As a Cedar Hill Student:

• I act safely, respectfully and responsibly
• I am a purposeful learner and support others to be so
• I take pride in being a Cedar Hill Student and represent our school in a positive manner.

Purpose:

The opportunity to attend school is provided as part of contemporary Canadian society, but this opportunity carries responsibilities.  The purpose of this code of conduct is:

• to establish and maintain safe, caring and orderly environments for purposeful learning;
• to establish and maintain appropriate balances among individual and collective rights, freedoms and responsibilities;
• to clarify and publish expectations for student behavior while at school, while going to and from school, and while attending any school function or activity at any location.

Acceptable Conduct:

• Be cooperative, courteous and respectful in dealings with administrators, teachers, school staff and other students.
• Attend school each day, arriving on time and prepared for all classes. Remain on the school grounds at all times.
• Attend all classes and complete the work assigned in those classes.
• Carry out all reasonable directions given by school staff.
• Take care of the books, equipment and learning materials provided for student use.
• Treat the school building, grounds and equipment with care and prevent litter.
• Respect the rights of others.
• Demonstrate the highest standards of conduct, personal responsibility and good judgment when involved in school sponsored events.
• Act as responsible members of the school neighborhood by being courteous to people in the area, by refraining from disturbing their daily activities, and by respecting their property.
• Adhere to the Acceptable Computer Use policy.
• Adhere to this Code of Conduct while travelling to and from school and while off the school premises at other times during the school day for school-based activities.

Unacceptable Conduct:

• behaviours that:
  • interfere with learning – yours or others’, (e.g.: truancy or inappropriate technology use at school);
  • interfere with an orderly environment (e.g.: arriving late to class, use of profanity);
  • create unsafe conditions (e.g.: recording videos or photographs without prior permission from adults, rough housing or skateboarding/scootering on school property).
• acts of:
  • physical violence;
  • retribution against a person who has reported incidents;
  • bullying, harassment, intimidation, or other forms of prejudice as per the prohibited grounds of discrimination set out in the BC Human Rights Code based on; Race, Colour, Ancestry, Place of origin, Religion, Marital status, Family status, Physical or mental disability, Sex, Sexual orientation, and Age.
• illegal acts, such as:
• possession, use or distribution of illegal or restricted substances (e.g.: including knowingly receiving stolen property and smoking on school property);

–      possession or use of weapons or replica weapons (e.g.: knives, slingshots, pellet or other guns);

–      theft of or damage to property (e.g.: graffiti);

–      plagiarism and unauthorized copying or use of software or other electronic or print media.

Rising Expectations:

As students get older, more mature, and progress through the grades, our expectations regarding their conduct increases:

• we expect an increase in personal responsibility, self-discipline and acceptance of diversity;
• There may be greater consequences for inappropriate behavior as students get older, reflecting these increased expectations.
• Special considerations may apply to students with special needs who are unable to comply with expectations due to their individual disability.

Consequences: 

The severity and frequency of unacceptable conduct as well as the age, maturity and special needs of students is considered in determining appropriate disciplinary action:

• responses to unacceptable conduct are pre-planned, fair, and consistent, while reflective of the particular circumstances of each individual case;
• disciplinary action, wherever possible, is preventive and restorative, rather than merely punitive;
• Students, as often as possible, are encouraged to participate in the development of meaningful consequences for violations of the established code of conduct.

Notification:

School administrators and counsellors may have a responsibility to advise other parties of serious breaches of the code of conduct. For example:

• parents/guardians of student offender(s) – in every instance;
• parents/guardians of student victim(s) – in every instance;
• school district officials – as required by school district policy;
• police and/or other agencies – as required by law;
• all parents/guardians – when deemed to be important to reassure members of the school community that school officials are aware of a serious situation or incident and are taking appropriate action to address it.

Retaliation Prevention:

The school will take all reasonable steps to prevent retaliation against a student who has made a complaint to his/her teacher or principal regarding a violation of our Code of Conduct.

Pledge of Commitment:

As a member of the Cedar Hill Middle School community, I will sign below as a pledge of commitment to follow the Cedar Hill Middle School Code of Conduct while I am a student/p[aren’t/guardian at Cedar Hill.

Student Signature:                 ____________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature:            ____________________________________________

Date:                                       ____________________________________________