Code of Conduct

Colebrook Elementary School

2021-2022

CODE OF CONDUCT

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Purpose: Our Code of Conduct is designed to provide guidelines for appropriate student behaviour while under the jurisdiction of the school or at any school-sponsored function.

Rational: At Colebrook, we believe that all students have the right to learn in a safe, caring and orderly school environment. We also believe that every student wishes to be a successful learner. Students play a critical role in contributing to this environment and ultimately their own success and safety. Our expectations are that students will maintain an attitude that is cooperative, courteous and respectful.

BEHAVIOUR EXPECTATIONS

Our Code of Conduct applies to acceptable and unacceptable behavior while at school, attending school related activities (both on and off the school grounds) or in any other circumstances where engaging in the activity will have an impact on the school environment. Expectations of students will increase as they mature.

Each student has the right to:

be treated with respect and dignity at school
pursue education without undue interference to the learning situation
attend school in an emotionally safe environment
attend school in a physically safe environment
choose to participate in extra curricular activities outside the classroom and allow others to do the same
be disciplined in a manner that enables them to develop appropriate social behaviours corresponding to their stage of development
receive support from staff members, including the school counselor

Our code of conduct is based on four areas:

Safety
Respect for self
Respect for others
Respect for school property
Respect for the environment

It is important to note that the acceptable and unacceptable behaviours that follow are not all inclusive lists.

Acceptable Behaviour:

1. Safety

learn and follow school safety rules
walk calmly on the right side of the hallways
stay in designated areas of the school grounds
report unsafe or dangerous situations to staff
act in a manner at school, and when travelling to and from school, which does not endanger the safety, health and well-being of self or others
refrain from behaviour that could cause injury
have permission to be inside the school during outside play times
use the classroom door for exiting or entering the classroom
remain seated during the lunch eating time
clear desk tops and floor of personal items at the end of the day
stay clear of the bike racks unless dropping off or picking up bikes
walk bikes and scooters on the school grounds
focus on active play during recess and lunch hour
use sidewalks, crosswalks and designated pedestrian areas
remove hats inside the school building
refrain from bringing or chewing gum
keep the school grounds tidy and free of litter
refrain from taking food wrappers outside
retain the use of the front door for parents and visitors

2. Respect For Self

caring about your learning, your safety and yourself
always do your best
make good choices and decisions
be on time and ready for work
do your homework and use your planner
treat yourself with dignity and respect
become actively and productively involved in your own learning
dress in a manner that is deemed appropriate for a school/work
environment
have a positive attitude and use positive language

3. Respect For Others

considerate of others' feelings, properties and their right to learn
be polite and wait your turn
treat others with dignity and respect
use good listening skills
take responsibility for your actions by being honest and telling the truth
act in a manner that does not infringe upon the rights of others
develop problem solving strategies appropriate to your age
use personal electronic devices for learning and demonstration of your learning only; save your social communications for outside of school time
do not publish the photos of any school member (staff or student) on any internet site

4. Respect For Property

caring about your school and your environment
clean up after yourself and keep the grounds litter free take good care of materials
ask before borrowing
look after school property and keep classrooms orderly
use your 3 R's – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
pay for lost or damaged school books or materials
use buildings, furnishings, supplies and equipment with care

Unacceptable Behaviour:

Inappropriate behaviours can consist of, but are not limited to:

rudeness, swearing (face to face and online)
fighting (or play fighting) (hitting, kicking etc.)
lack of respect for others: teasing, name calling, threatening etc. face to face and online)
throwing objects (rocks, sticks, pinecones, snowballs, etc.)
defiant behaviour, insolence
stealing, lying or cheating
damage of school property, books, equipment or materials
unauthorized leaving of the school grounds
littering
exclusion
intolerance, discrimination
other misuse of technology
retribution against a person who has reported incident

SAFE & CARING SCHOOLS ARE –

FREE FROM ACTS OF:

Bullying (including cyber-bullying)
Harassment, threat, intimidation and marginalization
Violence in any form
Abuse in any form (verbal, physical, sexual)
Intolerance and discrimination in any form, i.e. based on an individual or group's race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, or age.
Retribution against a person who has reported incidents

