Introduction
The Board of Education for the Sooke School District #62 promotes clearly defined behavioural expectations that represent the highest standards of respectful and responsible citizenship and lead to a culture of non-violence among all persons in all schools and at all school-authorized events and activities.
To this end, the Board expects that persons will:
- Comply with all applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws, and with district policy and regulations.
- Value and encourage learning and working environments that are inclusive and respectful of the diverse social and cultural needs of our community.
- Treat one another with dignity and respect.
- Refrain from engaging in, or encouraging acts of violence of any form.
- Show care and regard for school property and the property of others.
- Take appropriate measures to help those in need, and
- Respect those in positions of authority.
The Code of Citizenship at École John Stubbs Memorial School has been created by students, parents and staff to:
- Communicate expectations regarding appropriate and inappropriate conduct while students are at school, going to and from school, and while attending any school function at any location
- Establish and maintain a safe and orderly learning environment
- Establish and maintain appropriate balances among individual and collective rights, freedoms and responsibilities
Students at École John Stubbs Memorial School have various rights in relation to their attendance at school; however, coinciding with these rights are responsibilities that students are expected demonstrate. For example:
- All students have the right to attend École John Stubbs Memorial School as long as they accept the responsibility for attending every day and are on time for all classes.
- All students have the right to learn at École John Stubbs Memorial School provided they accept the responsibility for completing all assignments, homework, and class work, and participate fully in every class.
- All students have the right to a safe environment at École John Stubbs Memorial School provided they accept the responsibility to ensure the safety of others, the building, and their learning environments at all times.
- All students at École John Stubbs Memorial School have the right to be treated with respect provided they accept the responsibility for treating every student and staff member with respect in return.
Behavioural expectations at École John Stubbs Memorial School are consistently taught and actively promoted. We continually teach, practice, direct and re-direct behaviours.
Acceptable Conduct
While going to and from school, and while attending any school function at any location, students attending École John Stubbs Memorial School will:
- Demonstrate the highest standards of conduct, personal responsibility, and good judgement
- Comply and follow all school rules and expectations
- Be accountable for personal choices, obligations and duties
- Respect themselves, others, all school property, and all learning environments at the school
- Behave in safe and appropriate manners at all times
- Attend classes daily, on time, prepared to learn and work
- Complete assigned work
- Follow and carry out all reasonable requests made by school staff
- Be cooperative, courteous and act in a manner that brings credit to the school
- Maintain a positive, fair, and objective attitude
- Dress appropriately for a business setting
- Take care of all learning resources provided for use
- Adhere to the internet acceptable use policy
- Keep the school clean
Unacceptable Conduct
While going to and from school, and while attending any school function at any location, students attending École John Stubbs Memorial School will not (list is not all inclusive):
- Bully, harass, be ethnically prejudiced, or intimidate
- Interfere with the learning of others
- Create unsafe conditions
- Be in possession of or distribute alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or weapons
- Use physical violence
- Engage in social or relational aggression
- Seek retribution against someone who has reported incidents
- Damage or vandalize school property
- Sexually or verbally abuse others
- Discrimination, especially based on race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex or sexual orientation (BC Human Rights Code)
Consequences
Students who do not respect the school's Code of Citizenship will be subject to consequences. Wherever possible, and appropriate, consequences aim to be restorative rather than punitive. Our goal is to help students learn from their experiences, and to reinforce positive behaviours (while discouraging behaviours which contravene our Code). In determining consequences, the school will take into account the behaviour in question, the student's age, maturity and special needs (if any). It is important to note that special considerations may apply to students with special needs if these students are unable to comply with elements of our Code of Citizenship due to having a disability of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional or behavioural nature.
Any person making a report of someone violating our school's Code is entitled to do so in an environment of safety and security. Such reports are aimed at making the school a better, safer place for everyone. Someone making such a report should do so without fear of retaliation. As such, the school will take all reasonable steps to prevent retaliation against someone who has made a report of the Code being breached.