Skip Navigation

Discipline Centered on Dignity 

Anything that solves the problem other than the child does not develop responsibility.

The philosophy of Responsibility Centered Discipline (RCD) has as its foundation the dignity of the student.  Successful implementation includes taking responsibility for actions, identifying the expectation that was not met, and creating a plan to correct the behavior.  

RCD is under the guidance of the faculty and staff members who use a technique referred to as “Give 'em Five” that includes a conversation conducted in a quiet area that is highly personalized, addresses the behavior, and incorporates five components:

  • Support – Makes the student feel valued
  • Expectation – Reinforces what is expected
  • Breakdown – Communicates how the expectation broke down or where there was failure to meet
  • Benefit – Relays to the student how important it is to meet the expectation and the benefits
  • Closure – Determine whether the situation has been resolved or if the conversation is at a place where the student can move on

Working in a partnership, parents are notified through communication.

Expectations for students are grounded in the adopted school-wide promise:

As a Queen of Angels student, I promise to be:

Righteous (Virtuous or choosing what is right)

Respectful

Responsible and

Ready

so I can become the best person God created me to be.

"The Promise” manifests itself in developmentally appropriate ways according to grade level.

Using the RCD model, the following steps are used to assist students who are experiencing difficulty in meeting expectations.

  1. Faculty/staff will redirect and remind the student of the expectation if the student is not meeting it.
  2. Faculty/staff will use a “Give 'em Five” conversation privately with student.
  3. If the behavior persists, faculty/staff use a “Give 'em Five” conversation again and have student complete a “Taking Responsibility” form designed for reflection.
  4. Students are given the opportunity to write a summary of what has happened and sign the “Taking Responsibility” form and return it to the faculty/staff member who issued it. Faculty/staff will follow up with student about their plan to change behavior and observe how well the student implements the plan of action.
  5. Parents are notified by email and encouraged to discuss with their child the incident and plan they created. 

Dependent upon the grade level, the RCD model is used to support expectations for behavior throughout the school day (classroom, Mass, cafeteria, lockers, recess, prayer hallway, PE, and specials classes). Conduct grades reflect a student’s willingness to develop and internalize responsible behavior.  

Students can also earn merits by displaying effort, service, and behavior that is exemplary and goes above and beyond daily routines and procedures. If a student accumulates ten or more merits throughout the year, that student will be awarded the designation of Merit Student.