Reviewed, October 2026

CLC and Encompass Code of Conduct

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to establish shared expectations that support a safe, respectful, inclusive, and welcoming learning environment for all members of the CLC and Encompass community. These expectations align with the provincial standards for school codes of conduct and provide a framework that supports student success, well-being, belonging, and personal growth.

School boards and schools are entrusted through the School Act with the responsibility to establish and maintain codes of conduct that promote positive school climates. While each school community is unique, provincial standards provide guidance to ensure consistency, fairness, and accountability across British Columbia schools. This Code of Conduct reflects those standards while recognizing the distinct nature and needs of students attending alternative education programs.

The CLC and Encompass programs serve students with diverse backgrounds, experiences, strengths, and goals. We are committed to creating a learning environment where every student feels valued, respected, and supported. We recognize that meaningful relationships, mutual respect, personal responsibility, and restorative approaches are essential to student success.

This Code of Conduct applies to all students, staff, parents/caregivers, volunteers, visitors, and community partners who are part of the CLC and Encompass community. It outlines the expectations for behaviour both within the school setting and during school-sponsored activities, including field trips, work experience placements, and community-based learning opportunities.

CLC and Encompass operate as closed campuses. Students and families are informed of this expectation during the intake process and are expected to follow established sign-in, sign-out, and attendance procedures to help maintain a safe and supportive environment for everyone.

The Code of Conduct is shared annually with students, families, staff, and members of the school community. It is available on the CLC and Encompass websites and in the school office. The Code of Conduct is reviewed with new students and families during the intake process and is reinforced through ongoing conversations, relationship-building, and restorative practices throughout the school year.

This document is reviewed regularly to ensure it continues to reflect the needs of our students, aligns with district expectations, and supports provincial initiatives related to school safety, equity, inclusion, and student well-being. At CLC and Encompass, our goal is to foster a community where everyone is treated with dignity, feels a sense of belonging, and is empowered to learn, grow, and contribute positively to the school community.

CODE OF CONDUCT: KEY ELEMENTS

Process

The CLC and Encompass Code of Conduct aligns with the District Code of Conduct and those of the other Secondary Schools in School District 43. It is reviewed each year to ensure that it meets the Ministry requirements in: A Guide for Safe, Caring and Orderly Schools.

Communication of Expectations

Expectations regarding acceptable conduct are communicated to all students, parents/caregivers, staff, volunteers, visitors, and temporary staff who are part of the CLC and Encompass community.

School expectations, routines, and program-specific protocols are introduced and discussed during the intake process and are reviewed with students and families through Family and Student Support Plan (SSP) meetings. These conversations help ensure that students and families understand the expectations, supports, and responsibilities that contribute to a safe and positive learning environment.

Student conduct and school expectations are reviewed regularly through case management time, individual meetings with Case Managers, classroom discussions, assemblies, and restorative conversations as needed. The School and District Codes of Conduct are shared with students and families at intake, are available on the school website, and may be revisited throughout the school year to support student success and well-being.

The Code of Conduct is provided to all staff assigned to CLC and Encompass and is shared with students and families who enroll during the school year. Through ongoing communication, relationship-building, and collaborative planning, CLC and Encompass work to ensure that all members of the school community understand and uphold the expectations outlined in this Code of Conduct.

Implementation

At CLC and Encompass, behavioural expectations outlined in the Code of Conduct are explicitly taught, consistently reinforced, and integrated into our daily interactions with students. As relationship-based alternative education programs, we recognize that positive behaviour is best supported through connection, trust, clear expectations, and individualized support. Responses to unacceptable behaviour are guided by restorative and trauma-informed practices, are consistent with school and district expectations, and take into consideration the student's age, maturity, circumstances, and individual needs.

Students regularly review and discuss behavioural expectations through case management time, individual meetings with their Case Manager, classroom learning experiences, assemblies, and Student Support Plan (SSP) meetings. Staff work collaboratively with students to develop self-awareness, problem-solving skills, personal responsibility, and positive relationship-building strategies that contribute to a safe and inclusive school community.

The Code of Conduct is also reinforced through ongoing communication with families. Expectations may be reviewed during Family Meetings, SSP meetings, phone calls, and other collaborative conversations where school staff partner with parents/caregivers to support student success. When concerns arise, families are encouraged to work alongside the school to help students understand expectations, repair relationships when appropriate, and develop strategies for future success.

Staff regularly engage in professional discussions and learning related to behaviour support, restorative practices, school safety, and student well-being. Through a consistent, collaborative approach, CLC and Encompass strive to create a school culture where students feel supported, respected, and empowered to make positive choices.

