TCH Handbook

2010-2011

DRUG TESTING AND GUIDELINES FOR PARTIES

 

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Table of Contents

Forward Mission Statement Objectives Belief Statement History Alma Mater School Crest Board of Pastors Faculty and Staff Advisory Board Admissions Policy Tuition and Fees Development Program Cafeteria Lunch Program Telephone and Email Listings   ACADEMIC PROGRAMS Program of Studies Grading System Academic Accountability Academic Remediation Honors / Dual Enrollment ProgramTechnology Policies Guidance Services Library Campus Ministry Course Descriptions   STUDENT BEHAVIOR Code of Courtesy and Honor Code Discipline Policy Major Behavior Sanctions Drug Testing Policy / Parties Conduct on Campus Absenteeism and Tardiness Uniform Requirements   STUDENT LIFE Clubs and Organizations Athletics Awards Program   FORMS AND SCHEDULES Bell Schedules Laptop / Computer Usage Policy Request to Miss Class Form Change of Address Form Medication Form Off Campus Medical Consent School Calendar Acknowledgment Form Addendum

 

 

 

DRUG TESTING POLICY

 

 

Overview

All students at Teurlings Catholic are drug tested yearly. The Assistant Principal of Discipline, with the approval of the principal and Board of Pastors, will determine the drug testing procedure. Currently all students are tested through urinalysis.

 

 

 

A Statement of Need and Purpose

Recognizing that observed and suspected use of alcohol and illicit drugs by Teurlings Catholic High School students is increasing; a program of deterrence will be instituted as a pro-active approach toward a truly drug- free school.  The purpose of this program is threefold: (1) to provide for the health and safety of all students; (2) to undermine the effects of peer pressure by providing a legitimate reason for students to refuse to use illegal drugs; and (3) to encourage students who use drugs to participate in drug treatment programs.

 

 

 

Selection of Students for Testing

The testing facilitator will use a system of student numbers to select students for testing. Every student enrolled will be drug tested at least once during the school year.  After the initial test, each student becomes eligible for random testing.

 

 

 

Form Completion

The Assistant Principal is responsible for seeing that proper drug testing custody and control forms are used that satisfy the needs of the Policy for Random Urine Drug Testing of Teurlings Catholic High School students and the testing laboratory.  A student number will be used for identification, with the student's name only appearing on the copies that go to the donor, and School Official.

 

 

 

Procedures for Students

Informed Consent for Testing:  At the beginning of each school term, students and parent/guardian/custodian will complete and sign the Teurlings Catholic High School Code of Conduct and Expectations Informed Consent Agreement.  No student may enroll in TCH until this form is properly executed and on file with the Registrar.

 

Urine Drug Testing Frequency:  At the beginning of each school term or when a student enrolls into Teurlings Catholic High School or when the student’s name is randomly selected, a student may be subject to urine testing for illicit or banned substances.  Following initial school testing, up to 10 percent of eligible students will be randomly tested anytime during the school year.  Any student who refuses to submit to urine drug testing will be subject to dismissal.

 

Sample Collection:  Any eligible student selected randomly for urine drug testing, who is not in school on the day of testing, will be tested at the next available testing time.  Any student unable to produce an adequate specimen of urine during the collection period will be given three hours to produce a specimen.  A hair test may be substituted for the urine test in these circumstances when applicable. Students not able to provide an adequate urine specimen at the next testing time will be viewed as refusing to test and subject to dismissal.

 

 

Confidentiality of Results

All drug test results are considered confidential information and will be handled accordingly.  Those persons having results reported to them, as set forth by this Policy must sign a Confidentiality Statement.

 

 

 

Procedures in the Event of a Positive Result

                 

Whenever a student’s test result indicates the presence of illegal drugs or banned substances, or the specimen was adulterated, the following will occur:

 

(1) The Principal or Assistant Principal, within 24 hours, will notify the parent/guardian/custodian first, then the student of any positive results.  The Principal may keep all test results for a period up to one year; (2) The student will be notified and be required to submit weekly urine specimens, via the Vendor, for five weeks or until the student tests negative; (3) If the parent/guardian/custodian or student wishes to contest the results, the Vendor will arrange for the split portion of the specimen to be submitted to another laboratory approved by the Board of Pastors for testing.  This is done at parent/guardian/custodian or student expense.  Such a request must be made to the Principal in writing within five working days from first notification of positive test results; (4) the lab may use quantitative results to determine if positive results on repeat testing indicate recent use of illicit or banned substances or the natural decline of levels of the illicit or banned substance from the body.  If the lab feels the quantitative levels determined to be above the established tolerance levels do not reflect current use but natural decay, then a negative result may be reported.

 

First Positive Result: For the first positive result, the student will be suspended and will be given the option of:
(1) Within five days having an appointment with a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor (or at an agency certified by the Louisiana Department of Health or the Louisiana Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services) for a chemical dependency assessment and then follow the recommendations of the counselor.  (If treatment is recommended, it must be with a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor.)  The student must also submit to weekly urine drug testing for up to five weeks or until a negative test result is produced.  Parent/guardian/custodian is responsible for all expenses; or (2) Dismissal from Teurlings Catholic High School.

