Administrative Procedure 350

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

Background

All members of the VCS community, including students, parents, staff, and the Board have a role and a shared responsibility to create and support a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment. All members of the VCS school community have a right to learn and work in an environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying, and harm. VCS adopts a whole school and whole community approach that supports student personal development, character and citizenship. Responses to student behaviour include a consistently applied, school-wide approach that includes fair and predictable responses to negative behaviour through a progression of proactive, preventative, and restorative strategies.

Definitions

•Bullying: means repeated and hostile or demeaning behaviour by an individual in the school community where the behaviouris intended to cause harm, fear or distress to one or more other individuals in the school community, including psychological harm or harm to an individual’s reputation. Bullying can take different forms including:
o Physical – pushing, hitting
o Verbal – name calling, threats
o Social – exclusion, rumours
o Cyber – using digital technology to harass, demean or threaten someone
•Discrimination: means an action or a decision that treats a person or a group negatively for reasons such as race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin,marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation.
•Diversity: means the full range of uniqueness within humanity. Dimensions of diversity include but are not limited to those identified in the discrimination definition as well as the following:
o culture and linguistic diversity
o family composition
o language
o physical attributes
osocio-economic status
•Harassment: means any behaviour or pattern of repeated behaviour that disparages, humiliates or harms another person, ordenies an individual’s dignity and respect and is demeaning or humiliating to another person.

