Code of Conduct

ST. ANNE’S CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL CODE OF CONDUCT

BELIEF STATEMENT:
The Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board believes that our Catholic social teachings outline our call to build a just society amidst modern-day challenges and opportunities. At HPCDSB, our Catholic Code of Conduct aligns with our Catholic social teachings focused on
the Life and Dignity of the Human Person, Rights and Responsibilities, and Solidarity.

The Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board Catholic Code of Conduct promotes responsibility, respect, civility, and academic excellence in a caring school climate in accordance with our Catholic beliefs. The Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board is committed to Equity and Inclusion. A positive school climate exists when ALL members of the school community feel safe, included, and accepted.

Our Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations underpin our fundamental values listed below. The Ontario Catholic School Graduation Expectations (OCSGE) provide an image of the Catholic
learner and a vision for the graduate of Catholic Schools in Ontario. Our OCSGEs call our students to be collaborative contributors and responsible citizens who give witness to Catholic social teaching by promoting peace, justice, and the sacredness of human life and with the fundamental values within our Catholic Code of Conduct.

We Believe:
● Everyone has a responsibility to promote a safe environment.
● Everyone should be aware of their rights, as active and engaged citizens. Everyone should also protect their own rights and the rights of others. Responsible citizenship involves taking part in the civic life of the school.
● Everyone is responsible for resolving conflicts in a civil and respectful way. Insults, hurtful acts and a lack of respect for others disrupt learning and teaching in a school community.
● Everyone is expected to resolve conflicts without using violence. Physical aggression is not a responsible way to deal with other people. No one should use an object to injure another person or threaten to use an object to injure another person. Violence and threats are unacceptable and puts everyone’s safety at risk.
● Everyone who is a member of the school and district community is to be treated with respect and dignity, especially those in positions of authority.
● Everyone is aware that harassment; physical, verbal (oral or written), sexual or psychological abuse; bullying; hate-motivated behaviours and discrimination on the basis of racial characteristics, culture, age, religion, gender, language, disability, sexual orientation, or any other attribute is unacceptable.
● Everyone understands that the possession and/or display of weapons or replicas or imitations of weapons on school property will be referred to the police and in addition, may result in a recommendation for expulsion.

PURPOSE STATEMENT:
The purpose of the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board’s Code of Conduct is to communicate to all members of the school community the expected standards of behaviour to ensure an inclusive and safe learning environment. This Code of Conduct applies on school property, on school buses, at school-related events or activities, to before and after school programs, and in other circumstances that could have an impact on the school climate.

The standards of behaviour in Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board’s Catholic Code of Conduct are consistent with Board policies, the Safe School’s provisions of the Education Act, The Ontario Human Rights Code, and Ministry of Education regulations and policy/program memoranda.


STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR:
Respect and civility are essential in maintaining an inclusive, safe and Christ-centered learning environment. Responsible discipleship will be the vehicle used to promote peaceful communities. Through a variety of programs and learning experiences, all schools will promote an environment where conflict and difference can be addressed in a manner characterized by respect and compassion.

The Standards of Behaviour include two key focus areas that all school community members must follow: Respect, Civility and Responsible Citizenship, and Safety.

Respect, Civility and Responsible Citizenship

All school community members must:
1. Respect and follow all applicable federal, provincial, and municipal laws;
2. Demonstrate honesty and integrity;
3. Respect differences in people, their opinions, and ideas;
4. Treat others with dignity and respect at all times, especially when there is disagreement;
5. Respect and treat others fairly regardless of their race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, creed, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age marital status, family status or disability;
6. Respect the rights of others;
7. Show care and respect for school property and the property of others;
8. Take the proper steps to help those in need;
9. Seek assistance from a member of the school staff, if necessary, to resolve conflict pastorally and peacefully;
10. Respect all members of the school community, especially those in a position of authority;
and
11. Respect the need of others to work in an environment that is good for learning and teaching, including by ensuring cellphones and other personal mobile devices are only used during instructional time for:
a. Educational purposes (as directed by the teacher).
b. Health and medical purposes.
c. Special education needs support.

Safety

All school community members must not:
1. Engage in any form of bullying, whether in-person or through technology;
2. Commit sexual assault;
3. Traffic weapons or illegal drugs;
4. Commit robbery;
5. Give alcohol or cannabis to a minor;
6. Be in possession of a weapon, including firearms;
7. Use any object to threaten or intimidate another person;
8. Injure anyone with an object;
9. Be in possession of, or be under the influence of, or provide others with alcohol or illegal and/or restricted drugs;
10. Inflict, or encourage others to inflict bodily harm;
11. Engage in hate propaganda and other forms of behaviour motivated by hate or bias;
12. Commit vandalism that causes large-scale damage to property on school premises; or
13. Swear at a teacher or another person in position of authority.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

All members of the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board, and its school communities, including principals, teachers, other staff members, students, parents and community members have an obligation to comply with the standards outlined in this Code of Conduct. The roles and responsibilities of these various stakeholders are outlined below.

The Board
The Board will provide direction to its schools to ensure opportunity, excellence and accountability in the education system.

It is the responsibility of the school board to:
● Develop policies that set out how their schools will put in place and enforce the provincial code of conduct and all other rules that they develop as related to the provincial; standards that promote and support respect, civility, responsible citizenship and safety
● Seek input from school councils, Parent Involvement Committees, Special Education Advisory Committee, Indigenous Education Advisory Council, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism Committee, students, staff, parents, volunteers and the community members;
● Review these policies regularly with students, staff, parents, volunteers and the community members;
● Establish a process that clearly communicates the Provincial Code of Conduct to all parents, students, staff and members of the school community to gain their commitment and support;
● Ensure an effective approach to intervene and respond to all violations that relate to the standards for respect, civility, responsible citizenship and safety; and
● Provide opportunities for all staff to gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to promote student achievement and well-being in a safe, inclusive and accepting learning environment.