Monitoring and Review

The CLC and Encompass Code of Conduct is a living document that is regularly reviewed to ensure it reflects the evolving needs of our students, families, staff, and school community. The effectiveness of the Code is monitored through ongoing feedback, student support discussions, case management processes, behavioural data, and school-based reviews of safety, well-being, and school climate.

As alternative education programs, CLC and Encompass recognize that student needs and circumstances can change over time. School staff continually reflect on practices, emerging trends, and student experiences to ensure the Code of Conduct remains relevant, responsive, and supportive of a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment.

Students, families, and staff are encouraged to share feedback regarding the Code of Conduct and to bring forward concerns, emerging issues, or behaviours that may not be adequately addressed within the current document. Feedback may be provided through conversations with Case Managers, Family Meetings, Student Support Plan (SSP) meetings, school administration, or other established communication processes.

Each year, the Code of Conduct is reviewed by school administration in consultation with staff and, where appropriate, students and families. Revisions and additions are considered to ensure alignment with district expectations, provincial requirements, current research, and the unique needs of the CLC and Encompass community before the Code is submitted to the District for review.

Alignment

CLC and Encompass Code of Conduct aligns with SD43 secondary schools and supports the district's social-emotional learning competencies, including responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and self-management.

Standards

The CLC and Encompass programs promote the values expressed in the BC Human Rights Code respecting the rights of all individuals in accordance with the law prohibiting discrimination based on Indigenous identity, race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, sex, or sexual orientation - in service and facility in the school environment (Ministry Order 6a).

Statement of Purpose

To establish and maintain a safe, caring, and orderly environment for purposeful learning
To establish and maintain appropriate balance among individual and collective rights, freedoms, and responsibilities
To clarify and publish expectations for student behaviour while at school, while going to and from school, and while attending any school function or activity at any location

Conduct Expectations

The expectations outlined in this Code of Conduct apply to all members of the CLC and Encompass community. They apply to behaviour that occurs:

On school property and during the school day;
During school-sponsored activities, events, field trips, work experience placements, and community-based learning opportunities;
While travelling to and from school-sponsored activities; and
In online environments or at other times when a student's actions have a negative impact on the safety, well-being, learning, or sense of belonging of students, staff, or the school community.

CLC and Encompass are committed to creating safe, inclusive, respectful, and supportive learning environments where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Conduct expectations are grounded in the district's Code of Conduct and are supported through restorative, relationship-based, and trauma-informed practices that recognize the diverse needs and experiences of our students.

All members of the school community share responsibility for contributing to a positive school climate by demonstrating respect, responsibility, honesty, and care for themselves and others. Students are encouraged to make choices that support their learning, strengthen relationships, and contribute positively to the school community.

School District Code of Conduct Expectations in Detail

The Board believes that appropriate student conduct, based on respect for oneself, respect for others, and respect for property is essential to the development of responsible citizens. To this end students are expected to:

be aware of and obey all school rules
attend classes punctually and regularly
work cooperatively and diligently at their studies and with home assignments
respect the rights of all persons within the school including peers, staff and parents
respect the legitimate authority of the school staff
respect the school's physical school facilities
respect the ethnic diversity of our school community
behave in a safe and responsible manner at all times
not threaten, harass, bully*, intimidate or assault, in any way, any person within the school community; and
not be in possession or under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
The Board further believes that these expectations are fostered in a positive climate in which:
1. all students feel safe, valued and trusted, and have the opportunity to develop, assume and maintain responsibility and self-motivation
2. there is a joint effort to learn and a feeling of mutual respect among staff, students and parents School District No. 43 (Coquitlam)
3. appropriate behaviour is consistently encouraged and acknowledged, thereby increasing student self-esteem and reinforcing self-control
4. students are disciplined in a timely, fair, judicious and responsible manner, with consequences for

unacceptable behaviour that take into account the student’s age, maturity and special needs, if any.

on-going communication exists between staff and parents that encourages and provides increased opportunities for active and constructive parental involvement in their children's education.
Students, while attending school and school sponsored functions and activities, shall be subject to the District Code of Conduct for Students and the school's rules of conduct and deportment established by the Principal. Students may be subject to discipline under the school and/or District Code of Conduct for any conduct which has the effect of negatively impacting the school environment, whether that conduct occurs on or off School District property, at a school sponsored function or activity, or otherwise.
Students registered in School District No. 43 (Coquitlam) shall not attend nor visit a school other than the school in which they are registered, without a legitimate school-related purpose. Students who visit other school sites without permission during the school day, may be subject to disciplinary action by their school or the School District.
Serious breaches of conduct that threaten the safety and welfare of others will be referred directly to Level Three of the suspension process for resolution by the Student Suspension Review Committee.
Where a student 16 years of age or older repeatedly fails to comply with the code of conduct, rules and policies of the school, or has failed to apply him/herself to his/her studies as set out in Section 85 of the School Act, the Board is empowered to refuse further school service to the student.
Students are prohibited from being in possession of and/or under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs in all schools or at school sponsored functions and activities.

