Student Behaviour and Discipline
In light of its Mission Statement, the Board is committed to uphold the Catholic Code of Conduct in each school. The need to provide a safe, caring and effective learning environment for all students and staff is a basic Christian Value that constitutes the essence of a Catholic education.
“The current Catholic Code of Conduct is under revision by the Ministry of Education. Schools will continue to operate with the current policies and procedures including suspensions and expulsions until the revised Catholic Code of Conduct becomes available. It will be posted on the Board Website and copies will be sent home to parents in the Fall of 2007. At that time the revised Code of Conduct will replace the current Code of Conduct”.
In all cases of discipline, a degree of latitude has been provided in order to allow school administrators to ascertain that an incident has occurred, to determine the nature of the incident, and to exercise a number of interventions and consequences.
The following are the basic interventions and consequences which may be initiated by teachers and/or administrators which must be considered for inclusion in the Catholic Code of Conduct. This list is not all inclusive nor does it imply that each consequence must be exercised before moving to subsequent consequences. Any specific behaviour may lead the school authorities to offer any alternatives or to invoke any consequence or combination of consequences.
Consequences of Inappropriate Action(s)
§ Informal interview with the student
§ Formal interview with the student
§ Parental involvement: phone call, correspondence, interview
§ Involvement of school Special Services support team
§ Police involvement
§ Removal of the student from the classroom to an alternate setting within the school, with supervision
§ Withholding a course credit because of non-attendance
§ Removal of privileges to attend school related functions or extra-curricular/co-curricular programs
§ Utilization of a behavioural or attendance contract
§ Requiring the student to make restitution where appropriate
§ Temporary withdrawal
§ Involvement of, or referral to, outside agencies (e.g. Children’ Aid officer, law enforcement officer)
§ Suspension as set out in the Education Act and Board Policy
§ Expulsion under the Education Act and Board Policy, Regulation and Procedure
Proper Language
Students are expected to use language that is appropriate to their dignity as Catholics and the dignity of others. Coarse, profane or improper language or taking God's name in vain is unacceptable. Students who violate this rule will be consequenced.
Drugs and Alcohol
Respect for self encourages denial of alcohol and illicit drugs. All school functions, school sponsored trips and celebrations, such as graduation, shall be free of alcohol and illicit drugs. To ensure the safety and well being of all students, school staff will report reasonable suspicion of any alcohol or drug related incident.
The possession, sale or use of alcohol or illicit drugs on school property or at school sponsored activities is forbidden and unlawful under the Criminal Code and the Policy and/or Regulations of the Dufferin‑Peel Catholic District School Board and consequences will be given.
Smoking
Section 9 of the Tobacco Control Act prohibits smoking in schools
in Ontario, as defined under the Education Act. Schools are
and grounds. The Tobacco Control ACT was passed in the spring of 1994. This law restricts the sale or supplying of tobacco products to 19 years of age. Therefore, smoking is banned in the buildings and grounds of Fr. Michael Goetz S. S.
Smoking in the school or on school grounds will result in a consequence.