Foul Language

The foul language policy at Sequoia is below. If you also wish to download the policy, please right click here, and select 'Save As'.

Language Program
This program is designed to inform students about the harm inappropriate language has caused, and can cause, and to create a culture where students and staff demonstrate respect for each other. The program will have two parts. One part will consist of educational projects that will inform students of the origins and uses of inappropriate language. These projects will take place within the English and Social Science classes, where students will trace the origins and describe how the terms have been used to harm others. Teachers and students will be polled to define a list of inappropriate language and categorize it to structure the projects. Students will then break into groups, selecting a section of language from the derived list. The second part will consist of a systematic response to students who choose to use inappropriate language. Inappropriate language will be categorized into two categories, non-assaultive and assaultive. The first category will be defined as expletives or other terms that are not directed at someone; the second category will be defined as any inappropriate language directed at someone. All foul language will be addressed according to the level of severity of the language according to the following color-coded guidelines.

Non-Assaultive Language
Severity: Yellow
Non-assaultive. Warning will be given for first offense.

Severity: Orange
Second offense of non-assaultive language. Brunch detention and a written paragraph describing what was said, why the language used was inappropriate and how the student could make changes.

Assaultive Language
Severity: Red
Assaultive language of a low severity level (i.e. f-off). Lunch detention and a written paragraph describing what was said, why the language used was inappropriate and how the student could make changes.

Severity: Blue
Assaultive language of a medium severity level (i.e. direct put down (fat a**). Period in-school suspension and three paragraph written standards.

Severity: Purple
Assaultive language of the highest level of severity (zero tolerance of racial, religious, ethnic, and sexual slurs). Full day in-school suspension with level drop and a written assignment of three paragraphs describing what was said, why the language used was inappropriate and a mediation with the person offended to work out issue. Written assignment will be sent to parent for signature.

Further Offenses
Discipline defined by the school staff involved with student.