Principals

Principals, under the direction of their school board, take a leadership role in the daily operation of a school.

Principals provide this leadership by:
● Caring for the school community and commitment to student achievement and well-being in a safe, inclusive and accepting learning environment;
● Holding everyone under their authority responsible for their behaviour and actions in a fair, firm, consistent and timely manner;
● Use effective techniques for conflict management, including recognizing, approaching, defusing, de-escalating and resolving potential confrontational situations;
● Ensure support is provided to any victims of school-based unacceptable behaviour;
● Making counselling available to perpetrators of school-based unacceptable behaviours;
● Empowering students to be positive leaders in their school and community; and
● Communicating regularly and meaningfully with all members of their school community.

Teachers and School Staff
Teachers and school staff, under the leadership of their principals, help maintain a positive learning environment and hold everyone to the highest standard of respectful and responsible behaviour.

Teachers and school staff uphold these high standards as role models when they:
● Help students work to their full potential and develop their self-worth;
● Document ongoing and disruptive incidents related to the code of conduct and seek opportunities for communication with school leaders and parents/family;
● Empower students to be positive leaders in their classroom, school and community;
● Communicate regularly with parents;
● Maintain consistent and fair standards of behaviour for all students;
● Show respect for all students, staff, parents, volunteers and members of the school community; and
● Prepare students for the full responsibilities of citizenship.

Students
Everyone should treat students with respect and dignity. In return, students must show respect for themselves and for others.

Students
● Come to school prepared, on time and ready to learn;
● Show respect for themselves, for others and for those in authority;
● Refrain from bringing anything to school that may risk the safety of others;
● Follow the rules and takes responsibility for their own actions;
● If directed by the school principal or the vice-principal willingly display the contents of clothing, backpacks, etc. that are worn or carried on school property. Desks and lockers are school property and a search is permissible by the school administration; and
● Follow the dress code and or uniform requirements of Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board.

Parents and Guardians
Parents and guardians have an important role in the education of their children and can help school staff in maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment for all students.

Parents and guardians play this important role when they:
● Are engaged in their child’s schoolwork and progress;
● Communicate regularly with the school;
● Make sure their child is appropriately dressed and prepared for school;
● Ensure that their child attends school regularly and on time;
● Inform the school promptly about their child’s absence or late arrival;
● Become familiar with the provincial code of conduct, the board’s code of conduct and school rules;
● Encourage and help their child follow the rules of behaviour; and
● Help school staff deal with disciplinary issues involving their child.

Community Partners
School boards may enhance partnerships or create new partnerships with community agencies and members of the community.

Community agencies:
● Offer resources that support prevention or intervention programs; and
● Support and respect the rules of their local schools.

Police
The police play an essential role in making our schools and communities safer. Police investigate incidents by following the protocol developed with the local school board.

Police and local school boards base their protocols on a provincial model developed by:
● Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
● Ministry of Education

Our protocol is written in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of the Solicitor General and through the cooperative efforts of Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board, Avon Maitland District School Board, Ontario Provincial Police, Stratford Police Service, and Huron-Perth Children’s Aid Society (Revised 2021). Police/School Board Protocol in the HPCDSB Adminitrative Site.

REFERENCES:
Education Act and Regulations
Ministry of Education Policy/Program Memorandum No. 128
Ontario Human Rights Code
Police/School Board Protocol
P 2.1.5. Student Behaviour, Discipline and Safety Policy

         

        Definition of Progressive Discipline

         

        Progressive discipline is a whole-school approach that utilizes a continuum of interventions, supports, and consequences to address inappropriate student behaviour and to build upon strategies that promote positive behaviours. In everything we do at our school we are led by our faith and a conscious effort to model the Beatitudes while responding as a Caring Catholic Community. We continue to employ a range of responses that foster learning opportunities which reinforce positive behaviours, while helping our students make good choices in the future.

         

        Range of Responses

        The components of our progressive discipline continuum include, but are not limited to:

        • verbal or non-verbal messages from a teacher or adult in authority;
        • re-location within the classroom or learning environment;
        • teacher generated written activities which offer reflection, apology and action plan;
        • teacher collaboration with parent or guardian (orally or in writing incident letter);
        • peer mediation;
        • referral to in-school personnel (guidance, mental health and wellness coach, student success, attendance counselor and community partners) or, out-of school personnel (counseling services)
        • restitution, restorative justice or community service;
        • referral to administration;
        • detention, loss of privileges;
        • suspension (Principal shall consider mitigating circumstances per Board Policy 3D:1);
        • expulsion (Principal shall consider mitigating circumstances per Board Policy 3D:1).

         

        On an annual basis, the principal will review the School Code of Conduct with the School Advisory Council members and with all staff members. Annually, the Code of Conduct will be communicated to all students, parents and staff.  All staff, in dealing with incidents of student misbehavior, will act in accordance with the definition of progressive discipline and its range of responses.  As a staff, we believe that home and school must share the responsibility for teaching our young adults appropriate behaviour.

        Suspensions

        While a student is on suspension, they may not participate in any school function. A student under suspension must have administrative permission to be on school property. Students may not ride school buses during suspensions, unless authorized by school administration.