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.
Code of Conduct for Safe and Accepting Schools
View HDSB Code of Conduct (PDF)View Code of Conduct - "Getting to the Core" Poster (PDF)
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:
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Engage in bullying behaviours, including cyberbullying
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Commit sexual assault
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Traffic in weapons or illegal or drugs
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Give alcohol or cannabis to a minor
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Commit robbery
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Be in possession of any weapon, including firearms
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Use any object to threaten or intimidate another person
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Cause injury to any person with an object
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Be in possession of, or be under the influence of, or provide others with alcohol, cannabis or illegal drugs
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Inflict or encourage others to inflict bodily harm on another person
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Engage in hate propaganda and other forms of behaviour motivated by hate or bias
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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
and inclusive place
- 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
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excessive demands for meetings or unreasonable communication requests
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making derogatory/insulting comments to staff
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shouting/swearing at staff
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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:
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The particular student and mitigating factors
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The nature and severity of the behaviour
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The impact on the school climate
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The impact on the student harmed
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The relationships within the school community
Activities leading to a possible suspension:
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Uttering (verbalizing, writing or sending) a threat to inflict serious bodily harm on another person
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Possessing alcohol, cannabis (unless the recipient is an individual who has been authorized to use cannabis for medical purposes) or illegal drugs.
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Being under the influence of alcohol or cannabis
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Swearing at a teacher or at another person in a position of authority
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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
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Bullying (physical, social, verbal or cyber)
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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
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Fire setting, initiating a false alarm, making a bomb threat or an act that places individuals, property or community at risk
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Extortion
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Harassment
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Hate crimes
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Smoking or vaping on school property
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Theft
- Vandalism of school or Board property
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Reckless or dangerous use of a vehicle (e.g. car, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.) on school property
Activities leading to a suspension and possible expulsion:
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Possessing a weapon, including possessing a firearm
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Using a weapon to cause or to threaten bodily harm to another person
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Committing physical assault on another person that causes bodily harm requiring treatment by a medical practitioner
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Committing sexual assault
- Trafficking in weapons, illegal or restricted drugs
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Committing robbery
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Giving alcohol or cannabis to a minor
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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:
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Does the student have the ability to control their behaviour?
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Does the student have the ability to understand the foreseeable consequences of their behaviour?
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Does the student’s continuing presence in the school create an unacceptable risk to the safety of any person?
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Has a progressive discipline approach been used with the student?
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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?
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Does the consequence affect the student’s ongoing education?
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Was the student’s age a factor?
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For a student with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or disability-related needs:
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Is the behaviour a characteristic of the developmental and physical disability?
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Have appropriate accommodations been made?
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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