Harassment

The Vancouver Board of Education recognizes that every individual should be treated with respect and dignity and therefore has the right to be free from harassment in our schools and workplaces.  A positive and welcoming work and learning environment protects and promotes the self-esteem, worth, and human rights of every person and supports mutual respect and cooperation among individuals.  Any student involved in racial, ethno-cultural, religious, or sexual harassment in any form will face disciplinary action.

Bullying

Students and parents expect schools to be safe, where students can learn and teachers can teach in a warm and welcoming place, free from bullying, intolerance and violence.

Bullying is a pattern of aggressive behaviour meant to hurt or cause discomfort to another person. Bullies always have more power than victims. Their power comes from physical size, strength, status, and support within the peer group.

There are three types of bullying:

• physical, where a person is harmed or their property damaged
• verbal, where a person’s feelings are hurt through insults and name-calling
• social, where a person is shunned or excluded from groups and events.

Any student involved in bullying in any form will face disciplinary action.

Smoking (including E-cigarettes, Personal Vaporizers (PV) or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) 

No person may smoke in the school buildings, on the school grounds, or at any school sponsored function.  Disciplinary action is taken against students who break this policy.

Drugs and Alcohol

No student may be in possession of or under the influence of illegal or non-prescribed drugs or alcohol in the school, in the vicinity of the school, or at school sponsored functions.  Any infraction will be considered serious and will result in the immediate implementation of school and Board policies dealing with student discipline.  This may include possible suspension, withdrawal and transfer of the students involved.

Vandalism

Vandalism is a serious breach of students’ responsibility.  The School Act, Bill 67 (10), 1989 states:

If property of a board is destroyed, damaged, lost or converted by the intentional or negligent act of a student, the student and the student's parents are jointly and severally liable to the board in respect of the act of the student.

Violence and Weapons

The Vancouver Board of Education works hard to ensure that schools are safe places for students.  Board policy states that violence of any kind will not be tolerated.  Any form of violence or intimidation that threatens the health, safety and welfare of students is not acceptable.

Violence includes verbal, written, or physical threats, bullying, fighting and physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.  Weapons are defined as anything that is used with the intent to hurt or frighten someone.  Students are not permitted to have weapons.  Any student found with a weapon, involved in a violent act, or soliciting others to commit an act of violence will face disciplinary action.

What Should I Do If I…?

If you have been affected by, or know of others who have been affected by harassment, violence, weapons, drugs, or alcohol, it is important that you talk to a counsellor, teacher, administrator, school liaison officer, or anyone else in the school that you trust, so that others can help to solve the problem.

Intruders

The Vancouver Board of Education policy allows for VBE personnel, VBE elected officials and VBE students from other schools participating in sanctioned events to be at Gladstone.  All other persons who are visiting the school are to report to the office.  Anyone found on the premises who does not have an acceptable reason as listed above is liable to be charged under Section 177 of the School Act.