INTRODUCTION

At Aspenwood Elementary School we believe that every child has the right to enjoy an environment that is most conducive to student success and learning.  In order to do so, acceptable ways of conducting oneself must be established in a manner that is meaningful to students, teachers, and parents alike.  We believe that the responsibility for student discipline in school is shared among students, staff, and parents. 

Students have a responsibility to respect the rights and dignity of others and to become actively and productively involved in their own academic learning and social growth. 

Educators are responsible for establishing a positive school climate in which structure, support and encouragement assists the students in developing a sense of self-discipline and responsibility. 

Parents are responsible for establishing a positive learning atmosphere in the home, knowing school policies and procedures, supporting the school in the enactment of these policies and procedures, and encouraging their children to understand and respect these policies and procedures.

We have spent time and thought revising our Code of Conduct and describing expectations at Aspenwood Elementary.  The process and product reflect the School Act Section 85 (2) (c).

CODE OF CONDUCT:  KEY ELEMENTS

1.     Process

“All British Columbia schools include students, parents and staff in the development and review of codes of conduct.”

Staff, students and parents have had input into the review and development of the Aspenwood Code of Conduct.

2.     Communication

“Expectations regarding acceptable conduct are made known to all students, parents and school staff, as well as to temporary staff or visitors.  Protocols while acting as ambassadors of the school are made known to students, parents, coaches and involved members of the greater community.”

The combined work of students, staff, and parents are being synthesized and placed in a matrix chart that will exemplify our motto, “Take Care of Yourself, Others, and This Place”, and the Code will be organized so that students can easily remember the basic headings, making implementation meaningful and relevant.  Copies of the chart will be displayed throughout the school and the Code will be taught to the students in directed lessons every fall. 

Parents are asked to read this Code, discuss it with their child(ren), and then sign their acceptance of the code. 

3.     Implementation

“Behavioural expectations outlined in the code of conduct are consistently taught and actively promoted.  Responses to unacceptable behaviour are based consistently on sound principles and are appropriate to the context.” 

We intend to launch the Code of Conduct with an assembly and a variety of classroom and family grouping activities.  A major goal for each year will be the teaching and promotion of the code, as well as the recognition of students who demonstrate exemplary behaviour in terms of the code.  We will continue to promote socially responsible attributes using The Virtues Project program in daily P.A. Announcements. 

We will continue to work as a school to model and teach socially responsible behaviour on an ongoing basis and will respond to unacceptable behaviour by referring to the expectations outlined in the code. 

4.     Monitoring and Review

“Conduct is continuously monitored to ensure the code reflects current and emerging situations and are contributing to school safety.”

“Codes of conduct are reviewed and improved in light of evidence gathered and/or relevant research, and are revisited as part of a regular cycle of policy review.”

The SPC, the PAC, and the Staff will review the Code of Conduct in order to monitor its efficacy. 

We will continue to monitor student behaviour using a variety of methods such as performance standards and office referrals.  Parent and Student Satisfaction Surveys will also be used to further refine the Code of Conduct on an annual basis.

5.     Alignment

“Codes of conduct are compatible between schools in the community and across elementary, middle and secondary levels.”

Schools at all three levels in our zone met in January 2005, to share mission statements and core values.  There was considerable consistency and alignment in the work of each of the schools.  Elementary school administrators in our neighbourhood also meet regularly (approx. every 8 weeks) to discuss alignment of operational principles, including the Code of Conduct. 

Codes of conduct drafts are shared among elementary schools in our community to ensure compatibility.

6.   Standards

The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to establish, clarify, and maintain expectations for student behaviour in a safe, caring and orderly environment. 

Acceptable conduct: 

Students are expected to respect themselves, others, the school and the environment while at school, while going to and from school and while attending any school function at any location (field trips, etc.).  Students have the right to an education in a safe and supportive environment.  Along with those rights, however, come certain responsibilities. 

Listed below are the Rights and Responsibilities we hold to be true for students at Aspenwood Elementary School:

It is their RESPONSIBILITY to arrive on time.

It is their RESPONSIBILITY to be prepared.

It is their RESPONSIBILITY to be an attentive listener.

It is their RESPONSIBILITY to strive for personal levels of excellence.

It is their RESPONSIBILITY to treat others with kindness, acceptance, and understanding.

It is their RESPONSIBILITY to accept the consequences for their decisions and actions.

It is their RESPONSIBILITY to conduct themselves in non-violent ways.

It is their RESPONSIBILITY to keep themselves from physical harm.

It is their RESPONSIBILITY not to threaten, intimidate or harm others.

It is their RESPONSIBILITY to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner.

It is their RESPONSIBILITY to respect the property of others.

It is their RESPONSIBILITY to care for the school community.

It is their RESPONSIBILITY to cooperate with others.

It is their RESPONSIBILITY to communicate politely.

It is their RESPONSIBILITY to behave with empathy toward others.

As detailed in our Code of Conduct matrix, students at Aspenwood will:

 

                                                                Be Respectful of Themselves

Be Respectful of Others

Be Respectful of Property

Unacceptable conduct:

The main objective with regard to disciplinary practices is to teach children to manage their own behaviour.  Each case of unacceptable conduct will be handled with discretion and consideration.  Our aim is to deal with discipline infractions with consistency, fairness, and in such a way that it becomes a positive learning experience for the student.  Our goal is to enable the student to function appropriately within the social environment of the school and society in general.

Conduct that fails to demonstrate respect for oneself, others, the school or the environment is unacceptable at Aspenwood.

These behaviours may include, but are not limited to:

·            vandalism

·            bullying, harassment or intimidation whether in person, written or electronic (MSN,or email etc.) forms

·            physical violence

·            theft or damage to property 

In support of appropriate student behaviour, many initiatives are promoted throughout the school year, including: the Virtues Project, S.T.A.R. acronym, and Personal Planning lessons.  A process is also followed to support positive student behaviour.

Rising expectations:

As students advance through the grades, they will be expected to continue to meet expectations in the Social Responsibility Performance Standards for their appropriate grade levels.  In all cases the following factors are taken into consideration: the age of the child; the number of prior incidents; other children involved; and the events leading up to the incident.

Consequences -

Responses to unacceptable conduct will be consistent and fair.  Disciplinary action, wherever possible, shall be preventative and restorative.

Notification -

Every effort is made to inform and involve parents when dealing with repeated inappropriate behaviour.  Other parties will be notified in cases of serious breaches of the Code of Conduct.

For example:

·            parents of student offender – in every case;

·            parents of student victim – in every instance;

·            school district officials – as required by school district policy;

·            police and/or other agencies – as required by law;

·            all parents – when it is deemed to be important to reassure members of the school  community that school officials are aware of any serious situation or incident and are taking appropriate action to address it.

S.T.A.R.

The acronym S.T.A.R. was introduced at Aspenwood several years ago as part of our Social Responsibility goal to provide guidelines for students to solve problems in peaceful ways.  Students use S.T.A.R. to recall the steps outlined below.  Please review these steps with your child.

S.T.A.R

S – Stand tall.  Use the person’s name.
T – Tell the person to stop politely.
A – Assert yourself and be responsible.

Tell the person to stop again or you will report to an adult.

                         R – Resolve or report the proble