Grade 12 Parent Information Meeting: Graduation Information, Post-Secondary & Scholarships - Wednesday October 7th at 6:30pm in the Windsor Cafeteria

Code of Conduct

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.

As such, the NVSD Code of Conduct has been established to maintain a safe, caring, accessible, and healthy learning environment.

At Windsor Secondary School, we believe that our school should be a safe place for purposeful learning. The pursuit of appropriate conduct is a shared responsibility among the students, their parents/guardians, and the school system. Establishing clear guidelines for safe and effective learning that allows each student to attain personal goals and aspirations in a positive environment.

Windsor students are expected to be good citizens and are required to know, understand, and follow the Windsor Code of Conduct and other applicable laws within this jurisdiction. This includes the North Vancouver District School Board policies, North Vancouver District bylaws and rules, the BC Human Rights Code, and the Canadian Criminal Code. Expectations regarding acceptable conduct are made known to all school staff, students, parents/guardians, and the Windsor school community through assemblies, the Windsor Agenda Book, this web site, and other forms of communication.

The expectations for student conduct are also consistently taught, actively promoted, and reinforced by staff. The expectations for student behaviour apply while at school, while traveling to and from school, and while attending all school activities and functions. Students are always expected to conduct themselves in a manner that will bring credit to the Windsor community. Parents and students should be aware that there are rising expectations for student behaviour as students become more mature and progress through the grades. Students are expected to accept increasing responsibility for their actions and can expect consequences reflective of their age.

NVSD Code of Conduct

The North Vancouver Board of Education believes that schools provide safe, caring and orderly environments for purposeful learning activities. As required by the School Act, each North Vancouver school develops its own code of conduct in consultation with parents, staff and students. These codes are monitored and reviewed on an annual basis and clearly communicated to staff, students, and parents. There are certain issues that all schools address with reference to their own code of conduct. Consequently, through the development of their code of conduct, schools establish and maintain appropriate balances between individual and collective rights, freedoms, and responsibilities.

In order to allow students to fully participate in their educational program, schools must meet the standards set out in the BC Human Rights Code, that include the prohibited grounds of discrimination in respect of discriminatory publication and accommodation. All students, regardless of their 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, have the right to a safe, inclusive and welcoming learning environment.

Behaviour Expectations

North Vancouver schools clarify, and in their respective code of conduct, publish expectations for student behaviour while at school, at a school-related activity, or in other circumstances where engaging in an activity will have an impact on the school environment. Special considerations may apply if a student is unable to comply with the expectations due to having a disability of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional or behavioural nature.

Examples of acceptable behaviour for students include:

Attend school punctually, apply oneself to learning, and follow staff instructions

Respect of self, others, and the school

Helping to make the school a safe, caring and orderly place

Informing a “tellable” adult in a timely manner (in advance, if possible) of incidents of bullying, harassment or intimidation

Engaging in purposeful learning activities in a timely manner

Acting in a manner that brings credit to the school.

Examples of unacceptable behaviour for students include behaviours that:

Interfere with the learning of others, including their emotional well-being

Interfere with an orderly school environment

Create unsafe conditions on school property

Unauthorized gatherings on school grounds, including school washrooms

Discriminate against a person or class of persons by publishing or displaying a statement, publication, notice, sign, symbol, emblem or other representation that indicates discrimination (BC Human Rights Code)

Bullying (e.g., physical, verbal, cyber, social), harassment, intimidation, or threatening behaviour

Physical violence

Retribution against a person who has reported incidents

Possession, use, or distribution of illegal or restricted substances

Possession or use of weapons or replicas

Libel, slander or defamation

Theft of or damage to property

Consequences for unacceptable conduct are:

Planned, consistent, and fair, and

Whenever possible and appropriate, preventative and restorative rather than punitive.

When appropriate, students are encouraged to participate in the development of meaningful consequences for violations of the code of conduct. Consequences shall be based on the student’s age, maturity, and special needs, if any.

School administrators have a responsibility to advise other parties of serious breaches of the code of conduct; e.g., parents, school district officials, police and/or other agencies.

This policy shall be subject to an annual review to assess its effectiveness in addressing current school circumstances and emerging safety issues.

WINDSOR CODE OF CONDUCT:

ATTENDANCE, CITIZENSHIP, and LEARNING

Windsor Secondary aspires to be a vibrant learning environment where individuals respect and encourage each other to develop the competencies to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Windsor’s school goals are as follows:

To develop agency as learners: building persistence, accountability, and reflection to take ownership of learning and achieve personal goals

To cultivate literacy skills to empower students to access, understand, and express information and ideas

We ask students to strive towards these goals in the areas of attendance, citizenship and learning. Parents/guardians are encouraged to support and reinforce those behaviours and attitudes with their children.

ATTENDANCE

There is a direct relationship between attendance and academic success in school. Students absent from class are missing out on key learning opportunities and chances to work cooperatively with peers and teachers. Therefore, every attempt should be made by students and their families to minimize the amount of time absent from school. No matter what the reason for missing school, students are responsible for obtaining and completing class assignments they missed in order to meet the Learning Outcomes of the course.

