The school's code of behaviour aims to increase respect, responsibility, good citizenship, ethical behaviour, and scholastic excellence by establishing standards of security and conditions which favour learning and teaching.

1.1 The objectives of the code of behaviour

• to promote the security of all people in the school;
• to ensure that all members of the school community (students, volunteers, parents and personnel), in particular those in authority, are treated with respect and dignity;
• to promote good citizenship by encouraging participation in the school community;
• to maintain an environment in which conflicts and differences may be resolved with respect and civility;
• to promote the use of peaceful means to resolve conflicts;
• to discourage the use of alcohol and illegal drugs.

1.2 Standards of behaviour

Respect, civility, and good citizenship

Members of the school must:

• respect all federal, provincial and municipal laws;
• demonstrate honesty and integrity;
• respect individual differences, opinions and ideas;
• treat people with dignity and respect at all times;
• respect others and treat them with fairness, regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic background, citizenship, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability;
• respect and preserve all school property;
• take the appropriate measures to help people in need;
• respect people in situations of authority;
• respect the right of others to work in an environment conducive to learning and teaching.

Non-violence

Members of the school must not:

• be in possession of a weapon, particularly a firearm;
• use an object to threaten, hurt or intimidate another person;
• inflict, or encourage someone to inflict, corporal damages on any person;
• hesitate to ask for help from the personnel, if necessary, to resolve a conflict by peaceful means.

Alcohol and drugs

Members of the school must not:

• be in the possession of alcohol or illegal drugs, nor under the influence of these substances, nor provide them to others.

The code of behaviour serves as a complement to federal, provincial and municipal laws, and to the school rules.

The code of behaviour is in effect:

• during school hours;
• while students are being transported to and from school and school activities;
• during lunch hour;
• during school activities outside of school hours regardless of location.

The administration, in consultation with the school council, has devised a dress code which conforms to the policies of the school board and the requirements of the Education Act. The school dress code indicates what is acceptable and what is unacceptable regarding clothing.

The expression "school property" encompasses all designated buildings of the school and the grounds belonging to them.

All visitors to the school must present themselves to the school secretary to get authorization to be on school property from a member of the administration. It is strictly forbidden for members of the school to circulate through the school with a guest who has no authorization. A person who has been refused access must leave the school grounds immediately, or the administration will call the police who may impose a fine of up to $5000. A student who forgets to direct a visitor to the secretary is liable to face predetermined sanctions if the visitor's behaviour disrupts the physical or moral well_being of the school.

It is the policy of the Upper Canada District School Board to deal with the suspension and expulsion of students in accordance with the Education

Act, as amended by the Safe Schools Act, 2001. The accompanying regulation and this policy are prescribed by the Government of Ontario

through the Ministry of Education. A summary of the policy is provided here.

5.1 Mandatory Suspension

It is mandatory that a student be suspended from his/her school and from engaging in all school_related activities if the student commits any of the following infractions while he/she is at school or is engaged in school_related activities, subject to the mitigating factors below:

• uttering a threat to inflict serious bodily harm on another person;
• possessing alcohol or illegal drugs;
• being under the influence of alcohol;
• swearing at a teacher or at another person in a position of authority;
• committing an act of vandalism that causes extensive damage to school property at the student's school or to property located on the premises of the student's school;
• engaging in another activity that, under a Policy of the Board, is one for which a suspension or expulsion is mandatory under Board Policy.

The length of the mandatory suspension may vary from 1 to 20 days depending upon the past history of the student and other factors mandated by the Education Act, the school rules, and the policies and directives of the Board.

Any student suspended for any of the preceding reasons will be temporarily excluded from the school and all school activities for the duration of the suspension.

5.2 Discretionary Suspension

A student may be suspended if he or she commits any of the following infractions:

• persistent truancy, persistent opposition to authority, habitual neglect of duty, wilful destruction of school property, use of profane or improper language, or conduct injurious to the moral tone of the school or to the physical or mental well-being of others in the school.
• any other infraction established by Board policy pursuant to s. 307(1) of the Education Act, as amended by the Safe Schools Act, 2001.

The length of the discretionary suspension may vary from 1 class period or a school activity to 20 days depending upon the seriousness of the situation, any previous actions of the student deemed relevant by the administration and any extenuating circumstances.

Suspensions of one (1) day or less have no rights of review. The following persons may request a review of a decision to suspend where a suspension exceeding one (1) day has been issued:

a) if the student is under 18 years of age, his/her parent or guardian;

b) if the student is 18 years of age, the student; or

c) such other persons as may be specified in a Policy of the Board.

The student has two rights of recourse: review or appeal. These two rights will be indicated, in writing, in a letter of suspension, by the person imposing the suspension.

