CODE OF CONDUCT
The Code of Conduct in effect at Rose Valley Elementary School is based on the standards of Safe, Orderly and Caring Schools.
The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to:
- establish and maintain a safe, caring and orderly environment for purposeful learning
- establish and maintain appropriate balances among individual and collective rights, freedoms and responsibilities
- to clarify and publish expectations for student behavior while at school, while going to and from school, and while attending any school function or activity at any location
The attitudes and actions of students, staff and parents support an environment that is resistant to disruption and intrusion and enables a constant focus on student achievement.
Our goal is to provide clear expectations for student behavior at school. Acceptable behaviors include:
- respecting self, others and the school
- helping to make the school a safe, caring and orderly place
- informing a “tellable” adult, in a timely manner (in advance, if possible) of incidents of bullying, harassment or intimidation
- engaging in purposeful learning activities in a timely manner
- acting in a manner that brings credit to the school
Examples of unacceptable conduct include but are not limited to;
- behaviors that interfere with the learning of others, interfere with an orderly environment, create unsafe conditions,
- acts of bullying, harassment, intimidation, physical aggression, retribution against a person who has reported incidents
- illegal acts such as possession, use or distribution of illegal or restricted substances, possession or use of weapons, theft or damage to property.
As students become older, more mature and move through successive grades expectations for personal responsibility and self discipline increase as do consequences for inappropriate behavior.
Students are REQUIRED to comply with the following guidelines:
In Classrooms and School
Students will:
1. Respect the rights of others to learn
2. Use appropriate and polite language
3. Not demonstrate any forms of bullying behavior
4. Respect the rights, property and personal space of others
5. Be a positive and contributing classroom and school citizen
6. Be on time, prepared and organized for class
7. Follow the dress code
8. Leave electronic devices at home
9. Conduct themselves in a safe manner
10. Follow lunch time rules
11. Use washrooms appropriately
12. Complete their own work (ie. Not plagiarize, cheat, copy)
On School Grounds
Students will:
1. Respect staff providing supervision
2. Play fairly and demonstrate good sportsmanship
3. Not demonstrate or participate in aggressive behaviors/contact sports (including play fighting)
4. Use polite and appropriate language
5. Share school equipment with others
6. Be responsible for equipment signed out
7. Use playground equipment appropriately
8. Not throw dangerous objects (snowballs, rocks, pine cones, sticks etc)
9. Not play with or bring to school matches, lighters, fireworks, knives or weapon like objects
10. Remain in designated supervised areas unless given permission to leave
11. Respect school property and landscaped grounds
12. Walk bikes and lock in bike racks
13. Not ride skateboards, scooters, rollerblades or bikes on the school grounds
14. Not bring electronic devices (gameboys, discman’s, cell phones, video games etc) to school
15. Not possess drugs, alcohol or tobacco products
At Lunchtime
Students will:
1. Respect and follow the directions of the noon hour supervisors
2. Use polite manners while eating
3. Remain in seats while eating
4. Leave desk/floor in an orderly fashion
5. Put garbage and recycling in appropriate containers
6. Remain outside after dismissal unless previous arrangements made with a teacher
Dress Code
Students will:
1. Dress appropriately for the weather
2. Wear indoor shoes in the school (safe and practical footwear)
3. Remove hats inside the building
4. Not wear clothing that shows drugs, alcohol, inappropriate images or inappropriate language
5. Not wear bathing suits, clothing that reveals undergarments, short tops that show off midriffs, short shorts or spaghetti straps.
6. Not wear make up
7. Have a complete change of appropriate and clean clothes for PE in the intermediate grades (including non-marking runners)
8. Not wear jewelry in PE that can cause injury to themselves or others
Discipline Procedures
In the event of a violation of our Code of Conduct, the staff will act consistently by:
- communicating with all individuals involved
- determining all of the facts
- creating the students with fairness and respect
- The staff recognizes that each incident must be dealt with on an individual basis, and consequences depend upon severity, frequency, age and maturity of the student. Whenever possible, the students, with the assistance of the administrator, teacher, counselor or parent/guardian will be involved in solving the problem. Disciplinary action, wherever possible, is preventative and restorative, rather than merely punitive. When appropriate, students are encouraged to participate in the development of meaningful consequences to violations of the Code of Conduct.
Step 1 – Minor Misbehavior
The classroom teacher or noon-hour supervisor will generally deal with students involved in minor misbehaviors. Minor misbehaviors are those actions which detract from a positive atmosphere and occur on a first time basis. If a behavior continues or increases, the supervisory staff may take the incident to the classroom teacher or administration. A minimum of one of the following consequences will occur;
- conference with student,
- time out,
- assignment,
- verbal or written apology,
- service to the school,
- phone call home,
- copy of behavior report to parents or conference with parents.
Step 2 – Repeated Minor Misbehavior
These are repeated minor misbehaviors and those actions which cause property damage, injury or contempt for authority. Repeated misbehaviors demonstrate that the student is unable to solve the problem alone.
Generally, the guideline of 2 or 3 recorded incidents or minor infractions will indicate that the parents need to be informed. A phone call to parents, and/or a conference with parents/student may be required to assist the student in solving the problem. More serious consequences, including a possible suspension may occur, as a result of continued misconduct. A suspension is the removal of a student’s right to attend regular class sessions.
Suspensions may be either:
- In School or Out of School
- Definite (up to 10 days, readmission determined by the administration) or
- Indefinite (in excess of 10 days, readmission determined by the School District)
Step 3 – Major Infractions
- Major infractions are those behaviors which are dangerous and pose a threat to the safety of students, teachers or staff and may cause a health hazard and/or constitute criminal acts. Parents will be contacted immediately to be informed of the disciplinary procedures. A suspension may occur as the result of a major violation. The RCMP will be contacted if the incident is against the law and an indefinite suspension may be considered. Such incidents will be dealt with in accordance with School Board Policy and Regulations on Discipline (5600).
- The Code of Behavior and the School Act provides that students may be disciplined for violations of the Code of Behavior while on school property, off school property, or going to and from school, if such violations adversely affect the students or operation of the school.
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