Code of Conduct

This code of behaviour sets out the standards of behaviour which are expected of all members of the school community (students, parents, staff, and volunteers) in order to create a positive climate and a safe environment in the school and on yards.

Respect, responsibility, academic excellence, and safety are promoted so that all members of the school community feel secure, comfortable and accepted while performing their academic tasks at school. Students are treated with respect and dignity. In return, they must demonstrate respect for themselves, for their peers and for all adult authority figures in the school.
These expectations apply to school premises, school bus and field trips.

CODE OF CONDUCT EXPECTED BEHAVIOUR

RESPECT
Being polite, taking turns, sharing, keeping a calm tone of voice, being mindful that the school is shared with a lot of people. Swearing is unacceptable. 

Students show respect for:

  • themselves and others;
  • all members of the school community, especially persons in positions of authority (adults, teachers, school staff, and principal);
  • others by treating them fairly, regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability;
  • the rights and belonging ofothers.
RESPONSIBILITY
At school, everyone is responsible for themselves and their belongings. 

Students:

  • come to school prepared, on time, and ready to learn; 
  • follow the established rules; 
  • take responsibility for their own actions;
  • seek assistance from a member of the school staff, if necessary, to resolve conflict peacefully;
  • take appropriate measures to help those in need;
  • and demonstrate honesty and integrity. 

 

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
We are at school to learn new things, develop our skills, and improve on what we already know and do.

Student are expected to maintain good work habits by:

  • completing all homework, assignments, and projects by the required deadline;
  • participating in the learning community and culture of the classroom;
  • maintaining regular attendance and being punctual;
  • making good use of class time, engaging in meaningful activities;
  • and submitting work which represents their own efforts and acknowledges the source of information used to complete the work.


 SAFETY
Everyone who comes to school is entitled to learn in a safe environment. It is everyone’s responsibility to make our school safe. 
Students and other members of the school community must not:
  • bring anything to school that may compromise the safety of others; or be in possession of any weapons;
  • engage in any bullying behaviours such as name calling, excluding, and intimidating;
  • commit theft, robbery, or any act of vandalism at school;
  • use any object to threaten or intimate another person, such as throwing rocks or sticks;
  • cause injury to any person with an object;
  • inflict or encourage others to inflict bodily harm on another person (such as kicking, pushing, biting, punching or hitting);
  • use their cell phones or electronic devices between 9:00 and 3:30 without their teacher’s permission.

Bullying Awareness, Prevention, and Intervention
Staffs are teaching students to identify bullying behaviour and are giving them tools to respond and to stop it from happening as part of our awareness and prevention strategies.
Bullying is typically a form of repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour directed at another person that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear, distress and/or harm to that person's body, feelings, self-esteem or reputation. Bullying occurs when there is a real or perceived imbalance of power.
When someone experiences or observes bullying behaviour, he/she is expected to report it to a teacher, an educational assistant, a bus driver or a school administrator immediately. Bullying behaviour will be addressed using a progressive discipline approach with a range of interventions and consequences.

Progressive Discipline
The school encourages, supports and recognizes acceptable behaviour in our students through a variety of positive practices such as praise, congratulations, and awards. Progressive discipline is an approach that makes use of a continuum of interventions, supports and consequences, building upon strategies which promote positive behaviours.
We encourage students to take responsibility for their behaviour and to accept the consequences of their actions. A progressive discipline approach will be used to deal with inappropriate behaviour. This may include: verbal reminders, review of expectations, teaching of the lacking skills, practising lacking skills, contact with parent(s)/guardians(s), written reflection, volunteer services in the school community, conflict mediation and resolution, peer mentoring, and/or referral for support services.
We recognize that each student is a unique individual and that every situation that requires disciplinary action has its own set of extenuating circumstances. All factors that may have affected the student's behaviour will be considered before progressive discipline is applied. Students who behave inappropriately will receive an age and developmentally appropriate consequence, which for some students might consist in teaching them the missing social skills they need to interact successfully at school. For students with special education or disability-related needs, all progressive discipline approaches will be consistent with their Individual Education Plan and their demonstrated abilities.


Suspension and Expulsion
As part of progressive discipline, the school may also use suspension and/or expulsion for serious incidents as outlined in the Limestone District School Board's Safe Schools Policy. Before considering whether to impose a suspension or make a recommendation for an expulsion, the principal must consider mitigating and other factors.
The principal shall consider whether to suspend a pupil if she believes that the pupil has engaged in any of the following activities while at school, at a school-related activity or in other circumstances where engaging in the activity will have an impact on the school climate:

  • swearing (written or verbal) at a teacher or at another person in a position of authority
  • bullying
  • uttering a threat to inflict serious bodily harm on another person
  • committing an act of vandalism that causes extensive damage to school property
  • possessing alcohol or restricted drugs
  • being under the influence of alcohol or restricted drugs
  • committing any act considered by the principal to:
    • have a negative impact on the moral tone of the school
    • have a negative impact on the physical/mental well-being of school community members
    • be contrary to the school or Limestone Board Codes of Conduct

The principal shall suspend a pupil if he or she believes that the pupil has engaged in any of the following activities while at school, at a school-related activity, or in other circumstances where engaging in the activity will have an impact on the school climate. For the following incidents the principal will also consider recommending to the Board’s Discipline Committee that a student be expelled:

  • physically assaulting another person causing bodily harm that requires medical treatment
  • possessing a weapon or using a weapon to threaten or frighten another person
  • trafficking in restricted drugs or weapons
  • giving alcohol to a minor
  • committing robbery
  • committing sexual assault
  • behaviour that is significantly detrimental to the school climate and/or to the physical or mental well-being of others, whether the incident occurred at school or outside of the school, causes extensive damage to school property, causes his/her continued presence at the school to pose an unacceptable risk to other members of the school community, a pattern of behaviour so inappropriate the student's continued presence is detrimental to the effective learning or working environment of others, demonstrates a persistent resistance to changes in behaviour that would enable him or her to be successful, is a serious violation of the school or the Limestone Board Codes of Conduct.

Tobacco Products, Alcohol, and Illegal Drugs
The school recognizes the benefits of a tobacco-free environment to all persons. By law, smoking is not permitted at the school, on Board property, on school buses or while attending any school-related activity. School property includes cars that are on school grounds and all lands to the edge of the street. The no smoking rule will be enforced within these areas. Other tobacco products also may not be used on school property. Providing tobacco products to anyone less than 19 years of age is illegal.
Alcohol and restricted drugs may be addictive and represent a health hazard. Possessing, using, trafficking in, or providing others with restricted drugs and/or alcohol is illegal and is unacceptable at the school, on Limestone property or at any school-related event or activity at any time. Lighters and drug-related paraphernalia that can be used for substance abuse are not permitted on school property.


Weapons
Possessing or displaying weapons of any kind, including real, toy or replica, and all other objects that could inflict or threaten bodily harm are not permitted at the school, on any Limestone Board property, or at any school-related event or activity at any time.

Desks
• When students are assigned a desk, it is school property and should be kept clean and in good condition. The desk is being loaned to students, and the school has the right to access it.
• Items such as alcohol, drugs, weapons, or substances which threaten health or safety are prohibited on school property including desks. If there is suspicion that a desk contains any of these items, it will be searched. Consequences will apply if a prohibited substance or weapon is found and police will be contacted.
• We hope that students will take pride in keeping their desk in good condition. Graffiti which is written or scratched on desks is an act of vandalism and will be treated accordingly.
• The school is not responsible for lost or stolen goods. Valuable items or money should not be stored in desks.