Code of Conduct

CODE OF CONDUCT

(Reviewed November 2019)

Norwell D.S.S. is a school that promotes responsibility, respect, civility and academic excellence in a safe learning and teaching environment.

All students, parents, teachers and staff have the right to be safe, in their school community. With this right comes the responsibility to be law-abiding citizens and to be accountable for actions that put at risk the safety of others or oneself.

Our School Code of Positive Student Behaviour is based upon the Ontario Code of Conduct and the Upper Grand District School Board Code of Conduct (Policy # 213) which applies to all members of the school community; students, administrators, staff, parents and guardians, community users, visitors, volunteers, etc. while on all school and Board property, school buses, at school-authorized events and off site at school-sponsored activities, or in other circumstances that could have a negative impact on the school climate.

Students Rights Include:

• To be treated with dignity and respect
• To be provided with activities that are success oriented and build on individual strengths
• To receive a quality education

Parent Rights Include:

• To be treated with dignity and respect
• To be heard and have concerns addressed
• To communicate with the school

Staff Rights Include:

• To be treated with dignity and respect
• To have a safe working environment
• To expect parents and students to be involved in creating a positive school environment

A) RESPECT, CIVILITY AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP

All school members of the school community must:

• Respect and comply with all applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws;
• Demonstrate honesty and integrity;
• Respect differences in people, their ideas and opinions;
• Treat one another with dignity and respect at all times, and especially when there is disagreement;
• Respect and treat others fairly, regardless of their race, ancestry, place or origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability;
• Respect the right of others;
• Show proper care and regard for school property and the property of others;
• Take appropriate measures to help those in need;
• Respect all members of the school community, especially persons who are in a position of authority;
• Respect the need of others to work in an environment that is conducive to learning and teaching;
• Not swear at a teacher or at another person in authority, and
• Seek school staff assistance, if necessary, to resolve conflict peacefully.

SAFETY

All members of the school community must not:

• Engage in bullying behaviours  

Definition of bullying:

1. The behaviour is intended by the pupil to have the effect of, or the pupil ought to know that the behaviour would be likely to have the effect of,
   • Causing harm, fear or distress to another individual, including physical, psychological, social or academic harm, harm to the individual’s reputation or harm to the individual’s property, or
   • Creating a negative environment at a school for another individual
2. The behaviour occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance between pupil and the individual based on factors such as size, strength, age, intelligence, peer group power, economic status, social status, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, family circumstances, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, disability or the receipt of special education; (intimidation)
3. Bullying by electronic means (commonly known as cyber-bullying), including:

• creating a webpage or a blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person
• impersonating another person as the author of content or messages posted on the internet
• communicating material electronically to more than one individual or posting material on a website that may be accessed by one or more individuals

• commit sexual assault;
• traffic in weapons or illegal drugs
• Be in possession of any weapon including, but not limited to, firearms
• Traffic in weapons or illegal drugs
• Use any object to threaten or intimidate another person
• Cause injury to any person with an object
• Be in possession of, or under the influence of, or provide others with alcohol or illegal drugs
• Engage in hate propaganda and other forms of behaviour motivated by hate or violence
• Commit an act of vandalism that causes extensive damage to school property or property located on the premises of the school, or
• Engage in any form of electronic communication directed to an individual or group of people that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear, distress, and/or harm to other persons: feelings, self-esteem, or reputation, or that has a negative impact on the school climate.

All students will:

• be treated with respect and dignity by all school and board staff;
• accept responsibility for their personal actions;
• demonstrate respect for self, and others, and for those in authority;
• fulfil expected academic obligations;
• come to school punctually each day, prepared and willing to learn;
• obey the rules of the school, on school buses, and at other sites during school activities,
• dress appropriately in accordance with the Board’s and the School’s policies regarding appropriate dress;
• use respectful language, free from profanity;
• work cooperatively with staff and other students;
• be honest in their academic work (refrain from plagiarism, cheating, etc.);
• use free time responsibly; and
• refrain from bringing anything to school that compromises the safety of others

The Principal will:

• take a leadership role in the daily operation of the school by demonstrating care and commitment to academic excellence and a safe teaching and learning environment;
• hold those under their authority accountable for their actions and behaviour;
• empower students to be positive leaders in their school and community, and
• communicate meaningfully and on a regular basis with all members of the school’s community.
• ensure that a School Code of Conduct, based on the Ontario Code of Conduct and the Board’s Code of Conduct is developed and communicated annually to the school community; and
• review the school Code of Conduct at least once every three years, and seek input from School Council, staff, students, parents and guardians.

