Blue Mountain Elementary Student Conduct and Character
Blue Mountain Elementary defines expected student behavior and promotes character development through a comprehensive approach outlined in its Code of Conduct.
The school’s mission is to foster lifelong learning that guides students to reach their full potential as ethical and valuable contributors. The Code of Conduct is created to maintain a safe, caring, and orderly school environment. Its purposes are to encourage the development of socially responsible behaviour, foster a safe, respectful and welcoming learning environment, and clearly communicate behavioural expectations within the school community. This Code applies to all members in various locations and activities connected to the school.
Character development at BME is expressed through its Six Pillars of Character: Fairness, Respect, Responsibility, Caring, Citizenship, and Trustworthiness. These pillars guide students in becoming responsible for their actions and developing respect for themselves, others, and the environment. The school promotes a climate of understanding and mutual respect, where all individuals are considered equal in dignity and rights. Discrimination or language/behavior that degrades, denigrates, labels, stereotypes, or incites hatred on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, appearance, capacity, disability, colour, ethnicity or religion, will not be tolerated.
Expected student behavior is defined in relation to student rights and responsibilities. Students have the right to learn freely and fully and the responsibility to be on time, listen to instructions, and participate without disruption. They have the right to be respected and the responsibility not to knowingly tease, annoy, or hurt others’ feelings. The right to feel safe comes with the responsibility to treat others with respect, not threaten or physically harm anyone, and report harm. Respect for privacy means respecting the personal property and privacy of others. General guidelines for students include exercising courtesy and good manners, applying oneself diligently to studies, cooperatively obeying school rules and staff instructions, and respecting the feelings, rights, and property of others [7]. Expectations for student conduct may differ for younger students, older students, and students with special needs who cannot meet expectations due to a disability. As students mature, they are expected to become more socially responsible. Each classroom also develops unique routines and expectations communicated to parents. Unacceptable behaviors are clearly defined, including profanity, fighting, disruptive or detrimental behavior such as bullying and cyberbullying, possession of weapons/alcohol/drugs, abusing or destroying property, cheating, stealing, lying, and leaving school grounds without consent.
Promotion of desired behavior and character involves staff striving to help students monitor and adjust their own behavior. The response to unacceptable conduct is intended to be thoughtful, consistent, and fair. The focus is preventative and restorative rather than punitive. Students are encouraged to participate in developing meaningful interventions, such as discussion and mediation, whenever possible. Responses consider the student’s age, maturity, past conduct, and any disability. The school and home share the responsibility for teaching children appropriate behavior, and collaboration between parents and the school is seen as leading to positive student development. When a student requires further assistance with behavior, parents are contacted to create an action plan. The school suggests the W.I.T.S. program (Walk Away, Ignore, Talk It Out, Seek Help) as a prosocial tool for parents to discuss peer conflict with their children, providing a common language for social problem-solving.
While efforts are made to support students, ongoing conduct issues may lead to progressive discipline. This can include initial steps like counselling by the teacher or principal, and contact or conference with parents. More decisive action might involve parent notification of continued misbehavior and consequences, sending the child home if regulation issues impact function, or suspension.. Follow-up includes a conference with parents and child where the child makes a commitment to improved behavior. Final stages could involve repeating the process or a transfer to another school. Consequences are directed towards helping students understand their role in the community and their responsibility towards others. Parents are expected to work as a team with school staff, review the Code of Conduct with their children, assist in dealing with behavior issues, and model appropriate conduct. Communication between home and school is considered vital for understanding and supporting the child’s education and participation.
School/Home Communication
Frequent and open communication between parents and teachers is considered paramount for a greater understanding of the educational process and each child’s participation in it.
Classroom Expectations
Each teacher develops unique routines and expectations for their classroom, which students learn during the first weeks of school. These expectations are communicated to parents through classroom newsletters or other communication platforms. Parents are encouraged to discuss these expectations with their children and contact the teacher with any questions.
How Can Parents Help?
Parents are considered vital partners in the educational process. Ways parents can help include showing interest in what their child has learned daily, asking about homework, helping set a specific time and place for studying, and reading with or listening to their child read. Keeping in touch with the classroom teacher about routines, expectations, assignments, and projects is also suggested5.
Parent Opportunities
The Parent Advisory Council (PAC) aims to promote and support education and contribute to a sense of school community. The PAC’s objective is to facilitate two-way communication between the school and home, providing constructive input and recommendations on matters such as budgetary needs (including fundraising), curriculum aspects, safety, emergency preparedness, book fairs, and school spirit. All parents and guardians of registered students are voting members of the PAC6. Meeting dates are published in the school newsletter.
School Closures
In the event of power failures or severe winter weather conditions, information regarding school closures is available on local radio stations CKNW 980 or CBC 105.7 FM7. You can also visit the school district website at www.sd42.ca.
