harassment is verbal or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual. It may be, but does not have to be, because of one's race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, or disibility, or that of one's relatives, friends, or associates, that:
    1) has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive enviroment;
    2) has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's performance; or
    3) otherwise adversely affects an individual's opportunities. Threats to injure or kill another person or threats to do harm to another's property constitute harassment.
            c) Harassing conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
    1) epithets, slurs, negative stereotyping, or threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts;
    2) written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group that is circulated within or placed on walls, bulletin boards, or elsewhere on premises where the educational program operates; and
    3) bullying which may be physical, emotional, racist, sexual, or verbal( e.g. name calling, sarcasm, spreading rumors, excessive teasing);
    4) hazing.
            d) The standard for determining whether verbal or physical conduct is sufficiently servere or pervasive to create a hostile or abusive environment is whether a reasonable student or person in the same or similar circumstances would find the conduct intimidating, hostile or abusive. it is not necessary to make a showing that the victim was psychologically harmed.
            e) Prevention is the best tool forthe elimination of harassment. An educational program governed by the Archdiocesan Board of Education has an affirmative duty to maintain an environment free of harassment. Harassing conduct may be challenged evan if the complaining person is not the intended target of the conduct.
III. Procedures:
            a) Any person who alleges harassment by an employee, volunteer, or student of an educational program governed by the Archdiocesan Board of Education should file a complaint in writing directly to his or her teacher, immediate supervisor, principal, C/DRE, Director of Catechetical Services, or the Superintendent of Schools of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The complaint shall describe the perceived violation, name the perpetrator, and identify any potential witnesses to the incident.
            b) In the case of someone who threatens to injure or kill another person for any reason, or who threatens to do harm to another's property, a " no-tolerant" stance will be taken.  The perpetrator will be suspended immediately. Reentry will be contingent upon a report from a competent mental heath care professional indicating that the perpetrator is not perceived to be a threat to self or others.  it may also be contingent upon a program of continued conseling.
            c) The filing of a grievance or otherwise reporting of harassment will not reflect upon the complainant's status, nor will it affect future employment or work assignmennts. Retaliation against a complainant is strictly prohibited.
            d) The right to confidentiality, both of the complainant and of the accused, will be respected to the extent possible but consistent with legal obligations and with the necessity to investigate allegations of misconduct and to take corrective action when this conduct has occurred.  The person receiving the complaint shall investigate the matter to determine if the charges are substantiated, after which a summary of the investigation will be developed.  If charges are substantiated, contact should be made with the Office of Educational Services for counsel.
4. Sanctions:
        a) A substantiated charge against an employee or a volunteer will subject such employee or volenteer to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.
        b) A substantiated charge against a student in any educational program governed by the Archdioceas board of Education will subject that student to disciplinarty action which may include suspention or expulsion, consistent with the sudent discipline code.
( See also ABE 5144.1)
5. Notifications:
Notice of the policy will be circulated to all programs governed by the Archdicesan Board of Education and incorporated in employee, volunteer, and parent/guardian/student handbooks.  Training sessions on this policy and the prevention of harassment shall be held for employees, volunteers, and students in all educational programs governed by the Archdiocesan Board of Education.

G.  GANGS:
    If a student is suspected or identified as being a member of a gang, initiates or participates in any gang related activity, or is actively involved in recruitment for a gang, any or all of the following steps may be taken:

1. Parents/guardians will be contacted immediately and appropriate intervention initiated.
2. A behavior contract will be prepared stating the conditions for the student remaining in the school.
3. Students may be referred to counseling (personal and/or family).
4. Students may be referred to the Department of Human Services or other welfare or child care agencies of the respective county.
5. Students may be referred to outside agencies or programs for treatment when use of drugs and/or alcohol is involved.
6. Students may be referred to the Task Force on Violent Crime (if applicable).
7. Police, Juvenile Court, and other appropriate authorities will be notified of violence and/or illegal activities.
8. Students may be suspended and/or expelled as outlined in the school/program/Archdiocesan discipline policies.
9. Parent/students will be held liable and financially responsible for all forms of vandalism. (Archdiocesan Board of Education policy 5133)