Teachers and school staff will:

• maintain order in the school;
• serve as role models;
• maintain consistent standards of behaviour for all students;
• help students work to fulfill their potential, develop self-worth, and prepare them for the full responsibilities of citizenship;
• communicate regularly and meaningfully with parents/guardians;
• demonstrate respect for all students, staff, parents, volunteers, and members of the school community; and
• empower students to be positive leaders in their school and community.

Parents play an important role in the education of their children and can fulfill this responsibility by:

• demonstrating respect for all students, staff, volunteers and members of the school community;
• supporting the efforts of school staff in maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment;
• showing an active interest in their child’s school work and progress;
• communicating regularly with their child’s school;
• assisting staff in dealing with disciplinary issues involving their child;
• helping their child be neat, dress appropriately, be well rested and prepared and ready to learn;
• ensuring that their child attends school regularly and on time;
• promptly reporting their child’s absence or late arrival;
• showing that they are familiar with the Ontario Code of Conduct, the Board’s Code of Conduct, and the School’s Code of Conduct and rules of behaviour; and helping and encouraging their child in following the Board’s Code of Conduct and the School’s Code of Conduct and the rules of behaviour.

All school members are expected to:

• Dress in attire that is modest, free of symbols of hate or negative images which portray violence, death, abuse, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, racial, political or sexual statements;
• Wear clothing that does not provide a distraction from the learning environment (e.g., immodest clothing such as excessively short or revealing clothing, no short shorts, no muscle shirts.)
• No undergarments showing
• Footwear must be worn at all times
• Under normal circumstances, not wear coats, jackets and heavy winter clothing in classrooms.

The continued reinforcement of dress policies is the responsibility of all Norwell teaching staff.

Consequences for violations of the dress code are the responsibility of the Norwell administration and may include a reprimand, turning the shirt inside out, wearing a designated shirt offered by the school,  detentions, parental contact, being sent home to change, and/or suspension.

The Board believes that the Police are partners with schools and school boards in maintaining safe schools and communities.  Through the guidelines established in the Police/School Board Protocol Agreement, Police support schools by encouraging, enabling and maintaining positive relationships with school administrators, staff, students, parents and members of the school community.

The Board believes that community agencies and members of the school community are resources that can help boards deliver prevention and intervention programs. Current and new partnerships, protocols and outreach are encouraged and supported by the Board to formalize and enhance relationships to maintain safe communities.

Schools focus on prevention and early intervention is the key to maintaining a positive school environment in which pupils can learn. The Board supports the use of positive practices and progressive discipline as a whole school approach to foster the building of healthy relationships and encourage appropriate behaviours, as well as the application of consequences for inappropriate behaviour.

Progressive Discipline is a range of early and later interventions, supports, and consequences that are developmentally appropriate, and include opportunities for students to learn from mistakes and that focus on improving behaviour.

It is understood that discipline serves not only to correct inappropriate behaviour, but also as a deterrent. To maintain a safe and effective learning environment, suspensions and expulsions may be imposed not only to deter inappropriate behaviour, but also to remove individuals who pose a threat to the safety and well being of others. The Provincial Code of Conduct specifies that for student actions that do not comply with the Provincial Standards of Behaviour, suspension and expulsion may be considered.  The Board’s Student Discipline Policy (Policy #503) sets out the process for Suspension and Expulsion. This policy specifies the student actions that may result in the Principal imposing a suspension, as well as the student actions that will result in the Principal imposing a suspension and considering an expulsion pending an investigation of the incident.

The Principal will consider the following mitigating factors when considering a suspension:

• the pupil does not have the ability to control his or her behaviour;
• the pupil does not have the ability to understand the foreseeable consequences of his or her behaviour;
• the pupil’s continuing presence in the school does not create an unacceptable risk to the safety of any other person.

The Principal will also consider the following factors if they mitigate (moderate) the seriousness of the incident or the behaviour of the student involved:

• the pupil’s history and age, whether progressive discipline has been used, if a behaviour has been motivated by harassment or discrimination, the impact on the ongoing education of the student, the student’s Individual Education Plan.

Note: In some cases, even though the offence calls for a mandatory suspension pending an investigation, the consideration of the mitigating circumstances may cause a principal not to suspend.

