As a Catholic and Jesuit institution, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ High School values care for the whole person
and a commitment to promote and nurture the well-being of each student. These values and commitment guide us in developing robust student protection policies and practices.
Employee Screening and Training
As a Catholic school in the Archdiocese of New York, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ is required to comply with the , which includes conducting criminal background checks of all our employees. To this end, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ has contracted with to conduct background checks of all prospective employees regarding criminal activity, including a search of the National Sexual Offenders data bank. Prospective candidates are offered employment only after a satisfactory report is received from the Archdiocese's clearinghouse office for background checks. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ also maintains continuous background checks on active employees. Through this process, we are notified if there's a relevant update impacting someone’s status.
All full-time and part-time employees must undergo training at the beginning of their employment as well as annual ongoing training to promote the safety and care of students. Such topics include: establishing professional boundaries; mandated reporter responsibilities; contacting students outside of the school day; restrictions regarding the use of alcohol; and ensuring appropriate use of electronic communications, including social media.
Code of Conduct
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ High School prohibits any and all forms of harassment, which include behaviors commonly recognized as grooming, bullying, hazing, sexual harassment and sexual abuse/assault. Harassment can take place in person or in writing and can be physical, verbal, or electronic. Regardless of its form, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ prohibits it. This code of conduct applies to all students and employees.
Students, parents/guardians, and any other concerned party aware of a violation or suspected violation should report these to any member of the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ faculty or staff with whom they are comfortable speaking. Those who are not comfortable reporting a violation to a Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ faculty or staff member may contact
Mitratech/Lighthouse using the information below. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ encourages reporting incidents of harassment and boundary violations as soon as possible; however, there is no time limit on when such a report may be made.
All Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ employees who have reason to believe that any violation has or may have occurred are under an obligation to immediately report this information or suspicion to the indicated persons set forth in the Employee Handbook. A "reason to believe" may be predicated upon being told directly or indirectly that a violation has occurred, overhearing a rumor that a violation has occurred, or observing behavior which gives rise to a suspicion that a violation has occurred. This obligation is mandatory regardless of whether the alleged violation involves another faculty member, staff member, Jesuit, priest, or student as a victim or an offender. When in doubt whether they have sufficient reason to believe a violation has or may have occurred, faculty/staff members should always err on the side of caution by reporting what they know or suspect.
Any student, parent, guardian, or employee who is not comfortable reporting a violation of the Code of Conduct to a Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ faculty or staff member may contact
Mitratech/Lighthouse using the information below.
The full Code of Conduct can be found in the Employee Handbook distributed to all faculty and staff. All Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ employees are required to sign an annual agreement indicating that they have read this document and will comply with all of its provisions.
Mandatory Reporting to Authorities
Under Section 413 of the New York State Social Services Law, all school officials, including, but not limited to, administrators, faculty, school counselors, coaches and health care professionals employed by Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ, have an affirmative duty to report when they have "reasonable cause to suspect" that a student has been abused or maltreated by a parent or legal guardian, faculty or staff member, or someone else legally responsible for their care and such information has come to the employee's attention in the course of his or her official or professional capacity. Such information may come to an employee's attention in a number of ways: from a student, from a parent, legal guardian, or another adult, or from something the employee has personally observed. "Abuse and maltreatment" include physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.
"Mandated reporters," as defined above, must call the New York State Central Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµtry ("SCR") at 1-800-635-1522 upon having such "reasonable cause." This is a personal duty of the person who has such reasonable cause and is not satisfied by telling a supervisor at the school. Consulting with a supervisor at the school before making such a call, however, is allowable, and indeed advisable, but the consent or approval of such supervisor is never a requirement or substitute for making a call to the SCR.
This reporting duty applies to knowledge obtained during any out-of-school activity, as well as when on school premises, and indeed to any knowledge of abuse or maltreatment of a student "coming before them in their official or professional capacity" at any time or place. Thus, even if a Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ faculty/staff member learns of reportable abuse or maltreatment while on a retreat where students are encouraged to and often do make disclosures of close personal information, a report must be made to the SCR.
Proper Relationships and Electronic Communications
In using the internet, computers, mobile devices, and the various methods of electronic communication, employees who are working with students at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ and in Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ-sponsored programs must maintain appropriate behavior, and serve as examples of Christian conduct. They must also take care to avoid any situation or conduct that might be misinterpreted, or that might be the source of scandal for themselves, the school, or others.
Employees must make sure that their use of electronic communication maintains a proper professional relationship with students, and does not create or give the appearance of an inappropriate relationship, or encourage inappropriate behavior. In using electronic communications, proper and healthy boundaries between employees and students must always be maintained. The use of a private email account or social media platform to communicate with a student is not permitted.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ's policy on electronic communications, outlined in Section 3 of the Employee Handbook, follows the guidelines established by the Archdiocese's Policy for "Electronic Communications, Internet and Computer Use."
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ has an experienced and caring counseling staff that is available to the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ community. In addition, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ has a school psychologist on staff.
For those who prefer not to make a report directly to Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ, the school has established an independent reporting line through Mitratech/Lighthouse. To make a report, please contact our 24/7 Student Protection Hotline at 877-858-3482. This hotline is managed by Mitratech/Lighthouse to ensure confidentiality. Reports involving the President or a member of the school's Leadership Team will be directed to the Board of Trustees. Please be aware that if you choose to report anonymously, Mitratech/Lighthouse and Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ will be unable to follow up with you. In addition, anonymous reports may limit our ability to investigate violations.
To report a violation of these guidelines, please use the form below. A school official will review and investigate all reports. Please be aware that this form may not be submitted anonymously; to make an anonymous report, please contact
Concerns reported on days when school is not in session will not be seen until the following business day. In the case of an emergency, call 911.