Code of Conduct
2009-2010
Mission Statement
The Lord Selkirk School Division is committed
to providing quality educational programs
and opportunities for all students.
The Lord Selkirk School Division will endeavor to create
a safe and respectful learning environment to support
and enable students to develop the knowledge, skills,
and values to reach their full potential.
Code of Conduct
The Lord Selkirk School Division endeavors to provide educational care and excellence for all students. We recognize there are socially acceptable standards of behaviour, and accept responsibility to promote and maintain these standards in each school. Students, parents and teachers share the responsibility for creating a positive school climate.
We believe that the schools of the Division will provide a learning environment that is orderly, supportive and safe.
Students are expected to:
*Attend school and all scheduled classes on time.
*Show respect for all adults and fellow students within the school community.
*Respect school property and the property of others.
*Dress appropriately for classes and activities.
*Resolve conflicts peacefully through discussion or by seeking help.
*Adhere to divisional policies respecting appropriate use of electronic mail and the Internet, including the prohibition of accessing, uploading, downloading or distributing material that the school has determined to be objectionable.
*Strive for academic excellence.
*Follow this code of conduct and any code the school may have.
*Adhere to the Safe Schools Charter of Manitoba.
Staff is expected to:
*Communicate information about student progress, attendance and behavior to students, parents/guardians and administration.
*Show respect to all adults and students within the school community.
*Provide a safe classroom environment.
*Respect confidential information about students and staff.
*Dress appropriately for the working environment.
*Provide relevant learning experiences based on the diverse needs of the students.
*Participate in creating a positive school culture.
*Support and implement proactive and reactive intervention strategies offered through a continuum of supports and services.
*Assist students in resolving conflicts peacefully and use the Code of Conduct to encourage appropriate behavior.
*Adhere to divisional policies respecting appropriate use of electronic mail and the Internet, including the prohibition of accessing, uploading, downloading or distributing material that the school has determined to be objectionable.
*Adhere to the Safe Schools Charter of Manitoba.
Parents/Guardians are expected to:
Instill in their child
*an understanding of the importance of education;
*the desire to work to the best of his/her ability;
*a recognition of the authority of the school staff to provide a safe, respectful and caring environment;
*respect for the rights of others;
*respect for the property of others.
*Recognize the authority of the school staff to provide a safe, respectful, and caring environment.
*Make sure their child attends all classes regularly, arrives at school on time, and completes homework.
*Make the school aware of student medical concerns.
*Communicate regularly with the school and advocate for their child’s success.
*Support and work collaboratively with school personnel to ensure their child’s success and appropriate behaviour.
*Encourage the peaceful resolution of conflict and discourage disrespect, violent or aggressive behaviour to solve a problem.
The Range of Consequences
Effective discipline hinges on a cooperative approach between school and home. Lord Selkirk School Division tries to involve parents and/or guardians as early as possible, while at the same time not making contact every time a student misbehaves. Students’ disabilities will be taken into consideration when determining consequences. The following list outlines some of the consequences used at school. They are not necessarily applied in the order in which they appear.
1. Informal Interview - The teacher or administrator talks with the student to reach an agreement regarding the student's behaviour.
2. Further Consultation - Where there is guidance staff in a school, a conference or series of conferences may be held by a teacher and counsellor with the specific goal of developing a plan for changing attitudes and improving student behaviour. If there is no guidance staff, then a classroom teacher in cooperation with the principal will develop this plan.
3. Formal Interview - A conference is held with the student, the teacher and an administrator and/or guidance counsellor to develop a plan for changing the student's behaviour
4. Detention - The student is detained at the school for specific unacceptable behaviour. Where such detention extends beyond regular school hours, the parents are informed.
5. Withdrawal from Classroom Setting - Where specific unacceptable behaviour is deemed to have a negative impact upon the classroom-learning environment, the student is withdrawn to a supervised alternate location to complete his/her assignment. Such withdrawal would normally be temporary but when a prolonged withdrawal is recommended, the parent should be contacted.
6. Removal of Privileges - Privileges to school areas (playground, gymnasium, library, etc.) transportation services, and school-related activities are removed under certain circumstances.
7. Restitution - The student, or parent if the student is under age, is required to compensate for damages incurred. Such restitution may be monetary in nature but could take alternative forms.
8. Behavioural/Performance Contract - In some instances, the student is required to meet specific behavioural standards in order to avoid more severe levels of consequence. Such expectations are developed between the school, the parent and the student. Outcomes are clarified for failure to meet the behavioural standards. Such an agreement is documented with copies provided for all concerned parties.
