Our School Motto: G.A.T.O.R.
G rowing
A chieving
T ogether
O pportunities for all, focusing on being,
R espectful Responsible and Resourceful
Bert Ambrose Elementary School, which includes staff, parents and students, has the responsibility to provide and ensure a safe and positive climate for learning. We view our Code of Conduct as a living document that is constantly being reviewed and revised, with students, parents and staff. It is expected that all members of the school community will uphold the underlying principles of our Code of Conduct that includes respect for self, others, property, and the environment. A copy of our Code of Conduct and behavior matrix, is found on our Web Site www.ambrose.prn.bc.ca and in our school handbook. It is also posted throughout our school.
Our Code of Conduct shall apply to all students during any school activity and may hold students responsible for their conduct on the way to and from school or at a school activity. In addition, our school has an Athletic Code of Conduct that is signed by students and parents governing student behavior during extra-curricular activities. Conduct by any student that adversely affects a school climate or operation, including disruption of the learning environment, shall be considered, not in compliance with the Code of Conduct, warranting appropriate forms of intervention. The Code of Conduct recognizes that as children grow and mature, they are able to make more appropriate decisions, being responsible for their actions. Bert Ambrose Elementary teaches the Code of Conduct in conjunction with the School’s Virtue Program. Our school-wide Virtues’ Program, based on the three R’s (Respect, Responsibility, and Resourcefulness), includes three performances each year.
Statement of Purpose: The Bert Ambrose Elementary Code of Conduct was developed to provide guiding principles of conduct for our students enrolled in the School District #60. The School Act states: 6 (1) A student must comply (a) with the school rules authorized by the principal of the school or Provincial school attended by the student, and (b) with the code of conduct and other rules and policies of the board or the Provincial school.
“The school promotes the values expressed in BC Human Rights code respecting the rights of all individuals in accordance with the law. The school will treat seriously, behaviour or communication that discriminates based on race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, gender, sexual orientation or age.”
The Purpose of the Code of Conduct is to:
- Provide and maintain a safe, caring, and orderly environment for students to develop to their full potential
- Ensure that the rights and responsibilities of individuals are appropriately balanced to uphold the collective well-being of all
- Communicate the expectations of student behavior to the school community. Conduct Expectations: Acceptable conduct supports a positive learning environment.
It is expected that students will: • Conduct themselves in an appropriate manner when going to and from school, within school, on school grounds, during all school activities, including school buses
- Apply themselves to the best of their ability in all aspects of their education
- Attend school and classes regularly and punctually
- Be respectful of the thoughts, feelings, including the heritage of all students
- Respect the rights and property of others
- Dress in a manner which is respectful of a learning environment
- Contribute positively to a safe, caring and orderly school
- Behave in an ethical and lawful manner
- Report to an adult, incidents of threats, bullying, harassment, violence or any intimidationUnacceptable Conduct interferes with a positive learning environment.
Examples of unacceptable behaviors may include:
- Interference with the learning of others • Use of inappropriate or abusive language
- Threatening, harassing, intimidating, assaulting or bullying, in any way, including “cyber-bullying,” any person within the school community • Possessing weapons or dangerous articles
- Possession, use, or distribution of illegal or restricted substances • Theft of or damage to property
- Any efforts to cause harm to another person based on, but not limited to race, religion, gender, physical or intellectual disability, sexual orientation or age. (As outlined, BC Human Rights Code)
- Acts of retribution toward a person who has reported incidents. Rising Expectations: The Code of Conduct recognizes that as children grow and mature, they are more able to make appropriate decisions and to be responsible for their actions. As students progress through school, they are expected to:
- Acquire knowledge and understanding about their personal behavior and its impact on others
- Learn and utilize appropriate decision-making strategies
- Demonstrate increasing self-discipline
- Take increasing personal responsibility for their actions and learning
- Be subject to increasing consequences for inappropriate behavior
Consequences: When determining consequences, they must be in compliance with the policies of School District #60. Consideration is given to the maturity as well as the intellectual, social and emotional capacity of the student along with the severity and frequency of the behaviors.
Consequences should where appropriate, follow District procedures and will:
- Be thoughtful, consistent and fair • Seek to prevent a recurrence of the offense
- Teach acceptable social behavior rather than be merely punitive and where appropriate provide means for restitution and restorative actions
- Involve the offender in determining a corrective plan of action.
Notification: It is understood that communication is essential to the home and school partnership.
Our school community will be informed about the Bert Ambrose Elementary Code of Conduct. When there is noncompliance of the Code of Conduct, the following parties may be notified:
- Parents of student in breach of the Code of Conduct
- Parents of student victim(s)
- School and District personnel – where appropriate
- Police and/or other agencies – where deemed appropriate or where required by law
- All parents of the school community – when deemed important to reassure members of the school community that school and district officials are aware of a serious situation or incident and are taking appropriate action to address it
- When the breach of the Code of Conduct is criminal in nature, police will be consulted prior to public notification.