Procedures

1.The purpose of this Administrative Regulation is:
1.1. To promote positive learning environments for each student.
1.2. To help students become good citizens both within and outside of the school community.
1.3. To meet the VCS’s responsibility to provide students and staff with a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that respects diversity and fosters a sense of belonging for all members of our school community.
1.4. To outline the roles and expectations related to student conduct.
1.5. To explain the consequences when a student’s disruptive behaviour negatively affects the learning environment.
2.The Student Code of Conduct establishes:
2.1 Positive student behavioural expectations
2.2 Possible consequences and interventions for student behaviour and conduct not aligned with these positive expectations.
2.3 The Student Code of Conduct applies whether inside or outside of the school building or school day if the conduct negatively affects a member of the school community or interferes with the culture of learning in the school environment.
3.Students are expected to behave in a manner that complies with the Student Code of Conduct and contributes to a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment. These include (but are not limited to):
3.1 Being respectful to oneself and to all members of the school community.
3.2 Assuring that individual conduct contributes to a sense of belonging for all.
3.3 Refraining from all bullying, harassment, or discrimination towards others including violence, retribution, threats, theft,vandalism, and illegal activities. No student shall bring weapons, replicas of weapons, or items that can be used as weapons to the school.
3.4 Using language and words that do not include profanity, cursing or abusive language.                                                                                                3.5 No student shall use, consume, possess, distribute, sell or be under the influence of illegal and/or illicit, restricted substances (e.g., cigarettes, vaping, alcohol, drugs, marijuana, other).
3.6 Reporting acts of bullying, harassment, or discrimination in a safe and timely manner to an adult in the school or parent who will then contact the school.
3.7 Engaging actively and positively and not interfering with learning and school activities.
3.8 Attending school regularly and punctually.
3.9 Cooperating in a reciprocal respectful way with staff and other students.
3.10 Knowing and complying with school rules.
3.11 Being responsible and accountable for individual choices and behaviours.
3.12 Demonstrating respect for self, others and the school environment through respecting differences in people, their ideas and their opinions, including when there is disagreement and embracing all diversities.
3.13 Using positive and inclusive language
3.14 Demonstrating good digital citizenship by using technology in ethically and responsible ways.
3.15 Demonstrating caring and compassion for others including showing empathy, being considerate of others and their situation and creating an environment of kindness.
4.Students engaging in conduct that does not contribute to a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe environment may be subject to discipline. Examples of unacceptable behaviour include, but are not limited to:
4.1 Disruptive or dangerous behavior and defiance of authority.
4.2 Encouraging unacceptable conduct and engaging in conduct which endangers others.
4.3 Any conduct which is injurious to the physical, social or mental well-being of others.
4.4 Use, display or distribution of improper, obscene or abusive language, messages, gestures or pictures.’
4.5 Discriminatory behavior or harassment.
4.6 Use of technology such as computers, cameras, cell phones, and other digital equipment for purposes that are illegal,unethical, immoral, or inappropriate.
4.7 Theft, including theft of identity and intellectual property.
4.8 Use, possession, distribution, or collection of money for illicit drugs, cannabis, cannabis-infused products, alcohol, or inhalants in school or in the context of any school-related activity.
4.9 Interfering with the orderly conduct of classes or the school.
5.Possible consequences, interventions and supports for conduct that does not align with positive student behaviours will follow a progressive discipline approach and include (but are not limited to):
5.1 Parent/Guardian/Caregiver phone calls, meetings, requests to pick student up as soon as possible.
5.2 Referrals to specialized, school based or community-based supports (i.e. counselor)
5.3 Detentions, in school and out of school suspensions.
5.4 Additional learning assignments (e.g., research on long terms effects of bullying on the brain).
5.5 Restorative justice practices. ‘
5.6 Student suspension or expulsion (as per clauses in the Education Act).
5.7 Violence Threat Risk Assessments (VTRA)
5.8 Behavioural Support Plans
6.It is important to note:
6.1 Parents will be notified of interventions and/or consequences related to major/severe behaviors for your child.
6.2 Parents cannot be notified of any details about any interventions and/or consequences for any student except for theirown child.
6.3 The use of corporal punishment is strictly prohibited.
6.4 Physically restraining a student shall only be used if a student is a danger to themselves or others.
6.5 Consequences must consider the student’s age, maturity and/or individual circumstances (e.g., student needs and complexities including physical, behavioural, communicational, cognitive, mental health, trauma, past interventions trialed, and accommodations/support)
7.Provisions to review the School Code of Conduct:
7.1 Before September 30 of each school year with all school staff.
7.2 Before September 30 of each school year with all students.
7.3 Before October 31 of each school year with School Council.
7.4 Make the School Code of Conduct visible on the school’s website before September 30 of each school year (when updated from the prior year).                                                                                                                      7.5 Review and update (where needed) the School Code of Conduct with staff, students, and School Council annually.
8. Under the leadership of the principal, staff are responsible for establishing:
8.6 A positive school climate in which structure, support, and encouragement is provided to assist the student in understanding and aligning behaviour with the School Student Code of Conduct.
8.7 A school environment that encourages and reinforces positive student behaviours, thus increasing social-emotional competencies including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
8.8 Responses to unacceptable behaviour that give first consideration to the safety and security of students, staff, and other members of the school community.
8.9 Proactive and preventative approaches to reduce the occurrence of behaviour and maintain environments that are conducive to teaching and learning.
8.10 A joint effort to learn and a feeling of mutual respect among staff, students, and parents.
8.11 On-going and timely communication between staff and parents to encourage and provide the opportunity for active and constructive parental involvement in the education of their children.
9. Parents are partners in their child’s education. They have a responsibility to take an active role in their child(ren)’s educational success and will support their child(ren) in complying with their responsibilities as students. Parent conduct should contribute to a welcoming, caring, respectful, and safe learning environment. VCS believes that the role of the parent with respect to education and as outlined in the Education Act, will:
9.1 Encourage, foster, model and advance collaborative, positive and respectful relationships with teachers, principals, other staff, and professionals providing supports and services in the school.
9.2 Assure that the child attends regularly and is punctual.
9.3 Be aware of, and support, the expectations from the School Code of Conduct.
9.4 Communicate and collaborate with school staff about any concerns regarding Student Code of Conduct

Reference: Section 8, 11, 31, 32, 33(3), 35.1, 36, 37, 52, 53, 196, 197, 222, 225, 257 Education
Act Occupational Health and Safety Tobacco, Smoking and Vaping Reduction Act
Review by the Minister Information Bulletin 3.5.1
Board Policy 13 – Appeals and Hearings Regarding Student Matters