Students » Student Code of Conduct

Student Code of Conduct

In keeping with the British Columbia School Act, the BC Ministry of Education and Childcare provincial standards for school codes of conduct, and SD57 Policy 5131, the Spruceland Community School of the Arts Student Code of Conduct is below. The school will take all reasonable steps to prevent retaliation by a person against a student who has made a complaint of a breach of the code of conduct.

Statement of Purpose:


Our mission at Spruceland Community School of the Arts is to develop creative and critical thinkers through equitable access to the arts and community engagement.

 

The purpose of our Code of Conduct at Spruceland is to:

  • Establish and maintain a safe, caring, and orderly environment for purposeful learning
  • To establish and maintain appropriate balances among individual and collective rights and responsibilities
  • To clarify and publish expectations for student behaviour while at school, coming to and going from school, and while attending any school-sponsored activity

 

Conduct Expectations:


Acceptable Conduct – every child has the right to come to school and be safe and happy. We expect all Spruceland students to conduct themselves appropriately. Acceptable conduct includes, but is not limited to:

 

  • Respecting self, others and the school
  • Behaving safely, and helping make the school a caring and orderly place
  • Being responsible, by being honest, fixing mistakes, and taking ownership of one’s decisions and conduct

 

Unacceptable Conduct – we do not expect Spruceland students to display any behaviours or attitudes that discredit themselves, others, or the school. Unacceptable conduct includes, but is not limited to:

 

  1. Behaviours that:
  • Interfere with the learning of others
  • Interfere with an orderly environment
  • Create unsafe conditions

 

  1. Acts of:
  • Bullying, harassment, racism or intimidation
  • Physical violence
  • Retribution against a person who has reported incidents
  • Disrespect, or social exclusion

 

  1. Illegal acts, such as:
  • Possession, use or distribution of illegal or restricted substances
  • Possession or use of weapons
  • Theft of or damage to property

 

As per the BC Human Rights Code, our School Student Code of Conduct prohibits discrimination based on any of the following grounds:

 

  • race
  • colour
  • ancestry
  • place of origin
  • religion
  • physical disability
  • mental disability
  • sex
  • marital status
  • family status
  • sexual orientation
  • age

 

Rising Expectations:

 

As students move through the grades at Spruceland, expectations will increase. As well, progressive consequences for inappropriate acts, or those that become chronic and repetitive, will be implemented. With increased age and awareness, we expect:

 

  • Increasing personal responsibility and self-discipline
  • Increasing understanding of the Code of Conduct guidelines
  • Increasing understanding of the need for progressive consequences

 

Consequences:

 

The severity and frequency of unacceptable conduct, as well as the age and maturity of students is considered in determining appropriate disciplinary action. In that:

 

  • Responses to unacceptable conduct are consistent and fair
  • Disciplinary action, wherever possible, is preventative and restorative, rather than punitive
  • Student empowerment and input will be encouraged, so students can use a restitution approach to fix their mistakes and repair relationships affected by their past behaviour

 

Notification:


We have the responsibility to advise other parties of increasing and serious breaches of the code of conduct. When serious breaches occur, the following may be notified:

 

  • The classroom teacher
  • The parents of the student exhibiting the unacceptable conduct
  • The parents of any student victim(s) involved
  • The Office of the Superintendent – as needed by School District policy
  • Police or other agencies as required by the incident or law
  • Parents at Spruceland – when it is deemed to be important to reassure the school community that appropriate action is being taken concerning a specific incident

 

Cell Phone and Personal Internet Device Usage in Schools:

 

Ministerial Order:

 

Effective September 2024, cell phones and personal digital devices will be restricted from bell to bell at Spruceland Community School of the Arts.

 

Elementary Schools:

 

No access to or use of such devices will be allowed during the school day. This is essentially a “bell-to-bell” restriction from the beginning to the end of the school day. Parents are reminded that elementary students are always under direct supervision and that the school will communicate with home for any emergent needs. 

 

Partnering with Parents and Guardians:

 

We understand that cell phones/personal digital devices are an integral part of modern life, and we appreciate your support in helping us implement this order effectively. We encourage parents/guardians to discuss the importance of the guidelines with their child(ren) and reinforce the benefits of minimizing distractions during school hours. 

 

Enforcement and Compliance:

 

Students found using their cell phones in violation of this policy may be subject to consequences.  Examples of these consequences include:

 

  • First Offense: Verbal warning from the classroom teacher and phone put away by the student
  • Second Offense: Verbal warning and phone confiscated until the end of the day
  • Third Offenses: Verbal warning, phone confiscated and parent called by the teacher
  • Fourth Offense: Phone confiscated by teacher and referral to the office
  • Further Offenses: Referrals made to the office.  Progressive discipline will apply