 

Second Positive Result:  For the second positive result within any two consecutive calendar years, the student will be allowed to withdraw within 48 hours or be expelled from Teurlings Catholic High School.

 

***Any urine sample that is reported adulterated by the Drug Testing vendor will be considered positive.

 

 

 

Consent to Perform Urinalysis for Drug Testing

                 

We hereby consent to allow the student named on the form to undergo urinalysis testing for the presence of illicit drugs or banned substances in accordance with the Policy and Procedure for Random and/or Probable Cause Related Urine Drug Testing of Teurlings Catholic High School students as approved by the Teurlings Catholic Advisory Board.  We understand that any urine samples will be sent only to a certified medical laboratory for actual testing, and that the samples will be coded to provide confidentiality.  We hereby give our consent to the medical vendor selected by the Teurlings Catholic Advisory Board, their laboratory, doctors, employees, or agents, together with any clinic, hospital, or laboratory designated by the selected medical vendor to perform urinalysis testing for the detection of illicit drugs or banned substances.  We further give permission to the medical vendor selected by the Teurlings Catholic Advisory Board, its doctors, employees, or agents, to release all results of these tests to the school.  We understand these results will be forwarded to the Principal and will also be made available to us.

                 

We hereby release the Teurlings Catholic High Advisory Board of Pastors and Advisory Board and its employees from any legal responsibility or liability for the release of such information and records. (See Acknowledgement Form)

 

 

 

Guidelines for Student Parties

 

A Practical Guide for Parents

In our society, it is no longer just a few deviant teens that use alcohol and drugs.  Today it is often the teen that does not drink or take drugs that are made to feel left out.  The use and misuse of alcohol and other drugs are widespread and touches all of us.  No family is spared the concern.

 

There are many pressures on our youth leading to the use of alcohol and other harmful drugs.  The strongest pressure influencing an adolescent’s behavior is the powerful need for peer group acceptance.  Besides being aware of drug and alcohol use by popular singers, actors, and athletes, our youth is bombarded by television and other media messages that promote the use of chemicals to give pleasure and avoid pain.  Some parents further compound the problem by permitting underage children to drink in their homes, adding to the confusion about the acceptability of drinking.

 

Many parents feel pressured by their sons or daughters to provide beer or alcoholic beverages because “everyone else is doing it.”  No parent wants a child to suffer the humiliation of having a party and no one comes.  We all want our children to belong and to have friends.  Sometimes, we compromise too much for this goal.  If all Teurlings Catholic parents were to band together on this issue, the pressure to serve illegal beverages would be almost totally dissipated.

 

Many parents try to provide guidelines, yet continue to feel helpless.  They sense that peer group pressure and society’s temptations are a greater influence than their own parental guidance.  Many are afraid that they have lost the battle, especially when faced with the fact that children are turning to alcohol and drugs at an increasing younger age.  It is tempting to expect schools, churches, the police, courts and other community agencies to solve this problem.  However, it is a problem, which parents and all other concerned individuals must solve together.

 

Teenagers deserve to live in an atmosphere where alcohol and drugs are not misused.  Parents can help to provide such an atmosphere by encouraging open communication with their children and by setting acceptable standards of behavior for their children and for themselves. 

 

Since a great deal of drugs and alcohol are used at parties this guideline is designed to help parents provide guidance for their teens when they host or attend parties.  These guidelines may be too restrictive for some families and too permissive for others.  Each family will need to consider them in the light of its own values and attitudes.  If all of us give serious thought to the establishment of reasonable standards such as these, it would certainly help our communities reduce the abuse of alcohol and drugs by teenagers.

 

Some parents may hesitate to follow these guidelines because they fear they will be alone in their efforts.  Others may feel they need more information or other kinds of help in order to understand how to cope with the problems of raising a teenager in today’s society.  To help reduce these feelings of isolation and to help promote a healthy atmosphere for our youth it is important for parents to come together to discuss mutual problems of parenting and to support and encourage one another.

 

 

 

Hosting a Party

•       A parent should be at home during the party.
•       Alcohol or other drugs should not be served or allowed to be available.  You may be liable both to criminal charges and for monetary damages in a civil lawsuit if you furnish alcohol or drugs to minors.
•       Anyone who leaves the party should not be allowed to return.
•       Limit party attendance and times.
•       Set ground rules and expectations with your teen beforehand.
•       Notify your neighbors beforehand.
•       Notify the police when having a large party.
•       Plan to have plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages.
•       Plan activities with your teen prior to the party.
•       Homes where parents are absent are frequently party sites.

 

Attending a Party

•       Contact parents of the party giver to verify the occasion, to be sure the parent will be present, to be certain that alcohol and other drugs will not be permitted, and to offer assistance.
•       Obtain the address and phone number of the party giver.
•       Know with whom your teen will get to and from the party.
•       Be sure your teen understands when he or she is supposed to be home.
•       Be aware or have your teen awaken you when he or she arrives home.
•       If your teen is staying overnight with a friend following the party, check with the parents of the friend beforehand to verify that this is acceptable to them, they will be home, and you both agree on curfew hours and other basic house rules.