Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct

Changes to Rainbow District School Board’s safe schools policies and procedures came into effect on February 1st, 2008 with the passing of Bill 212, the Education Amendment Act (Progressive Discipline and School Safety). The policy and procedures for suspension and expulsion have been revised. Two new policies and procedures have been created for bullying and progressive discipline. RDSB also has a new Code of Conduct, which replaces the Discipline Policy. With these new policies and procedures, school staff will continue to work respectfully and collaboratively with students and parents/guardians, using a progressive approach to discipline with school safety first and foremost. The new policies and procedures are available here on the Board’s website.

Our school has a Code of Conduct based on the belief that discipline begins with creating a positive learning environment for staff and students based on RESPECT. Students are encouraged to make good decisions regarding their own behaviour and to respect the learning environment of their peers. Students are required to respect all adults in our building.

Basic Expectations for Students

1. Attend school each day.
2. Be punctual.
3. Permission must be obtained from the office before leaving the school grounds.
4. Act with self-control and respect for others. Hands and feet are to be kept to yourself. Teasing, name-calling and unkind words are unacceptable.
5. Respect the belongings of others.
6. Keep the school clean and tidy.
7. Use acceptable language.
8. Work hard and play fair.
9. Take part in acceptable games and activities. Toys from home are not to brought to school (with the exception of balls and skipping ropes). Dangerous objects such as Laser pointers and toy guns are strictly forbidden. Sticks and stones are not to be handled. Tackling, wresting and fighting games are not acceptable.

To ensure students meet these expectations the school staff will:

• Display and communicate the school’s expectations
• Teach the rules and procedures of the school
• Teach any behavioural and social skills necessary for school success
• Encourage and reinforce appropriate student behaviour
• Provide students with feedback and evaluation regarding their behaviour
• Undertake to be good role models
• Provide structure and supervision required for the prevention of misbehaviour
• Partner with parents to build student success

Most intervention by staff will be designed to assist students in producing appropriate school behaviour. As such, the school staff may:

• Correct students, redirect them, and review required behaviours
• Provide tutorials on appropriate student conduct
• Assign special learning projects designed to improve student knowledge and performance related to school behaviour
• Provide guidance and counselling
• Change supervision, structure, procedures and work locations as required
• Utilize problem-solving and resolution strategies
• Require students to write plans for future success
• Arrange mentoring
• Provide students time out to regain their self-control and composure
• Engage students in special programs for anger management, social skills, etc.
• Utilize peer counselling and conflict resolution
• Require restitution and/or community service
• Have students make up time lost due to unnecessary absence
• Employ tracking sheets to monitor success
• Make referrals to other personnel or agencies to increase support for students
• Communicate with parents to increase teamwork and plan joint resolution of problem behaviours

These interventions may be insufficient for dealing with major and/or persistent misbehaviour. To ensure students understand the seriousness of their actions, and to protect the rights and needs of other members of the school community, the school will impose additional consequences when necessary including:

• Restricted privileges
• Removal from class
• Modified school days
• Formal warnings to students and their parents (or custodians)
• Detentions
• Imposed restitution
• Confiscation of prohibited items
• Suspension
• Suspension Recommending Possible Expulsion
• Police involvement (with the potential of laying charges)

Important Note:

Professional judgment will be employed regarding the application of consequences to ensure that consideration is given to mitigating factors such as the deliberateness of a student’s behaviour, repetitiveness, competence and the student’s history. Progressive discipline will be used in the application of interventions and consequences as appropriate.