Code of Conduct

Therefore:

Each student must work to his/her potential to reach healthy, godly, positive relationships with others in the school community. We expect staff and students to apply the wisdom of the Golden Rule from the Gospel of Matthew (7:12): “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” 

We encourage staff and students to fulfill the Great Commandment, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ And the second (command) is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37, 39).

To grow in one’s relationship with God, we recognize that sin is not treating God with the honour, love and respect that his/her Creator deserves. 

To grow in one’s relationship with others, both staff and other students, we recognize that sin is not treating others with the honour, love and respect that those made in God’s image deserve.

The greatest good, or summum bonum, is the Kingdom of Christ, demonstrated through justice, mercy, and humility. (As opposed to solely living for happiness, pleasure or personal success). Therefore our code of conduct and corresponding remediation will exhibit the highest level of accountability and fairness.

Just as biblical wisdom and biblical teaching will be woven into the curriculum, Christian character will be reinforced and taught in daily activities. Integrity, respect, honesty, and kindness will permeate our atmosphere. We strive to have students value these attributes intrinsically, rather than displaying them for external rewards.

Student Behavioural Expectations: 

• Students will use respectful language. They will address the staff using the staff’s full title and last name.
• Profanity, name-calling, harsh criticism, and repetitive negative comments are prohibited.
• Students may question staff in a respectful, curious manner. Cynical questioning is unacceptable.
• Students will be truthful in all situations.
• Aggressive or physical actions are not permitted.
• Students will participate in “O  Canada” daily, standing respectfully and silently.
• Students will wear the student uniform neatly. They will dress modestly and neatly on “dress down” days. No caps or head coverings should be worn inside, other than the possibility of special theme days.
• Students will be present for chapel services. They may choose not to lead if the opportunity is available, but they will stand when prompted, be silent when expected, and bow their head for prayer. This would be true for prayer at any time throughout the school day.

Students:

• will value property and materials. Intentional damage will result in consequences and restitution, however, damage incurred through frustration or carelessness will also prompt discipline
• will never step off school property during recess or other outdoor activities
• will ask permission to leave their work area during instructional time or seatwork time, for body breaks, washroom trips, or to retrieve an item
• will not bring valuable or inexpensive personal belongings that would cause distress or distraction if lost or damaged 
• will not touch the personal belongings of other students, unless permission has been granted (e.g. “Please bring me my hat for recess.”)  
• will go above and beyond by making things as tidy or even neater than initially found
• will use technology as instructed…a zero-tolerance policy for being off task will be in place for any technology session (though second chances for other sessions will be available after problem-solving and clarification of expectations)

Students will behave in a positive, self-controlled manner. They should apply self-regulation strategies provided by the staff. These strategies include:

• raising a hand to speak during instruction or when requesting help while working
• watching the teacher and “front” during lessons, and watching peers during presentations
• thinking and pausing before speaking to ensure comments to peers and staff are positive, loving, necessary, and kind
• thinking and pausing before acting to ensure actions are calm 
• Staff will give guidance for peer discussions or group work, such as how to frame a disagreement in a respectful manner
• Staff will give guidance for situation-specific expectations, such as field trips, special assemblies, chapel, or other non-routine activities.
• Students will be respectful, positive and friendly with all the school community and with guests, imitating a joyful Christian character to the best of their ability and development.  Greetings and goodbyes should be extended. Students could go above and beyond by volunteering to make positive notes and messages periodically, give a guest a tour or explain a program.
• The expectation is for staff and students to be polite and considerate. They will apply the Golden Rule as referred to above, by saying please, and thank you, and by giving sincere compliments or praise.

Work Habits

• Students will make good use of time, remain on task, and work as productively as they are able. They will be monitored, prompted, and redirected when distracted or procrastinating. Staff will monitor to ensure that the cause is not a misunderstanding or a separate issue that has caused an upset.
• Recess minutes may be subtracted for a student who doesn’t use class time to the best of their ability, although a short run or some kind of physical activity will be substituted by the end of recess.  
• Much encouragement, guidance, and explicit instruction will be provided for students to value and grow in responsibility; initiative; organization; self-regulation; problem-solving; independent work; collaboration; conflict resolution 
• Just as with Christian character, we strive to have students value and grow in these skills to internalize them, rather than displaying them for external rewards.

Discipline and Restoration

The individual will be treated with dignity and fairness and will have a chance to collaborate in the problem-solving process when appropriate or to the level of their ability. A regard for age and development will always be considered.

Due to our desire to partner with families, staff will communicate with parents when an ongoing behavioural issue occurs. This will be done with an attitude of love, trusting that small matters will be resolved through student interaction with parents, and personal communication and problem-solving between them.

• Discussions that staff have with individual students regarding conduct on minor issues will be reported to parents through a call, email, informal meeting or note.
• Repetitive, ongoing or serious actions or conduct will constitute a meeting with staff and parents to problem-solve and take the next steps toward restoration. The child may be brought in depending on the situation. 
• Recess detentions that include productive, collaborative problem-solving may occur if staff are available and not supervising students at recess
• A significant and ongoing breach of conduct may result in suspension. This would be situations where the student’s behaviour is providing a serious distraction from their learning and that of their peers. It would also include unsafe behaviour or ongoing belligerence and uncooperative behaviour.
• The necessity to suspend several times may result in permanent expulsion. The school reserves the right to determine if a situation is beyond repair and restoration. This would be an absolute, last resort.