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Code of Conduct

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Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board is committed to making each and every one of its schools a caring place that is safe for learning.

Every student deserves to feel and be safe in a school, on the school grounds, on the school bus and at school events and activities. At Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB), we know safety is essential to good learning. Students learn and teachers teach more successfully when schools are safe.

What is a Code of Conduct?

The Code of Conduct establishes standards of behaviour that are consistent with the Provincial Code of Conduct and applies to all members of the school community. The Code of Conduct promotes respect within the learning and teaching environment, and sets clear Board and school standards of behaviour.

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board believes that all individuals attending on Board or school property, on school buses, or at school-related events or activities, should be treated with dignity and respect.

The Code of Conduct promotes a positive school climate which is a contributing factor to a safe and orderly environment. It also supports Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board’s commitment to all who work and engage in our schools feeling safe, supported and accepted.

The purposes of this Code of Conduct are as follows:

To ensure that all members of the school community, are treated with respect and dignity, regardless of, for example, race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, sex, disability, creed, family status, or socio‐economic status.
To promote responsible citizenship by encouraging appropriate participation in the civic life of the school community.
To maintain an environment where conflict and difference can be addressed in a manner characterized by respect and civility.
To encourage the use of non‐violent means to resolve conflict.
To promote the safety of people in the schools.
To prohibit the use of alcohol, illegal drugs, weapons and firearms.

Principals will hold everyone to the highest standard of respectful/responsible behaviour and will take a daily leadership role in the school by:

Demonstrating care and commitment to academic excellence in a safe teaching and learning environment
Holding everyone, under their authority, accountable for their behaviour and actions
Empowering students to be positive leaders in their school and community
Communicating regularly and meaningfully with all members of their school community
Modeling respect, responsibility, and civility and ensuring these are taught as part of the curriculum
Maintaining consistent standards of behaviour for all students

School staff will hold everyone to the highest standard of respectful/responsible behaviour by:

Helping students work to their full potential and self-worth
Empowering students to be leaders in class, school and community
Communicating regularly and meaningfully with parents
Maintaining consistent standards of behaviour for all students
Demonstrating respect for all members of the school community
Promoting positive citizenship

Students demonstrate respect and responsibility when they:

Come to school prepared, on time, and ready to learn
Show respect for themselves, others and those in authority
Refrain from bringing anything to school that may compromise the safety of self or others
Demonstrate responsibility for actions or behaviour on or off school property or outside of the school day that would have an impact on the school climate
Follow the established rules and take responsibility for their own actions
Model the character attributes of Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
Demonstrate appropriate participation in the civic life of the community.

Parents support a safe and respectful learning environment when they:

Show an active interest in their child’s school work and progress
Communicate regularly with school Administrators
Help their child be neat, appropriately dressed and prepared for school
Ensure that their child attends school regularly and on time
Promptly report to the school their child’s absence or late arrival
Become familiar with the Code of Conduct and school rules
Encourage and assist their child in following the rules of behaviour
Assist school staff in dealing with disciplinary issues involving their child.

School councils are parent‐directed advisory bodies, representative of all members of the school community. In providing advice to the principal, district and Ministry of Education, school councils will adhere to the standards of behaviour expected in the schools and will:

focus their activities on the fundamental goal of improving student learning;
play a strong role in fostering participation by parents and partnerships with community groups
be proactively involved in plans to improve their schools.

Volunteers provide their services to the school in order to enhance school‐based activities and academic learning. Under the direction of the principal, volunteers participate in both instructional and co‐instructional activities. In fulfilling their role, volunteers will:

adhere to the terms of the board and school codes of conduct;
make time for, and honour commitments to the activities for which they are volunteering;
participate in required screening processes and the training specifically provided to volunteers;
and strive to improve their skills in the activities for which they are volunteering.

Respect, Civility and Responsible Citizenship

All members of the school community, including Trustees, Board employees, students, parents, Home and School, School Council, visitors, volunteers, contractors, community members on school premises, while on school buses, at school-related events or activities, or in any other circumstances that could have an impact on the climate of the school must:

Respect and comply with all applicable federal, provincial, and municipal laws
Demonstrate honesty and integrity
Respect differences in people, their ideas, and their opinions
Treat one another with dignity and respect at all times, and especially when there is disagreement
Respect and treat others fairly, regardless of, for example, race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or ability
Respect the rights of others
Show proper care and regard for school property and the property of others
Take appropriate measures to help those in need
Seek assistance from a member of the school staff, if necessary, to resolve conflict peacefully
Respect all members of the school community, especially persons in positions of authority
Respect the needs of others to work in an environment that is conducive to learning and teaching; and/or not swear at a teacher or at another person in a position of authority.

Safety

All members of the school community must not:

Engage in any bullying behaviours including cyberbullying
Commit sexual assault
Traffic weapons or illegal drugs
Give drugs or alcohol to a minor
Commit theft or robbery (theft with violence)
Be in possession of any weapon, including firearms
Utter a threat or use any object to threaten or intimidate another person
Cause injury to any person with an object
Be in possession of, or be under the influence of, or provide others with alcohol or illegal drugs
Inflict or encourage others to inflict mental or bodily harm on another person
Engage in propaganda and other forms of behaviour motivated by hate or bias
Commit an act of vandalism that causes extensive damage to school property or to property located on the premises of the school.

References

Appropriate Dress

Appropriate dress is attire that is neat, clean, suited to the learning task, and in keeping with a safe, respectful learning environment. Safe and respectful learning environments allow both teaching and learning to occur.

Please note: This is intended for information purposes. It is not suitable for legal advice and is subject to all applicable laws and Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board policies.

Updated on Friday, November 01, 2019.

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