STUDENT BEHAVIOUR AND CONDUCT

PURPOSE

To reflect the Board of Trustees’ (the Board) mandated responsibility and expectation for providing a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning and working environment that respects diversity and fosters a sense of belonging throughout the District.

To establish and maintain an appropriate balance between individual and collective rights, freedoms, and responsibilities in the school community.

To establish expectations for student behaviour and conduct and responses to unacceptable behaviour in accordance with the Alberta School Act.

DEFINITIONS 

Definitions for the following terms and for terminology for all other policies related to AE.BP Welcoming, Inclusive, Safe and Healthy Learning and Working Environments are also found in a Glossary of Terms (linked in References).

• Bullying is defined in the School Act as “repeated and hostile or demeaning behaviour by an individual in the school community where the behaviour is intended to cause harm, fear or distress to one or more other individuals in the school community, including psychological harm or harm to an individual’s reputation.”

• Conflict occurs when there is a breakdown in relationships between individuals that results from a disagreement or misunderstanding. While conflicts may require adult intervention, they are considered to be a natural part of how students learn to navigate relationships.

• Academic Integrity is honest and responsible academic behaviour. Students are expected to submit original work, acknowledge sources, and conduct themselves ethically in the completion of assessments and examinations.

POLICY

The Board is committed to ensuring that each student is provided with a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that supports high quality learning, respects diversity, and fosters a sense of belonging and a positive sense of self. Students are expected to learn, practice, and demonstrate positive personal and interpersonal character traits that contribute to the development of productive learning environments.

EXPECTATIONS

A.  STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

1. Students have the right to be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness by other students and staff.
2. Students are expected to respect diversity and refrain from demonstrating any form of discrimination on the basis of race, religious  beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation.
3. Students and parents will be informed of the Board’s and school’s expectations for student behaviour and conduct. 

B. STUDENT BEHAVIOUR AND CONDUCT

1. The Board expects that students behave in accordance with Section 12 of the School Act.  Section 12 states that students will conduct themselves so as to reasonably comply with the following Code of Conduct:

1. be diligent in pursuing the student’s studies;
2. attend school regularly and punctually;
3. co-operate fully with everyone authorized by the Board to provide education programs and other services;
4. comply with the rules of the school;
5. account to the student’s teachers for the student’s conduct;
6. respect the rights of others;
7. ensure the student’s conduct contributes to a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that respects diversity and fosters a sense of belonging;
8. refrain from, report and not tolerate bullying or bullying behaviour directed toward others in the school, whether or not it occurs within the school building, during the school day or by electronic means; and
9. positively contribute to the student’s school and community.

Furthermore, students are expected to: 

1. resolve conflict or seek assistance to resolve conflict in a peaceful, safe, and non-threatening manner that is conducive to learning and growth. Strategies for addressing conflict between students may include counselling, mediation, or forms of restorative practice;
2. use school and personal technology appropriately and ethically;
3. ensure that they conduct themselves with academic integrity and refrain from and report all incidents of academic misconduct including, but not limited to, cheating and plagiarizing. 

C. UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR

1. Students are accountable for their behaviour whether or not it occurs on school property or within the school day. When behaviour that occurs off school property or outside of regular school hours threatens the safety or well-being of individuals within the school community or disrupts the learning environment, school administrators may apply consequences for the behaviour. Examples of unacceptable behaviour include but are not limited to: 

1. behaviours that interfere with the learning of others and/or the school environment
2. behaviours that create unsafe conditions
3. acts of bullying, harassment, threats, or intimidation whether it be in person, indirectly, or by electronic means
4. physical violence
5. retribution against any person who has intervened to prevent or report bullying or any other incident or safety concern
6. possession, use or distribution of substances restricted by federal, provincial, municipal, District or school authorities
7. any illegal activity such as:  
   1. possession, use or distribution of illegal substances
   2. possession of a weapon or use of a weapon (or replica) to threaten, intimidate or harm others
   3. possession, use, display, or distribution of offensive messages, videos or images
   4. theft or possession of stolen property
8. any breach of rules and expectations established by District administrative regulations or a school-based code of conduct
9. failure to comply with Section 12 of the School Act.         

D. CONSEQUENCES FOR UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR

1. Unacceptable behaviour may be grounds for disciplinary action, and provides the student with an opportunity for critical learning and reflection in the areas of personal accountability and responsibility, the development of empathy, as well as communication, conflict resolution, and social skills development.
2. Consequences for unacceptable behaviour must take into account the student’s age, maturity, individual circumstances, and frequency of misconduct. The specific circumstances of the situation and of the student must be taken into account when determining appropriate responses to unacceptable behaviour.
3. When a student engages in unacceptable behaviour, consequences may include, but are not limited to:

1. temporary assignment of a student to an alternate supervised area within the school
2. temporary assignment of a student to an alternate learning location
3. short term removal of privileges
4. interventions such as positive behaviour supports, contracts, counselling, restorative practices
5. replacement or retribution for loss of or damage to property in-school or out-of-school suspension;
6. referral to Attendance Board; and or
7. recommendation for expulsion

Consequences for unacceptable behaviour include support for students impacted by unacceptable behaviour as well as students who engage in unacceptable behaviour.

ACCOUNTABILITY

The Superintendent of Schools will be responsible for implementing this policy through appropriate regulations and communication with District stakeholders, including staff, students and parents. Furthermore, the Superintendent will provide the Board with information on implementation of the policy through the annual results review process and in the Alberta Education Results Report.

This policy will be made publicly available, provided to all staff, students and parents, and will be reviewed annually.