Our school is committed to providing an opportunity for all students to become successful, contributing members of our community and society. In doing so, everyone is expected to share in the responsibility of creating a safe, caring school environment that is based on a school culture of mutual respect and trust.

STUDENT RIGHTS		STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Offered an educational program To be safe To be respected To a clean school To privacy and safety of property To be heard and listened to To have support and help in solving problems		Attend regularly, be punctual and equipped and work to potential. To not threaten, harass or intimidate, or use violence against anyone. To treat all others with respect in what we say, how we say it and through actions To not litter, smoke off school property (with parent permission only) To respect school and personal property of all others. Speak in a quiet manner when it is appropriate to do so. To ask for assistance when needed and to assist other students in a positive manner.

Our code of conduct is posted on our website and within our school. A copy is given to each classroom, student/family and staff member each September. This Code of Conduct applies to all students and adults who are part of the Gold River Secondary School Community.

The Board of Education will take all reasonable steps to prevent retaliation by any person against any student who has made a complaint of a breach of the Code of Conduct.
No one shall make public anything that discriminates or humiliates anyone. Also, no one shall, without legal reason, deny anyone any service or facility customarily available to the public.

R     We respect everyone’s rights and responsibilities

E     We use education to explore our potential

S     Our school spirit enriches our environment

P     Preparedness is important in our school community

E     We respect everyone and our school environment

C     We are caring and courteous towards each other

T     We believe in trust and teamwork

Statement of Purpose

This Code sets our expectations for behaviour of all while at school, going to and from school, using the internet and while attending any school function or activity at any location.

Conduct Expectations

Acceptable Conduct

It is expected that adults within the School community will be role models offering leadership and demonstration of skills in this area.

Principal and Vice Principal, under the direction of their school board, take a leadership role in the daily operation of a school. They provide this leadership by:

·· Demonstrating care and commitment to academic excellence and a safe teaching and learning environment;
·· Holding everyone, under their authority, accountable for their behaviour and actions;
·· Communicating regularly and meaningfully with all members of their school community.

Teachers and School Staff, under the leadership of their principals, maintain order in the school and are expected to hold everyone to the highest standard of respectful and responsible behaviour. As role models, staff uphold these high standards when they:

·· Help students work to their full potential and develop their self-worth;
·· Communicate regularly and meaningfully with parents;
·· Maintain consistent standards of behaviour for all students;
·· Demonstrate respect for all students, staff and parents;
·· Prepare students for the full responsibilities for citizenship.

Students are to be treated with respect and dignity. In return, they must demonstrate respect for themselves, for others and for the responsibilities of citizenship through acceptable behaviour. Respect and responsibility are demonstrated when a student:

·· Comes to school prepared, on time and ready to learn;
·· Shows respect for themselves, others and those in authority;
·· Refrains from bringing anything to school that may compromise the safety of others;
·· Follows the established rules and takes responsibility for his or her own actions.

Parents play an important role in the education of their children and have a responsibility to support the efforts of school staff in maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment for all students. Parents fulfill this responsibility when they:

·· Show an active interest in their child’s school work and progress;
·· Communicate regularly with the 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;
·· Assist school staff in dealing with discipline issues;
·· Demonstrate respect for all students, staff and parents.

Community Members are essential partners in making our schools and communities safer. Community members need to support and respect the rules of their local schools. The school community in return needs to respect the rights of the larger community.

Unacceptable Conduct

With clear expectations of acceptable conduct in place, a safe, caring and positive environment is promoted by everyone. Should unacceptable actions occur they will be dealt with through disciplinary action. Whenever possible consequences must be preventative and restorative rather than merely punitive. Each student will be dealt with on an individual basis and consequences will take into consideration the intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional, or behavioural abilities of the student displaying unacceptable actions.

In our school community these actions are unacceptable:
Behaviours that:

·· Interfere with the learning of others
·· Create unsafe conditions

·· Bullying, harassment or intimidation (including the internet)
·· Physical violence
·· Retribution against a person who has reported incidents

Illegal acts, such as:

·· Possession, use or distribution of illegal or restricted substances
·· Possession or use of weapons
·· Theft of or damage to property

APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOURS

Being respectful, responsible, safe Following school and classroom rules Cleaning up Demonstrates good sportsmanship Recognizing achievement Wearing appropriate clothing (3 B’s) Showing initiative Taking responsibility for work Being prepared for school

Being positively assertive Being well organize Acting according to a good conscience Showing compassion and empathy Walking safely in the halls Removing all head gear upon entering the school Playing MP3 players outside of classtime Walking my bicycle on school grounds

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOURS (MINOR)

Swearing Sexual touching Name calling Leaving class without permission Chronic lateness Throwing

Rough play Disrespect Taking photographs in school Classroom disruption Unsafe behaviour Irresponsible behaviour

