HILLCREST SCHOOL CODE OF CONDUCT

Amended & Approved December 2019

Hillcrest Public School promotes responsibility, respect, and academic excellence in a safe learning and teaching environment. A positive school climate exists when all members of the school community feel safe, comfortable, and accepted. All students, parents/guardians, teachers and staff members have the right to be safe, and to feel safe, in their school community. With this right comes the responsibility to uphold the standards of behaviour listed below.

Standards of Behaviour: Politeness, Respect and Responsible Citizenship 

All members of the school community 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 disability
• 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 need of others to work in an environment that is conducive to learning and teaching
• not swear at a teacher, staff member or at another person in a position of authority
• Ensure that cell phones and other personal mobile devices are used only during instructional time (as directed by an educator) for health and medical purposes and/or to support special education needs
• not possess alcohol, illegal drugs, or unless the pupil is a medical cannabis user of cannabis

This code of conduct applies to students, parents, guardians, staff, volunteers and any individual visiting our school. It applies while on school buses and at school based activities or events on and off school property. It applies to the use of electronic communication by school community members, including but not limited to the use of text messaging and social networking applications, as it pertains to any possible ill effect to the moral tone of the school environment or its community members.

At Hillcrest Public School, a progressive discipline approach is used with a focus on teaching students about appropriate behaviours while maintaining their self-respect. Progressive discipline is a whole school approach that uses a continuum of corrective and supportive interventions and consequences to address inappropriate student behaviour. The purpose of responding to incidents of inappropriate and disrespectful behaviour is to stop and correct it immediately so that the students involved can learn that is unacceptable. 

Inappropriate behaviour includes any behaviour that disrupts the positive school climate and/or has a negative impact on the school community. If a student has displayed inappropriate behaviour, school staff may utilize a range of interventions, and consequences that are developmentally appropriate and include opportunities for students to focus on improving their behaviour.

Parents/Guardians, staff, students and community members must all work together to keep ouschool a safe and happy environment for all students.