ÉCOLE GLEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Code of conduct
2012/2013
MISSION STATEMENT
Glen Elementary welcomes a diversity of learners and in partnership with the community is committed to creating a mutually supportive environment which fosters a positive attitude towards learning; self-esteem; personal and social responsibility.
L’école Glen élémentaire accueille une diversité d’élèves et s’engage,
en partenariat avec la communauté, à créer un environnement de soutien mutuel lequel encouragera une attitude positive envers l’apprentissage académique, l’estime de soi ainsi que la responsabilité individuelle et sociale.
I. INTRODUCTION
School cultures are shaped by the values and attitudes of the people they involve; school staff, students, parents and the wider community. In a safe, caring and orderly school community, like École Glen Elementary, the deep personal commitment of its members to create and maintain a respectful, welcoming and nurturing environment is explicitly stated. At Glen, we have a shared goal of encouraging socially responsible behaviours that contribute to the school community, solve problems in peaceful ways, value diversity and defend human rights.
The staff, students and parents of Glen focus on the knowledge and skills required to be socially responsible citizens who act in caring and principled ways, respecting the diversity of all people and the rights of others to hold different ideas and beliefs.
The purpose of this document is to provide a basic framework and common expectations for École Glen Elementary students. The guidelines reflect the new provincial standards for “Code of Conduct”, as directed by the School Act 85 (2)(c).
II. CODE OF CONDUCT: KEY ELEMENTS
1. Process
Glen’s Code of Conduct was developed through a collaborative and communicative process that involved members of the school community: students, parents, and staff.
§ Discussions, presentations, input to and from staff at Glen School
§ Discussions, presentations, input to and from PAC
§ Discussions and input to and from representative groups of multi-age students
§ Discussions, presentations and confirmation to and from the School Planning Council (SPC)
2. Communication
Expectations regarding acceptable conduct are made known to all students, parents and school staff, as well as to temporary staff and visitors. Protocols, while acting as ambassadors of the school, are also made known to students, parents, coaches and involved members of the greater community.
Provincial Standards For Codes of Conduct Order:
Authority: School Act, sections 85 (1.1) 168 (2) (s.1)
Ministerial Order 276/07 (M276/07) ~ Effective October 17, 2007
Orders of the Minister of Education
Ministerial Order 4 (c) (d)
4. Boards must ensure that schools within their school district
(c) provide codes of conduct to employees of the Board who are assigned to a school during the school year when they are so assigned;
(d) provide the codes of conduct to students who start attending a school during the school year and their parents when the students start attending the school
The Glen Code of Conduct and the associated expectations will be:
§ Explained and discussed with students from various classes and grades
§ published in student agendas
§ Updated and revised as necessary; revisions communicated in school newsletters and in TOC folders
§ Discussed with PAC and SPC
§ communicated to parents by sending home a copy of Glen’s Code of Conduct and by posting the Glen’s Code of Conduct on our Learning Portal
3. Implementation
The elements in the Glen Code of Conduct will be implemented in numerous ways throughout the school year. Strategies and structures utilized will include:
§ direct classroom teaching and discussion
§ student group work
§ monthly assemblies
§ theme months
§ regular morning Public Address (PA) announcements
§ Noon-Hour Supervisors, with Administration, review common expectations
§ ongoing modeling by all adult members of the school community
§ school-wide support through Information Literacy (that is, reinforced when using resources in our Library) and Information Technology (that is, reinforced when using resources in our Computer Room)
4. Monitoring and Review
§ Glen’s Code of Conduct aligns with our school focus on Social Responsibility
§ We will monitor, assess and revise as and/or if necessary based on the specific needs of the students within our school community
§ The effectiveness of our Code of Conduct will be evaluated by reviewing data in order to assist our staff track trends and identify areas requiring further development. The data gathered will be from:
i) Office referrals
ii) Classroom evaluations based on Social Responsibility Performance Standards
§ Collaborative discussions with SPC, PAC, students, parents, and staff will occur should and/or if this need arises.
5. Alignment
Glen’s Code of Conduct is aligned with:
§ other elementary schools in the district as well as the family of schools in our geographical area
§ It is also in alignment with our District Code of Conduct and Safe, Caring and Respectful Schools
Discussions with the members of our community of schools take place regularly throughout the school year. Structured opportunities to discuss these issues occur during select Superintendent Meetings.
6. Standards
École Glen Elementary School promotes the values expressed in the BC Human Rights Code respecting the rights of all individuals in accordance with the law – prohibiting discrimination based on race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, sex or sexual orientation – in respect of discriminatory publication and discrimination in accommodation, service and facility in the school environment.
Ministerial Order 6 (b)
6. Boards must ensure that the following elements are included in their codes of conduct:
(b) a statement of purpose that provides a rationale for the code of conduct, with a focus on safe, caring and orderly school environments
A) Statement of Purpose
i) Our SD43 (Coquitlam) Board of Education supports School Administrators and staff in the maintenance of proper order and discipline that is consistent with the Board policy, and believes that the responsibility for student discipline in school is shared among students, staff and parents.
ii) Students are expected to conduct themselves responsibly at school, while going to and from school and while attending any school function at any location.
iii) The purpose of the following sections are:
§ To establish and maintain a safe, caring and orderly environment for purposeful learning
§ To assist children in developing socially responsible behaviours, showing a developing awareness of their role as ethical decision-makers and moral citizens
B) Conduct Expectations
The rights and responsibilities of all Glen citizens are to:
§ Have the right to have an environment that enables us to learn
§ Respect individual differences and ethnic backgrounds of all Glen citizens
§ Have the right to be treated in a courteous and respectful manner
§ To have the right to fairness and consistency in discipline and awareness of rules in our school
Acceptable Conduct
Students are expected to act in a respectful and safe manner at all times during the school day. This includes arriving at and leaving school and attending field trips and school functions at any location.
