Code of Conduct

At Frank Hobbs Elementary School, we believe that all children have the right to learn in a safe, caring and orderly environment. Our expectations are that students will remain an attitude that is cooperative, courteous and respectful.

WE BELIEVE IN PURPOSEFUL POSITIVE CONDUCT IN ORDER TO:

  • Provide a supportive caring environment with high expectations where everyone is valued and respected, including the adults in the building
  • Provide a healthy environment for learning which must be safe, happy, supportive and secure
  • Assist learners to become Educated Citizens
  • Provide students with opportunities to develop firm foundations in literacy, numeracy skills, and socially responsible life skills

THE BASIC CONDUCT EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS, STAFF AND ADULTS WHO ENTER THE BUILDING ARE
EXPECTED TO:

  • Interact with each other in a caring, concerned manner (according to age – appropriate expectations)
  • Interact respectfully at all times and in all settings, both on school property and at any school functions at any location
  • Accept and value the unique qualities of others

GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT CONDUCT

Student behaviour is governed by various sections of the School Act, the prohibited grounds of discrimination set out in the BC Human Rights Code, the Policies and Regulations of the Greater Victoria School District and the Frank Hobbs Elementary rules and expectations that stem from our belief and mission statement. In accordance with the School Act, acceptable student behaviour is expected while at school, at a school-related activity or in other circumstances where engaging in the activity will have an impact on the school environment.
Behavioral guidelines are based on the principles that students and school personnel have the right to:

  • Work and play in a safe environment
  • Engage in the teaching/learning process without unnecessary disruptions from others
  • Be treated with respect and dignity
  • The protection and care of school property and environment

Accompanying these rights are the responsibilities of all persons to:

  • Engage in behaviour that does not interfere with the teaching/learning program
  • Move, play and work in a safe manner
  • Respect and care for personal property whether it be one’s own, another person’s or the property of the school and playground environment
  • Behave in a polite and courteous manner
  • Play in a manner that is not disruptive to the play of others

These general guidelines are translated into the following specific expectations where students are expected to:

  • Behave in a polite and courteous manner
  • Move through the school in a quiet orderly manner
  • Go directly outside for recesses and remain outside, where adult supervision is provided, until the bell rings
  • Remain on the school grounds during regular school hours

WITS

Students will receive positive reinforcement from staff for acting right. “Acting right” includes students using their WITS:
W Walk away (to another area of the school grounds)
I Ignore
T Talk about it
S Seek help

The 3 – Rs at Frank Hobbs are:
Be Responsible
Be Respectful
Be Resourceful
The fourth R is to Report to an adult (parents and school) when help is needed

~Please see the attached Social Responsibility Matrix for expectations of appropriate behaviours

FRANK HOBBS ELEMENTARY’S ENVIRONMENT IS FREE FROM ACTS OF

  • Bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment and marginalization
  • Threat and intimidation
  • Violence in any form
  • Abuse in any form
  • Discrimination in any form including that against race, color, ancestry, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age,  or place of origin
  • Retribution against a person who has reported incidents.  School District No. 61 will take all reasonable steps to prevent retaliation against a student who has made a complaint of a breach of the code of conduct.

FRANK HOBBS ELEMENTARY DOES NOT TOLERATE THE PRESENCE OF

  • Theft and vandalism
  • Intoxicating and banned substances
  • Weapons or replica weapons and explosives
  • Intruders or trespassers (All visitors to the school must first report to the office)

OR MISUSE OF

  • Cyberspace/Cell phones/Electronic Devices/Computers – students are to be aware that they may be subject to discipline (or, if applicable, confiscation of personal property) for misuse of technology if it negatively impacts the school environment

Inappropriate behaviour
Inappropriate behaviour can consist of, but is not limited to:

  • Rudeness, swearing
  • Fighting (or play fighting)
  • Lack of respect for others, including teasing or gossip
  • Throwing objects (rocks, sticks, snowballs, etc.)
  • Defiant behaviour, insolence
  • Running in the halls
  • Unauthorized leaving of school grounds
  • Littering

~ Whenever possible and appropriate, consequences for breaches of the code of conduct are restorative in nature rather than punitive

~ Disciplinary actions, if any, will be based on the age and maturity levels of students and those with special needs*

Inappropriate behaviour typically has the following consequences:

  • Review of expectations and a time out with staff members and / or administration
  • Review of expectations, written assignment and/or loss of privileges
  • Parents are informed
  • Meeting with the parents
  • Short-term (in school or at home) suspension up to 5 days
  • Long-term suspension (over 5 days) or referral to a district program
  • Serious breaches of the code of conduct may involve consultation with the police, fire department, school district officials, other provincial agencies, etc.
  • Expulsion

* Special considerations may apply to students who may be unable to comply with expectations due to having a disability of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional or behavioural nature

POSITIVE STUDENT REINFORCEMENT

Includes, but is not limited to, the use of positive verbal reinforcement, which will be given to students by staff for specific demonstrations of exemplary behaviour in being resourceful, respectful and responsible citizens.