Purpose:

We, the students and staff at SJ Burnside Education Centre, are committed to promoting a safe learning environment that respects the rights of all individuals, values diversity, and is free from all forms of discrimination, including: race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, gender, sex, sexual orientation, age. In keeping with these principles and to further their aims, the purpose of this code of conduct is:

1. To establish and maintain appropriate balances among individual and collective rights, freedoms and responsibilities.
2. To clarify and publish expectations for student behaviour while at school, and while attending any school function or activity at any location.

Acceptable Conduct:

Students will:

1. Demonstrate the highest standards of conduct, honesty, integrity and good judgment when involved in school sponsored activities.
2. Be cooperative, courteous and respectful in dealings with students, school staff, teachers, administrators and school visitors.
3. Respect the rights of others. Students will not take items that do not belong to them and will not threaten or interfere with other students.
4. Carry out directions by school staff, teachers and administrators.
5. Take care of the books, equipment and learning materials provided for them.
6. Have read “Expectations for Students Using School or District Electronic Communication Systems” and agree to those rules for being a responsible computer user.
7. Treat the school building and grounds with care, including the prevention of litter.
8. Have no contact with alcohol, drugs or weapons during the school day while at school or on the school grounds, or in attendance at any school sponsored event in the community at any time.
9. Act as responsible members of the school neighbourhood, by being courteous to people living in the area, by refraining from disturbing or disrupting their daily activities and by being respectful of their property.

Unacceptable Conduct:

Students will not:

1. Interfere with the learning of others.
2. Interfere with a safe, orderly learning environment.
3. Create unsafe conditions.
4. Bully, harass or intimidate.
5. Use physical violence.
6. Use retribution against a person who has reported incidents.
7. Possess, use or distribute illegal or restricted substances.
8. Possess or use weapons.
9. Steal or damage property.

Rising Expectations:

As students grow older and mature, our expectations regarding their conduct grow too. Therefore, it is expected students will understand the accountability we hold to their actions and practice self-disciple to that end.

CELL PHONE POLICY

The use of personal digital devices is restricted during instructional hours to facilitate focused learning and promote online safety. It is expected that personal digital devices are always stored out of sight and on silent or airplane mode to limit in-class distractions and interruptions.

• The use of personal digital devices during instructional hours is at the teacher’s discretion and direction for the purposes of instruction and promoting digital literacy. Use during class time is under the supervision of a teacher who may incorporate critical dialogue regarding responsible and appropriate use of devices.
• The use of personal digital devices outside of instructional hours is permitted provided the use does not result in a privacy breach, bullying/harassment, or illegal activity.
• No photos, video, or audio recordings will be taken of students or staff without consent from the individual.
• The main office phone at the school may be used to make and receive calls if students and their parent(s) or caregiver(s) need to communicate during instructional time.

Students have the opportunity to manage the policy themselves, but further support will also be available.

If a staff member has asked you to stop letting your device interfere with learning, please do so. If you are unable to do that, you will be asked to speak with a staff member about creating a plan to support healthy technology use.  We will involve parents or guardians if these measures are not successful.

As a staff, we want to best prepare you for life beyond our walls and support you in gaining the skills to manage your personal technology.

Consequences:

The severity and frequency of unacceptable conduct as well as the age and maturity of students is considered in disciplinary action taken. In keeping with this principle:

1. Responses to unacceptable conduct are fair and consistent, while reflective of the particular conduct in question.
2. Disciplinary action, wherever possible, is preventative and restorative, rather than merely punitive.
3. Students, as often as possible, are encouraged to participate in the development of meaningful consequences for violations of the established code of conduct.

Notification:

School administrators and teachers may have the responsibility to advise other parties of the serious breaches of the code of conduct to:

1. Parents of student offender(s) – in every instance.
2. Parents of student victim(s) – in every instance.
3. School district officials – as required by school district policy.
4. Police and/or other agencies – as required by law.
5. All parents – when deemed to be important to reassure members of the school community that school officials are aware of a serious situation or incident and are taking appropriate action to address it.

Retaliation Prevention:

SJ Burnside Education Centre will take all reasonable steps to prevent retaliation against a student who has made a complaint of a breach of a code of conduct.

Student conduct and discipline actions shall be in accordance with The Local Education Agreement with Songhees Nation and The Greater Victoria Board of Education (Section 11.0) and the Local Education Agreement with Esquimalt Nation and The Greater Victoria Board of Education (Section 12.0).