Safe, Caring, and Orderly Schools
The Greater Victoria School District is committed to each student’s success, and nurtures student learning and well-being in a culturally safe, culturally responsive, and inclusive learning community.
Everyone has the right to an environment free from being treated differently based on race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, family or marital status, physical or mental disability, age, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, or any other reason noted in the BC Human Rights Code.
This Code of Conduct aligns with the Ministry of Education and Child Care’s guide to Safe, Caring, and Orderly Schools summarized as:
- Safe schools are ones in which everyone is free of the fear of harm
- Caring schools are ones in which everyone feels a sense of belonging and support
- Orderly schools are free from chaos and confusion, and alive with purposeful learning
This Student Code of Conduct also aligns with the Local Education Agreements (LEAs) of Esquimalt Nation and Songhees Nation, and the Education Agreements with the Métis Nation of Greater Victoria and Urban Peoples’ House Indigenous Advisory. Any policy changes that will impact Indigenous students must be shared with the Indigenous Education Council.
Purpose & Goals
The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to set clear expectations for appropriate student behaviour and inform consequences for inappropriate behaviour. This Code of Conduct aims to create environments that:
- Support students’ potential, goals, and achievements
- Maintain balances among individual and collective rights, freedoms, and responsibilities
- Provide consistent expectations between various schools and learning environments
- Inform students of rising expectations for their behaviour as they age and mature
Expected Conduct
All members of our school community are expected to be culturally safe, respectful, responsible, and cooperative while at school and while attending school functions at any location. All students have the following rights and responsibilities: Myself and Others School Building, Resources, Environment, and Community Students have the right to…
- Learn
- Be respected
- Privacy and personal space
- Cultural safety
- A safe, clean, and healthy school environment
- An environment free of discrimination
Myself and Others School Building, Resources, Environment, and Community Students have the responsibility to…
- Attend class on time and be prepared
- Be kind, welcoming, and inclusive to all
- Learn and play safely
- Respect personal space
- Use appropriate language and volume
- Follow classroom expectations, such as raising hands, waiting turns, sharing, and listening
- Ask for help when needed
- Follow directions of staff, including teachers, support staff, and crossing guards
- Respect classrooms and shared spaces
- Treat books, devices, equipment, and other resources with care
- Keep personal items, like toys, at home
- Respect school property and avoid areas that are out of bounds
- Respect nature and all living things
- Put garbage, compost, and recycling in the appropriate bins
- Respect hallway and classroom displays
Unacceptable Conduct
All members of our school community are expected to behave in ways that do not infringe on the rights and freedoms of others to have a safe, caring, and orderly school environment. Unacceptable conduct includes:
- Acts of hate, racism, violence, harassment, hazing, or bullying (physical, verbal, online, or otherwise)
- Possession, use, or distribution of illegal substances, alcohol, tobacco (except for approved ceremonial purposes with proper protocol), e-cigarettes, vaporizers, or related paraphernalia
- Possession, use, or distribution of weapons (including imitation or replica weapons)
- Disruptive or defiant actions
- Use of inappropriate language, gestures, images, and/or symbols
- Illegal acts such as theft or damage to property (including graffiti)
- Taking producing, or distributing photos, videos, or audio recordings of students or staff without consent from the individual or their guardian as appropriate
- Leaving the school campus or entering unauthorized areas without permission,
- Selling, trading, or gambling (unless authorized by the school)
- Plagiarism, cheating, or inappropriate use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Wearing clothing promoting substance/alcohol use, discrimination, offensive language or images, or other inappropriate content
Cell Phones and Personal Digital Devices
A ‘personal digital device’ means any personal electronic device that can be used to communicate or to access the internet, such as a cell phone or a tablet. Restricting the use of personal digital devices at school is for the purpose of promoting online safety and focused learning environments.
- Students are expected to follow restrictions set by their school and/or school staff, such as storing devices out of sight and on silent or airplane mode.
- During instructional hours, usage is at the teacher’s discretion and direction for instructional purposes and digital literacy, taking into consideration appropriate use for the students’ age and developmental stage.
- Equity must be considered to support learning outcomes. Accommodations can be made for students without a personal digital device who may need one to complete schoolwork, and to support students who may have disabilities, diverse abilities, or medical/health needs.
For full details, visit sd61.bc.ca.