DO NOT TOLERATE THE PRESENCE OF:

Intoxicating or banned substances (including alcohol, cigarettes and drugs)
Theft and vandalism (or damage to personal property)
Weapons or replica (toy) weapons (including laser pointers); explosives (including fireworks) and pepper or other obnoxious sprays.
Intruders or trespassers (all visitors must first report to the office)
Inappropriate clothing or unacceptable slogans imprinted on clothing

MISUSE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES/COMPUTERS –

School computers and other electronic devices are only to be used for school/education related activities. They are not permitted for social networking, gaming, illegal, obscene or inappropriate purposes. Inappropriate use includes, but is not limited to, attempts to vandalize, gain unauthorized access to data or another person's account or resources, and sharing of data without personal or parental consent as appropriate.
Recording of visual images is not permissible at school unless permission has been received by the classroom teacher with respect to a classroom project.
Students are to be aware that they may be subject to discipline (or, if applicable, confiscation of personal property) for misuse of any technology, if it negatively impacts the school environment.
Misuse of district technology services will lead to suspension of user privileges and possible disciplinary or legal action.

CONSEQUENCES

We believe that consequences must be applied in a firm, fair and consistent manner. Our goal is to cultivate self-discipline in our students and foster the citizenship qualities of cooperation, courtesy and respect. We believe that social responsibility is a learning process, which must promote both personal growth and citizenship within the student. We believe restitution is a key element of problem solving and developing social responsibility. We encourage students to take responsibility for their mistakes and solve problems in a positive manner.

Students work collaboratively with others within a program appropriate to their age and with respect for their individual rights, responsibilities, and maturity.

Consequences will take into account the age, maturity and special needs (e.g. intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional or behavioural), severity and frequency of actions. Consequences will be progressive and will focus on being restorative rather than punitive in nature. Depending upon these and other factors, one or more of the following actions may be taken:

Review of expectations and a timeout
Review of expectations, written assignment and/or loss of privileges
Documentation of incidents referred to the principal
Parents informed
Meeting with parents
Short-term (in-school or at home) suspensions up to 5 days
Long-term suspension over 5 days or referral to a district program
Consultation with police and/or fire department
Suspension/Expulsion

NOTIFICATION:

Parent/guardian/teacher of student exhibiting major behavior problem - every instance.
Parent/guardian/teacher of student on the receiving end of a significant incident - every instance.
Assistant Superintendent, Safe Schools Department and/or other District Staff as needed
Ministerial agencies and/or School Liaison Officer (RCMP) as needed

OTHER

Student Code of Conduct Goals

Students will:

work towards their personal best
accept responsibility for their own actions and behaviour
treat themselves and others with dignity and respect
work to create a positive, safe, caring and orderly school
focus on the prevention of problems by communicating with parents
work to develop a strong and supportive relationship among all members of the school community

General Expectations: Most infractions of classroom or school rules are dealt with by the teacher, but may also involve other staff members or the administrator. The focus is accepting responsibility for actions by being honest, as well as providing some form of retribution (making things right or better for the younger children).

REFERENCES

This Elementary Code of Conduct has been structured to align with, and adhere to the standards outlined in:
The School Act 85 (1.1); 168 (2) (s.1); Provincial Standards Ministerial Order 276/07 (m276/07), effective October 17, 2007.
BC Human Rights Code, as depicted in Surrey Schools Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Policy No.10900; and Regulation No. 10900.1
BC Ministry of Education: Safe, Caring and Orderly Schools, A Guide (November 2008) and Developing and Reviewing Code of Conduct: A Companion (August 2007), both found at http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sco/
Surrey Schools – Safe and Caring School Handbook – policies, procedures and guidelines for schools found on http://www.surreyschools.ca
Ministerial Order No. M 208: (a) a reference to each of the prohibited grounds of discrimination set out in section 7 (discriminatory publication) and section 8 (discrimination in accommodation, service and facility) of the Human Rights Code, RSBC 1996, c. 210;