Code of Conduct

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Ontario Ministry of Education Updates

August 23, 2024 - Code of Conduct/PPM 128 Update

As we prepare to welcome students to a new school year, we are writing to provide you with information on recent updates from the Ontario Ministry of Education.

As you may recall, the Ministry of Education announced changes regarding cell phone use and social media access in schools, and enhanced restrictions on youth vaping that will take effect in the new school year (2024-2025). We are writing to inform you of how these changes will be implemented at the Halton District School Board.

Background Information

Updates to the Provincial Code of Conduct and School Board Codes of Conduct (Policy/Program Memorandum (PPM) 128) were announced by the Ministry of Education in April. The HDSB, along with all school boards in Ontario, will be updating our Code of Conduct and other relevant policies and procedures to align with these Ministry updates.

It is important to note that the HDSB is already in compliance with many of the changes announced by the Ministry of Education. The below information explains expectations already in place at HDSB schools which will be familiar to students, families and staff, and what expectations will be implemented this year to ensure alignment with Ministry direction.

Changes announced by the Ministry of Education include:

Vaping

The HDSB has a strict anti-vaping policy in all schools. Parents/guardians are immediately informed and any vaping-related products in student possession are disposed of. The HDSB has existing procedures in place to support the enforcement related to alcohol, tobacco, electronic cigarettes, recreational cannabis and illegal drugs. The HDSB Positive School Climate and Suspension and Expulsion administrative procedures detail the education and progressive discipline options and resources available to school administrators when responding to these incidents.

The HDSB works closely with Halton Region Public Health and are updating and revising education programs to support student learning, parent/guardian awareness and teacher training to help prevent students from vaping.

Cell Phones

The HDSB’s existing procedures are in compliance with the changes announced by the Ministry of Education when it comes to the use of cell phones during instructional time. Please view our Code of Conduct and the Technology & You webpage for specifics related to social media and cell phone use in HDSB schools.

NEW: Starting in September, students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 will be required to keep phones on silent and out of sight for the duration of the school day.

All of our schools will share school specific guidelines aligning with Ministry of Education expectations to facilitate the effective, safe and respectful use of technology within classrooms and schools.

Social Media

NEW: The changes announced by the Ministry require the HDSB to restrict access to all social media platforms on school devices and networks. The implementation of this filtering is under development. Once implemented, social media platforms will only be used by students at school for educational purposes, as directed by an educator and in accordance with the HDSB’s exception protocols.

Next steps: Revise HDSB Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures

The HDSB is committed to gathering input and feedback from students, staff, parents/guardians, community groups and partners as we update our policies and procedures to ensure alignment with the Ministry’s announcement. The HDSB will conduct a full review of our Code of Conduct including extensive consultation with various groups (e.g., parents/guardians, staff and students) from September to December 2024.

As we head into September, we are asking for your support and collaboration to hold conversations at home about these expectations and the importance of a focused learning environment.

Thank you for your continued partnership. We look forward to welcoming students, families and staff to a new school year on Wednesday, Sept. 4.

HDSB Code of Conduct & Safe and Accepting Schools

code of conduct brochure To ensure safe, caring and inclusive schools, there is a board-wide Code of Conduct. In addition, each school has their own Code of Conduct. For the specific school code of conduct, students and parents can contact their school or go to the school website.

HDSB Code of Conduct/Safe & Accepting Schools Brochure

Code of Conduct Translations

HDSB Code of Conduct/Safe & Accepting Schools Brochure Translations

The Halton District School Board is committed to a whole school approach to create safe, caring, equitable, and inclusive school environments through the adoption of a Code of Conduct which promotes respect, civility, responsibility and academic excellence, and sets clear standards of behaviour for all members of the school community. The goal is to create a positive school climate where every student, staff and member of the school community feels safe, included and accepted. The Board supports all students in developing healthy relationships, making good choices, continuing their learning and achieving success.

Standards of Behaviour

Respect, Civility and Responsible Citizenship

All members of the school community must:

Respect and comply with all applicable federal, provincial, and municipal laws
Demonstrate honesty and integrity
Respect differences in people, their ideas, and opinions
Treat one another with dignity and respect at all times and especially when there is a disagreement
Respect and treat others fairly, regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability
Respect the rights of others
Show proper care and regard for school property and the property of others
Take appropriate measures to help those in need
Seek assistance from a member of the school staff, if necessary, to resolve conflict peacefully
Respect all members of the school community, especially persons in positions of authority
Respect the need of others to work in an environment that is conducive to learning and teaching, including by ensuring that personal mobile devices are only used during instructional time for the educational and other permitted purposes.
Not swear at a teacher or at another person in a position of authority

Safety

All members of the school community must not:

Engage in bullying behaviours, including cyberbullying
Commit sexual assault
Traffic in weapons or illegal or drugs
Give alcohol or cannabis to a minor
Commit robbery
Be in possession of any weapon, including firearms
Use any object to threaten or intimidate another person
Cause injury to any person with an object
Be in possession of, or be under the influence of, or provide others with alcohol, cannabis or illegal drugs
Inflict or encourage others to inflict bodily harm on another person
Engage in hate propaganda and other forms of behaviour motivated by hate or bias
Commit an act of vandalism that causes extensive damage to school property or to property located on the premises of the school

A Shared Responsibility

When students, staff and parents/guardians work together to create safe, caring, equitable and inclusive schools, it has a powerful impact on the climate of the school. Each partner has an important contribution to make toward the establishment of a positive school climate in which all members of the school community feel safe, included, accepted, and actively promote positive behaviours and interactions.