7.1 Mandatory expulsion

An expulsion is a very severe consequence and will be considered in exceptional cases deemed to be very serious. Article 309(1) of The Education Act (2000), relating to security in schools, makes provision for eight (8) situations in which expulsion is mandatory:

1. possessing a weapon, including possessing a firearm;
2. using a weapon to cause or to threaten bodily harm to another person;
3. committing physical assault on another person that causes bodily harm requiring treatment by a medical practitioner;
4. committing sexual assault;
5. trafficking in weapons or in illegal drugs;
6. committing robbery;
7. giving alcohol to a minor;
8. engaging in another activity that, under a Policy of the Board, is an activity for which expulsion is mandatory (for example, physically assaulting a member of the personnel).

If the administration believes that a student has committed one of the infractions listed above, the student will be suspended to allow the administration to conduct an inquiry. If the facts confirm that the student has committed the infraction, a member of the administration will then impose a partial expulsion and may submit the case to the Board for further examination. If the Board confirms that the student has committed an infraction punishable by a mandatory expulsion, it must impose a partial or complete expulsion for a minimum period of 21 days.

The student who has been partially expelled cannot attend school nor participate in any school activities until the date specified by the administration (between 21 days and 1 year) or the date upon which the student has satisfied all conditions required for his or her return. The student who has been completely expelled cannot attend any school in the province nor participate in any school activities until such time as he or she has satisfied the specified condition(s) for his/her return to school. Only the person administrating the strict discipline program can determine whether the student has achieved the objectives necessary to this end.

7.2 Discretionary expulsion

A student may be expelled if the student commits (any) one of the following infractions:

• the student's pattern of behaviour is so refractory that the pupil's presence is injurious to the effective learning and/or working environment of others;
  
• the student has engaged in activities that cause the student's continuing presence in the school to be injurious to the physical or mental well-being of other students or persons in the school or that cause extensive damage to the property of the Board or to goods that are on Board property;
  
• the student has demonstrated through a pattern of behaviour (e.g. neglect of duty, truancy or opposition to authority) that he/she has not prospered by the instruction available to him/her and that he/she is persistently resistant to making the changes in behaviour which would enable him/her to prosper.

The same conditions, procedures and methods of recourse pertaining to a mandatory expulsion apply when the administration and the Board consider a student expelled for the reasons mentioned above.

These persons may request a review of a decision to expel a student :

a) if the student is under 18 years of age, his/her parent or guardian;

b) if the student is 18 years of age, the student; or

c) such other persons as may be specified in a Board’s policy.

The methods of appeal will be indicated, in writing, along with a notice of expulsion, by the administrator imposing the expulsion.

When a student undergoes an expulsion, whether partial or complete, the administrator will indicate, in writing, the conditions that the student must meet in order to be readmitted to school. Some of these conditions may include strict discipline programs, rehabilitation programs, or special courses.

The aim of these conditions is to permit the student to develop better life skills. Parents, guardians, community services or the student may be consulted to ensure that the student receives the best support possible during his/her expulsion. The expulsion will end when the allotted time period has elapsed or when the specified conditions have been satisfied or when both of these criteria have been met. Only the person administrating the strict discipline program can determine whether the student has achieved the objectives necessary to this end.

The EOETC has adopted a behaviour code which strives to encourage respect, responsibility, good citizenship, courtesy and academic excellence while establishing safety standards and conditions that support learning and teaching.

1. I will be prompt and reliable concerning schoolwork and attendance. If I am to be late or absent, I will advise the school that morning.
2. I will use appropriate language.
3. I will treat all students and staff with respect. Physical, verbal or sexual harassment will not be tolerated.
4. I will not use a cell phone whenever classes are in session.
5. I will keep the school and my work area clean and safe (i.e. garbage, papers, tables, cigarette butts, dishes, etc.).
6. I will treat all equipment and material with care.
7. I will attend to my personal appearance (clean clothing, proper hygiene).
8. I will dress neatly and appropriately for an educational environment. Unacceptable attire: revealing clothing, visible underwear, clothing with holes and clothing with slogans that are vulgar, offensive or pertain to alcohol, drugs or sex.
9. I will smoke only in designated areas.
10. I will follow all rules concerning the Internet: no chatting, no printing without permission and no pornographic sites.
11. I will respect the rules concerning drugs and alcohol: the possession, use or sale of drugs and /or alcohol is strictly forbidden.

If I do not respect these conditions, I understand that I may be subject to a temporary withdrawal from the program, a suspension or an expulsion in accordance with the policies of the participating school boards: UCDSB, CÉPEO and CSDCEO.