Examples of Consequences/Interventions

Contact parents Detentions “Loss of privileges” (Direct Supervision) Warning Counselling

Written apology Thinking paper Problem solving Verbal apology Supervised School service

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOURS (MAJOR)

Going off campus during school hours Cigarettes Fighting Bullying (including the internet) verbal/physical/relational Harassment Theft Continually wandering hallways

Defiance Abusive language Vandalism/Graffiti Drugs/alcohol at school Weapons Unsafe behaviours

Examples of Consequences/Interventions

Re-entry meeting with parent, teacher, counsellor, student & administration
Parents’ interview at school
Removal from situation
Loss of privileges
Restitution
Supervised School service
Suspension (In or Out of School)
Problem solving
Contracts
Counselling

Notifications

School officials have a responsibility to advise other parties of major breaches of the code of conduct.

· Parents of student offender(s) – in every instance
· Parents of student victim(s) – in every instance
· School district officials – as required by school and district policy
· Police and/or other agencies – as required by law
· 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.

· Responses to unacceptable conduct will be consistent and fair.
· Disciplinary action, whenever possible, will be preventative and restorative, rather than merely punitive.
· Students, as often as possible, will participate in the development of meaningful consequences.

DRESS CODE

Students are expected to maintain reasonable standards of personal hygiene and cleanliness and to dress in a manner that is in keeping with the establishment and maintenance of a positive school climate. Parents are asked to ensure that students dress with good taste. Students are responsible that their dress is in good taste, appropriate for specific learning activities and not offensive through the display of words or visuals that involve and/or promote drugs or alcohol, are sexual in nature or demeaning to any individual or group. None of the 3 B’s are to be exposed (Bellies, Butts, Boobs).

Students are to refrain from wearing caps, hoods or hats at any time inside the school. Students are also not permitted to use or wear any electronic devices while inside classrooms. This includes using or wearing cell phones, CD players, MP3 or iPod players or similar devices.

ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY

Students are expected to attend classes and be on time except for illness, family need or those occasions when a staff member requires a student to be present for a discussion requiring immediate resolution. Parents are expected to notify the school by phone or a signed note when a student will be absent or late due to illness or family need. If this is not done, it will be recorded as an unexcused absence or late. If a student leaves the school during the day and is not returning to school for the remaining classes, it will be an unexcused absence if the office is not notified by a phone call or signed note from a parent. Students who arrive late to school in the morning or after the lunch break are asked to sign in at the office before going to class. If a student is late between classes, they will be dealt with by the classroom teacher.

VISITING GRSS

All guests are asked to report to the office when entering or leaving the school premises.

STUDENTS ON STUDY BLOCK

Only students in Grades 11 or 12 may, with parent’s approval schedule into their timetable a study block. Study blocks will be supervised and assigned to a class unless the student meets all of the following criteria:

· a 70% average on the last report card
· no grades that are C- or lower
· written approval from a parent/guardian that an unsupervised is approved
· regular attendance and punctuality

FOOD/BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION IN SCHOOL

In order to maintain a clean and safe learning environment students are asked to:

· eat lunch in the main foyer only or at the picnic tables
· use garbage cans inside/outside the school
· eat or use beverages in class only with the teacher’s permission
· absolutely no food or beverages can be consumed in the following places:

computer labs
library
near classroom computers
office waiting area

STUDENT USE OF TELEPHONES

Cell phones are not permitted to be used inside the school.

Students are asked to have pre-arranged with parents written notes or phone call from home informing the office when students need to sign out early, will be late or are/were absent.

Student use of school phones is by permission of the staff and is restricted to emergency needs only.

ETHICAL USE OF TECHNOLOGY

Students and parents/guardians are required to read, agree to, and sign the GRSS Acceptable Use of Technology Policy before students are allowed to access to technologies in support of their learning. The staff realizes that enforcing such a policy is challenging and is no substitute for students exercising appropriate, responsible, ethical behaviour. Students violating the school’s ethical use of technology policies will be subject to loss of privileges to use technology in support of learning and subject to the school’s reasonable discipline policy.

SMOKING

As of September 2, 2007 and March 31, 2008, our school is completely tobacco-free, as a result of recent changes to the Tobacco Sales Act, now renamed the Tobacco Control Act.

This means that from the moment students, staff or visitors enter school grounds, they can no longer smoke or use tobacco, or hold lighted tobacco, at any time, day or night, whether or not school is in session. Anyone who breaches this new legislative provision can face a fine of up to $575. The Board of Education Policy E.19 supports this legislation.

Each year the school will conduct a smoking awareness/cessation program available to all students.

EMERGENCY DRILLS/PROCEDURES

During all emergency drills or on the occasion of a genuine emergency all members of the school are expected to follow known and posted procedures, respond positively to all requests from school or emergency personnel and act in a manner that is appropriate to the situation.