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Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct

The teachers and administration at Vancouver Technical believe that this school should be a place for safe, purposeful learning.  Consequently, and in accordance with the responsibilities assigned to it by the School Act and by the Board of Trustees, the school expects that students will actively participate, through effort and punctual, regular attendance, in their assigned education program. Expectations of student behaviour, school rules and Vancouver School Board Policies shall apply to students while at Vancouver Technical, while going to and from school while attending any school curricular or extra-curricular function or activity, or in any other circumstances (including online) where engaging in the activity will have an impact on the school environment and/or student learning.

VANCOUVER TECHNICAL SECONDARY SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS

The staff at Vancouver Technical School believes that appropriate student conduct which is based on respect for oneself and for others is essential to the development of responsible citizens. Vancouver Technical School promotes the values expressed in the BC Human Rights Code respecting the rights of all individuals in accordance with the law – prohibiting discrimination based on race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital 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. Student behaviour, dress and decorum shall be in accordance with generally accepted community standards and appropriate for the educational environment. Appropriate behaviour is a responsibility shared among the students, their parents and the school system. Racism and discrimination will not be tolerated at our school.

A    The school requires students to observe the following expectations:

  1. Attend school regularly, be punctual, and take responsibility for your studies.
  2. Observe school rules and the student code of conduct.
  3. Respect the rights of others and their property.
  4. Respect the health and safety of others.
  5. Respect the educational process and the learning environment of others.
  6. Respect the authority of all School District employees.
  7. Conduct yourself in a manner that brings credit to their school at all times. 

B    The school forbids the following:        

  1. Physical violence, intimidation or threats.
  2. The possession, use or distribution of illegal or restricted drugs, including alcohol.
  3. The carrying or possession of weapons or simulated weapons.
  4. Verbal abuse, profanity, racism, and sexism.
  5. Disruption of the classroom or learning environment.
  6. Vandalism of school property.

Breaches of these rules including the defiance of school authority, will be viewed most seriously and may result in suspension, possibly dismissal. In some cases, it may be appropriate for the school to involve the participation of the Police.

Parents and students should know the Board authorizes administrative officers, teachers and other appropriate personnel at Vancouver Technical to discipline students, in the classroom, the school at large and in extra curricular situations.

CONSEQUENCES AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

Disciplinary action at Vancouver Technical will be determined by each individual situation. All students and parents should recognize and respect the disciplinary role of the teacher and the administration, in the school at large and in all extra-curricular situations. In addition, other adults such as supervisory and classroom aides as well as office and custodial personnel may play an important role. Disciplinary actions may take a variety of forms which may include, but not be limited to, reprimand, detention(s), service work and loss of privileges. Special considerations may apply to students with special needs, if they are unable to comply with the Code of Conduct due to having a disability of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional or behavioural nature.

As described in the previous section on School Expectations, some behaviours will be viewed as so serious that they may result in suspension, or school transfer, and possibly dismissal. In some instances, it may be appropriate to combine two or more of the above consequences. In many cases students should expect the school to contact parents. The school believes that our expectations for student conduct, and possible consequences, are designed to give due consideration to the following:

  1. Maintaining a positive and safe learning environment.
  2. Respecting the dignity of others, their rights and properties. 
  3. Providing positive guidelines for student behaviour.
  4. Encouraging and promoting educational opportunities for students. 
  5. Fostering, appropriate to age, a sense of personal responsibility, honesty, and self-discipline.
  6. Fostering cooperation with other students in the achievement of their intellectual, social and career goals. 

Through the observance of the above, all students at Vancouver Technical shall ensure their participation in a safe, and purposeful education. 

DISCIPLINARY JURISDICTION

Students engaged in behaviour that interferes with the general welfare of students or the learning environment of the school may be subject to disciplinary action even when this behaviour occurs off of school property or during a time when the student is not under direct school supervision such as lunch hour or going to and from school, or while online. 

EDUCATIONAL ETHICS POLICY

Vancouver Technical Secondary School aspires to develop honest, ethical and accomplished students capable of being responsible citizens in Canadian society.  Educational achievement reflects an individual student’s subject area performance and honestly acquired skill, knowledge and ability. 

Some examples of cheating include:

  1. Plagiarizing, i.e., copying material from any source, (students, the internet, a tutor), using others’ ideas without acknowledging the source. This  includes essays, assignments, homework submitted for marks, lab reports, computer programs, drawings, sketches, designs, and video or audio tapes and all other assigned work.
  2. Supplying unauthorized information or work of any kind to another student with the knowledge that it may be copied or used for marks. 
  3. Copying from another person’s test paper, or knowingly allowing another student to copy from your test paper.
  4. Unauthorized communication of any kind during a test.
  5. Bringing or using unauthorized materials/notes or equipment (including electronic translators, programmable calculators, computers, etc.) for a test. 

CHEATING POLICY CONSEQUENCES

  • The incident will be recorded on the student’s file.
  • The student will not be eligible for Honour Roll recognition.
  • The student’s parents may be contacted.
  • The student may not be eligible for reference letters from staff.
  • The student may not be eligible for Passport to Education for that academic year.
  • The student may not be eligible for school based scholarships for that academic year.
  • The student may be suspended or transferred.

NOTE:  Specific consequences are determined by the Vice Principal, after consultation with the supervising teacher on a case by case basis.

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