A first-grader at Our Lady of Lourdes is serving a three-day suspension for pretending to shoot another student with a bow and arrow.

The boy's parents, Matthew and Martha Miele, told WLWT their son was playing a game of Power Rangers at recess on Thursday when it happened.

"I think he's a good principal. I just think a bad decision was made," Matthew Miele said.

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Martha Miele said she was called Thursday afternoon while at work by Principal Joe Crachiolo.

"I didn't really understand. I had him on the phone for a good amount of time so he could really explain to me what he was trying to tell me," Martha Miele said. "My question to him was 'Is this really necessary? Does this really need to be a three-day suspension under the circumstances that he was playing and he's 6 years old?'"

The Mieles sent Crachiolo an email Thursday evening and met with him Friday morning asking him to reconsider.

"He told me that he was going to stand firm and that he was not going to change it," Martha Miele said.

On Friday, Crachiolo sent a letter home to parents stating in part,

"I have no tolerance for any real, pretend, or imitated violence. The punishment is an out of school suspension."

The Mieles also contacted the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and were told someone would talk with the principal.

On Monday the archdiocese told WLWT "It cannot comment on disciplinary issues involving a minor."

The suspension was effective immediately for Friday, Monday and Tuesday. But the Mieles claim they have yet to receive a written notice of the suspension which is required by the archdiocese.

Page 18, Section 407.02 of the Educational Policy Manual For School Administrators states:

In cases where a student is suspended, these procedures must be followed:

a) Written notification is to be sent to the parents and student indicating the reason for suspension. The notification should also include the length of
time of the suspension.

b) A conference must be held between the school representatives and the family before or during the suspension.

c) When a student's behavior constitutes a threat, physically endangers herself/himself or others, or causes serious disruption to instruction, she/he may be removed immediately, with due process requirements to be fulfilled as soon as practical.

The Meiles son is expected to return to school on Wednesday and they've had a difficult time explaining to him why he can't go to school.

"I can't stop him from pretending to be a super hero. I can't stop him from playing ninja turtles. I can't stop him from doing these things and I don't think it would be healthy to do so," Martha Miele said.

"His imagination can go limitless places. We try to encourage that as parents," Matthew Miele said.

The Mieles said they do not want any other parents to go through this type of situation and they hope this experience can change the way other similar incidents are handled at the school.