Reporting Absences
Please advise the school office of your child’s absence by calling 604 463 6414 before 8:30 a.m. An answering machine is available 24 hours a day. You may also email your child’s absence to bm_reception@sd42.ca. If the school is not notified, you or your emergency contacts will be contacted. It is important to keep work and emergency contact phone numbers current.
School Visits
When visiting the school or a classroom, please sign in at the office upon arrival and wear a visitor tag. Visits should typically be preceded by an appointment or phone call, unless it is a quick drop off of forgotten items.
When Children are Ill
To ensure effective learning and fairness to all, please do not send your child to school if they show signs of ill health in the morning. Students who become ill during the day should let staff know right away and will be sent home as soon as possible. Parents will be called and asked to pick up the student. Keeping work and emergency contact phone numbers current is important for this process.
Medication for Students
Administration of prescribed medication at school is generally recommended only where no other options are available and designated school personnel have received complete information from the parent/guardian. If the school is simply storing medication for a child to administer themselves, it must be brought in a properly labelled prescription container and stored in a locked place inaccessible to students. For school personnel to administer medication on a regular or emergency basis, a “Request for Administration of Medication at School” form must be completed, and the medication must be in the labelled prescription bottle.
Playground Supervision
At recess, three teachers are on duty for supervision. During lunch, supervision is provided by three adult noon hour supervisors and the school principal. Students are reminded that supervisors are district employees and deserve the same respect as all other school staff.
Lunch Time
Lunch is divided into “Eat First” from 12:00 – 12:20 p.m. and “Then Play” from 12:20 – 12:40 p.m. When students eat lunch in the classroom, they are expected to talk quietly, remain seated, treat each other and the school with respect, clean up after themselves, and not visit other classrooms. The same manners expected in a restaurant are expected.
Leaving the Grounds at Lunch
Unless students regularly go home for lunch (with a note from parents on file), they are expected to remain on the school grounds. If you wish your child to be allowed to go home sporadically, please send a note.
Lunchtime Rules Outdoor Play
Specific rules apply to playground equipment: sitting only on swings, sliding down the slide only (no going up), and no standing or walking on top of the bars. Children must stay on Blue Mountain school grounds (off the high school grounds) and must be visible to staff/supervisors at all times. They should also stay away from the back fence on the school grounds. All food and wrappers must be put in the garbage.
General Play
Children should not participate in rough play or physical contact; only touch tag and touch football are permitted. On snow days, we ask that snowballs be saved for home time; making snowmen or building structures is a suggested alternative. These rules are made to help keep everyone safe and prevent injuries.
Weather
Students are generally expected participate in ‘Westcoast Recess’ for recess and lunch breaks whenever possible, meaning children should be prepared for variable weather conditions, such as rain, large puddles, and mud. Students will only be asked to stay indoors during extreme weather. It is advisable to send a spare set of clothing to avoid phone calls home for dry gear. Students are generally not let into the building until the first bell at 8:25 a.m., but they can wait under the roof overhang in bad weather. In special circumstances like extreme cold, students may be let in earlier.
Washrooms
Student washrooms are for student use only and should be used properly. During class time, students need to obtain permission from their classroom teacher to use the washroom.
Entering and Leaving the School
All students are expected to enter and leave the building through their designated classroom doors. Hallways need to be kept clear. Parents and visitors are requested to meet their children outside the designated door.
School Grounds
Keeping Blue Mountain Elementary clean is a shared responsibility; garbage should be put in garbage containers.
Dress Code
The school district supports students’ individual expression through dress choice within a safe and inclusive learning environment. Dress choices must conform with health and safety requirements for activities, use respectful language, and not represent or promote alcohol/drugs, violence, racism, sexism, discrimination, or be intimidating to others. If a person dresses inappropriately, they should be advised personally and discretely and given an opportunity to meet the guidelines.
Use of Personal Technology
While technology can be a useful learning tool, students may struggle with using devices at appropriate times, particularly regarding social media and taking pictures/videos without consent during class or unstructured times. Physical activity and positive social interaction also improve learning capacity. The expectation is that cell phones are not used or turned on during the school day, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:25 p.m., unless a staff member grants permission for educational purposes during class. Students bring devices at their own risk; some classrooms may secure them in a locked cabinet for safekeeping. Parents can contact their child during the school day by calling the school.
School Phone Use
School phone lines are very busy, especially in the mornings and after school. Students are encouraged to use their home phone for social arrangements.
Summary
Consequences for challenging and disruptive behavior are directed towards helping students understand their role in the community and their responsibility towards others. When a student requires further assistance with behavior, parents are contacted to create an action plan. When parents and the schoolwork together, student development becomes positive, serving the best interests of the school and the student in the long term. The school appreciates parental support in making Blue Mountain Elementary a meaningful place for children to develop, grow and learn.