Students AP 350 - Appendix A: Student Code of Conduct

Background

The District endorses a set of desirable personal and interpersonal character traits that incorporate universal values of respect, integrity, empathy, compassion, independence, cooperation, responsibility and self-control.

Students are expected to learn, practice and develop such personal and interpersonal character traits and to contribute to the development of welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments. Students are further expected to respect diversity and refrain from demonstrating any form of discrimination as set out in the Alberta Human Rights Act, including gender expression and gender identity as set out in the Alberta Bill of Rights. Students are to foster a sense of belonging amongst all students.

Within the aforementioned context, students are expected to pursue academic and cultural studies to maximize their individual potential in becoming self-reliant, responsive and contributing members of society.

Procedures

1. In displaying acceptable behaviour, students are expected to:
2. Students shall:
   1. Conduct themselves so as to reasonably comply with the following code of conduct:
   2. Be diligent in pursuing their studies;
   3. Attend school regularly and punctually;
   4. Co-operate  fully with everyone authorized by the Board to provide education programs and other services;
   5. Comply with the rules of the school;
   6. Account to their teachers for their conduct;
   7. Respect the rights of others.
   8. Ensure that conduct contributes to a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that respects diversity and fosters a sense of belonging;
   9. Refrain from, report and not tolerate bullying or bullying behaviour directed towards others in the school, whether or not it occurs within the school building, during the school day or by electronic means;
   10. Positively contribute to the school and community;
   11. Demonstrate desirable personal characteristics and behaviors when interacting with others that are respectful, responsible, fair, honest, caring, loyal and committed to democratic ideals.
3. Students are accountable for demonstrating respect for:
   1. Authority;
   2. Others and their property;
   3. School property, equipment and textbooks; and
   4. Differences in ne another such as race, religious beliefs, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status, and/or sexual orientation.
4. Students are prohibited from engaging in unacceptable behaviour, whether it occurs within the school building, during the school day or by electronic means.
5. Examples of such behaviours include, but are not limited to:
   1. Use, possession of, sale, distribution of or active contact with, a weapon on a student’s person, in a student’s locker or desk, on District property, or in a vehicle on District property used by a student or occupied by a student as a passenger;
   2. Threats;
   3. Conduct which endangers others;
   4. Encouraging conduct which endangers or may endanger others;
   5. Encouraging unacceptable conduct;
   6. Use or display of improper, obscene or abusive language;
   7. Distribution or display of offensive messages or pictures;
   8. Theft, including identity theft;
   9. Assault;
   10. Willful damage to school or others’ property;
   11. Use, possession of, distribution of, or active contact with, or collection of money for illicit drugs, alcohol, cannabis, or inhalants in school, on District property or in the context of any school-related activity;
   12. Attending school or any school-related activity under the influence of illicit drugs, alcohol, cannabis or inhalants;
   13. Personal or sexual harassment;
   14. Hazing, initiation activities, the formation or the operation of sororities, fraternities, gangs and secret organizations;
   15. Extortion;
   16. Disruptive behaviour, willful disobedience or defiance of authority;
   17. Interfering with the orderly conduct of classes or the school;
   18. Tampering with fire alarms and safety equipment;
   19. Criminal activity;
   20. Contravention of the school’s code of conduct;
   21. Workplace violence;
   22. Bullying, including cyber-bullying; and
   23. Inappropriate information technology use.
6. Unacceptable student behaviour:
   1. May be grounds for disciplinary action; and
   2. Provides an opportunity for critical learning in the areas of:
      1. Personal accountability and responsibility;
      2. The development of empathy;
      3. Conflict resolution;
      4. Communication; and
      5. Social skills development.
7. When responding to unacceptable student behaviour, the following are to be considered:
   1. The effect of the student’s behaviour upon other students, the staff, the school, and the community;
   2. The nature of the action or incident that calls for disciplinary or alternative measures;
   3. The student’s previous conduct and previous interventions;
   4. The student’s age, maturity and individual circumstances;
   5. The impact of proposed action on the student’s future behaviour;
   6. The student’s learning needs; and
   7. Any other information considered appropriate or relevant.
8. The consequences of unacceptable behaviour may be:
   1. Assignment of a student whose behaviour is unacceptable, disruptive or destructive to an alternate supervised location;
   2. Short term removal of privileges;
   3. Detention;
   4. Use of reasonable force as required by way of correction to restrain a student from carrying out a violent or destructive act that could harm the student or others;
   5. Alternative interventions such as community conferencing or other forms of restorative justice;
   6. Corrective student transfer;
   7. Suspension; and
   8. Recommendation for expulsion.
9. Support will be provided for students who are impacted by inappropriate behaviour as well as for students who engage in inappropriate behaviour.
10. Students will contribute, to the greatest extent possible, to a learning environment that is well-ordered, peaceful, safe, non-threatening, and conducive to learning and optimal growth.