Code of Conduct

Mission Statement

Holly’s Code of Conduct is built on a foundation of respect and care.

At Holly Elementary School, we strive for our personal best through

Confidence

Achievement

Respect

Effort

We CARE!

Guiding Principles

Our school culture is shaped by the values and attitudes of its community members, including school staff, students, parents and wider community. The Holly Elementary Community has the responsibility to ensure a safe and positive climate for learning. Holly’s Code of Conduct provides a broad framework of behavioural expectations for students. It is expected that all members of the school community will uphold the underlying principles of the District and School codes which include respect for self, others, property, and the environment.

The Code of Conduct applies to all students during any school activity or sponsored activity, and may hold students responsible for their conduct on the way to and from school and may include on-line behaviour or other school-sponsored activities where it affects the safe and caring environment of the school. Conduct by any student that adversely affects the school climate and operation shall be considered a breach of the Code of Conduct, warranting appropriate forms of interventions. The Code recognizes that as children grow and mature, they are more able to make appropriate decisions and be responsible for their actions.

Statement of Purpose

Holly’s Code of Conduct is created to provide guiding principles of conduct for all students enrolled in the school district and is in accordance with Section 6 (1) (a) and (b) of the School Act which states:

6 (1) A Student must comply

(a) with the school rules authorized by the principal of the school or Provincial school attended by the student, and

(b) with the code of conduct and other rules and polices of the board or the Provincial school.

The Purpose of the Code of Conduct as referenced in Delta School District Policy #1131, Student Conduct and Discipline, is to:

  • Provide and maintain a safe, caring, and orderly environment for students to develop to their full potential
  • Ensure that the rights and responsibilities of individuals are appropriately balanced to uphold the collective well-being of all
  • Communicate the expectations of student behaviour to all members of the school community

Conduct Expectations

Acceptable conduct supports a positive learning environment.

It is expected that students will:

  • Conduct themselves in an appropriate manner when going to and from school, within school, on school grounds, during extended school activities and on school buses
  • Apply themselves to the best of their ability in all aspects of their education
  • Attend school and classes regularly and punctually
  • Be respectful of the thoughts, feelings and heritage of others
  • Respect the rights and property of others
  • Contribute positively to a safe, caring and orderly school
  • Behave in an ethical and lawful manner
  • Report to a responsible adult, incidents of threats, bullying, harassment, violence or intimidation

Unacceptable Conduct interferes with a positive learning environment. In our school community these actions are unacceptable:

Behaviours that:

  • Interfere with the learning of others
  • Interfere with an orderly environment
  • Create unsafe conditions

Acts of:

  • Bullying, threatening, harassing or intimidating, assaulting or bullying, in any way, any person within the school community including aggressive behaviour such as “cyber” hate messaging and websites created in the student’s home, in cyber cafes or other settings
  • Physical violence
  • Retribution against a person who has reported incidents
  • Use of inappropriate or abusive language

Illegal acts, such as:

  • Possession, use or distribution of illegal or restricted substances
  • Possession or use of weapons or dangerous articles
  • Theft of or damage to property
  • Any efforts to cause harm or discriminate against* another person based on, but not limited to race, religion, gender, physical or intellectual disability, marital or family status, sexual orientation or age
  • Gang related behaviours
  • Acts of retribution toward a person who has reported incidents

(*The Human Rights Code states: discrimination occurs when someone is treated differently and poorly because of their race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital or family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, age (19 years and over), criminal conviction (in employment), political belief (in employment), or lawful source of income (in tenancy).

Rising Expectations

Holly’s Code of Conduct recognizes that as students become older and more mature, there is a progression in the expectations related to appropriate behaviour. As students progress through school, they are expected to:

  • Acquire a greater understanding and knowledge about their personal behaviour and its impact on others
  • Demonstrate increasing self-discipline
  • Take increasing personal responsibility for their actions and learning
  • Be subject to increasing consequences and/or restorative intervention

Consequences

When determining consequences, and in compliance with District policy, consideration is given to the maturity as well as the intellectual, social and emotional capacity of the student along with the severity and frequency of the misbehaviour.