I.  HELP FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE:
   The Archdiocese of Dubuque has established a program of pastoral assistance to people who believe they or those in their care have been sexually abused as minors by clergy or other Church personnel. This assistance will include help in informing civil and Church authorities. Victim Assistance Coordinators are trained to facilitate access to appropriate professional mental health services, social service agencies, support groups and/or individuals who can provide spiritual care. Any individual desiring help from this program is invited to call toll free 800-803-6758 or 866-319-4536 to report an allegation or receive assistance. This program is part of the new "Policy for the Protection of Minors."

J.  SMOKING/SMOKE FREE BUILDING:
    Marquette Catholic School System has been designated a Smoke Free Zone. At no time during the school day will smoking be permitted within the buildings.

K.  SEARCH AND SEIZURE:
  It is the policy of the Archdiocese of Dubuque to operate its educational institutions in a Catholic, orderly environment.  Recognizing that the presence of contraband on school\catecatical program property or on the person of a student attending the school\catecatical is not consistent with the above policy, the Archdiocese of Dubuque hereby adopts the following rules relating to periodic inspection, to the search of students, and/or to protected student areas:

1.  Search of student and/or Protected Student Area by School/Program Official

a) The Board of Education of the school/program shall establish and may search a student or protected student area pursuant to a student search rule.  The student search rule shall be published in the student handbook of the school/program.  A school/program official may search individual students and individual protected student areas if both of the following apply:

(1) The official has reasonable grounds for suspecting that the search will produce evidence that a student has violated or is violating either the law or a school rule or regulation.
(2) The search is conducted in a manner which is reasonably related to the objectiveness of the search and which is not excessively intrusive in light of he age and gender of the student and nature of the infraction.
(3) If a student is not or will not be present at the time a search of a student protected area is conducted pursuant to paragraph 1, the student shall be informed of the search either prior to or as soon as is reasonably practicable after the search is conducted.

 b) Under no circumstances may a search be made which is unreasonable in light      of following

(1) The age of the student;
(2) The nonseriousness of the violation
(3) The nature of the suspected violation
(4) The gender of the student

c) A school/program official shall not conduct a search which involves

(1) A strip search;
(2) A body cavity search;
(3) The use of a drug sniffing animal to search a student's body;
(4) The search of a student by a school\program official not of the same gender as the student

d) School\prgram officials may conduct periodic inspections of all, or a randomly selected number, of school/programs lockers, desks, and other facilities or spaces owned by the school/program and provided as a courtesy to a student.  The desk or other facility or space owned by the school/program and provided as a courtesy to a student shall not create a rise to an expectation of privacy on a student's part with respect to that locker, desk, or other facility or space.  However, each year when the school/program begins , the school/program shall provide written notice to all students and the student's parents/guardians, or legal custodians that school/program officials may conduct periodic inspections of school/program lockers, desks, and other facilities or spaces owned by the school/programs and provided as a courtesy to a student without prior notice.  Such an inspection shall either occur in the presence  of the student's whose lockers are being inspected, or in the presence of at least one  other person.  School officials shall notify a student if a search is conducted of a protected area
e) Student Search by Peace Office
The search of a student or of a protected student area by a peace officer who is not a school/program official, or by a school/program official at the invitation or direction of a peace officer who is not a school/program official, shall be governed by the statuary and common law requirements for police searches.