Police may be involved, as required, and a suspension may be imposed for one of the following infractions which has occurred on school property, during a school related activity or event, and/or in circumstances where the infraction has an impact on the school climate:

• uttering a threat to inflict serious bodily harm on another person
• possessing alcohol or illegal drugs
• being under the influence of alcohol
• swearing at a teacher or at another person in a position of authority
• committing an act of vandalism that causes extensive damage to school property at the pupil’s school or to property located on the premises of the pupil’s school
• bullying, including cyber bullying
• any act considered by the Principal to be injurious to the moral tone of the school
• any act considered by the Principal to be injurious to the physical or mental well-being of members of the school community
•  persistent opposition to authority
• habitual neglect of duty
• a serious breach of the Board or School’s Code of Conduct

Activities That Will Result in a Suspension, an Investigation and a Possible Recommendation for Expulsion

 Police may be involved, as required, and a student will be immediately suspended, an investigation will occur and may lead to a recommendation of expulsion to the Board’s Discipline Committee for one of the following infractions which has occurred on school property, during a school related activity or event, and/or in circumstances where the infraction has an impact on the school climate:

1. Possessing a weapon, including possessing a firearm;
2. Using a weapon to cause or threaten bodily harm to another person;
3. Committing physical assault on another person that caused bodily harm requiring treatment by a medical practitioner;
4. Committing sexual assault;
5. Trafficking in weapons or illegal drugs;
6. Committing robbery;
7. Giving alcohol to a minor;
8. An act or activities considered by the Principal to be significantly injurious to the moral tone of the school and/or to the physical or mental well-being of others;
9. Activities engaged in by the pupil on or off school property that have caused extensive damage to the property of the Board or to goods that are/were on Board property, or
10. The pupil has demonstrated through a pattern of behaviour that she/he has not prospered by the instruction available to him or her and that she/he is persistently resistant to making changes in behaviour which would enable him or her to prosper.

Suspension Notice 

The Principal/Vice-Principal will:

• Make all reasonable efforts to inform the student’s parents/guardians within 24 hours of the suspension
• Send written notice promptly to the student or the student’s parents/guardians
• Ensure that the student’s teachers are informed of the suspension

STUDENT DEPORTMENT 

Attendance 

All Norwell students are expected to attend all assigned classes and to provide proper documentation for any missed time from school. A phone call from a parent/guardian is acceptable and a message can be left on the school answering machine – Attendance voice mail by dialing 100 – 24 hours/day.

Cell Phones

Cell phones are to be used during the lunch period only and may be permitted in classrooms at your teacher’s discretion.

Food/Beverages

Food of any kind and/or drinks are not to be consumed in the halls or classrooms except in designated hallways during the lunch periods only. Water may be permitted in classrooms at your teacher’s discretion provided the containers are suitably disposed of. All garbage is to be placed in the containers provided (both inside and outside the school).

Hall Deportment

Students are not permitted to play games (cards, hackey sack, etc) in the halls. Students are not permitted in the upstairs hallway during class time nor at lunch. Halls must be kept clear to allow for traffic flow at all times. Students are expected to behave appropriately with their friends while in school; inappropriate signs of affections will not be allowed.

Lunch Period

All students are expected to eat their lunch in the cafeteria, in the designated halls or outside. If students choose to use the cafeteria, the expectation is that they do so in a mature, respectful and responsible manner. Students receiving extra help or who are participating in school clubs may bring their lunches to the activity at their teacher’s discretion. During period 1, 2, 3 and 4 students are not to remain in the halls.

Laser Pens 

Students are not permitted to bring or use laser pens on school property. They will be confiscated and not returned.

Part Time Students

Students at Norwell are expected to maintain full time status in all semesters of their attendance at school. Only students requiring less than 3 credits to attain graduation will be given consideration for part time status or at the Principal’s discretion.

 Private Property

All students are expected to respect the rights and property of our local neighbourhood and businesses. Students are not permitted to loiter on York Street nor are they permitted to congregate on Cumberland Street. Staff parking lots are considered out of bounds during the school day and may only be used as a thoroughfare to get to class.

School Property

Items such as textbooks, desks, and lockers are board property that has been made available for student use; therefore, they may be inspected at the discretion of school staff. Students will be charged for the repair and/or replacement of damaged, defaced or lost Board property, and in certain instances (extensive damage), students may be suspended or expelled.