§ Speak and act towards other students and staff so that words and actions do not cause injury or discomfort to anyone
§ Behave in a safe and responsible manner at all times
§ Be aware of and obey all school rules
§ Respect self, others and the school
§ Treat other students and all staff members with caring and respect; refrain from all acts of bullying
o Bullying includes but is not limited to physical or verbal intimidation, verbal harassment and cyber bullying, occurring on or off our school property. (Policy 17)
§ Arrive to school on time and ready to learn
§ Give every assignment the very best effort and complete homework
§ Be prepared – arrive in class each day with the necessary materials for learning
§ Follow the individual rules, guidelines and instructions of all classroom teachers and staff
§ Use computers and all technology responsibly
§ Demonstrate appropriate school behaviours in the hallways and during assemblies
§ Walk our hallways quietly and respectfully
§ District-Wide Network and Internet Appropriate Use – AP 140
o The District endorses the provision of district-wide network and Internet services to support student learning. While there are many benefits, there is also potential for misuse. Students are not permitted to create, distribute or access any material which is not suitable for classroom learning. (See also our district brochures “Appropriate Use Guidelines for the Internet” and “Appropriate Use Guidelines for E-Mail”. These are on the district website at www.sd43.bc.ca under News & Events/Publications)
Unacceptable Conduct
École Glen Elementary School will treat seriously behavior or communication that discriminates based on race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex or sexual orientation (prohibited grounds set out in the BC Human Rights Code).
Students whose conduct interferes with the learning, safety or well-being of others or him/herself.
Students should not:
§ discriminate against others on the basis of the race, religion, sex or sexual orientation, or disability, or for any other reason set out in the Human Rights Code of British Columbia, nor shall a student publish or display anything that would indicate an intention to discriminate against another, or expose them to contempt or ridicule, on the basis of any such grounds
§ Behave in any way that interferes with the learning of others
§ Use behaviours that create unsafe conditions in the school, on the playground or on field trips
§ Engage in acts of bullying, harassment, or intimidation
o Bullying includes but is not limited to physical or verbal intimidation, verbal harassment and cyber bullying, occurring on or off our school property. (Policy 17)
§ Use any form of physical violence
§ Engage in acts of retribution against a person who has reported incidents
§ Engage in computer use, on or off the school grounds, that creates a negative learning environment for others
§ Possess, use or distribute illegal or restricted substances
§ Possess or use weapons
§ Engage in theft or damage to property
§ Chew gum inside school
§ Wear hats inside school
Rising Expectations
Ministerial Order 6 (e)
6. Boards must ensure that the following elements are included in their codes of conduct:
(e) an explanation that the board will take all reasonable steps to prevent retaliation by a person against a student who has made a complaint of a breach of a code of conduct.
As students progress through École Glen Elementary School, they will assume the role of leaders. Our intermediate students are looked upon by the younger students to set good examples of socially responsible behaviours.
§ Increasing personal responsibility and self-discipline
§ Increasing consequences for inappropriate behaviours
§ As students progress through their years at elementary school it is expected that the level of personal accountability will increase and that leadership skills will develop and progress, in preparation for successful middle school experiences
C) Consequences
Ministerial Order 7 (b)
7. Further to Section 6 (c), boards must do the following in the statement about consequences of unacceptable behavior:
(b) include an explanation that special considerations may apply to students with special needs if these students are unable to comply with a code of conduct due to having a disability of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional or behavioural nature.
Consequences to unacceptable conduct are pre-planned, consistent and fair.
§ Disciplinary action, wherever possible, is preventative and restorative rather than merely punitive
§ Students, as often as possible, are encouraged to participate in the development of meaningful consequences for violations of the established Code of Conduct
§ Special considerations may apply to students with special needs if these students are unable to comply with a code of conduct due to having a disability of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional or behavioural nature.
Serious breaches of the Code of Conduct may result in a suspension when the child’s presence at school creates an unsafe environment for him/herself, other students or school staff.
§ Responses to unacceptable conduct may include any and/or all of the following:
o discussion with the student, discussion with a staff member and student, discussion with administration, Team Documentation Form, Behaviour Incident Form (office referral), telephone call home, meeting with parent(s);
o Mediation and/or conflict resolution (student to student)
o Student initiated consequence (with guidance from administration)
D) Notification
Parents and guardians will be notified should there be a serious breach of the Code of Conduct. Parental involvement is necessary to help the child adjust his/her behaviour in order to meet Code of Conduct expectations. Where the breach of the Code of Conduct involves other students, the following parties will receive notification:
§ Parents of student offender(s)
§ Parents of student victim(s)
§ School district officials, as required by school district policy
§ Police and/or other agencies, as required by law
§ All parents, when deemed to be important to reassure members of the school community that school officials are aware of a serious situation or incident and are taking appropriate action
E) School District No. 43 (Coquitlam) School Policies
The following district policies outline expectations for student conduct and are published in our student agendas.
§ Policy 1-A-66 Smoke Free Environment
§ Policy 11-B-77 District-Wide Network/Internet Appropriate Use
§ Policy 11-B-83 District Code of Conduct
§ Policy 11-B-84 Violence and Possession of Weapons
§ Policy 11-B-85 Suspension of Students
§ Policy 11-C-16 Race Relations
§ Policy 111-A-32 Personal Discriminatory and Sexual Harassment