The Student’s Responsibility

Practice honesty and integrity
Exercise self-control and self-discipline
Refrain from bringing anything to school that may compromise the safety of others
Refrain from bringing to school tobacco, cannabis, alcohol and/or or vaping products and paraphernalia
Come to school prepared, on time, and ready to learn
Be engaged in the school community
Show respect for self, others and school property
Treat others with kindness and dignity
Adhere to a school dress code that supports the Board's Dress Code and Uniform Policy
Report activities motivated by bias, prejudice or hate to an adult or school staff member as indicated in the HDSB Discriminatory and Harmful Language Protocol
Report activities motivated by bias, prejudice or hate to an adult or school staff member
Adhere to the Responsible Use Procedure for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) regarding the use of personal electronic devices in school/classrooms

The Staff's Responsibility

Address and report incidents of safe schools incidents as mandated by school practices with the Board’s equitable and inclusive policies
Provide a safe, caring, equitable and inclusive learning environment free from distractions
Teach and model positive behaviour and good citizenship
Teach acceptance of and respect for others
Foster open, honest communication
Help students work to their full potential and develop their sense of self-worth
Maintain consistent standards of behaviour for all students
Communicate and monitor school dress code that supports the Board's Dress Code and Uniform Policy
Integrate bullying prevention, anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory strategies, and well-being practices throughout the curriculum in classroom teaching and school activities
Notify parents/guardians of students who have been harmed, and students who are believed to have caused harm
Provide support for students who have been harmed, students who have witnessed harmful behaviours and students who have caused harm
Prepare students for the full responsibility of citizenship

The Parent’s/Guardian's Responsibility

Understand the Board Code of Conduct and Provincial Code of Conduct
Encourage and assist your child in following the rules of behaviour
Encourage and assist your child to attend school regularly and on time
Show an active interest in your child’s academic and social development
Talk with your child about how they can contribute to keeping their school a safe
Be a positive role model for your child
Assist your school’s staff in dealing with disciplinary issues involving your child
Refrain from disrespectful conduct that includes but is not limited to

excessive demands for meetings or unreasonable communication requests
making derogatory/insulting comments to staff
shouting/swearing at staff
bullying/gossiping

Progressive Discipline

Progressive Discipline is a whole school approach using a continuum of interventions, supports and consequences that include opportunities for reinforcing positive behaviour and helping students make good choices.

When a student behaves inappropriately, the following are taken into consideration before any consequences are applied:

The particular student and mitigating factors
The nature and severity of the behaviour
The impact on the school climate
The impact on the student harmed
The relationships within the school community

Activities leading to a possible suspension:

Uttering (verbalizing, writing or sending) a threat to inflict serious bodily harm on another person
Possessing alcohol, cannabis (unless the recipient is an individual who has been authorized to use cannabis for medical purposes) or illegal drugs.
Being under the influence of alcohol or cannabis
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
Bullying (physical, social, verbal or cyber)
Disorderly conduct, persistent opposition to authority, conduct injurious to the moral tone of the school or to the physical or mental well-being of others in the school
Possession or use of explosive devices, including fireworks
Fire setting, initiating a false alarm, making a bomb threat or an act that places individuals, property or community at risk
Extortion
Harassment
Hate crimes
Smoking or vaping on school property
Theft
Vandalism of school or Board property
Reckless or dangerous use of a vehicle (e.g. car, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.) on school property

Activities leading to a suspension and possible expulsion:

Possessing a weapon, including possessing a firearm
Using a weapon to cause or to threaten bodily harm to another person
Committing physical assault on another person that causes bodily harm requiring treatment by a medical practitioner
Committing sexual assault
Trafficking in weapons, illegal or restricted drugs
Committing robbery
Giving alcohol or cannabis to a minor
Bullying if the pupil has previously been suspended for engaging in bullying and the pupil’s continuing presence in the school creates an unacceptable risk to the safety of another person
Any activity listed the Education Act Subsection 306 (1) that is motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other similar factor
An act considered by the principal to be significantly injurious to the moral tone of the school and/or the physical or mental well-being of others
A pattern of behaviour that is so inappropriate that the student’s continued presence is injurious to the effective learning and/or working environment of others
Activities engaged in by the student, on or off school property, that cause the student's continuing presence in the school to create an unacceptable risk to the physical or mental well-being of other person(s) in the school or Board
Activities engaged in by the student, on or off school property, that have caused extensive damage to the property of the Board, or to goods that are/were on Board property

Mitigating factors that must be considered:

Does the student have the ability to control their behaviour?
Does the student have the ability to understand the foreseeable consequences of their behaviour?
Does the student’s continuing presence in the school create an unacceptable risk to the safety of any person?
Has a progressive discipline approach been used with the student?
Was the student’s inappropriate behaviour related to any harassment of the student because of race, colour, ethnic origin, place of origin, religion, creed, disability, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation or harassment for any other reason?
Does the consequence affect the student’s ongoing education?
Was the student’s age a factor?
For a student with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or disability-related needs:

Is the behaviour a characteristic of the developmental and physical disability?
Have appropriate accommodations been made?
Is the consequence likely to aggravate or worsen the behaviour or conduct?

Questions about Safe Schools and the Board’s Code of Conduct, including the application of progressive discipline, suspensions, expulsions, and matters pertaining to student safety should be directed to:

Brent Coakwell
System Principal, Safe & Healthy Schools
coakwellb@hdsb.ca

Board Office

Halton District School Board
J.W. Singleton Education Centre
2050 Guelph Line
Burlington, Ontario, L7P 5A8

Numbers

Phone: 905-335-3663
Fax:

Links

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Code of Conduct

​​​​​​​​ Ontario Ministry of Education Updates

Background Information​

Vaping

​Cell Phones

​Social Media

HDSB Code of Conduct & Safe and Accepting Schools​

H​​DSB Code of Conduct/Safe & Accepting Schools​ Brochure Translations

Standards of Behaviour​