Student Code of Conduct

Updated: September, 2023

​THE PURPOSE OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT IS TO:

1. Establish and maintain a safe, caring and orderly environment for a positive learning and teaching climate
   
2. Establish an appropriate balance between individual and collective rights, freedoms, and responsibilities
3. Clarify and outline school expectations and acceptable student conduct at school, during school events, as representatives of the school in the community, and for any conduct that occurs off school property, where there is a connection to the school
4. Clarify and outline school expectations in relation to online postings, text messaging, and other electronic communications that negatively affect other members of the school community and student learning
5. Ensure a positive human-rights environment that promotes anti-racism, openness, diversity, fairness, and equity
6. Encourage thoughtful and reflective citizenship.

Terry Fox Secondary's Code of Conduct is compatible with the District Code of Conduct, the BC Human Rights Code as well as our four pillars of leadership, integrity, kindness and perseverance.

We expect that members of our community WILL:

• Respect oneself and the school facility
• Respect and follow the instructions of all staff
• Respect all members of the school community regardless of Indigenous identity, age, gender, sexual orientation and expression, race, intellectual and physical ability, political belief and religion
• Engage in responsible behavior in all learning and school activities (attending classes regularly, being prepared for class, completing all assignments in a timely manner, and using good manners and common sense
• Help to ensure the school environment is a safe and caring place for all to learn
• Work with school staff to ensure a safe, healthy, orderly and respectful environment
• Dress appropriately for the teaching and learning environment
• Model respectful and responsible behavior at school, in the community and while acting as a representative for the school
• Practicing acceptable use of technology, on and off campus; and
• Be accountable for any conduct that occurs off school property where there is a connection to the school

We expect that members of our community WILL NOT:

• Discriminate against others regarding any accommodation, service or facility customarily available to the public because of the Indigenous identity, or on the basis of the race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, family status, age, religion, sex or sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability, or for any other reason set out in the Human Rights Code of British Columbia (Section 7 and 8), 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
• Interfere with the learning and teaching environment of other school members
• Create an unsafe or dangerous environment
• Demonstrate academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism
• Demonstrate a lack of caring for oneself, others and the school community and facility
• Bully harass, intimidate or exclude any other member of the school community in person, indirectly or through social media or other technologies
• Use or possess weapons
• Possess, use, or distribute electronic cigarettes, vaporizers, marijuana, alcohol and other drugs
• Engage in criminal acts such as vandalism and theft (including so-called “grad pranks")

Rising Expectations and Consequences

As students mature and progress through Grades 9-12, behavioral expectations will rise so that students:

• Take increasing responsibility for their actions
• Exhibit more socially responsible behaviors
• Understand that consequences for irresponsible or unsafe behavior also escalate accordingly
• Understand that levels of maturity, personal responsibility, self-discipline, modeling and leadership are expected to improve
• Understand that consequences for unacceptable conduct in senior grades will likely result in more severe consequences and may involve being unable to attend Graduation and/or Commencement activities.

In short, 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.

Failure to abide by the school code of conduct will result in discipline that may include, but is not limited to:

• Parental contact
• School or community counseling
• Conflict resolution and/or mediation
• Restorative meeting
• Behavior or attendance contracts
• Informal suspension – at school or home
• Community service
• Partial day school programs
• School district involvement
• Police involvement
• Formal suspension (either a school-based “Level 1" suspension or a district-involved “Level 2 or 3" suspension)
• Transfer to another school within the school district (in consultation with the district).

In cases where student safety is a concern, school administration may be required to search and/or seize student possessions (including cell phones or other electronic devices and lockers, where applicable). School administration may also have a responsibility to advise other parties of serious breaches of the code of conduct, such as the families of impacted victims, school district officials, police, and/or other agencies. More information about this can be found below.

Finally, it should be noted that special considerations will be given to students with special needs, and that all approaches to discipline will always hold students' dignity and well-being as paramount. 

Process, Communication, Implementation, Monitoring and Review

Please note that students, parents and staff have all been included in the development and ongoing review of our Student Code of Conduct.

Expectations regarding acceptable conduct are made known to all students, parents and school staff, as well as to temporary staff or visitors. This is done by posting the Code of Conduct on our website, in our school planning app, and asking all parents and students to virtually acknowledge the Code of Conduct on a yearly basis during our September start-up.  Protocols while acting as ambassadors of the school are also made known to students, parents, coaches and involved members of the greater community.

Process, Communication, Implementation, Monitoring and Review

Behavioural expectations outlined in our code of conduct are consistently taught and actively promoted by school staff, teachers, and school administration. Responses to unacceptable behaviour are based consistently on sound principles and are appropriate to the context as outlined above.

Conduct is also continuously monitored to ensure our code of conduct reflects current and emerging situations and contributes 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. This year (2023-2024), school administration is planning on striking a Student Advisory Council to provide a formal and inclusive process for students to contribute to and be involved in the review and potential re-development of this document (among other school-based decisions).

Search, Seizure, and Information Sharing

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 lockers and 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 (e.g.  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 Director of Instruction and Chief Information Officer Stephen Whiffin, at swhiffin@sd43.bc.ca.