Queneesh Code of Conduct

Amended:  May 2024

Statement of Purpose

At Queneesh Elementary School we strive to provide a safe, caring, and educationally nurturing environment for all. Our school rules and policies are established for everyone’s protection, safety, and well-being.

School Rules:

  1. Be safe and kind
  2. Follow the instructions of teachers and supervisors.

Conduct Expectations

The school code of conduct defines appropriate behaviour at school, while traveling to and from school, and while attending school functions at any location. Where applicable, the code applies as much to adults present in and around the building, as to the children in attendance.

Acceptable Conduct

Students are expected to do their best work and to respect others, the learning environment, and the property. They must follow the school and classroom rules, and accept responsibility for their own choices and actions. Regular attendance and punctuality is mandated by The School Act. Students are expected to behave safely and cooperatively, and to inform adults in a timely manner of incidents of bullying, harassment, and intimidation. The staff, with parent involvement, assists students in developing skills for resolving conflict, problem solving, and decision making appropriate to their age.

Unacceptable Conduct

Behaviour that interferes with the learning of others, or the orderly environment of the school, injures or threatens others, or causes damage to property are all deemed inappropriate. The following are examples (not an all-inclusive list) of behaviours that fall into this category:

  • Behaviours that interfere with the learning of others, interfere with an orderly environment, or create unsafe conditions.
  • Acts of bullying (including cyber-bullying), harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or physical violence.
  • Illegal acts such as possession, use or distribution of illegal or restricted substances, possession or use of a weapon (or using something as a weapon), theft, or damage to property.

Rising Expectations

It is our expectation that as students mature and progress through the grades that they will, in most cases, be capable of greater personal responsibility and self-discipline and therefore it is appropriate to have escalating consequences for inappropriate and repeated unacceptable behaviours.

​Disciplinary Process

Consequences for misbehaviour will be applied in a fair and judicious manner and wherever possible the disciplinary action will be preventative and restorative. Depending on the severity or frequency of the behaviour, and on the age and maturity level of the student, one or more of the following actions may be taken:

  1. Restitution – repair or replacement of objects. Some form of service to the offended party.
  2. Loss/limit or delay of access to school areas.  Loss/limit or delay of access to school equipment. Loss/limit or delay in participation in activities.
  3. Denial of interaction with other students (during recess and/or lunch) – “time out”
  4. In-school suspension – to be served in office, another class or alternate safe place designated by the administration.
  5. Out of school suspension up to and including a period of 5 days.
  6. Out of school suspension for a period exceeding five days. Follow up meeting with Superintendent and trustees.

Note:  Special considerations may apply to students with special needs if they are unable to comply with the code of conduct due to a disability of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional, or behavioural nature.

When teachers send students to the office for behavioural concerns, they fill out a discipline form which states, in brief, the reason for the referral and any other pertinent information.

Notification

The scope or severity of an incident may require us to advise other parties of serious breaches of the code of conduct. For example:

  • Parents/guardians of the offender(s) and/or victim(s)
  • School district officials, police and other agencies – as required by law or policy.
  • Other parents – when deemed to be important to reassure members of the school community that school officials are aware of a serious situation or incident, and are taking appropriate actions.

Retaliation

All reasonable steps will be taken to prevent retaliation by a person against a student who has made a complaint of a breach of the code of conduct. The distinction between ‘tattling’ and ‘telling’ is stressed as is the importance of doing the right thing.