Be Safe | Be Kind | Be Fair

Statement of Purpose

This code of conduct is to provide our school community; students, staff and guests with a baseline for a safe, caring, and orderly school. These expectations apply to behaviour at school, during school-organized or sponsored activities, and behaviour beyond these times (including on-line behaviour) that negatively impacts the safe, caring, or orderly environment of the school and/or student learning.

BEHAVIOUR EXPECTATIONS

Every citizen of Franklin School is expected to adhere to the following expectations (this is an extensive but not exclusive list of behavior expectations. There is a progression of expectations for students as they become older, more mature and move through successive grades. Our Code of Conduct applies at school, while going to and from school, during all school organized or sponsored activities, including online behavior that negatively impacts the safe, caring or orderly environment of the school and/or student learning.

Be SAFE

We demonstrate safety first by:

• listening to the direction of adults in charge
• walking inside and moving in a safe manner outside, keeping hands and feet to ourself (no pushing, shoving, hitting, kicking, wrestling or hurting each other in any way)
• moving through the school using inside voices
• using all equipment safely and taking turns fairly             
• not being on the upper two floors without adult supervision
• looking after school property, including texts and supplies
• putting garbage and recycling in appropriate containers 
• leaving potentially dangerous items such as skateboards, rollerblades, hockey sticks, baseball bats, pocket knives, laser pointers etc. at home
• responsibly using cell phones 
• not leaving the school grounds without parental permission and school notification
• accessing the internet under the supervision of staff and only after the annual parental permission form has been completed and returned  

Be KIND  

We show this by:

• speaking and acting respectfully to others at all times 
• showing tolerance and acceptance of differences
• including others

Be FAIR 

We deal fairly with others. We do not emotionally bully by excluding, intimidating or harassing others. We also:

• use words if someone is bothering us
• solve problems in peaceful ways
• tell an appropriate adult if we cannot solve a problem ourselves
• are honest when dealing with others and when doing school work (no cheating or plagiarism)

Franklin School promotes the values expressed in the BC Human Rights Code respecting the rights of individuals in accordance with the law - prohibiting discrimination based on race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex or sexual orientation - in respect of discriminatory publication and discrimination in accommodation, service and facility in the school environment

RISING EXPECTATIONS

As students become older and more mature they are expected to take on more responsibility and leadership in the school. They are encouraged to do this by:

• taking some responsibility for the care and safety of younger and/or vulnerable students
• modeling empathetic and good behaviour
• becoming more involved as socially responsible citizens in groups such as peer leaders, student council, etc. 

CONSEQUENCES OF UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR

When considering consequences for unacceptable conduct many factors are considered: effectiveness of consequence, severity and frequency of actions, age, maturity and special needs of the student and the safety of the student and others. There is a focus on consequences that are restorative rather than punitive. Parents/guardians are notified when there is a significant breach of the Code of Conduct. In more serious cases school board officials are notified as well. The following are some examples of consequences which may be used:

• problem solving discussion or worksheet
• letter of apology
• thinking time
• recess/lunch hour restrictions
•  loss of special events or field trips
• a phone call or letter home
• meeting with parents/guardians
• referral to school counselor
• consultation with V.S.B. behavior specialist
• in school suspension 
• formal school suspension

Franklin school will treat seriously behavior or communication that discriminates based on race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, sex or sexual orientation (prohibited grounds set out in the BC Human Rights Code). Franklin school will also take all reasonable steps to prevent retaliation against a student who has made a complaint of a breach of a code of conduct.

Reviewed September 2016