Langley School District Code of Conduct
The District endorses a set of desirable personal and interpersonal character traits that incorporate universal values common to all religions and ethnic-cultural groups, including respect, integrity, empathy, compassion, independence, cooperation, responsibility and self-control.
Students are to learn, practice and develop such personal and interpersonal character traits and to contribute to the development of welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments. Students are further to respect diversity and refrain from demonstrating any form of discrimination as set out in the British Columbia Human Rights Code, including gender identity and gender expression. Students are to foster a sense of belonging amongst all students.
Within the aforementioned context, students are to pursue academic and cultural studies to maximize their individual potential in becoming self-reliant, responsive and contributing members of society.
Except where a behaviour is expressly limited to time and place this Student Code of Conduct applies to students engaged in, present, or attending:
- Travel on a school bus or transportation contracted or arranged by the District or school.
- Any activity on school premises whether during a regular school day, outside the regular school day, or on a day that is not a school day.
- Any activity sponsored by, organized by or participated in by the school or District regardless of time or place.
- Any activity in and around the school premises occurring during the school day or outside the school day that involves the invasion of privacy or property of neighbouring residents, or that constitutes a nuisance or abusive behaviour.
Where a breach of this Student Code of Conduct amounts to a violation of the law, the District and the school will co-operate with the police and other appropriate authorities.
When responding to unacceptable student behaviour, the following are to be considered:
- The effect of the student’s behaviour upon other students, the staff, the school, and the community.
- The nature of the action or incident that calls for disciplinary or alternative measures.
- The student’s previous conduct and previous interventions.
- The student’s age, maturity and abilities.
- The impact of proposed action on the student’s future behavior.
- The student’s learning needs; and
Any other information considered appropriate or relevant.
The consequences of unacceptable behaviour may be:
- Assignment of a student whose behaviour is unacceptable, disruptive or destructive to an alternate supervised location.
- Short term removal of privileges.
- Detention.
- Use of reasonable force as required by way of correction to restrain a student from carrying out a violent or destructive act that could harm the student or others.
- Alternative interventions such as community conferencing or other forms of restorative justice.
- Corrective student transfer.
- Suspension; and
- Recommendation for expulsion.
The consequences cited above are only examples and not an alI-inclusive list, and are not necessarily in progressive order. Decisions of District staff are eligible for appeal in accordance with Policy 13 – Appeals Bylaw.
Students will contribute, to the greatest extent possible, to a learning environment that is well-ordered, peaceful, safe, non-threatening, and conducive to learning and optimal growth.
Unacceptable student behaviour:
- May be grounds for disciplinary action; and
- Provides an opportunity for critical learning in the areas of:
- Personal accountability and responsibility.
- The development of empathy.
- Conflict resolution.
- Communication; and
- Social skills development.
In displaying acceptable behaviour, students are to:
- Use their abilities and talents to gain maximum learning benefits from their school experiences.
- Contribute to a climate of mutual trust and respect conducive to effective learning, personal development, and social living.
- Co-operate fully with everyone authorized by the District to provide education programs and other services.
- Comply with all applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws, and the rules of the District and school.
- Account to their teachers for their conduct.
- Attend school regularly and punctually.
- Use non-violent means to resolve conflict.
- Treat all other students and staff with dignity, respect and fairness at all times.
- Contribute to a learning environment that is free from physical, emotional, and social abuse.
- Take appropriate measures to help those in need; and
- Demonstrate honesty and integrity.
Students are accountable for demonstrating respect for:
- Authority.
- Others and their property.
- School property, equipment and textbooks; and
- Differences in ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
- Students are prohibited from engaging in unacceptable behaviour, whether it occurs within the school building, during the school day, during school related activities or by electronic means.
Examples of such behaviours include, but are not limited to:
- Publication of any item that discriminates against a person or a group or class of persons because of race, color, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age.
- Denial of accommodation, service or facility customarily available to the public because of race, color, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age.
- Use, possession of, sale, distribution of or active contact with, a weapon on a student’s person, in a student’s locker or desk, on District property, or in a vehicle on District property used by a student or occupied by a student as a passenger.
- Threats.
- Conduct which endangers others.
- Encouraging conduct which endangers or may endanger others.
- Encouraging unacceptable conduct.
- Use or display of improper, obscene or abusive language.
- Distribution or display of offensive messages or pictures.
- Theft, including identity theft.Assault.
- Willful damage to school or others’ property.
- Use, possession of, distribution of, or active contact with, or collection of money for controlled drugs, alcohol, or inhalants in school, on Board property or in the context of any school-related activity.
- Attending school or any school-related activity under the influence of controlled drugs, alcohol or inhalants.
- Personal or sexual harassment.
- Hazing, initiation activities; the formation or the operation of sororities, fraternities, gangs and secret organizations.
- Extortion.
- Disruptive behaviour, willful disobedience or defiance of authority.
- Interfering with the orderly conduct of classes or the school.
- Tampering with fire alarms and safety equipment.
- Criminal activity.
- Contravention of the school’s code of conduct.
- Workplace violence.
- Bullying, including cyber-bullying; and
- Inappropriate information technology use.
Langley School District Dress Guidelines
The intent of a dress guideline is to set expectations to assist students, staff, and parents in decision-making with respect to clothing. It is not intended to be prescriptive nor punitive, but to provide a level of clarity so that correction or discipline is not required.
Dress guidelines are intended to incorporate individual preferences for students and their families to dress in a manner that they choose. Individual choice is however tempered by a responsibility to recognize that a school is a learning and working environment, in which there is an expectation of reasonableness.
Staff members have a responsibility to assist students in understanding and abiding by the District dress guidelines. Parents have a responsibility to support appropriate dress for the school and the workplace.
Clothing should be comfortable and allow a student to participate safely in activities such as physical education, science experiments, and/or shop projects. Clothing should demonstrate a respect for the school community. Clothing should meet standards of suitability that are typical of an office workplace and should not be offensive to others.
Articles of clothing that promote alcohol or drugs, that display offensive language or images, or that encourage sexism, racism or bigotry are not acceptable in a school. Clothing bearing direct or indirect messages or graphics referring to gang culture, sex or pornography, weapons or violence will not be permitted.
When there are differences in perspective, all involved have a duty to seek common understanding in a mutually respectful manner. Ultimately, the school administration has the responsibility to apply the dress guidelines when necessary. If any person dresses in an inappropriate manner, the student should be advised personally and discretely and given an opportunity to meet the District guidelines.