Bullying includes but is not limited to physical or verbal intimidation, verbal harassment and cyber bullying, occurring on or off school property.

Special considerations may apply to the imposition of consequences on a student with special needs if the student is unable to comply with this Code of Conduct due to a disability of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional or behavioural nature.

School Rules: Acceptable Conduct

“As per Section 8 of Human Rights Code of British Columbia, students shall not discriminate against others on the basis of the Indigenous identity, race, religion, colour, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, family status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or physical or mental disability. Furthermore, as per Section 7 of the Human Rights Code of British Columbia, no student shall publish or display anything that would indicate an intention to discriminate against another, or expose them to contempt or ridicule, on the aforementioned bases.”

Personal Responsibility:

Students are expected to demonstrate positive behavior that supports a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment. This includes:

Respecting yourself, others, and the school community
Contributing to a safe, caring, and orderly environment
Reporting incidents of bullying, harassment, or intimidation to a trusted adult in a timely manner
Using social media responsibly and positively
Making choices that keep yourself and others safe
Arriving on time, prepared to learn, and being seated at the start of each class
Attending classes regularly, participating fully, respecting others’ contributions, completing assignments on time, asking for help when needed, and using good manners and common sense
Understanding and following classroom, school, and district expectations
Reporting unsafe individuals, behaviors, or situations to a staff member
Working both independently and collaboratively with others
Demonstrating positive problem-solving skills when facing personal challenges
Choosing clothing that is appropriate for school activities, respectful of self and others, and aligned with a positive learning environment
Using washrooms and changing rooms for their intended purposes—not as social gathering spaces
See something, say something – Speak up. If you see other students not following this code of conduct, please say something to a teacher, counselor or administrator

Clothing

We recognize that clothing is an avenue of personal expression; however, students are not to wear articles of clothing that promote alcohol, drugs, smoking/vaping, overt sexuality, violence, any language that would violate the Human Rights code, or inappropriate language in general. Schools are a place of work, and students are expected to dress for a casual work setting. Students may be asked to replace or cover inappropriate attire that considers the activities they will need to do in a class, messages conveyed, as well as function while at school.

Personal Digital Devices in School

All cellular phones or similar personal communication devices are to be appropriately stored during class time. Digital devices of any kind are only to be used at the discretion of your teacher when identified as appropriate for your learning environment or because of unique circumstances, such as Photography class.
Devices must be stored away (e.g., in the wall pouches provided, or personal bag) during instructional time, unless otherwise directed by a staff member.
Students are not to have cell phones in the hallways during class time unless given specific permission from their teacher and being used for school purposes.
All use of personal digital devices must align with Administrative Procedure 140.2 – Digital Responsibility for Students, and reflect respectful, responsible, and ethical behavior.
Misuse of technology—whether on or off campus—that negatively impacts the school community may result in school-based consequences.

Relationships

Modelling positive behaviour
Co-operating with others
Listening attentively
Being inclusive
Respecting all members of the school community and promote diversity

School and Community Involvement

Assisting others in the school and community
Ensuring that bathroom stall use involves 1 person per stall only
Maintaining a clean physical environment
Respecting school and personal property
Participating in school and community activities
Initiating projects that support the school and community

School Rules: Rising Expectations

As students progress to grades 9-12, behavioural expectations will rise so that:

Student levels of maturity, personal responsibility and self-discipline will improve.
Consequences for unacceptable conduct in senior grades will likely result in more serious consequences.
Older students will model positive behaviours for their peers and younger student.

School Rules: Unacceptable Conduct

The following behaviours are deemed unacceptable; these definitions are broad in nature and are not intended to describe every possible situation.

