TANNER’S CROSSING SCHOOL
THE TEAM THAT CARES AND SHARES
CODE OF CONDUCT
Tanner’s Crossing School staff, students, and parents are working together as a team to ensure we provide a safe and positive educational environment. We expect everyone to take an active role to make sure that acceptable behaviour at Tanner’s Crossing School will be met.
Tanner’s Crossing School will provide quality learning opportunities
within a safe and respectful school community.
As a school community we believe:
…..each child has unique interests, abilities and needs. Education helps to develop the potential of each individual by equipping every student with techniques and strategies needed to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.
….. our school contributes to the social development of children by teaching respect for themselves and others.
…..in encouraging each student to take responsibility for his or her learning and actions.
T.C.S. Beliefs
Learning Respect
Fun
Kindness Teamwork
Safety
Our goal:
is student self-discipline using the Restitution model. We believe that students can learn to manage their own behaviour. Mistakes are an opportunity to learn. Restitution, as part of discipline, creates a balance that allows students to fix their mistakes in order to be strengthened and learn from the experience. Using Restitution strategies staff members will offer guidance as students learn to meet their
needs within the parameters of the school’s expectations.
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE STUDENTS
• Be on time and prepared to learn.
• Attend school regularly.
• Work and play safely at all times.
• Speak, act and write respectfully to all students and adults regardless of race, national or ethnic
origin, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, or mental or physical ability.
• Respect all personal and school property.
• Adhere to school policies respecting the appropriate use of electronic mail and the internet,
including prohibition of materials that the school has determined to be objectionable.
• Follow guidelines for appropriate school attire. Clothing that promotes unhealthy lifestyles; alcohol,
drugs, tobacco products or gangs is inappropriate. Clothing with profanity, offensive words, slogans
or pictures is also considered inappropriate. Hats and coats are not to be worn in the classrooms.
Our administration and staff have the discretion to make decisions on what is appropriate or
inappropriate attire for school.
• Comply with our code of conduct.
FOR THE STAFF
• Provide the programs and services prescribed by the Rolling River School Division and the
Department of Education.
• Establish and maintain a positive, safe and secure learning environment.
• Be positive role models.
• Evaluate students’ achievement through evaluation procedures as per division policy.
• Keep students, parents/guardians and administration informed about student progress, attendance
and behaviour.
• Show common courtesy and respect to all regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, colour,
religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, or mental or physical ability.
• Treat students, parents and other staff members fairly and consistently.
• Respect confidential information.
• Dress appropriately for the working environment.
• Assist students in resolving conflicts peacefully and use the Code of Conduct to encourage
appropriate behaviour.
• Encourage a non-violent and non-prejudiced attitude.
• Sexual harassment, i.e., unwanted comments (verbal or written) and/or touching will not be
tolerated.
• Provide an environment that promotes self-esteem and self-discipline.
FOR THE PARENT/GUARDIAN
• Make sure your children attend classes regularly, arrive at school on time, do their homework,
study for tests and complete work missed due to absences.
• Ensure your children have the necessary school supplies.
• Attend school events, support the school and stay in contact with school staff.
• Help your children develop positive attitudes towards school and respect the staff, other students
and school property.
• Show common courtesy and respect to all; abusive language and aggressive behaviour are
unacceptable at all times.
• Speak, act and write respectfully to all students and adults regardless of race, national or ethnic
origin, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, or mental or physical ability.
• Encourage the peaceful resolution of conflict. Discourage violent or aggressive behaviour to solve
a problem.
• Should there be a concern, try to solve it with your child’s teacher. If unresolved, contact the
principal. If the problem remains, then contact the Superintendent. If the concern is not resolved at
this level, then contact the Board of Trustees. (As per division policy)
• Discuss the content of the Code of Conduct with your children.
• Provide a safe and secure environment (proper rest, hygiene and nutrition) which will enable your
children to learn.
BOTTOM LINES
Student Discipline & Bottom Lines
Bottom lines are a list of behaviours that are considered totally unacceptable. Should these behaviours occur, staff will deal with the student. Typically, the student is removed from the group as an immediate consequence. The duration of the removal is dependent on the severity and frequency of the behaviour. This is not restitution, however, restitution may take place later. The following list provides examples of
bottom line behaviours;
• physically, sexually or emotionally (orally, in writing, cyber bullying, or otherwise) abusing any
person
• discriminating on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, age, or mental or physical ability as set out in sub section 9(2) of the Human Rights
Code
• using, possessing or being under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs at school or school
sponsored events.
