Policy 302 - Student Conduct

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Policy

The Board of Education believes that schools provide safe, caring and orderly environments for purposeful learning activities. As required by the School Act, each North Vancouver school develops its own code of conduct in consultation with parents, staff and students. These codes are monitored and reviewed on an annual basis and clearly communicated to staff, students, and parents. There are certain issues that all schools address with reference to their own code of conduct. Consequently, through the development of their code of conduct, schools establish and maintain appropriate balances between individual and collective rights, freedoms, and responsibilities.

In order to allow students to fully participate in their educational program, schools must meet the standards set out in the BC Human Rights Code, that include the prohibited grounds of discrimination in respect of discriminatory publication and accommodation.

Behaviour Expectations

North Vancouver schools clarify, and in their respective code of conduct, publish expectations for student behaviour while at school, at a school-related activity, or in other circumstances where engaging in an activity will have an impact on the school environment. Special considerations may apply if a student is unable to comply with the expectations due to having a disability of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional or behavioural nature.

Codes of Conduct for all North Vancouver schools align with the Provincial Standards for Codes of Conduct Order and the School Act.

Examples of acceptable behaviour for students include:

attend school punctually, apply oneself to learning, and follow staff instructions
respect of 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 behaviour for students include:

Behaviours that

interfere with the learning of others, including their emotional well-being
interfere with an orderly school environment
create unsafe conditions (e.g., unauthorized gatherings on school grounds)
discriminate against a person or class of persons by publishing or displaying a statement, publication, notice, sign, symbol, emblem or other representation that indicates discrimination (BC Human Rights Code)

Aggressive acts, such as

bullying (e.g., physical, verbal, cyber, social), harassment, intimidation. or threatening behaviour
physical violence
retribution against a person who has reported incidents

Illegal acts, such as

possession, use, or distribution of illegal or restricted substances (e.g., alcohol, non-prescribed drugs, etc.)
possession or use of weapons or replicas
libel, slander or defamation
theft of or damage to property.

Consequences for unacceptable conduct are:

outlined in the school code of conduct
planned, consistent, and fair, and
whenever possible and appropriate, preventative and restorative rather than punitive.

When appropriate, students are encouraged to participate in the development of meaningful consequences for violations of the code of conduct. Consequences shall be based on the student’s age, maturity, and special needs, if any.

School administrators have a responsibility to advise other parties of serious breaches of the code of conduct; e.g., parents, school district officials, police and/or other agencies.

This policy shall be subject to an annual review to assess its effectiveness in addressing current school circumstances and emerging safety issues.

Resources

School Act
BC Human Rights Code
Provincial Standards for Codes of Conduct Order
Safe, Caring and Orderly Schools