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Student Code of Conduct

Statement of Purpose

Students have the right to attend West Sechelt Elementary School without being harassed, or intimidated, by anyone.

As a school community, we establish and maintain appropriate a balance among individual and collective rights, freedoms and responsibilities.

As a school community, we establish and maintain safe, caring and orderly environments for purposeful learning.

The Code of Conduct clarifies behaviour expectations for students while at school, travelling to or from school, or attending a school function or activity at any location.

Acceptable Conduct

It is an expectation that at West Sechelt Elementary all persons will, at all times, use the following Key Words to guide their behaviour:

SAFE, KIND, RESPONSIBLE AND RESPECTFUL

Being Safe Means..

acting to keep from harming oneself or others: to be cautious and trustworthy.

Examples of what this might look like:

  • Follow reasonable directions or requests from adults
  • Sit properly
  • Move slowly through the hallways
  • Keep hands and feet to self
  • Use materials and equipment in an appropriate and careful manner

Being Kind Means..

to be friendly, generous and considerate. Being kind often requires courage and strength. Kindness is an interpersonal skill.

Examples of what this might look like:

  • Remembering to use good manners
  • Helping a friend who is hurt
  • Helping to clean up in the classroom or around the school
  • Holding the door open for someone
  • Greet others or talk to others who seem sad
  • Compliment others’ work or behaviour

Responsibility Means..

being morally accountable for your decisions: to be reputable, respectable, and evidently trustworthy; to see oneself as the primary cause in the result

Examples of what this might look like:

  • Keep the school and grounds clean
  • Walk in the school
  • Be on time
  • Be responsible for your actions, words, and belongings
  • Report problems to an adult
  • Use planners daily / complete assignments
  • Dress appropriately for the weather
  • Giving your best effort

Respect Means..

to treat others with deference, esteem, and honour, and to avoid degrading, insulting, injuring, interfering with or interrupting others; it means we will treat people with consideration, and refrain from offending, corrupting or tempting others.

Examples of what this might look like:

  • Be a good listener
  • Respect school, personal, and borrowed property
  • Use respectful and polite language at all times
  • Be honest
  • Allow differences
  • Hold the door for those in need
  • Treat yourself and others well
  • Be polite (say please, thank-you, excuse me, etc.)
  • Use an appropriate voice level when working and playing
  • No play fighting or horseplay

Unacceptable Conduct

We see misbehaviour as a natural part of growing and learning how to interact with others. All behaviour is communication and we strive to understand what a child is thinking or feeling or needing when they behave in ways that cause upset. We use these situations as opportunities for learning. Discipline is not a synonym for punishment.

According to our Key Words, misbehaviour then, is behaviour that is: disrespectful, irresponsible, unsafe, or unkind.

Certain behaviours are unacceptable at West Sechelt Elementary School and will result in immediate discipline, tht may or may not include consequences such as an in-school or at-home suspension, depending on the severity or frequency of the behaviour.

These behaviours are:

  • Fighting and violence against others (students or adults)
  • Bullying, harassment and/or intimidation, defiance
  • Retribution against a person who has reported incidents
  • Possession, use, or distribution of illegal or restricted substances
  • Possession or use of weapons
  • Theft or damage to property

Notification

In the case of serious breaches of the Code of Conduct, we have a responsibility to advise parents. School district officials, the police and other agencies may be informed and involved where appropriate.

Rising Expectations

We believe that as our students become older, more mature, and move through successive grades, our expectations of them should rise. There should be increasing personal responsibility and self-discipline. There will also be increasing consequences for inappropriate behaviour.

Interventions and Consequences

Guiding Principles and Considerations

The severity and frequency of unacceptable conduct as well as the age and maturity of students is considered in determining appropriate disciplinary action.

Reponses to unacceptable conduct are preplanned, consistent (within the principle of rising expectations) and fair.

Disciplinary action, whenever possible, is preventive and restorative, rather than merely punitive.

Students, as often as possible, are encouraged to participate in the development of meaningful consequences for violations of the established code of conduct and are given the opportunity to provide restitution in a form they are responsible for creating.

At West Sechelt Elementary, discipline takes the form of positive action in that students participate in finding and carrying out solutions for the problems created by their misbehaviour. Students do so by problem solving with other students and/or staff members.

Problem solving will form the basis of some or all of the following steps:

Each teacher attempts to deal with the discipline problems in his/her classroom using the problem solving steps.

A record is kept of all behaviour that has the potential to involve the safety of that child and/or others.

If the behaviour is serious in nature or is repeating itself, or the child is unwilling to participate in the problem solving process, the parent is called by the teacher/principal. A conference may be arranged to develop a means of solving the problem. The student will also be invited to attend.

If the plan of action does not result in a change of behaviour, a conference is arranged to devise further strategies and to involve outside support services (psychological testing etc.).

A recommendation for suspension of the student may be warranted especially if the student is not able to correct a repetitious and unsafe behaviour pattern or if the behaviour is deemed serious.

A Special Note on Bikes, Scooters and Skateboards

For the 2021-22 school year we will again be enforcing rider safety on school property. All riders must dismount and walk their wheeled devices to the bike/scooter racks once they leave the sidewalks on Mason or Norwest Bay Road. Any student found riding on school grounds (in whole or in part) will lose their privilege to bring a wheeled device to school for one day; a second offence will result in a loss of privilege for one week; then two weeks; and, so on. This policy was instituted after a number of near misses between riders and pedestrians, especially around blind corners of the main building. Everyone’s cooperation is appreciated.

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