Statement of Purpose
Garibaldi Secondary School’s Code of Conduct has been created to maintain a safe, caring and orderly school environment. The purposes of the Code of Conduct are:
- To encourage the development of socially responsible behaviour resulting in a positive reputation for students and the school community.
- To foster a safe, respectful and welcoming learning environment for all students, staff and parents.
- To clearly communicate behavioural expectations to the school community.
The Code of Conduct applies to all members of the school community at school, at any school-related activity at any location, or any circumstance/activity that will have an impact on the school environment.
Conduct Expectations
Respect for Each Other
Statement of Purpose
- To foster a healthy school community where all members treat each other with courtesy and respect
- To foster a community which is kind, friendly, and inclusive
- To work together in developing a sense of community-mindedness and accountability
- To promote and maintain an environment where students and staff are safe to learn and achieve success
- To ensure that all students regardless of their sex, race, religion, culture, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, enjoy a safe, inclusive and welcoming learning environment.
- To ensure that students and staff have the right to a learning environment free from bullying, harassment, intimidation and dishonesty. Inappropriate prejudicial behavior, speech or attire towards a group of individual is unacceptable
- To provide a safe environment to politely voice opinions without the fear or intimidation or unreasonable use of authority
Our Expectations
- All members of the school community will endeavor to be honest with one another
- Students and staff must be treated with respect and courtesy through display of appropriate behavior and speech
- Members of the school community must display acceptance for all people, including, but not exclusive of, ethnicity, appearance, abilities and religion
- Bullying, intimidation (verbal, physical, mental etc), harassment and possession or use of weapons are all forms of violence. These actions, whether uttered as threats or acted upon, will not be tolerated
- Students inform a ‘tell-able’ adult of any possible violence, including a fight
Unacceptable Conduct
- Slanderous comments, sexual suggestions, profanity (swearing), or other discriminatory terms
- Name-calling, slurs, offensive slang remarks
- Disrespectful or threatening language or behavior (such as racist, discriminatory, or homophobic comments)
- On-going physical, mental or psychological harassment of any student or staff member
- Participating in fighting in any way including as fighter, spectator, or promoter (telling others that a fight will occur)
Respect for the Learning Environment
Statement of Purpose
- To promote a caring and success-orientated environment. As learners we need to have a sense of respect for our common learning environment, our own learning needs and those of others.
- In general, a learner needs to be actively involved in the task at hand
- To ensure each student has access to a quiet, orderly, clean, well-equipped classroom
- To promote a learning environment where each learner can achieve the highest level possible. This can only be done when students are safe and have a clear understanding of learning expectations, assessment criteria and how to achieve high standards
Our Expectations
- To respect the rights of others to work and learn free of distractions
- To dress appropriately (see Dress Code)
- To complete assignments in a timely manner in order to demonstrate understanding of learning outcomes
- Students are expected to use their planner to record work assigned by teachers
Unacceptable Conduct
- Students under the influence or in possession of illegal drugs or alcohol at school or at school events will be disciplined. This may include suspension, referral to a counselor/assessment program or possibly a referral to the Keeping Kids in School Team. Students who are present when drugs or alcohol are consumed will also be disciplined in the same manner as those under the influence (for more information see ‘Drugs/Alcohol’ section of the Code of Conduct)
- Talking or socializing during class time when the teacher is talking or when students should be working independently
- Off task behavior such as not following directions, horseplay in class or in the hallways
- Not attending assigned detentions and/or tutorials
Respect of Facilities and Equipment
Statement of Purpose
- To promote a safe environment through responsible use of facilities, equipment, and vehicles
- To ensure safety regulations are followed for the safety of all students and staff
- To care for the school and its property including textbooks, lockers, furniture, and school equipment
Our Expectations
- Facilities and Grounds- all members of our community are expected to keep the school facilities and grounds neat and tidy. Individuals are expected to clean up after themselves
- Lockers- remain the property of the school and are loaned to students. Students may store school-related items and supplies there. Disciplinary action will be taken if lockers are used to store stolen property, drugs or alcohol, and/or other materials, which jeopardize a safe and orderly learning environment. Graffiti is not permitted in lockers; students will be asked to remove graffiti that is found in lockers.
- Rollerblades, Bikes, and Skateboards- are not allowed to be used within the school or on school grounds. Bikes should be stored in the interior courtyard of the school, NOT at the front of the school
- Safety Rules in Classrooms- students are expected to know and abide by the safety rules for specific areas (eg cafeteria, gym, science, labs, shops etc)
- Textbooks and Library Books- Students are responsible for the textbooks and library books signed out to them. Textbooks are assigned using a bar code and students are responsible for the book with the barcode signed out them.
- Visitors- must report to the office and receive administrative permission to be in the school.
