Code of Respectful Behavior

Our school's Code of Respectful Behavior is based on the guiding principle that St. Joseph's School promotes an atmosphere that is conducive to student learning and that ensures a safe and protected environment for all.

General School Conduct

Students are expected to treat others with consideration and respect. No one has the right to hurt another's feelings or body. St. Joseph's School provides a safe and caring environment where all students can enjoy the programs and activities offered. This means that our school does not permit fighting, bullying, or intimidating behavior. Students and adults are expected to work with each other in a courteous manner.

Students are expected to use sound judgment in their choice of activities. We expect that students will treat the school and grounds with respect. Students are expected to recognize that some activities might lead to injury and are thus not acceptable. These activities include, but are not limited to, such behaviors as play fighting or throwing objects in, and around, the school. Students are expected to remain on the school grounds at all times unless given specific permission to leave. Leaving school grounds is not permitted unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. All students leaving before the end of the school day must be signed out at the office by a parent or guardian.

Classroom Conduct

Students are expected to participate in classroom lessons by listening carefully, following directions, completing assignments, and co-operating with other students and adults who might be part of that classroom environment. It is expected that students will actively participate in all classroom activities. Students are to treat the physical classroom with respect and to maintain furniture, textbooks, and other school materials in proper and undamaged condition. We expect that students will respect the rights of others in the classroom to have their belongings and materials left in a personal place without fear of loss or damage.

Field Trips

Leaving the school grounds places an increased demand on staff to ensure student safety. Students traveling on field trips or sporting excursions are expected to listen carefully at all times to teachers and designated supervisors. Supervisors are expected to be able to focus on the safe participation of all our students instead of being distracted by individuals who choose not to follow directions.

Lunch Eating Periods

The lunch period should be a pleasant and relaxing time for all students. To ensure this, all students are to exhibit appropriate eating behavior and to speak to each other using "inside voices". Students, while eating and waiting for dismissal by the noon hour supervisors, should stay in their seats. Before going out to play, students should leave a clean desk and floor area and should appropriately dispose of garbage. As well, students are encouraged to follow the 3 R's of: reduce, reuse, and recycle. On rainy days, students should stay in their classrooms and engage in seated activities provided by the classroom teacher. Intermediate students may also use the library and the gymnasium providing that a staff member directly supervisors them.

Playgrounds

Students are encouraged to develop "open and inclusive" games so that all interested players are able to participate. Games must not involve actions that include hitting or rough physical contact. Climbing bars and adventure playground apparatus are provided on the grounds. Students are required to use caution on the apparatus at all times. Games of tag through, or in the vicinity of, the apparatus are not permitted.

Safe Arrival and Departure

• Students are to arrive no earlier than 8:30am when supervision is provided (unless involved in a school activity).
• When the buzzer sounds at 8:50am, the school day begins.
• All students traveling by car must be dropped off and picked up in the main parking lot.
• Students boarding the bus should do so promptly upon dismissal at 3:00pm.
• Students being picked up should walk directly to their cars using the pedestrian walkways.
• Students biking or walking home must wait behind the yellow meridians in front of the school or behind the fenced area on the playground until they are given permission to leave.
• Students whose rides have not arrived by 3:15pm must wait inside the school.
• Once their rides have arrived, they must inform the office that they are leaving.
• Students are not to play outside after 3:15pm unsupervised as there will be no direct outside supervision of students after 3:15pm.
• A parent or guardian must sign out any student leaving the school prior to the regular dismissal time.

Consequences Related to Unacceptable Behavior

All of us, children and adults alike, make choices about how to react to any set of circumstances. Children make positive and negative choices as they interact with others. This is a "normal" part of growing and learning. Negative choices can be opportunities to learn and grow in social skills.

The first line of discipline is to have the students identify the unacceptable behavior, discuss why the behavior was not acceptable, and what choices are open to them the next time they find themselves in similar circumstances. We want children to be clearly aware of expectations. Classroom teachers begin the year by sharing classroom and school expectations with students. These expectations are reviewed throughout the year both in the classroom and at assemblies. In each classroom teachers design a system that establishes consequences for students who make inappropriate choices in behavior. These consequences are designed to help students realize that they are choosing behaviors that do not meet our school's expectations with regard to the learning environment, safety, or consideration of feelings. The consequences might include writing a reflection paper, serving a detention, or completing missed work at recess or lunch. Students are given a limited number of opportunities to make acceptable choices.

Teachers will implement an alternative set of consequences to help students realize that changes are necessary in their chosen reaction to classroom expectations. When there are indications that poor behavior or work habits are limiting the student's progress, parents will be informed. No predetermined number of chances will exist before moving to the next level of discipline. Instead, the nature of the unacceptable behavior and the student's attitude will be taken into consideration at the time.

When regular classroom consequences and teacher-parent discussions do not seem to be effective in curbing inappropriate behavior, the principal or vice-principal will conference with the student. At this stage, parents will be informed at the discretion of the administration. Frequently a Plan of Action will be created involving the student, parents, teachers, and administration. The principal or vice-principal will document each discipline referral from a teacher.

When the actions of a student demonstrate a serious disregard for the expectations of our school, even though the student has been afforded opportunities to make appropriate choices, the student might receive an "in-school" suspension. The length of the suspension will vary according to the nature of the inappropriate behavior. Longer suspensions or "out-of-school" suspensions will be considered in serious situations where other students' safety is a concern. For incidents involving serious aggressive or inappropriate behavior, counseling might be required before the student returns to school. If a student repeatedly chooses to disregard St. Joseph's Code of Respectful Behavior, he/she might be asked to withdraw from the school permanently. (CISDV Policy and Regulations Manual, Policy #507)

Behavioral Expectations

Inside the school building, students are expected to:

• Follow the directions of teachers and supervisors.
• Show respect for others and their belongings.
• Move quietly between classes.
• Walk in classrooms, hallways, and on stairways.
• Work conscientiously and complete all assigned work.
• Be responsible for cleaning up.

Outside the school building, students are expected to:

• Remain within sight of the duty supervisor.
• Remain on school property and in designated areas.
• Participate only in safe and non-contact activities.
• Restrict play to areas where there is no danger of injury or damage to property.
• Line up promptly after the buzzer rings in preparation for entering the school building.

Unacceptable Behaviors

The following behaviors are unacceptable at St. Joseph's School and will be generally be handled internally by teachers and/or school administration. Parents may or may not be contacted depending on the frequency and severity of the behavior.

• Running in classrooms, hallways, on stairways, or on walkways.
• Throwing objects (rocks, pinecones, snowballs).
• Climbing trees, fences, and the school building.
• Chewing gum.
• Being out of uniform (including inappropriate jewelry or make-up) without a written note from a parent.
• Defying authority.
• Defacing school or personal property.
• Swearing and using inappropriate language or Play-fighting and rough play.

The following behaviors are unacceptable at St. Joseph's School and will involve school administration. Parents will be contacted and suspension from school or expulsion for the student may result, depending on the frequency and severity of the offense.

• Fighting causing injury.
• Bullying through intimidating actions or harassment of others.
• Inappropriate negative influence of younger students
• Stealing.
• Possession and/or use of any weapon (a weapon is defined as any instrument designed, or used, to injure or intimidate another person).
• Possession and/or use of alcohol and restricted or illicit drugs.