Cathedral Preparatory School and Villa Maria Academy have implemented a new discipline system, Mr. Pituch announced at Prep’s assembly at the start of the year. The new system, which will revolve around steps and points is a change from from the levels and demerits of past years at Prep as well as the option system previously used at Villa.

The new system, which is designed to bring uniformity to the two campuses, was enforced upon the start of the 2019-20 school year.

Some students expressed their praise for the new structure, while others still have their uncertainties. “To me, it seems like the new points system and the old demerit system are practically the same,” Prep senior Cortland Hill said. “The points system doesn’t seem to accomplish anything different from the old one.”

Other students actually don’t have a strong preference of one system over the other. “I don’t get in trouble very often, so it doesn’t really apply to me much,” Prep senior Noah Guanzon said. “As long as individual students are polite and respectful, neither system should concern them.”

On the other end of the spectrum, teachers have praise for the new system, and state that it is much more well-defined than the previous one. “The new system eliminates how vague the old system was in the classroom,” said history teacher Mr. Fleming. “It outlines how the student should conduct themselves, and it also tells the teacher what is acceptable and what is not and how they should proceed with the consequences.”

For better or for worse, the new system has created a more rigid outline for how infractions will be handled at Prep. With some students already accumulating points, it’s safe to say it is working effectively.