Unacceptable Conduct
- Intentional destruction of property, such as graffiti, vandalism, theft of personal and/or school property
- Careless use of other students’ or school materials
- Littering on or near the school grounds, and/or irresponsible behavior on school grounds
Dress Code
Statement of Purpose
The school district is committed to providing students with learning environments that are safe, responsive, and inclusive. The district recognizes that decisions about dress reflect individual expression of identity, socio-cultural norms, and that they are personal.
Students may attend school and school-related functions in dress of their choice provided that their choices:
- Conform with established health and safety requirements for the intended activity;
- Do not represent or promote alcohol or drugs;
- Use respectful language;
- Do not depict or promote violence, racism, sexism or discrimination; and
- Are not intimidating to others.
Ultimately, the school administration has the responsibility to apply the dress guidelines when necessary. If any person dresses in an inappropriate manner, the student should be advised personally and discretely and given an opportunity to meet school district guidelines.
Unacceptable Conduct
- Clothing that promotes or advertises alcohol or drugs in any way is not permitted
- Clothing that does not meet the requirements of our Conduct Expectations
Students with Vehicles
Statement of Purpose
- Students will recognize the importance of safe driving while on school grounds and while in our neighborhood
- Students will adhere to parking guidelines distributed by the school
- To provide students with clear guidelines about driving and parking on our property and in our neighborhood
Our Expectations
- All students will drive in a manner that is safe and respectful of our school community and safe and respectful of our neighbors
- All students will obey the driving parking/rules outlined in the signed agreement
Unacceptable Conduct
- Driving in any manner that is deemed unsafe by a staff or community member
- Creating excessive noise (ie stereo is audible outside of the vehicle, horn is honked unnecessarily)
- Parking in an unmarked parking stall or parking in a restricted area
Drugs and Alcohol
Statement of Purpose
- Students will recognize that using drugs and/or alcohol will have a negative effect on their education
- Students will recognize that the presence of drugs and/or alcohol in the building has a negative impact on school culture and on student learning
- Students will learn about the different counselors that are available to help with drug and alcohol issues
Our Expectations
- Students will not bring drugs or drug paraphernalia or alcohol to school
- Students will not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol while at school
- Students will not wear clothing that promotes, in any way, drugs or alcohol
- Students will not sell drugs or alcohol while at school
Unacceptable Conduct
- Being under the influence of any type of illegal drug or alcohol while involved in any school activity
- Being present while drugs and/or alcohol are used during the course of the school day
- Involvement in any type of drug or alcohol trafficking
Smoking / E Cigarette / Vaping
Statement of Purpose
- To provide staff and students with an environment conducive to healthy living
- Students will adhere to rules about when and where they are allowed to smoke
- Students will learn about resources that are available to help them quit smoking
Our Expectations
- Students in grades 10, 11 and 12 may only leave the property to smoke at lunch time (students are not permitted to smoke during study blocks or during class change) as per Smoking Contract
- Students in grades 10, 11 and 12 may only smoke in the lot adjacent to the store on 248th Street
- Students in grades 8 and 9 are not permitted to smoke during the course of the school day (grade 8 and 9 students are only permitted off campus to go to Tim Horton’s at lunch time)
- Students are not permitted to loiter or walk through our neighborhood during lunchtime (unless the student is traveling to or from home for lunch)
Unacceptable Conduct
- Being at the smoke pit during instructional time
- Smoking at the Esso station or adjacent to the Esso station
- Any student selling any tobacco product to another student
- Smoking on the property
- Smoking at a time other than the time listed in the rule listed above
Academic Honesty
- Full IB Policy is linked below:
Statement of Purpose
- To encourage students to submit work that is their own and not copied from other sources
- To educate students on the various forms of plagiarism and cheating and why they are unacceptable
- To educate students about the different methods of citing and referencing information
Our Expectations
- Students will submit work that is their own
- Students will provide citations or references when they borrow words, ideas or thoughts from any other source including the internet
- Students will not provide other students with the means to cheat
- Students will always provide a citation or source if they are unclear if they should or shouldn’t ( it is better to source when you shouldn’t than not source when you should)
Unacceptable Conduct
- copying homework from others or letting others copy homework
- using someone else’s thoughts or ideas in your work without providing a source or reference (plagiarism can occur with just a few words copied or when you take someone else’s idea and put it into your own words if you don’t indicate the source)
- copying someone else’s test, exam, or assignment
- bringing information into a test/exam (ie cheat sheets, writing on desks, clothing, body parts etc) that the teacher is not aware of
- using any electronic device during an exam without the permission of the teacher
- Expectations for student conduct for younger students differ from those for older students as they do for students with special needs who are unable to meet expectations due to a disability.
- It is expected as students move through successive grades, become older and more mature that they will be more socially responsible.