When a student is absent, they should communicate with their teacher. This can be done via MSTeams. If the student misses an assessment or in-class assignment, they must complete it when they return to school during tutorial time and the first available opportunity. Tutorial times can be used for ‘learning recovery’ as tutorial times are instructional times designated to support student learning. Teachers are not expected to recreate lessons individually for students who were absent. Students should use posted resources, MSTeams, classmates, and course materials and learning recovery opportunities (tutorial) to prepare themselves to understand missed learning. Teachers will continue to teach and reinforce that students are responsible for their learning.

If a student is absent from school, parents are requested to:
E-mail Windsor at windsor@sd44.ca to report the absence
Explaining an absence does not excuse missed learning or assessments
Our callback system will inform all homes of students who have an unexplained absence in one or more classes of school during the day. Please note – the message will state that a class has been missed and parents are encouraged to check their MyEd Family Portal account to confirm missed classes. Please contact the teacher directly if you believe any discrepancy in attendance.

Truancy is defined as an "absence from school without valid reason". Students absent from class without permission are truant. A student who is found to be truant is subject to disciplinary action. Chronic truancy will be referred to the office and may lead to increased consequences including suspension.

The School Act states that students are expected to be at school and in class on time. Parents/guardians and students are responsible for the student's punctuality. Continued lates will be considered a refusal to abide by the School Code of Conduct and will be dealt with accordingly.

If a student arrives late to school, the student should check in at the office and then must report directly to class.

Student Illness and Medical Appointments

Students who become ill during the school day are required to report to the Main Office.

The student will be permitted to go home only after staff have obtained parental permission. If no parent can be contacted, the student will be asked to remain at school under the care of staff.

The school is not permitted to provide or administer medication to students without the written authorization of the family physician.

Students leaving for or returning from a medical appointment should check in at the main office.

Any student who leaves the building during class time but does not check out through the office will be considered truant for classes missed.

Extended Absences

While it is understood that some families may choose to plan family activities while school is in session, Windsor does not condone such absences due to their significant impact on student learning.

Parents/guardians and students should avoid planning vacations, activities etc. that interfere with scheduled classes, exams or other school absences. Missed class time and learning opportunities cannot be replicated and some activities and assignments may be impossible to "make-up."

Extended absences impact a student's learning and likely the demonstration of their learning, commonly accomplished through in-class assignments, labs, activities, quizzes and tests. The school is not required to provide correspondence materials to facilitate extended absences during the school year.

The following procedures are required prior to the absence in order to properly inform the school of the details of a student's extended absence: the student obtains the extended absence notification form from the Main Office; completes all the details on it; and parents sign the completed form. The form is then returned to the Main Office.  This form is not an approval form, it simply notifies the school of a student's absence.

The responsibility for the decision to take a student out of school and the consequences that result rest solely with the student and their parent/guardian.

CITIZENSHIP

Safe and Caring Schools means:

Treating staff, students and Windsor community members with respect

Complying promptly with any Windsor staff member's reasonable requests

Being honest, considerate, and caring of others

Helping to sustain a safe school environment for yourself and others

Using language free of profanity, hatred and/or discrimination

Respecting all public and personal property

Promoting a Green environment by maintaining a clean school and community

Complying with all school and class rules, policies and expectations that detail student conduct

Complying with all local, provincial, and Federal bylaws and laws

Student behaviour must comply with the Criminal Code of Canada as well as the BC Human Rights Code. Any person who threatens the safety of the school environment or safety of an individual may be subject to disciplinary action and, where necessary, to RCMP intervention. This policy includes, but is not limited to:

Acts of violence or threats of violence

Acts of discrimination or contravention of the BC Human Rights code

Incidents of threatening, harassing, intimidating or confrontational language or behaviour which includes written or verbal harassment, misuse of online communication or physical threats. Harassment includes the act of posting comments; pictures or videos about people on social media/online (Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, etc.)

Possession of a weapon or an imitation of a weapon

Possessing and/or discharging of fireworks

Possessing, using, distributing or being involved with others possessing or using illegal or restricted drugs or alcohol

Vaping and/or smoking is prohibited on school property by all persons

Incidents of theft, defacement or damage of the school's or others' property

Misuse of school equipment or school property

Unauthorized gatherings and unsafe activity on school property

Operation of a vehicle or other means of transport (automobiles, bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc.) in a dangerous manner

Using safety equipment including fire extinguishers, fire alarms, smoke-heat detectors, and the fire sprinkler system inappropriately, or causing a false alarm.

Respect and Responsibility

Lack of respect for others or their property will not be tolerated. Lack of respect includes, but is not limited to:

Failing to meet the standards set out in the BC Human Rights Code that include the prohibited grounds of discrimination

Failing to meet the standards set out in the current Provincial Standards for Codes of Conduct Order

Disrespect for the authority of teachers and other employees of the school, including failure to comply immediately with an authorized and reasonable direction

Disturbance at school, on school grounds, or at a school function

Any unauthorized gatherings on or adjacent to the school grounds, specifically those that disturb the privacy of nearby residents or that reflect poorly on the public image of the school

Use of the school name or logos in association with unsanctioned activities

Contributing to garbage or litter build up in the school and community

Participate in any conduct unbecoming of school and community standards

Dress and Apparel at School

Staff and students at Windsor believe maintaining a respectful, business-like atmosphere is important to academic achievement and citizenship. The school's dress code is not meant to stifle freedom of expression, but to foster a supportive, respectful learning community in which each student's self-esteem is reflected in their behaviour, growth, and achievement.

