Code of Conduct

 Brooksbank Mission Statement:

The Mission of the Brooksbank School Community is to provide a safe and caring learning environment where respect, responsibility, and co-operation are valued.

Brooksbank Code of Conduct:

At Brooksbank we are:

• Safe
• We care for the safety of everyone.
• Respectful
• We treat everyone and everything with courtesy, kindness, and consideration.
• Responsible
• We are responsible for our learning and actions.

 These fundamental obligations are intended to ensure that students learn in a safe environment free from threats to their physical and emotional welfare, and that the time for teaching and learning is optimized. This Code of Conduct was developed in relation to the School Act (Sections 6, 10, 103, 191), the School Act Regulations, and the District of North Vancouver’s Policy on Student Conduct. This code of conduct is reviewed annually with parents, students, and staff. Our code of conduct is also reviewed within the family of schools to ensure compatibility.

Expectations regarding acceptable conduct are made known to all students, parents and school staff, as well as to temporary staff or visitors. The School Code of Conduct will apply to students while at school (including before and after school), while going to and from school, and while attending school curricular or extra-curricular functions or activity at any location.

Behavioural expectations outlined in this code of conduct are consistently taught and actively promoted. It is the intent of this Code of Conduct to encourage and reinforce positive behaviour. It is expected that students follow the Brooksbank Code of Conduct and that school administration, staff, and parents work together to support learning and a positive school climate.

1. Safety

All students and staff have the right to a safe school environment.
Students are expected to:

• Behave in a safe manner. (Play without harming or without threatening others.)
• Inform a “tellable” adult, in a timely manner of incidents of bullying, harassment or intimidation
• Arrive at school no earlier than 8:30 and leave the school promptly when dismissed unless otherwise instructed by school personnel.
• Remain on the school grounds, in the designated areas, at recess and lunch.
• Provide written permission from a parent or guardian to leave the school grounds during the school day.
• Bicycles, scooters, Heelies, and skateboards are not to be used on the school grounds.

2. Respect

All students and staff have a right to be respected.
Students are expected to:

• Demonstrate empathy towards others.
• Be considerate of everyone’s feelings.
• Listen to the ideas and opinions of others.
• Behave in a non-disruptive manner.
• Follow staff directions co-operatively.
• Come to school dressed appropriately; hats and hoodies are not to be worn in class.
• Care for the property of others.
• Care for the school and community environment.

 Every act of physical, verbal, emotional, or psychological abuse is not acceptable. Every act of violence against property is not acceptable. This includes, but is not limited to, fighting, bullying, profanity, belittling, name-calling, intimidating, stealing, threatening, retribution for reporting and damaging property. Failure to respect the authority of Brooksbank Staff Members is also unacceptable.

3. Responsibility

All students have a right to learn.
Students are expected to:

• Be on time.
• Be attentive.
• Be ready to work and engage in purposeful learning.
• Complete school and home assignments to the best of their ability
• Seek help when needed.
• Use problem-solving skills to settle differences.
• Eat in their classroom, sitting quietly. Eating lunch at school is a privilege that students must respect by demonstrating responsible behaviour.
• Support others and be positive role models.
• Be accountable for personal property. 
• Increase personal responsibility and self-discipline as they become older and move through successive grades.
• Personal toys, cards, electronics, etc are to be left at home. Cell phones are not to be used during school hours. (Only permitted with a staff member’s permission.)

Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, inappropriate clothing (i.e.: negative social comments), knives, fireworks, items which are weapon like or intended to be used as a weapon (including toy knives and guns). Inappropriate items will be confiscated. A meeting with the parents, administrator, and RCMP will take place. A “Serious Incident Report” will be filed with the School District of North Vancouver.


Code of Conduct….Strategies…Consequences

The staff will recognize students who consistently display appropriate conduct. Students will be taught and encouraged to use proactive and appropriate decision-making and social skills. Should intervention be required to help students follow the Code of Conduct, the following progressive and logical consequences may be applied.

Level 1
For behaviours that are minor violations of the Code of Conduct, a staff member will speak directly to the student. The following consequences may be used to encourage more positive behaviour:

• Reminder/informal discussion
• Use of problem solving techniques
• Verbal or written warning
• Contact with parents/guardian by the classroom teacher
• Separation from peers
• Written or verbal apology
• Restitution for damage

Level 2
For behaviours that are repeated or are more serious, a staff member will speak directly to the student. A problem-solving sheet may be sent home to parents with a request to review the Code of Conduct and to return the signed sheet back to the school. The following consequences may be used to encourage more positive behaviour:

• Any from Level 1
• Verbal or written warning
• Contact with parents/guardian by the teacher and/or administration
• Creation of behaviour contract or plan
• Removal from the classroom/situation

Level 3
For incidents of a more serious nature, students will be referred to an administrator. The nature and severity of the infraction, the intent behind the infraction and the frequency of the infraction will be considered when determining the level of consequence. It should also be noted that all disciplinary decisions are made in consideration of individual circumstances. The following consequences may be used to encourage more positive behaviour: 

• Any from Level 1 and/or Level 2 
• Referral to counsellor 
• Administration involved in discussion/planning consequences 
• Official written documentation of the incident 
• Directly supervised recess/lunchtime activity 
• Lunchtime suspensions 
• In school suspensions

Level 4
In accordance with the School Act, the North Vancouver School Board of Trustees authorizes the principal to suspend a student. Students may be suspended because their behaviour has a harmful effect on the character or persons of other students, e.g. physical fighting or name calling; or because of vandalism to the school, student or staff property. The Parent or Guardian will be asked to return with their child to meet with the administration and make a commitment to improve behaviour. Some of the consequences from Level 3 may apply.

Please note that if there is a violation of a very serious nature, suspension will be immediate. Parents will be contacted by phone and letter.

It is hoped that this system will encourage students to monitor their behaviour, know what is expected of them, and strive toward maintaining and/or improving their academic and social skills.