Consequences should where appropriate, follow District procedures and will:

  • Be thoughtful, consistent and fair
  • Seek to prevent a recurrence of the offense
  • Teach acceptable social behaviour rather than be merely punitive

And where appropriate:

  • Provide means for restitution and restorative actions
  • Students, as often as possible, are encouraged to participate in the development of meaningful consequences for violations of the established code of conduct

Notifications

For all serious breaches of the Code of Conduct:

  • Students will be notified in every instance
  • Parents of student offender(s) will be notified and District officials will be notified as required by policy
  • Parents of student victim(s) will be notified
  • School district officials – as required by school and district policy
  • Police and/or other agencies as required by law or for professional advice beyond the scope of school personnel
  • All parents – when a need is determined by district or school administration to reassure members of the school community that school and district officials are aware of a serious situation and are taking appropriate action to address it

 Behaviour Expectations at Holly Elementary

(Application of our Code of Conduct)

At Holly Elementary we believe that a safe, caring and orderly school provides a positive climate in all aspects of school life. In order to participate fully and respectfully in a relationship-centered environment, students need strong social and emotional skills. School-wide prevention programming based on coordinated social and emotional learning helps students to interact in socially skilled and respectful ways; and to practice positive, safe, and healthy behaviours we want students to demonstrate.

We strive to:

  • To improve students’ ability to solve conflict situations in peaceful and respectful ways
  • To establish and maintain a positive and safe environment for purposeful learning
  • Set, communicate and consistently reinforce clear expectations of conduct
  • Teach, model and encourage socially responsible behaviours that contribute to the school community
  • Respond consistently and fairly in a reasoned manner, using interventions that repair harm, strengthen relationships and restore a sense of belonging
  • Applying consistent and fair consequences for inappropriate behaviour
  • Celebrate and recognize achievements, and acknowledge areas that need improvement

Rules that promote safety and respect at Holly:

On the School Grounds (Dare to be a leader, not a follower)

  • Hands and feet to yourself.
  • No put downs or name calling
  • Use play equipment properly
  • Be polite to fellow students, adults, and to school staff
  • Include others
  • Stay clear of the Upper North field and the front driveway.
  • Walk your “wheels” on the blacktop
  • Do not throw anything (i.e. snowballs, rocks), except balls when playing an appropriate game.
  • Turf Field rules:
  • Share the field cooperatively
  • Enter and exit only through gate
  • Clean shoes only – go up the pathway so we don’t have muddy shoes
  • No food, drinks, candy, or gum permitted on the turf
  • Come in quickly when the bell rings.
  • Do not bounce balls off school walls.

School Community Etiquette

  • Hands and feet to yourself
  • No put downs or name calling
  • No gossip
  • Respect all adults and respect adult decisions regarding safe and positive behaviour
  • Tell school staff, in a timely manner, of situations of bullying, harassment or intimidation
  • Electronic entertainment devices are to be left at home (tablets, DS game systems, etc.)
  • Limited cell phone use. Cell phones must be turned off while school is in session and should only be used after school to communicate with home. With teacher permission, the school phone is available for students with urgent/important matters – not for arranging play dates.
  • Hats are to be removed when entering the school
  • Gum is to be left at home
  • Enter and exit the school through your own class door
  • Walk quietly in the hallways
  • During “In Days”, work/play quietly on appropriate activities
  • At lunch, remain seated and eat quietly

Specifically, CLOTHING GUIDELINES  are:

Dress Guidelines: The school’s Dress Code supports the general Code of Conduct but is more specific.

 Students should come to school appropriately dressed for their day. Clothing should not promote drugs or alcohol or display offensive language or images that denigrate a person or persons or encourage discrimination. Students should come to school wearing safe, activity appropriate footwear (this is especially important on days they have P.E. Class or are participating in athletic activities). Student dress should not obscure the face except as appropriate for religious reasons, health and safety, or to accommodate a disability.

Any concerns about student dress are addressed with individual students in a discreet and respectful manner.

Student Threats to Safety –Fair Notice

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 our youth, everyone in the community has a duty to report all threat-related behaviours.  These threats include expressing 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.