Apparel at school should:

Allow for individual difference, style, and expression

Demonstrate respect for a workplace and learning environment

Be appropriate for the intended activity

Demonstrate respect for the rights and perspectives of others

Drugs, Alcohol and Vaping

Students found using, possessing, or being with others involved with drugs, alcohol or vaping at school or at school-sponsored events, may be suspended. Subsequent involvement will require a Re-Entry Plan to return to school. Any student found supplying drugs or alcohol to others will be suspended, and/or referred to an outside agency or the RCMP. Please note that if any indicators lead staff to suspect drug, alcohol or vaping use, students may face disciplinary action.

The Windsor 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, alcohol or vaping products.

Violence, Bullying, Intimidation, Harassment, and Discrimination

Incidents such as fighting, bullying, intimidation, verbal abuse, swearing, hazing, taunting, inappropriate physical touching, harassment, and/or discrimination will not be tolerated. Students involved directly or indirectly in any of these behaviours can expect disciplinary action from the school, including referral to RCMP and outside authorities.

Students who incite others to engage in inappropriate behaviours, or who seek retribution against those who have reported incidents, may also face discipline. When any of these actions are carried out online, even outside of school hours and off school property, the school may still take action when the welfare and learning environment of Windsor students are potentially at risk.

Unauthorized Gatherings and Unsafe Activity on School Property

Students who gather on school property without permission may face disciplinary consequences ranging from a warning to suspension and RCMP involvement. Additionally, anyone on school property at any time should refrain from unsafe activities in and on school structures (e.g. the school roof, fences, storage containers, stairwells, railings, blocking entrance ways, etc.). 

LEARNING

Student behaviour must support a productive learning environment in classrooms and school at all times. This includes:

Being prepared to learn with a positive attitude and all required materials for each class

Completing assignments on time

Using tutorial time effectively, especially after missed learning and to seek assistance from the classroom teacher

Using organizational skills to plan and record school work

Actively engaging in purposeful learning in all classroom activities

Consistently identifying and practicing good habits of learning

Always producing your own quality work and not copying, using or plagiarizing other's words

Complying with all School and District policies that impact learning in the classroom such as the Electronics Use policy, Academic Dishonesty, etc.

Interference of a positive learning environment includes, but is not limited to:

Disturbing the learning opportunities of other students in classrooms
Congregating in learning areas or washrooms during school hours

Students who have Study Blocks should be in the Cafeteria, Library, or other staff approved areas

Dressing in a manner disruptive to an educational environment including offensive or suggestive slogans

Disrupting classes, school routines or activities by inappropriate use of electronic devices

Participating in any form of cheating, plagiarism, or academic dishonesty

Not completing assignments or other assigned tasks as required

Cheating, Plagiarism, and Academic Dishonesty

Cheating, plagiarism, and academic dishonesty are serious concerns and are not acceptable at Windsor. Students should understand that taking these kinds of short-cuts does not help them to learn or achieve their academic potential. Moreover, it brings into question one's character and integrity.  Students involved in cheating, plagiarism, and academic dishonesty demonstrate a lack of respect for the hard work of other students, their teachers, and ultimately for themselves.

The following are some of the actions that are considered academically dishonest. If unsure whether or not their behaviour could be considered academically dishonest, check with their teacher or the administration prior.

Submitting assignments, homework, or other material which was copied, purchased, or acquired from another student or online as their own work

Students using any unacknowledged content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) within an assessment, assignment, or project as though it is their own work constitutes academic misconduct. AI use is only acceptable in such instances when the teacher explicitly states that AI can be used

Failing to cite or document quoted or paraphrased material or ideas written by someone else from another source

Knowingly sharing your work with another student in order that they may copy it

Submitting the same essay, presentation, or assignment more than once, whether the earlier submission was at Windsor or someplace else, without the prior permission of the teacher

Any attempt to complete an assessment using unauthorized information or communication in any form to another person other than an exam invigilator

Allowing another student to view ones test or exam

Illegally obtaining or looking at an assessment prior to, or during the assessment

Altering or changing test answers after submitting the test for grading

Texting or electronically copying parts of a test or assignment

Knowingly helping another student to cheat

Consequences of Academic Dishonesty

Students who are involved in any form of cheating, plagiarism or academic dishonesty will be taught how and why to be an honest academic. Students will also be subject to discipline, appropriate for the students grade level and previous record, and may include consequences such as:

Demonstrating their new understanding of academic integrity and the associated skills in a different format

No credit for the work or assignment with no opportunity for make-up

Other classroom level consequences assigned by the classroom teacher

Notification by the teacher to parents or guardians

A record of the incident in the student's school discipline file

Possible disqualification from receiving awards and other recommendations or references

Repeated offences will result in more severe consequences and could include suspension.