9. Student Services Centre - Student Services Centre personnel are involved to assist in the remediation of some unacceptable behaviour. Such involvement may include a level of counselling for the student that is beyond in-school capabilities.
10. Outside Agency Involvement - In some circumstances, student misbehaviours have implications that extend beyond the jurisdiction of the school. In such cases personnel from outside agencies (i.e., Child and Family Services, Mental Health, RCMP) are involved as necessary or as required by law.
11. Suspension –
*In-School- Where the student is suspended from the classroom and placed in a supervised alternate setting.
*Out-of-School- Where the student is not allowed to attend school for a period of time. A suspension from
school is a serious consequence, which is imposed subject to Board Policy E-27. In such cases the necessary documentation is forwarded to the Superintendent’s Office. In all cases the suspension is subject to appeal
with the maximum single suspension being set at:
(a) Principal – five days. (b) Superintendent - up to six weeks.
In all cases of suspension the parent is notified.
12. Expulsion -
Expulsion by the Board of Trustees is a serious consequence resulting when a student's continued presence in the
Division schools is injurious to other pupils. Expulsion requires an official action by the Board of Trustees and is completed in accordance with the Public Schools Act Sec. 48 (4). An expulsion means that the student may not attend any school operated by the Board of Trustees of the Lord Selkirk School Division until such time as the Board may remove the expulsion.
Parents may appeal disciplinary decisions taken by the schools by first contacting the school administration and then contacting the Superintendent of Education for the Lord Selkirk School Division.
Lord Selkirk School Division Resources
School Based Programming: There are a number of programs offered under the umbrella of “Positive School Culture”. Please refer to the school handbook for programs offered in your child’s school.
*Virtues Program in our Kindergarten to SR.1 schools builds moral intelligence and creates confident, independent thinkers.
*Roots of Empathy is sponsored by Healthy Child Manitoba and allows children to develop empathy for others through a classroom-based program.
*Conflict Mediators are students in grades 4 to 6 who provide advice and assistance to their peers and younger students on the playground.
Divisional Programming: The Student Services Center is a divisionally based service that provides a number of resources to support student success.
Resources:
*School Psychologists
*Social Workers
*First Step To Success is a combined school/home approach for K-3 students struggling with behavioral expectations.
*Youth Connections is a "stay in school" initiative between the Lord Selkirk School Division and the Manitoba Metis Federation to reach out to youth (14 -18 years old)."
Programs:
*Regional Support Centre provides short-term support for students (grades 1-8) experiencing behavioral and/or emotional difficulties that prevent them from successfully functioning within the regular school setting. The program features a low staff/student ratio, remedial supports and an intensive counseling component.
*Bridges opened in a storefront on Manitoba Avenue in October 2003. The Lord Selkirk School Division, in partnership with the Selkirk Friendship Centre, provides a “second chance” for at-risk youth (ages 14-18) to be successful in a small classroom environment with supportive, self-paced learning.
Community Programming: The following programs are offered to students in partnership with the community.
*S.T.A.R.T. (Selkirk Team for At-Risk Teens) is a “team” approach involving Manitoba Justice, Child and Family Services, Manitoba Health, RCMP, Probations, HRSDC, Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, City of Selkirk, and Lord Selkirk School Division
*D.A.R.E. (Drug Awareness & Resistance Education) is a 17-week program for students in grade 5, facilitated by members of the Selkirk Detachment of the RCMP.
*Threat Assessment Team is called into action when a school is faced with a student(s) who is threatening violence to him/herself or others.
*Community Policing Unit is a proactive entity that acts as a liaison between police and community organizations like the Lord Selkirk School Division, S.T.A.R.T. program, and Probation Services.
The LSSD Code of Conduct is consistent with the Safe Schools Charter of Manitoba.
The Safe Schools Charter
(Province of Manitoba, S.M. 2004, c. 24) sets forth several guidelines that apply to students and staff regarding behaviour. Behaviours that will not be tolerated in schools and that will be dealt with immediately include but are not limited to the following:
*Bullying or abusing physically, sexually, or psychologically-orally, in writing, or otherwise.
*Discriminating unreasonably on the basis of any characteristic set out in subsection 9(2) of The Human Rights Code.
*Using, possessing or being under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs at school.
*Gang involvement on school sites.
*Possessing a weapon as “weapon” is defined in Section 2 of the Criminal Code (Canada).
1. The LSSD policy manual is available by contacting each school or the school division website at www.lssd.ca.
A copy can be ordered from the Statutory Publications Office at 945-3101.
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