Responses to Conduct Issues
Responses to unacceptable conduct will be thoughtful, consistent and fair.
The focus of any intervention will be preventative and restorative in nature, rather than merely punitive.
Wherever possible, students will be encouraged to participate in the development of meaningful interventions through discussion and mediation.
Decisions will be made with respect to the individual. Responses to conduct issues will take into consideration the student’s age, maturity and past conduct. Interventions will not discriminate against a student who cannot meet an expectation because of a disability.
Reasonable steps will be taken to prevent retaliation against the person who reported a code of conduct issue.
Every effort will be made to support students. However, if there are ongoing conduct issues after having implemented interventions, progressive discipline may include, but is not limited to, referral to an intervention committee, suspension, change of program, change of school, referral to an intervention committee, or involvement of the police when behaviour includes a criminal code violation.
When responding to breaches in the Code of Conduct, school officials may inform a student’s parent(s), the parents of other students who were involved, school district officials, the police or other agencies or the parents of all students when the whole school community needs to be reassured that a serious situation is being addressed.
Search and Seizure at Garibaldi Secondary School
In some instances where school officials believe a violation of the code of conduct has occurred, searching a student or his/her belongings may be necessary. The following are examples of what may constitute reasonable grounds in this context:
- information believed to be credible received from a student
- a teacher’s or administrator’s observation
- any combination of sources of information that the principal or vice-principal considers to be credible.
- Where the principal, vice-principal or designate has reasonable grounds to believe a school rule has been or is being violated and that a search will produce evidence of that violation and the principal, vice-principal or designate intends to conduct a search of a student or their possessions, the following guidelines will be observed:
- before the search begins, the student will be notified why the administrator believes a search is necessary
- the search will be conducted in a private area respecting the rights of the student to be treated fairly (except lockers which must be searched in hallways)
- a second adult will be present for the search
- where reasonably possible a search will be conducted by a person of the same gender as the student and
- a reasonable attempt will be made to contact the parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) prior to the search.
Context
The 21st century learner has access to cell phones, Ipods, laptops, and tablets. These devices can certainly be helpful learning tools assisting students with web browsing, voice recording, filming, calculating and many other tasks. Many experts predict students will require handheld devices as an integral part of their learning experience within the next 5 years. Our renovation and construction has resulted in our students having wireless access at almost any location on school grounds. As such, it makes sense that we move from policy of written policy of prohibition (with a very different reality) to a policy of responsible digital citizenship.
Policy
Individual teachers will set the electronic device policy in their own classroom. Safety concerns in some areas may mean that cell phones and Ipods are not permitted in the work area at all. Each teacher should include his/her policy on his/her course outline as well as post the policy in the room for students to see. At the beginning of the year each individual teacher will explicitly teach his/her policy with additional review of the policy occurring throughout the year. As well, administration will cover off general digital citizenship guidelines throughout the school year.
General Guidelines
All use of electronic devices (including cell phones, Ipods, laptops, computers etc) must be consistent the general guidelines of our Code of Conduct. Students are reminded that any harassment or bullying of other students using electronic devices is strictly prohibited. Further, students are reminded that even if the harassing or bullying behavior occurs away from the school, the Code of Conduct may require the school to act in any situation that impacts our learning environment.
Cell phones may only be used during class time with express permission from the classroom teacher. Cell phones should remain on silent (not ring or vibrate). Students who receive permission from a teacher to make an emergency phone call should step outside of the classroom and quickly make the call. Again, it is up to the teacher to grant permission for this matter.
Unacceptable Use
- using electronic devices contrary to teacher/classroom policy
- using an electronic device inappropriately towards another community member
- using an electronic device on the school grounds to take photographs or video without teacher or administrative permission
- using any piece of school-owned technology to harm another community member
- Progressive Discipline for Inappropriate Use
On the first classroom offence the teacher may send the phone to the office with a note attached. The teacher will phone the parent to notify the parent of the situation and the student can pick the phone up from administration at the end of the day
On a second offence the student may be sent to the office immediately. The cell phone will be kept by administration until the next morning. Administration will contact the parent to inform them of the second offence.
On a third offence the student may be sent to the office again with the phone being confiscated until a parent meeting occurs. At the parent meeting administration will issue a letter to the student preventing them for being in possession of an electronic device at school for a certain amount of time.
Upon an office referral for a fourth offence, the student will face additional discipline including possible suspension and the student may lose the privilege of electronic device use for the remainder of the year.
Any incident deemed serious enough may result in immediate loss of electronic device privilege and possible other consequences.
Any student who is in the office dealing with an administrator is required to surrender his/her cellphone for the duration of the time spent in the office.
As the school does not mandate students bring electronic devices to school, students do so at their own risk. The school is not responsible for any damage or loss to electronic devices.