Student Behaviour

Code of Conduct

The school staff is committed to making the school free of negative factors such as abuse, bullying, discrimination, intimidation, hateful words and actions and any form of physical violence. Your school has a code of conduct that encourages problem prevention, peaceful problem-solving techniques and the creation of a safe and welcoming environment.

The school and your child’s teacher will develop rules to help students follow the code of conduct. The rules are explained to students and are usually posted in the school.

Anyone participating in a school activity including students, parents or guardians, volunteers, teachers and other staff members, is expected to follow the Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct applies even when the activity is not on school property but is school related.

Suggestions

• Encourage your child to become familiar with the school and classroom rules.
• Remind your child that there are serious consequences for fighting and other forms of inappropriate behaviour.
• Tell the teacher that you want to be informed if he or she has a concern about your child’s behaviour.
• Ask for a copy of your school’s Code of Conduct.
• Speak to your child’s teacher, and the principal if necessary, if you feel that the Code of Conduct or school rules are unfair to your child.
• Talk to the teacher if you are concerned about another student’s behaviour.

The Role of Parents in Dealing with Behaviour Problems

Some changes in your child’s behaviour may be a normal part of adjusting to a new school, language and country. If your child’s teacher has a concern about your child’s behaviour or relationship with other students, he or she may contact you.

The teacher will explain what he or she is doing at school to help your child and may have suggestions about what you can do at home. Working together, you and the teacher can give your child a consistent message about what behaviour is expected at school.

If you have a concern, do not hesitate to contact the teacher.

Inappropriate Behaviour and Discipline

The school will discipline students who do not follow the code of conduct.  Depending on the behaviour, the discipline may be verbal or written warnings, detentions, suspension from school (1 to 20 days) or expulsion.    

In some cases, the principal can determine the length of the suspension.  The principal will consider if the student understood the consequences of his or her behaviour and other factors.  Some behaviour such as theft and assault that causes bodily harm will result in automatic suspension. Parents will be called when a student is suspended or expelled.

Behaviour that Can Result in Suspension or Expulsion and Police Involvement:

• Fighting
• Threatening
• Swearing at a teacher
• Trafficking in drugs or weapons
• Robbery
• Use of a weapon to cause bodily harm, or to threaten serious harm
• Physical assault causing bodily harm requiring professional medical treatment
• Vandalism
• Sexual assault
• Providing alcohol to minors

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