STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE Delta School District Policy 1131
The Board recognizes that conduct and behaviour are closely associated with learning, and that an effective instructional program requires a wholesome and orderly school environment. Students are therefore expected
to:
1. Attend school regularly and apply themselves to their learning responsibilities in both school and distributed learning courses;
2. Conform to reasonable standards of socially acceptable behaviour;
3. Respect the rights, person, and property of others;
4. Preserve the degree of order necessary for a positive climate for learning;
5. Submit to the authority of staff and respond accordingly. Discipline of a student shall be similar to that of a kind, firm, and judicious parent, but shall not include corporal punishment; and
6. Contribute to a culture of respect within the school community.
Within these general guidelines, the Board shall maintain a District Code of Conduct, and following this model, principals will establish school codes of conduct to apply to students during any school activity, and may hold students responsible for their conduct on the way to and from school or at a school activity.
The Board considers bullying, intimidation and other threatening behaviours by students that occur at school, or away from school including cyberbullying, which affect the sense of safety and well being of students, as serious breaches of the School and District Codes of Conduct.
Parents are expected to play a supportive role in affirming school district and school expectations of conduct, in maintaining contact with the school, in ensuring care and appropriate supervision of their children when the parents
are absent from the District, and in being available on short notice to attend a school interview when such is deemed necessary by the principal.
In cases of serious breaches of the Code of Conduct or lack of application to school studies, a principal or viceprincipal is authorized to suspend a student for up to 5 school days, in accordance with Procedure 1131.1. Where necessary, the Superintendent or Superintendent’s delegate may extend this suspension for disciplinary or investigative reasons. A suspension, which is extended for more than 15 school days, shall be reported to the Board.
Only the Board may make a decision to no longer offer an educational program to a student 16 years or older.
Procedures shall be established which provide, in cases of suspension, for appropriate involvement of central administrative staff and parents, and for provision of an appropriate educational program within a reasonable time after suspension.
Students Threats to Safety
The safety of our students is a top priority for all of us in the Delta School District. When a threat or violent incident occurs it is taken very seriously and a student threat assessment is started.
As partners in educating youth, everyone in the community has a duty to report all threat-related behaviours. These threats include expressing an intent of harm to themselves, another person or property, or acting out violently against them. Whether the threat is spoken, drawn, made with gestures or on social media, they must all be taken seriously. We will investigate and respond to all harmful threats to our students.
Delview Core Beliefs and Code of Conduct
Delview enjoys a reputation in the Delta school district for its high student achievement, its committed and caring staff, and its many traditions built around participation, fun, and a spirit of contribution and service to the greater community. This success is rooted in several core beliefs:
Mutual Respect
· Staff and students use respectful and courteous language together, free of sarcasm, threats, or profanity
· The staff works hard to prepare meaningful and engaging learning activities and materials; students come to class on time with books and equipment, ready to work hard and to participate in learning
· Staff and students alike recognize the rights of others and accept personal responsibility for their decisions and actions
· We all come to school every day prepared to contribute to school life – we honour the traditions and cultures that unite us as a community and we celebrate the diversity in language, culture, dress, music, and style that makes us each unique
Safety
· Staff and students are committed to providing an orderly, clean, and safe environment in which to work and learn
· All students are expected to report incidents of threat-making, harassment, bullying, or fighting to a responsible adult
· Any adult or student who fears for their personal safety will be supported – all reports of bullying, harassment, or threats will be taken seriously and will be investigated
· Serious conflicts between students at school can best be resolved by involving trusted adults, such as parents, teachers, counsellors, or administrators
High Expectations
· The staff at Delview works hard individually and supports one another in becoming better teachers; students are called upon to do their personal best, to support one another in their learning, and to seek always to improve
Achievement Expectations for Students
· Attend school regularly and be on time for your classes
· Use your agenda book to keep track of important dates and events
· Participate in every class, and participate in sports, clubs, and SOC
· Produce quality work on all assignments, projects, tests, and homework – “Just give me a zero” is not an option!
· Be respectful of others and, by your language and your actions, be deserving of their respect
· Catch up on work that was missed due to absence quickly and completely, ask for assistance when course work is not understood
· Keep track of your marks, keep your parents accurately informed
Behavioural Expectations for Students
· Move through the halls safely, without running, pushing, or moving in a large group that blocks halls or intimidates others.
· Choose mature behaviour by refraining from horseplay, chase-me games, throwing pinecones, snowballs, water balloons or using water toys.
· Treat personal and school property with respect by not vandalizing or defacing anything
· Use language that is appropriate for a public setting at all times, both at school and when out in the community
· Not bring real or replica weapons to school (unless permission is given by the office for its use in a school project, play, etc.). Students must inform an adult immediately of the presence of any weapon in the school.
Academic Integrity
At all times, students are to submit work which is entirely their own (a group project constitutes work created entirely by those group members). Plagiarism (copying another author’s work without citing him/her), copying from another student’s work, permitting others to copy your work as their own, and cheating on tests are all serious breaches of academic ethics. Consequences for such actions could include loss of (all) marks for the work, suspension from school, or removal from a course.
Resolving Conflict Responsibly
This school responds firmly to all fights, especially to fights that have been organized in advance. Typically, such “arranged fights” occur as a result of gossip or threats that are carried between two students by so-called friends. Once such a fight is interrupted, these “friends” are usually the first to scatter, leaving the two combatants to face school suspension, parental discipline, and medical treatment on their own. It is the duty of every student at Delview to help students in conflict to resolve their differences peacefully and responsibly.
How to Help a Friend Being Drawn Into a Fight
1. Encourage them to take the conflict to a trusted adult (parent, teacher, counsellor, administrator)
2. If they won’t go on their own, offer to go with them – be their “back-up” in taking the issue to an adult they trust, and don’t join the mob trying to get your friend hurt!
3. If they won’t go, then tell someone on your own – tell an adult you trust, tell the school anonymously by calling the answering machine after-hours or by leaving an unsigned note on a teacher’s desk.
What Will The School Do to Help?
· Talk to each student to find out what is causing the conflict – it’s usually gossip or a misunderstanding.
· If students are willing, help them arrive at a solution everyone can live with (mediation)
We will commit our time and energy to supporting students and their families to gain the skills and support they need to resolve conflicts in a responsible and peaceful manner.
We will not tolerate the behaviour of any student who comes to school planning to harm others nor any student who assists, promotes, or encourages harming others.