Code of Conduct - Updated June 2024

Cook Elementary School Code of Conduct:

Take care of yourself

Take care of others

Take care of this place

We ask that you sit and review our Code of Conduct with your child(ren) and facilitate a discussion about the various aspects of expected student behaviour at school.

The purpose of Cook’s Code of Conduct is to provide a safe, respectful learning environment and school community that will enable students to become responsible global citizens who recognize the uniqueness of self and others. 

This Code of Conduct applies at school, during school organized or sponsored activities, on school buses, and even if outside of school or school hours, (including on-line behaviour), that negatively impacts the safe, caring, or orderly environment of the school, and or student learning. 

Students shall not discriminate against others on the basis of race, religion, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, age, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, physical or mental disability, or for for any other reason set out in the BC Human Rights Code, nor shall a student publish or display anything that would indicate an intention to discriminate against another, or expose them to contempt or ridicule, on the basis of any such grounds. 

Racism and discrimination will not be tolerated in our school.

Cook students are expected to support the rights of

• All students right to learn.
• School staff members to perform their duties.
• Staff and students to work and learn in a safe environment.
• Staff, students, and parents to be treated respectfully.

Conduct Expectations

Acceptable Conduct

• Respecting self, others, and the school.
• Contributing to a safe, caring, positive, inclusive, and peaceful environment.
• Seeking to prevent violence and potentially violent situations and demonstrating social. responsibility by reporting such situations.
• Engaging in purposeful learning activities.

Unacceptable Conduct

• Behaviours that interfere with the learning of other, interfere with an orderly environment, or create an unsafe environment.
• Acts of bullying, harassment, intimidation, or physical violence.
• Illegal acts, such as possession, use or distribution of illegal or restricted substances.
• Theft or damage to property.

Note: Behaviours (both acceptable and unacceptable) cited in the code of conduct are examples only and not an all-inclusive list.

Rising Expectations

Students are expected to learn and mature as they move through successive grades, and as such the expectations progress towards increasing personal responsibility and self-discipline, as well as increasing consequences for inappropriate conduct/unacceptable behavior.

Retaliation Prevention

All reasonable steps will be taken to prevent retaliation against a student who has made a complaint of a breach of a code of conduct.

Consequences

• Disciplinary action, wherever possible, is restorative rather than merely punitive. The school will treat seriously any behaviour that discriminates based on Indigenous identity, race, religion, colour, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, family status, age, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or physical or mental disability.
• Repetitive or severe unacceptable behaviour may result in increased severity of subsequent disciplinary action. The age and maturity of students are considered when determining appropriate consequences.
• Special considerations may apply to students with special/diverse needs if these students are unable to comply with a code of conduct due to having a disability/challenge of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional, or behavioural nature.
• Responses to unacceptable conduct are consistent and fair.
• Students, as often as possible, are encouraged to participate in the development of meaningful consequences for violations of the established code of conduct.

Notifications

The principal or designate has a responsibility to inform other parties of serious breaches of the code of conduct. These parties include:

• Parent(s) of student offender(s) and parent(s) of student victim(s) – in every instance
• School district officials
• Police and/or other agencies, as required by law
• School community, when deemed necessary, to reassure members that school officials are taking appropriate action

Suspensions

In accordance with the School Act, Sec. 85 (2) (ii) and (d), the Board authorizes the principal or designate of any school in the district to suspend a student from attendance at school for up to five days.

Suspensions may be for the following reasons:

• because a student is willfully and repeatedly disrespectful to a teacher or to any other employee of the Board carrying out responsibilities approved by the Board;
• because the behaviour of the student breaches the District Code of Conduct or other policy and/or has a harmful effect on others or the learning environment of the school.
• because the student has failed to comply with the School Code of Conduct

Suspensions over five days are made in consultation with the appropriate Director of Instruction as per District Student Code of Conduct, AP 350.

As per AP 350 7.7 an educational program must be provided.

PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES (Cell phones. cameras, iPods etc.)

We recognize that for some families a phone is important for communication between students and parents or caregivers before and after school.  However, we are finding that cell phones can be a source of classroom disruption and a safety concern on the playground. We would like to ensure that students can carry cell phones to school and, at the same time, assure that disruptions and safety concerns are dealt with. We ask that parents support our efforts by following this guideline:

Students may only use portable electronic devices with the permission of a staff member. They are not to be used during unstructured times, including before or after school and at recess or lunch. We cannot be responsible for the loss or damage of these items. If repeated violation of this policy occurs, the device may be kept in the school’s office until it is picked up by the student’s family.

The school takes no responsibility for loss or damage to cell phones. Parents send cell phones to school at their own risk.