2.  Marquette Catholic School authorities may, without a search warrant, search a student, student lockers, personal effects, desks, work areas, or student vehicles based on a reasonable suspicion that a board of policy, school rule or law has been broken.  The search shall be in a manner reasonable in scope to maintain order and discipline in the schools, promote the educational environment, and protect the safety and welfare of students, employees and visitors to the Marquette Catholic School facilities.  Periodically, in conjunction with law enforcement officials, the Marquette School System will conduct canine maintenance searches.  Student lockers, desks, the parking lot, and other storage areas owned by the school and used by students can and will be inspected.  Trained law enforcement officials will conduct these inspections.
3.  Marquette Catholic School authorities may seize any illegal, unauthorized or contraband materials discovered in the search.  Items of contraband may include, but are not limited to: nonprescription controlled substances, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, apparatuses used for controlled substances, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, weapons, explosives, poisons, and stolen property.  Such items are not to be possessed by a student while they are on school property or on property within the jurisdiction of the school system: while on school owned and/or operated school or chartered busses; while attending or engaged in school activities; and while away from school grounds if misconduct will directly affect the good order, efficient management and welfare of the Marquette Catholic school system.  possession of such items will be grounds for disciplinary action including suspension or explosive and may be reported to local law enforcement officials.  The Marquette Catholic Board of Education believes that illegal, unauthorized or contraband materials cause material and substantial disruption to the school environment or present a threat to the health and safety of students, employees, or visitors on the school premises or property within the jurisdiction of the Marquette Catholic School System.

M.  TOBACCO/ALCOHOL/DRUG POLICY:
    Students are not to use, possess, sell, or be under the influence of drugs, beer, or other intoxicating beverages on school grounds at anytime or while they are on a school sponsored activity of campus. The use and possession of tobacco on school grounds is prohibited.
   These are matters of state law and cannot be permitted in the school, in the immediate school area, at school related activities, or on school busses. possession of tobacco, drugs, and/or alcoholic products by a student in school or at school activities will result in confiscation and discipline. The Marquette Catholic School Board of Education developed guidelines that are in accordance with Archdiocesan Board of Education policies on student responsibility and discipline. Students who self-refer for drug and/or alcohol treatment to any member of the faculty, will not be subject to the disciplinary code as long as treatment is ongoing and positive. (Archdiocesan Board of Education policies 5131.6, 5131.61, 5144 & 5144.1)

N.  FIRE AND TORNADO DRILLS:
    Unannounced drills are conducted at various times during the year in accordance with Iowa codes. Students are expected to leave in an orderly fashion, without talking, according to the directions of the teacher and return the same way. State Law requires four tornado drills each year.

O.  LEAD IN THE DRINKING WATER:
    During 1991 all schools of the Archdiocese were tested for lead in the drinking water. The test results indicated the lead levels were below the established safety levels. Based upon these results and the rules of the Iowa Department of Public Health no additional testing for lead needs to be done at this time.

P.  ASBESTOS:
    Federal regulations and Archdiocesan Board of Education policy , require us to inform you that there is asbestos in the Marquette Catholic School buildings. This building have been inspected by a certified asbestos inspector and all the asbestos found has been sealed and encapsulated. (Archdiocesan Board of Education policy 7113)

Q.  RADON TESTING:
    During 1991 all schools of the Archdiocese were tested for radon. The test results indicated the rooms were below the established safety levels. Based upon these results and the rules of the Iowa Department of Public Health no additional testing for radon needs to be done at this time.

R.  CHEMICAL RIGHT TO KNOW:
    The Chemical Right to Know Law requires that all schools in the nation prepare a list of chemicals that are known to be present in their buildings and to maintain material safety data sheets (MSDS) on them. The law further states that all chemicals are to be appropriately labeled, storage areas are to be posted for the hazardous chemicals, and employees that work with the chemicals are to be trained in the safe handling of these chemicals. The school is also to acquaint the local fire department with the location of hazardous chemicals in the school. If you want to know what chemicals are used in the school and where they are stored please contact the principal.

S.  VISITORS:
    Any person other than a Marquette student or faculty member in the Marquette building is regarded as a visitor and must stop at the office before going anywhere else in the building. Parents/guardians who wish to the visit the school should call ahead to arrange a time. Any student who wishes to bring a guest to school for the day must obtain permission from the Principal in advance.

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