Maple Ridge Elementary
Code of Conduct
Revised August 19, 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, travelling 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.
In fostering a community of respect, inclusion, fairness and equity, we expect students to not be discriminatory towards others because of appearance, colour, ethnicity, religion, race, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age.
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.
Problem Solving Strategies:
To help students better understand what respectful behaviour and appropriate problem-solving looks like staff actively teach students to use their “WITS”.
- Walk Away – students are encouraged to avoid problems before they have a chance to develop.
- Ignore – students can defuse situations by not responding to the inappropriate behaviour of others.
- Talk It Out – students state how others’ behaviours are making them feel and ask them to stop.
- Seek Help – students tell an adult at any stage and can get assistance for any problem.
We expect students to strive to apply problem-solving strategies that maintain the dignity of every person and resolve disagreements in a peaceful manner. Respectful behaviour is reinforced on an ongoing basis.
Behaviour Expectations:
As members of the school community, we support each other with:
- Speaking and acting towards others in a respectful and non-threatening way.
- Completing work to the best of our ability.
- Creating learning environments that are free of disruptive behaviours that negatively impact the well-being and learning of others.
- Using common areas within the school quietly.
- Walking in the hallways in a calm and respectful manner so that learning is not disrupted.
- Following School District #42 policy regarding weapons, replica weapons, explosives, fireworks, matches, lighters, laser pointers, cigarettes, violence, alcohol, and drugs.
- Playing without fighting
- Staying on school grounds unless going home for lunch (with parent/guardian permission) or picked up by a caregiver.
- Refraining from throwing objects that could cause injury to others or damage to property (rocks, sticks, snowballs).
- 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.
- Leaving expensive and valuable items at home.
Safe & Caring School Environments
| In a Safe and Caring School Environment we strive to: | A Safe and Caring School Environment is Free From… |
| Provide a safe and welcoming environment for all people. | Bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment and marginalization. |
| Be inclusive of everyone regardless of race, colour, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, ancestry or national origin. | Threats and intimidation. |
| Speak to others using respectful and courteous language. | Violence or abuse in any form. |
| Take into account the perspectives of others and problem-solve peacefully. | Retribution against a person who has reported incidents.
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| Use technology/cellphones/electronic devices/computers appropriately and respectfully. | The misuse of cyberspace/cellphones/electronic devices/computers – students are aware that they may be subject to discipline (or if applicable confiscation of personal property) should the misuse of technology negatively impact the school environment. |
| Leave expensive and valuable items at home. |
Use of Personal Digital Devices:
At Maple Ridge Elementary, the use of personal digital devices will be determined by each classroom teacher to support the teaching and learning that will occur in the classroom. If a teacher chooses to restrict the use of personal digital devices during instructional time the use of those devices will be permitted to support inclusion and accessibility to learning such as: digital literacy, communication, medical and health needs and as defined by an individual education plan. All personal devices are expected to be turned off and stored in backpacks during school hours. The school cannot guarantee the safety of these items if brought to school.
Dress Code:
MRE is committed to providing students with learning environments that are safe, responsive, and inclusive. 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 cultures, alcohol or drugs
- Use respectful language
- Do not depict or promote violence, racism, sexism or discrimination; and
- Are not intimidating to others.
Certain behaviours will be considered unacceptable, including but not limited to:
- Threatening behaviour towards others (i.e. swearing, hurtful remarks, gossiping, inappropriate gestures).
- Physical altercations of any kind.
- Continuous repetitive disruptive behaviour.
- Defiance towards school staff.
- Theft, vandalism, or mistreatment of school or others’ personal property.
- Teasing and/or bullying, on or off school grounds, including cell phone, computer and social media communications.
- Any behaviour deemed by the principal or designate to be unsafe.
Expectations for student conduct for younger students may differ from those for older students. It is expected that 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 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.
Meaningful interventions will be individual and student-centered, and when possible will include collaboration between the school team and the student’s family or guardians.
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.