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Code of Conduct
Preface
- The purpose of this conduct code is to ensure that all students and their parents/guardians understand students’ rights and responsibilities as well as the school rules, the consequences of violating school rules, and the procedures for dealing with violations.
- The rules must be fair and reasonable. They must be the same for everyone.
- The Provincial standards of behaviour apply not only to students, but also to all individuals involved in the publicly funded school system- parents or guardians, volunteers, teachers and other staff members - whether they are on school property, on school buses or at school- authorized events or activities.
- The Principal has the authority to make the final decision regarding any incident involving the Conduct Code or the well-being of any member of the school community.
Student Responsibilities
Our Students have the Responsibility To:
- Respect the rights of others to study and learn; Parents send their children to school for an education. No one has the right to interfere with the education of others.
- Be on time for all classes and come to class with necessary books and materials;
- Complete all in-class assignments and meet all deadlines;
Learning is an on going process which will extend beyond the school day.
- Attend school daily unless ill or legally excused;
In Ontario, a student is required by law to attend school regularly.
- Obey school rules;
In order for the school to educate the students in an atmosphere conducive to learning the students must follow the established rules and take responsibility for his or her own actions.
- Respect public property and carefully use and return all materials and equipment;
- Be polite and treat everyone with courtesy, kindness and respect , regardless of their race, ancestry, place of origin, color, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability;
- Report to any staff member if your rights or those of another student have been broken;
- Demonstrate honesty and integrity;
- Respect persons who are in a position of authority;
- Respect and comply with all applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws;
- Reduce, reuse, recycle;
- See that school communication to parents or guardians reaches home the same day and home communications is given to school staff.
Conduct Code Expectations and Consequences
It should be understood that the following list of violations includes only the most common infractions of school rules. Because other forms of behaviour are not listed does not mean that they will be permitted.
| Topic |
Expectation |
Consequence |
| Attendance and Punctuality |
The Education Act/Ont Regulations state:
a) “A pupil shall attend class punctually and regularly.”
b) Parents must phone the school if a student is absent; otherwise, a phone call home will be made beginning at 9:15 a.m. |
1) Truants will be required to make up for time missed or will be given a detention.
2) Parents/Guardians will be notified when a student has been late to school without a valid reason and a school detention will result.
3) A principal-parent/guardian conference will occur if there is a pattern of lateness.
4) Continued lateness or truancy will result in referral to the Board Attendance Counsellor. |
| Appropriate Language |
Use polite and appropriate language when speaking with any member of the school community. |
The Provincial Code of Conduct states that “A Principal must suspend a student for “swearing at a teacher, or other person in authority”.
Students will be given a school detention or suspended for using profane or improper language. |
| Appropriate Dress |
Pelham Centre is proud of our students and wants them to be proud of themselves. Dress affects both behaviour and attitude. The school is the place of business for all students and staff. Therefore everyone must dress in a manner appropriate to a pro-ductive educational environ-ment. All students must dress with respect for self and others and in accordance with time and place.
APPROPRIATE DRESS
*no hats or head gear in the school
*no boots, coats, or jackets in the classroom
*students must have a pair of shoes for indoor use only
*no pocket chains
* clothing must cover the midriff
*sleeveless tops or shirts must cover all undergarments and have no exaggerated sleeve or neck openings
*shorts or skirt hems should be fingertip length with hand extended
*no clothing bearing any language statement, picture, symbol, action suggestion, or article that is offensive to race, creed, religion, culture, or sex or any suggestion of alcohol, drugs, smoking, or violence
* each student needs to bring a change of clothes, consisting of a T-shirt, shorts and appropriate shoes for physical education. |
1) Students wearing inappropriate dress will be refused entry to class until such clothing article is changed or covered. Parents will be notified directly.
2) A student will be excluded from class for repeated offences and parents will be contacted.
NOTE: The appropriateness of dress will be decided by the teaching staff. |
| Care Of School Property. |
Students are expected to:
a) take care of school property and materials; and
b) take pride in their school; The responsibility for keeping the school and school grounds clean is everyone’s.
c) be a good citizen. Please report any damage to school property. |
The Education Act states that a Principal may suspend a pupil because of......the destruction of school property...”
1) Parents or Guardians will be informed of and billed for wilful damage.
2) Repeated offences will result in a conference with the parents/guardians Suspension will result. |
| Physical, Verbal, Written & Emotional Abuse (Bullying) |
Students will show respect for self and others.
No unnecessary/unwelcome body contact will be tolerated.
No teasing, tormenting or threatening will be tolerated.
Exclusion
Spreading false rumors
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1) For acts of physical, verbal and emotional aggression the following consequences are possible:
*detention;
* loss of privileges;
* suspension.
2) The parents/guardians of all students involved shall be informed.
3) Physical assault causing bodily harm requiring professional medical treatments will involve police and the student(s) involved will be immediately suspended and proceed to an expulsion hearing. |
| Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs |
Students and all members of the school community are forbidden to use or bring to school or school activities any tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs. |
1) Possession of tobacco will result in a school suspension.
2) Immediate suspension will be the minimum penalty for being in possession of or under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. |
| Theft |
It is expected that all members of the school community respect and refrain from interfering with other people and their belongings. |
1) Student will receive a detention for a minor offence and a suspension for repeated or serious offences.
2) Parents will be notified and restitution will be made by the student.
3) Police will be involved as required. |
| Bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, scooters and other prohibited items. |
Students may ride bicycles to school, but they must:
a) walk the bicycle while on the school property using the south driveway entrance;
b) stay away from the bicycle racks during the day;
c) leave school property immediately after the first four buses have left;
d) demonstrate safe bicycle riding practices. Helmets are mandatory.
NOTE: Bicycles are not to be stored in the school. |
1) The first offence will result in a warning and counseling from the principal.
2) Three warnings will result in the suspension of the privilege of bringing a bicycle to school. |
| The following items are prohibited at school because they are, or could be, a danger to the student or others: skateboards, roller blades, scooters, water pistols, knives, caps/capguns, imitation weapons, fire crackers, pocket chains, cell phones, matches, lighters, pills and medicines, animals, etc. |
1) Prohibited items will be confiscated and returned only to parents/guardians.
2) A detention will result for possession of any prohibited item. Suspension will also occur if the item is deemed dangerous to self or others.
3) Suspension will occur for possession of a weapon, including, but not limited, to firearms. Police will be involved. |
| Bus Transportation |
Most students travel by bus during the year. This is part of the school day and school property. All conduct code items apply to bus transportation.
Students are not permitted to travel on any other bus but their own to and from school.
It is the responsibility of the students riding on the buses to:
a) exercise care, caution, good manners and consideration for other people;
b) not disturb the driver or interfere with his/her work;
c) not throw anything outside of the bus or out of the bus window;
d) obey the directions and instructions of the driver;
e) keep arms and heads inside the bus;
f) remain in your seat at all times. |
1) The bus driver will report
in writing to the principal of problems on the bus. Counseling from principal will occur for each bus report and a conference with the parents/guardians will take place depending on the severity of the incident
2) Parents/guardians will receive written notification of all bus reports from the principal.
3) Suspension from bus privileges will result on the 3rd written report.
4)Further offences will result in a conference with student, parent/guardian, principal, bus driver, the Bus Company Manager and police as required. |
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