• gang involvement
• possessing a weapon, at school or school sponsored events.
• smoking or the possession of tobacco products at school or school sponsored events
• direct defiance of an adult.
• vandalism or theft.
Responses
The management of student behaviour hinges on a cooperative approach between parents/guardians, the student and school personnel. Contact with parents/guardians is important to discuss specific behaviours of the student and steps necessary to change the behaviour. Consequences
for inappropriate behaviour will be based on the individual needs of the student (social, personal and academic development); the degree of the problem; and the ability of the student to understand and handle the consequences. All appeals should be directed to the person who implemented the consequence before going to the next level in accordance with school division policy (KLD) resolving complaints (Teacher,
Principal, Superintendent, Trustee, School Board of Trustees).
Important goals of our responses are:
to correct the misbehaviour
to support the student in making appropriate choices
to make right what was wrong
to foster good personal relationships in the future
to protect and foster self-worth, acceptance and success
Typical responses
Warning/reminder
Any staff member supervising or observing inappropriate student behaviour may give a warning/reminder. Staff will use thirty-second interventions.
Informal teacher/student discussion/feed-back on behaviour and circumstances
A teacher talks with the student to reach an agreement regarding the student’s behaviour. The parent/guardian may be contacted in some circumstances.
Informal teacher / student / administrator discussion
Phone call to parents by teacher or administrator
Related assignment or activity
Removal of privileges
Privileges such as: access to the playgrounds, lunch program, canteen, library, field trips, extra-curricular and interscholastic activities and/or bus transportation are removed under certain circumstances. The school administrator and/or teacher will notify the parent/guardian when a removal of privileges occurs.
Parent/guardian involvement
Depending on the situation, parent/guardian may be contacted to discuss the specific behaviour of the student and steps which must be undertaken to change the behaviour. The nature of contact could vary from a telephone conversation to a formal conference at the school with parent/guardian, the student and school personnel.
School support team involvement
A conference or series of conferences are held with the Student Services Teachers and the administration, with the specific goal of developing a plan for changing attitudes and improving student behaviour. The parent/guardian will be notified.
Replacement of damaged, lost, or stolen property
The student and/or parent/guardian are required to compensate an individual or the school for damages incurred. Such restitution may be monetary in nature, but when appropriate, could take alternative forms such as community service or replacement/repair of damage.
Withdrawal from classroom setting
Where specific unacceptable behaviour is deemed to have a negative impact upon the classroom learning environment, the student is withdrawn to a supervised alternate location for a “cooling off” period of time. The length of time of the withdrawal would be individually determined. Prolonged withdrawals would occur only with parental input.
In-school suspension
The school team and/or administrators will determine the duration and location of a suspension. The student will work in a designated area away from other students for one to two days. Parents will be notified.
Clinical Services Unit
Clinical Services Unit personnel assist in the remediation of some behaviours. Such involvement may include a level of counseling for the student that is beyond the school’s capabilities. In all cases, parental permission is sought.
External agency involvement
In some circumstances, student behaviour may involve violation of the law (e.g. drug-related, theft, assault). In such cases, the police are informed by the school administration. Parent/guardians are informed immediately of such action. Other circumstances may result in a referral to Child and Family Service workers. Where a student discloses abuse, the teacher/ administrator must by law contact Child and Family Services.
Suspension
Suspension from school is a serious consequence and is imposed subject to Division Policy JKD/JKE. In such cases, the necessary documentation is forwarded to specified administrative personnel required by policy JKD/JKE. Due process is a significant element of the formal suspension alternative. In all cases of suspension, the parent/guardian is/are notified and the suspension is subject to appeal. The maximum
single suspensions given are as follows:
Principal - up to five days: more than five days requires the Superintendent’s approval.
Superintendent - up to six weeks.
Expulsion
Expulsion by the Board of Trustees is a serious consequence, resulting when it is determined that a student’s continued presence in the division’s schools is injurious to other students. Expulsion requires an official action by the Board of Trustees, and is completed in accordance with the Public Schools Act, Section 48(4) and Division Policy JKD/JKE. An expulsion means that the student may not attend any school operated by the Rolling River School Division until such time as the Board of Trustees may remove the expulsion.
