About Heximer Ave

Code of Conduct

Introduction

A school is a place that promotes responsibility, respect, civility and academic excellence in a safe learning and teaching environment. All students, parents, teachers and staff have the right to be safe, and feel safe, in their community. With this right comes the responsibility to be law abiding citizens and to be accountable for actions that put at risk the safety of others or oneself.
(Ontario Schools Code of Conduct, 2000)

The District School Board of Niagara believes that students should place a high value on excellence, integrity, self-discipline, tolerance and respect for others. Therefore, the discipline policy at Heximer School is designed to develop self-worth, self-control and self-esteem.

Discipline is learned and it should be taught in the home, the school, and the community. It is a developmental process that ultimately should result in self-discipline and appropriate responses in society. This pamphlet has been revised in order to comply with the Ontario Schools Code of Conduct, which sets clear provincial standards of behaviour for students and all individuals involved in the publicly funded schools system - parents or guardians, volunteers, teachers, and other staff members - whether they are on school property, on school buses, or at school-authorized events or activities.

The responsibilities in these guidelines are important for everyone to understand and practice. They will help us prepare to be responsible and caring citizens as well as develop a respectful attitude towards ourselves, others, our school and our community.

Responsibilites & Expectations

To ensure a safe and supportive learning environment everyone must meet the following expectations and responsibilities.

Behavioural Expectations of our Students

Exercise self-discipline and act responsibly
Come to school on time, prepared, and ready to learn
Comply with reasonable and fair requests of the teachers
Respect school property and the property of others
Show respect for themselves, for others, and those in authority
Observe the policies and routines of our school
Dress appropriately - no short shorts, halter tops, tube tops, bare midriffs, tank tops, t-shirts with questionable messages
Refrain from bringing anything to school that may compromise the safety of others
Exhibit sportsman-like conduct
Show responsible behaviour on the way to and from school and during school trips
Follow the established behavioural and safety rules and take responsibility for your own actions

Safety Expectations of our Students

Make sure someone (parent, teacher, peer) knows where you are at all times
Walk with someone else to and from school
Walk briskly and be aware of your surroundings
A "No Body Contact" rule (N.B.C.) Is always in effect(no pushing, play fighting, rough housing)
Throw no snow, sand or stones
Hard balls are not allowed on school property
Use playground and equipment safely
Running is not allowed anywhere inside the school
Skateboards, rollerblades, CD Walkmans, and winter sleds are not allowed on school property
Bicycles must be walked on school property
The parking areas are out of bounds for students
Grade 3 to 8 cyclists must wear helmets to and from school
Pets are not allowed on school property
Chewing gum and peanut products are not allowed at school
Hats must remain off inside the school
Heximer is a SMOKE FREE environment

Possible Consequences

The following range of consequences is intended to protect the safety and rights of all students and staff. In selecting the course of action to be taken, the teacher/principal will consider the age of the child, the nature of the offence, the number of previous infractions and other mitigating factors:

warnings / caution
detention(s)
parental contact
parent-child-school conference
restitution, replacement, compensation
community service
withdrawal of privileges and/or activities (yard, bus, teams, clubs)
informal suspension
involvement with police, school attendance or youth counselors, or other community agencies
teacher-pupil, office-pupil counseling
formal suspension
in-school suspension
formal apology
discussion with principal

Expectations of our TEACHERS:

Provide consistent, fair, and judicious discipline to all students
Communicate regularly and meaningfully with parents
Help students work to their full potential and develop their self worth
Provide a caring learning environment
Demonstrate respect for all staff, students and parents
Prepare students for the full responsibilities of citizenship

Expectations of our PARENTS:

Show an active interest in their child's school work and progress
Communicate regularly with the school
Help their children be neat, dress appropriately 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 rules of behaviour
Assist school staff in dealing with disciplinary issues

Expectations of our SUPPORT STAFF:

Work cooperatively with others including students, parents, and teachers
Promote effective and positive public relations

Expectations of our VISITORS:

Use front doors when entering the school
Report to the office and receive a volunteer button
Observe the rules of the school when visiting

The Education Act of the Province of Ontario also outlines Responsibilities and Consequences

Excerpts follow:

"A pupil shall exercise discipline, accept such discipline as would be exercised by a kind, firm and judicious parent; be diligent in his/her studies, courteous to his/her classmates and obedient and courteous to teachers..."

"Every pupil is responsible to the Principal of the school that he/she attends for his/her conduct on the school premises, on out-of-school activities that are part of the school program, and while traveling on a school bus..."

"A Principal may suspend a pupil ... because of persistent truancy, willful destruction of school property, use of profane or improper language, persistent opposition to authority, habitual neglect of duty, conduct injurious to the moral tone of the school and/or conduct injurious to the physical or mental well being of others in the school..."

In addition to the Responsibility & Expectations section, the Ontario Ministry of Education has mandated the following Ontario School Code of Conduct guidelines and consequences regarding Physical Safety in all Ontario schools.

Physical Safety

Weapons

All school members must:

not be in possession of any weapon, including but not limited to firearms;
not use any object to threaten or intimidate another person;
not cause injury to any person with an object

Alcohol and Drugs

All school members must:

not be in possession of, or under the influence of, or provide others with, alcohol or illegal drugs

Physical Aggression

All school members must:

not inflict or encourage others to inflict bodily harm on another person
seek staff assistance, if necessary, to resolve conflict peacefully

Mandatory Consequences

Police will be involved, as indicated by the police / school protocol, and the student will be suspended and proceed to an expulsion hearing for the following:

possession of a weapon, including, but not limited to firearms
trafficking in drugs or weapons
robbery
use of weapon to cause bodily harm or threaten serious harm
physical assault causing bodily harm requiring professional medical treatment
sexual assault
providing alcohol to minors

Immediate Suspension will be the minimum penalty faced by a student for:

uttering a threat to inflict serious bodily harm
possession of illegal drugs and/or alcohol
being under the influence of alcohol
acts of vandalism causing extensive damage to school property or property located on school premises. In these instances, police will be involved, as required, and conditions to return to school will be specified in accordance with the school board policies.

For further information contact the Ministry of Education 1-800-387-5514 or http://www.edu.gov.on.ca