​​​​NORTH VANCOUVER SCHOOL DISTRICT'S CODE OF CONDUCT AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

NVSD Code of Conduct.pdf (sd44.ca)

http://www.sd44.ca/Board/PoliciesProcedures/Series300/Pages/default.aspx

North Vancouver School District's Code of Conduct has been established to maintain a safe, caring, accessible, and healthy learning environment. It is the shared responsibility of students, staff, parents/guardians, and the broader community, to demonstrate positive conduct while attending any school or district related activity, at any location.

All members of the school community are expected to:

· Support learning and attendance.​

· Demonstrate safety.

· Respect property, environment, personal space, and privacy.

· Model courtesy, compassion, and respect.

· Value diversity.

· Treat self and all other members of the school and broader community respectfully.

All members of the school community must refrain from engaging in any in-person or digital communication or participating in behaviour that is considered to be:

· Interfering with the learning and working of others. · Bullying, harassing, intimidating, retaliating, discriminating or violent.

· Unsafe or illegal; including the possession, use, or distribution of illegal or restricted substances or the possession of weapons or replicas.

All members of the school community are expected to:

· Comply with the purpose and spirit of the BC Human Rights Code, including not engaging in discriminatory conduct based on Indigenous identity, race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age of that person or that group or class of persons.

· Wear clothing that does not promote or symbolize illegal substances or activities, hate or discrimination, profanity, pornography; or that incites violence, harassment, or threatens safety.

· Leave personal digital devices at home, in their bag/backpack, and/or in their locker during instructional time. Allowances may be made by the staff for instructional purposes, digital literacy, appropriate use based on age and developmental stage, accommodations within a student's Individualized Education Plan, accessibility, medical and health needs, and/or equitable support for learning outcomes.

Every effort will be made to support individuals and to determine the root causes of behaviour. If the safety or educational program of others is compromised, or if there is an ongoing failure to meet the expectations of the Code of Conduct, a range of consequences will follow. Whenever possible, incidents will be resolved by discussion, community service, restorative processes, referral to counselling and/or support services, mediation, and restitution, but may involve loss of privileges, detention, suspension from school, and/or collaboration with community partners.

Confidentiality will be maintained; however, school officials may have a responsibility to advise other parties of serious breaches of the Code of Conduct (e.g. school district officials, law enforcement, and/or other agencies, etc.). The school will take all reasonable steps to prevent any form of retaliation against a student or staff member who has brought a complaint forward of a breach of the Code of Conduct.

Factors such as the severity and frequency of the concerning behaviour(s), as well as the age, maturity, and ability of the person(s) involved, will be considered. In most cases, as people mature, there is the expectation of increased responsibility and self-discipline; therefore, progressively increasing consequences for concerning behaviour may apply.

Considerations apply to those who may not be able to adhere to the Code of Conduct due to having a disability of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional, or behavioural nature. All members of the North Vancouver School District community have the right to be treated fairly and consistently and should know and understand this Code of Conduct

HANDSWORTH'S EXPECTATIONS FOR POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR AND FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Aligned with, and in addition to, the School District's Code of Conduct for students, staff, and community members, all members of the Handsworth school community are expected to read, understand, and abide by our school specific expectations and guidelines.

Handsworth Secondary School is a kind, caring, and safe environment where students and staff experience freedom from harm and discrimination. The rich expression of diversity includes but is not limited to differences in physical, cognitive, social, emotional and behavioural abilities, socioeconomic status, race, religion and cultural, sexual orientation and gender. Our diversity is also richly enhanced by our students of Indigenous ancestry. Anti-bullying measures will ensure all students enjoy a safe, inclusive and welcoming learning environment. 

The NVSD Code of Conduct and School Expectations provide guidelines for student behaviour while under the jurisdiction of the school: during the school day, while travelling to and from school, and during any school-sponsored activity or event. It also extends to student behaviour off school property, outside of regular school hours, and online that may have a negative impact on the learning environment of the school, on the safety or learning of one or more students, or on the reputation of the school. 

EACH STUDENT IS EXPECTED TO:

• Demonstrate positive attitudes and behaviour. 
• Participate actively and to the best of their ability in school programs. 
• Follow the instructions of all staff embers.
• Attend school on a regular basis and be on time to classes. 
• Be respectful to all others. 
• Respect the property and personal space of others.
• Participate in appropriate decision-making. 
• Seek guidance and support from an adult when facing challenges.
  

Unauthorized Use of Personal Digital Devices

If students are not compliant with keeping their personal digital devise in their bag or at home, the device will go to office. The teacher or administrator will talk to the student and make contact with home. If this is a repeated issue, there will be an opportunity for admin and parent/guardian to collaborate on a plan that includes the student to drop off & keep devices in office daily or at home until determined date.

Academic Honesty - Cheating and Plagiarism

Cheating is the use of unauthorized materials, items, or devices to gain an unfair advantage in schoolwork (especially tests), and includes copying another’s work, and allowing one’s work to be copied by another.

Plagiarism is a form of cheating that involves claiming another’s ideas or writing as one’s own without proper acknowledgement. The term applies equally to an entire assignment, or any part of it. Submitting assignments done by others, including assignments downloaded from the web without references will be seen as a form of academic dishonesty.

AI:​ Students using any unacknowledged content generated by artificial intelligence within an assessment, assignment, or project as though it is their own work constitutes academic misconduct, unless explicitly stated by the teacher that AI can be used.  ​

Consequences for Academic Dishonesty

Confirmed incidences of cheating and plagiarism will be recorded in the student’s discipline file.

Possible consequences for first occurrence of cheating  or plagiarism include:

• receiving a zero for the assignment or test.
• being required to explain one's actions to a parent and the parent contacting the teacher.
• being required to meet with the grade administrator.
• ineligibility to receive awards and scholarships.
• ineligibility to have a reference letter written by the administration.​
  

Drugs and Alcohol

Students found using, possessing, or being with others involved with drugs or alcohol at school or at school-sponsored events, will be required to meet with the school administration and will be subject to escalating consequences depending on the severity, nature, and history of the student's conduct.  Any student found supplying drugs or alcohol to others will be suspended, and/or referred to an outside agency or the police. Please note that if residual evidence or other indicators lead staff to suspect drug or alcohol use, students may still face disciplinary action. The Handsworth administration will rarely discriminate between direct and indirect exposure to prohibited substances. It is for this reason that students should not remain in the company of those using drugs or alcohol.

Weapons

Weapons of all kinds including any object used to simulate a weapon are expressly forbidden at school. Students involved with weapons will be required to meet with the school administration and subject to escalating consequences and may be referred to the RCMP.

Non-compliance towards Staff

Students are expected to adhere to the direction of all staff members. In serious cases, consequences for non-compliance or defiance to staff may include suspension or withdrawal from Handsworth.

Chronic Lateness and Absenteeism

Teachers will inform parents of unexcused absences. Students absent from classes without a valid reason will be subject to progressive disciplinary steps.

Smoking, Tobacco, and Vapour Products

In accordance with Sec 2.2 of the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act and Board Policy 804, the use of tobacco and vapour products is banned on all public and private K-12 Schools in BC. These regulations apply to:

• Students, parents, and school employees.  
• School visitors, on-site workers, and  guests.
• Anyone attending non-school activities in schools or on school grounds.
• Anyone in school vehicles.
• Anyone in private vehicles parked on school property.
• All tobacco products such as cigarettes, vapourizers, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco etc.