School District No. 43 (Coquitlam)POLICY 17

DISTRICT CODE OF CONDUCT FOR STUDENTS

The Board believes it has a responsibility to establish expectations of students as part of its governance role for the District. The Board further believes that the responsibility for student discipline in school is shared among students, staff and parents. Students have a responsibility to respect the rights and dignity of others and to become actively and productively involved in their own academic learning and social growth. Educators are responsible for establishing a positive school climate in which structure, support and encouragement assist students in developing a sense of self-discipline and responsibility. Parents are responsible for establishing a positive learning atmosphere in the home, knowing school policies and procedures, supporting the school in the enactment of these policies and procedures, and encouraging their children to understand and respect these policies and procedures. To support these aims, the Board has established a District Code of Conduct for Students, which shall be followed in all schools.

Specifically

1. The Board believes that appropriate student conduct, based on respect for oneself, respect for others, and respect for property is essential to the development of responsible citizens. To this end students are expected to:
1.1 be aware of and obey all school rules;
1.2 attend classes punctually and regularly;
1.3 work cooperatively and diligently at their studies and with home assignments;
1.4 respect the rights of all persons within the school including peers, staff and parents;
1.5 respect the legitimate authority of the school staff;
1.6 respect the school's physical school facilities;
1.7 respect the ethnic diversity of our school community;
1.8 behave in a safe and responsible manner at all times; and
1.9 not threaten, harass, bully*, intimidate or assault, in any way, any person within the school community.
1.10 not be in possession or under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

2. The Board further believes that these expectations are fostered in a positive climate in which:
2.1 all students feel safe, valued and trusted, and have the opportunity to develop, assume and maintain responsibility and self-motivation;
2.2 there is a joint effort to learn and a feeling of mutual respect among staff, students and parents;
2.3 appropriate behaviour is consistently encouraged and acknowledged, thereby increasing student self-esteem and reinforcing self-control;
2.4 students are disciplined in a timely, fair, judicious and responsible manner, with consequences for unacceptable behaviour that take into account the student’s age, maturity and special needs, if any**and
2.5 on-going communication exists between staff and parents that encourages and provides increased opportunities for active and constructive parental involvement in their children's education.

3. The Superintendent will ensure that each Principal, in consultation with staff, parents and, when appropriate, students, establishes a code of conduct for his/her school that is consistent with the District Code of Conduct for Students and which reflects the provincial standards.

4. The Board believes that schools must not be places where discrimination is practiced or tolerated. To that end, each school code of conduct shall contain the following statement:
“As per Section 8 of Human Rights Code of British Columbia, students shall not discriminate against others on the basis of the race, religion, colour, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, family status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or physical or mental disability. Furthermore, as per Section 7 of the Human Rights Code of British Columbia, no student shall publish or display anything that would indicate an intention to discriminate against another, or expose them to contempt or ridicule, on the aforementioned bases

5. The school’s code of conduct and a summary of the district’s policies on “Code of Conduct” (Policy 17), “Violence, Intimidation and Possession of Weapons” (Policy 18) and “Suspension of Students “(Administrative Procedure 355) will be sent home annually to be signed by parents/guardians and, where appropriate, students. The principal shall ensure that the school code of conduct is reviewed with students at the beginning of the school year and throughout the year as necessary.

6. Students, while attending school and school sponsored functions and activities, shall be subject to the District Code of Conduct for Students and the school's rules of conduct and deportment established by the Principal. Students may be subject to discipline under the school and/or District Code of Conduct for any conduct which has the effect of negatively impacting the school environment, whether that conduct occurs on or off School District property, at a school sponsored function or activity, or otherwise.

7. Students registered in School District No. 43 (Coquitlam) shall not attend at schools other than the school in which they are registered, without a legitimate school related purpose. Students who do so may be subject to disciplinary action by their school or the School District.

8. Serious breaches of conduct that threaten the safety and welfare of others will be referred directly to Level Three of the suspension process for resolution by the Student Suspension Review Committee.

9. Where a student 16 years of age or older repeatedly fails to comply with the code of conduct, rules and policies of the school, or has failed to apply him/herself to his/her studies as set out in Section 85 of the School Act, the Board is empowered to refuse further school service to the student.

10. Students are prohibited from being in possession of and/or under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs in all schools or at school sponsored functions and activities.

* Bullying includes but is not limited to physical or verbal intimidation, verbal harassment and cyber bullying, occurring on or off school property.
** Special considerations may apply to the imposition of consequences on a student with special needs if the student is unable to comply with this Code of Conduct due to a disability of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional or behavioural nature.

• References: Section 85, School Act
• Policy 13 (Appeals Regarding Student Matters)
• Administrative Procedure 355 (Suspension of Students)
• BC Human Rights Code (Section 7 & 8)
• Board Minutes
• October 1990 Volume 32 Page 238-239 Policy II-B-83 School Rules
• June 2005 Volume 47 Page 78 Policy 17 District Code of Conduct for Students
• June 2007 Volume 49 Page 80
• January 2008 Volume 50 Page 6
• June 2015 Volume 57 Page 96