Behaviours that:

interfere with the learning of self and others
interfere with an orderly environment
create unsafe conditions
have the potential to make others feel unsafe (i.e. crowding in bathrooms, having multiple people in bathroom stalls)

Acts of:

using cell phones during class time unless given specific permission
intentionally breaching public health orders, guidance, and health and safety guidelines
academic dishonesty, including using Ai without disclosing its use, or adhering to the teachers direction for how Ai can be used for the assignment.
unexcused absences; misrepresenting yourself as a parent
swearing and use of inappropriate language
bullying, harassment, or intimidation
retribution against a person who has reported unsafe incidents
physical violence, including participating in a physical fight or contributing to the fight by recording it using a cell phone camera.
the use of computers, cell phones and social media to create, possess, share, or distribute intimate images or videos.
As per section 8 of the BC Human Rights Code, no person may discriminate against a person or class of persons regarding any accommodation, service or facility customarily available to the public because of the Indigenous identity, race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age of that person or class of persons

***Behaviours cited are only some examples and not an all-inclusive list.

Cyber-Bullying or transmitting or posting threatening, abusive, obscene, or harassing material:

All types of cyberbullying and posting of inappropriate material is subject to disciplinary action. Do not post comments or imagery on social media that are negative, derogatory, or inappropriate.

Illegal acts, such as:

distribution or use of illegal or restricted substances: drugs (including marijuana and prescription medication), alcohol, cigarettes and vapes.
gambling for money, goods, or services
possession or use of weapons including replica weapons
theft of or damage to property; including willful vandalism, graffiti, malicious and destructive acts, inclusive to grad pranks (which may result in suspension and/or loss of privileges such as the ability to attend the commencement).

Consequences

Students may be subject to discipline under the school and/or District Code of Conduct for any conduct which has the effect of negatively impacting the school environment, whether that conduct occurs on or off School District property, at a school sponsored function or activity, or otherwise
Those in authority (adult supervisors, teachers, and administration) will consider the severity and frequency of unacceptable conduct in determining disciplinary action
Disciplinary action, wherever possible, will be preventative and restorative rather than punitive.
Students, as often as possible, will be encouraged to participate in the development of meaningful consequences for violations of the established Code of Conduct
All reasonable steps will be taken to prevent retaliation by a person against a student who has made a complaint regarding a breach of conduct.
The school uses a “Pyramid of Interventions” to respond to inappropriate behaviour within the school community.
Every consideration will be made to use a “restorative approach” whenever possible when resolving issues in the school.
The approach is consistent for everyone and well communicated to parents and students.

Consequences could include (this is not meant to be an all-inclusive list):

school or community counselling
conflict resolution meetings
restorative action
informal suspensions (at school or home)
school / community service
partial day school program
behaviour plan and/or safety plan
formal suspensions (as per District Code of Conduct)
Police liaison involvement with mediation and educational support.
Cost restoration for school damage, vandalism and replacement of another person’s possessions.

Search and seizure

A search by school officials of a student under their authority or a search of student property may be undertaken if the school has reasonable grounds to believe a school rule has been or will be violated, and that the evidence of that violation will be found in the location or on the person of the student being searched.

Students know that their teachers and other school authorities are responsible for providing a safe learning environment and maintaining order and discipline at school. As a result, they must know that, where reasonable grounds exist, this may require searches of students, their personal effects and the seizure of prohibited items.

Students should also be aware that the schools may collect, use, and disclose personal information about students for the purposes of investigating and addressing student misconduct, safety and maintaining order and discipline in school. Such collection and use of student information may include information that is obtained from witnesses or collected from other secondary information sources such as social media. All personal information of students collected by the school will be collected in compliance with and under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (ss. 26(a),(b), and(c)) and the School Act. Questions about the collection, use or disclosure of student personal information should be directed to the Assistant Superintendent and Chief Information Officer Stephen Whiffin, at swhiffin@sd43.bc.ca.

Notification

School staff, depending on the severity and frequency of unacceptable conduct, may have a responsibility to advise other parties of serious breaches of the code of conduct:

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 to address it

Resolution of Student or Parent School Concern – AP 380

The district encourages students and/or parents to discuss their questions or concerns regarding the education of their children with school personnel as early and as directly as possible. Students or parents who disagree with or wish to question decisions or actions that are taken by teachers and/or administrators are expected to seek a resolution by pursuing the following steps:

Teacher or Classroom Level Problem:
1. Discuss the matter directly with the teacher whose judgement or decision is being questioned.
2. If not resolved, discuss your concern with the Principal.
3. If still unsatisfied with the outcome, discuss your concern with the Assistant Superintendent (contact the Board office at 604-939-9201).
4. Unresolved matters may be referred to the Board as per Board Policy 13.
Principal or School Level Problem:
1. Discuss directly with the principal the action, policy, procedure, or practice being questioned.
2. If not resolved, refer to the Assistant Superintendent. (See contact information above)
3. If not resolved, refer to the Board as per Board Policy 13. It is expected that school district personnel will seek a resolution to the problem as quickly as possible.

Questions, Comments & Feedback