Code of Conduct

Alouette Elementary

Code of Conduct

Reviewed Sept 14^th, 2024

Our school community is committed to ensuring a safe, caring and orderly educational environment where together we actively support mutual respect, social responsibility and lifelong learning.  Together, we aim:

• To encourage the development of respectful and responsible citizenship.
• To foster a culture of acceptance and tolerance.
• To teach and promote our values of kindness and respect.

The Code of Conduct applies to all members of the school community at school, traveling to and from the school, at any school-related activity at any location, or any circumstance/activity that will have an impact on the school environment.

Respect for Human Rights:

In fostering a community of respect, inclusion, fairness and equity, we expect persons to not discriminate based on race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age.

The Human Rights Codes [RSBC 1996, c210] will be respected:

Excerpt from Section 7 Discriminatory publication

7 (1)    A person must not publish, issue or display, or cause to be published, issued or displayed, any

statement, publication, notice, sign, symbol, emblem, or other representation that

(a)  indicates discrimination or an intention to discriminate against a person, a group, or class of persons, or

                        (b) is likely to expose a person or a group or class of persons to hatred or contempt

Excerpt from Section 8 Discrimination in accommodation, service, and facility

8 (1)    A person must not, without a bona fide and reasonable justification,

(a) deny to a person or class of persons any accommodation, service or facility customarily available to the public, or

(b) discriminate against a person or class of persons regarding any accommodation, service or facility customarily available to the public

Conduct Expectations

As members of the school community, we believe in:

Learning with a purpose;

• Walking in the hallways in a calm and respectful manner so that learning is not disrupted.
• Using common areas within the school quietly.
• Learning environments that are free of disruptive behaviours that negatively impact the well-being and learning of others.

Acknowledging and valuing everyone’s uniqueness;

• Valuing and encouraging learning and working environments that are inclusive and respectful of the diverse social and cultural needs of our community.

Keeping yourself and others safe;

• Playing without fighting
• Refraining from engaging in, or encouraging any acts of bullying, discrimination, harassment and violence of any form.
• Following School District #42 policy regarding weapons, replica weapons, explosives, fireworks, matches, lighters, laser pointers, cigarettes, violence, alcohol, and drugs.
• Refraining from throwing objects that could cause injury to others or damage to property (rocks, sticks, snowballs).
• Staying on school grounds unless going home for lunch (with parent/guardian permission) or picked up by a caregiver.

Everyone is responsible for his or her actions;

• Leaving expensive and valuable items at home.
• Walking bicycles, skateboards, scooters, and roller blades while on the school grounds and bringing a helmet to ensure these items are used according to community bylaws.

Respecting yourself, others and the School; and,

• Treating one another with dignity and respect.
• Showing care and regard for school property and the property of others.
• Respecting those in positions of authority.

Striving to do your best.

• Completing work to the best of our ability.

Dress Code:

The school district is committed to providing students with learning environments that are safe, responsive, and inclusive. The district recognizes that decisions about dress reflect individual expression of identity, socio-cultural norms, and that they are personal. Students may attend school and school-related functions in dress of their choice provided that their choices:

• Conform with established health and safety requirements for the intended activity.
• Do not represent or promote weapons, gang culture, alcohol or drugs.
• Use respectful language.
• Do not depict or promote violence, racism, sexism or discrimination, and
• Are not intimidating to others.

Ultimately, the school administration has the responsibility to apply the dress guidelines when necessary. If any person dresses in an inappropriate manner, the student should be advised personally and discretely and given an opportunity to meet school district guidelines.

 Use of Technology:

 It is our expectation that students use their personal devices respectfully.  Cell phones and other electronic devices are to be turned off and out of sight during school hours, unless permission is given by their teacher. Students are encouraged to leave expensive devices at home as we cannot guarantee the safety of these items.  

Certain behaviours will be considered unacceptable, including but not limited to:

1. Persons arguing, defying, disobeying, lying, misleading, taunting, teasing, swearing, bullying, and lack of respect.
2. Physical Space: Grabbing, pushing, tripping, wrestling, fighting, throwing objects (rocks, sticks, snowballs etc.).
3. Property: Misusing the building and equipment, littering, spitting and stealing.
4. Law: Any illegal activities.
5. Unacceptable behaviours:

• All forms of bullying (physical, verbal, emotional, social or cyber bullying, includes comments, actions of visual displays that are intentional, hurtful and repetitive).
• Harassment, including behavior that degrades, demeans, humiliates or embarrasses someone that a reasonable person would know is unwelcomed.
• All forms of abuse (sexual, physical or psychological), including verbally, in writing or otherwise.
• Any language (oral or written) or behaviour that deliberately degrades, denigrates, labels, stereotypes or incites hatred, prejudice, discrimination or harassment towards students or employees on the basis of their real and/or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, appearance, capacity, disability, colour, ethnicity, or religion will not be tolerated.
• Actions that put another person at risk of harm, including violent physical acts (with or without a weapon) and threatening someone.

Expectations for student conduct for younger students differ from those for older students as they do for students with special needs who are unable to meet expectations due to a disability.  It is expected as students move through successive grades, become older and more mature, that they will be more socially responsible.

Responses to Conduct Issues

Responses to unacceptable conduct will be thoughtful, consistent and fair.  The focus of any intervention will be preventative and restorative in nature, rather than merely punitive.  Wherever possible, students will be encouraged to participate in the development of meaningful interventions through discussion and mediation.

Decisions will be made with respect to the individual. Responses to conduct issues will take into consideration the student’s age, maturity, any disabilities and past conduct.

Reasonable steps will be taken to prevent retaliation against the person who reported a code of conduct issue.

Every effort will be made to support students.  However, if there are ongoing conduct issues after having implemented interventions, progressive discipline may include, but is not limited to, referral to an intervention committee, suspension, change of program, change of school, or involvement of the police when behaviour includes a criminal code violation.

When responding to breaches in the Code of Conduct, school officials may inform a student’s parent(s), the parents of other students who were involved, school district officials, the police or other agencies or the parents of all students when the whole school community needs to be reassured that a serious situation is being addressed.