Code of Conduct - Updated June 2024

Carleton/Cunningham Elementary School Code of Conduct

Date reviewed - October 19, 2021

Statement of purpose – Carleton/Cunningham is committed to a school code of conduct that upholds a safe, inclusive, equitable, welcoming, nurturing and healthy school environment. To this end, the Carleton/Cunningham School Code of Conduct promotes clear behavioural expectations of respectful and responsible citizenship that lead to a culture of safety, caring and respect amongst everyone in our school and programs and at all school events and activities. 

The Code of Conduct applies while at school, at a school-related activity or in other circumstances where engaging in the activity will have impact on the school environment. 

Acceptable conduct - At school, while going to and from school, and while attending any school function at any location, students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the school code of conduct as encapsulated by the school motto: Carleton/Cunningham C.A.R.E.S (Considerate, Accepting, Responsible and Respectful, Enthusiastic, Safe). Examples of acceptable, expected student behaviour include:

• Demonstrating commitment to learning by coming to school prepared to learn and by contributing to a safe, caring, positive, inclusive, and peaceful environment. 
• Seeking to prevent violence and potentially violent situations and demonstrating their social responsibility by reporting such situations. 
• Demonstrating, when utilizing the Internet, social media, email or other electronic forms of communication, appropriate digital citizenship. 
• Showing respect for the property of others by refraining from littering, theft, vandalism, graffiti and other inappropriate behaviours related to property. 
• Using respectful language and refraining from using obscenities and derogatory language. 
• attending school in appropriate dress that is not obscene and does not promote alcohol or drugs, display offensive language or images, encourage discrimination or present a health or safety problem or cause a disruption.
• practicing academic honesty and personal integrity by not participating in or encouraging plagiarism, cheating, theft of evaluation instruments, use of unauthorized aids, or false representation of identity

 Unacceptable conduct - Any behaviour contrary to the school code of conduct/motto is considered unacceptable conduct. The unacceptable behaviours cited below are examples only and not an all-inclusive list.

• Racism will not be tolerated in our school.
• Taking part in or condoning (provoke, encourage or make a spectacle of) any form of violence, including bullying, harassment, threat- making, intimidation, verbal, sexual, physical or online abuse and harassment, or discrimination in any form including discrimination on the basis of race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability or challenge, gender, sexual orientation or age.
• Possessing, using or displaying any weapon, replica weapon or toy weapon, on any school property or at any event that is organized or sponsored by a school. 
• Attending school or school functions while in possession of or while under the influence of any intoxicating, banned or controlled substances. 
• Smoking any substance or using vaporizers or e-cigarettes on school and other District property.
• Students shall not discriminate against others on the basis of the race, religion, colour, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, family status, age, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical or mental disability, or for any other reason set out in the Human Rights Code of British Columbia, 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.

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. 

Consequences - It is recognized that all student discipline is progressive in nature and must be age appropriate and reflect the intellectual and emotional development of the student. It is also recognized that a restorative, rather than punitive, response may have greater impact on improving behaviour, increase a young person’s empathy, help to rebuild community and a sense of safety, and may prevent further incidents. In addition, Principals and Vice Principals must exercise discretion based on a broad range of factors including the following: 

• the severity of the incident(s)
• the frequency
• the intensity of action
• the intent
• the age and maturity of the student
• possible disability issues (Special Needs designation of the student, if any)
• possible disabling conditions
• the impact on others/environment

Notification - School officials may have a responsibility to advise other parties of serious breaches of the code of conduct.

Special considerations may apply to students with special needs if these students are unable to comply with a code of conduct due to having a disability of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional or behavioural nature.

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:

1. 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.
2. because the behaviour of the student breaches the District Code of Conduct or policy and/or has a harmful effect on others or the learning environment of the school.
3. 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 the District Student Code of Conduct, AP 350. As per AP 350 6.7.1 an educational program must be provided.