THE CATHOLIC LEARNER
Values & Beliefs Statement
At St. Elizabeth Seton School, we believe that:
•all we do is done within the context of the Catholic Faith.
•parents/guardians are the primary educators and have an active role in their
children's learning.
•staff, parents/guardians, the church and students are responsible for nurturing a
safe, caring learning environment.
•all individuals have a responsibility to develop themselves to their full potential.
•the love of learning is acquired through good work habits, self-discipline and
encouragement.
•respect for oneself, others and the environment emanates from a belief in Gospel
values.
•in encouraging a lifelong desire to learn.
•each student will be encouraged to become a literate, responsible citizen who will
make positive contributions to society.
Rights and Responsibilities
Students have the right to:
•be respected in both person and conscience as a son or daughter of God.
•learn in a safe, orderly and stimulating Catholic environment.
•have reasonable access to the facilities and equipment of the school.
•participate in any program offered by the school.
•be conscientiously instructed.
Students have the responsibility to:
•respect the person and the rights of all members of the school community.
•give respect and co-operation to all adults in positions of responsibility in the school.
•comply with all particular school expectations and regulations regarding student behaviour.
•contribute positively to the Christian climate of the school.
•use language that is appropriate to their dignity as Christians.
•adhere to the school dress code.
•respect the property of the school at all times: building, grounds, equipment, materials
•be in attendance at all classes and scheduled activities on time and with the
materials required for full participation.
•take part in services offered by the school to its community.
•participate fully in the religious life of the school, including liturgical celebrations,
Religious Education and related activities.
•welcome the opportunity to participate, as appropriate to their status and
conscience, in the sacramental life of the Church and, in particular, as it is
celebrated in the school context.
•develop personal skills and talents to serve God and thereby their neighbour.
We believe at St. Elizabeth Seton School, that it is important to co-operatively establish expectations for our students. Expectations and the reasons for them need to be clearly understood by all parties - students, parents and staff. They are written to assist us in developing a clear sense of what is proper and acceptable behaviour.
Behavioural expectations also require disciplinary procedures and consequences, which are both fair and consistent.
EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESSFUL LEARNING
Academic Honesty
Students shall submit work, which is original and represents their very best effort. Any student found plagiarizing; cheating, copying or knowingly and deliberately presenting the language, ideas, or thoughts of another individual will face consequences that may include academic penalty on the assignment, test, and/or further disciplinary action. Students shall read and submit Form GF 066 (a board policy document) and adhere to its expectations while using computer equipment in the schools. Plagiarism through electronic means will not be tolerated and shall result in disciplinary action and/or academic penalty.
Attendance and Reporting of Students
Students are expected to be in attendance at all classes and school activities on time and with the proper materials needed to participate. Regular attendance at school is critical for the student’s learning, and achievement of class expectations. Students who habitually miss class may suffer in the evaluation process.
Parents must call to inform the school of student absences. This school provides an absentee number: 821-2277. Parents can call this number 24 hours a day and leave a message. If the school does not receive a message concerning a student’s absence, then the school will attempt to contact parents or guardians. A note is required after all absences.
Written permission is required to leave school property, and the student is required to sign out at the office. Students should sign back into the school in all cases except lunchtime. Students returning to school after lunch should report to their classroom for afternoon attendance.
Bicycle, Roller Blade, Skateboard, and Scooter Safety Rules
Students are to walk their bicycles on to school property for their safety and the safety of others. Bicycles are to be locked in the assigned bicycle parking area. Safety rules are to be obeyed, and helmets are required for all cyclists. Roller Blades, skateboards and scooters are not to be used on school property, and may be stored in the coat areas outside the classroom. During recess times, the bicycle area is off limits. The school does not accept any responsibility for these items brought to school.
Bus Safety Rules
For their own safety, students are expected to respect the following rules:
•Remain seated while the bus is moving and keep head and arms inside the window.
•Talk quietly.
•Do not eat or drink on the bus, or while waiting for the bus.
•Obey the bus driver and/or bus patroller.
•No trespassing on private property while waiting for the bus.
*Transportation on the bus is a privilege and may be revoked for inappropriate
conduct.
Dress Code
Students are expected to dress in a manner suitable for the school environment. They should be neat and clean as specified in the Appropriate Dress Code Policy of the Board. Suitable attire must be worn outdoors, indoors and in the gym. Clothes suitable for younger children may not be suitable for older students. Failure to comply with these expectations shall result in disciplinary action.
•Suggestive or inappropriate language, satanic symbols or advertisements for drugs or
alcohol are not permitted on any clothing or personal belongings. (i.e. skulls,
deliberate tears, violent symbols, etc.)
•Shorts and dresses must be of appropriate length and not tattered. (Spandex shorts
are not permitted for students in grades 6 - 8.)
•Bare midriffs are not appropriate.
•Shirts must be close to the arm by the shoulder and not low in front.
•Sunglasses and hats are not to be worn inside the school building.
•Bandanas are not permitted on school property.
•Make-up is limited to light lip-gloss and mascara for Intermediate students.
Evacuation of the School
If the school has to be evacuated for emergency purposes, our alternate site will be:
The Christian Reform Church,
2630 Inlake Court, Mississauga
Telephone: 826-5722
Our Lady of Mercy School
5820 Glen Erin Drive, Mississauga
Telephone: 814-9216
Fighting or Physical Assault
Students are expected to resolve disagreements in a non-violent manner. Fighting, wrestling and games that are potentially harmful to themselves or others are not allowed.
First Aid
Students who are injured are sent to the office. There are staff members who have received First Aid training. Please note that staff cannot administer medications, such as analgesics or treat wounds with antiseptics. If an injury is considered serious, or if there is an injury to the head, parents will be called.
Harassment
Harassment is a form of discrimination. Students shall not make any unwelcome comments or conduct themselves in a way that intimidates, demeans or offends an individual. Harassment includes behaviour or comments that puts down, insults or offends another person because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, family status, or handicap. If a student threatens another student or a teacher, they will face disciplinary action including police intervention. Using computer technology to communicate inappropriate, demeaning, harassing, or threatening messages shall be subject to disciplinary action. Police may be contacted.
Homework
Homework will vary in time, form and expectation, depending on the age and grade of the students. So, for example, the expectation for primary students may be 10 - 30 minutes, with the parent reading to the child. Junior students may have up to one hour of assigned work, which could include reading. Intermediate students may be required to work in excess of one hour.
When students do homework, it is very important that parents review it, before it is brought to school. By doing this, your children will realize that only a high standard of work is acceptable and this will help to ensure expectations for the future. Please check your child's agenda daily for information on homework.
Inclement Weather Conditions
When weather conditions are bad, parents are asked to listen to the local radio stations for announcements of transportation services being withdrawn and/or school closures. Announcements can be heard on CFRB, CHUM, CKFM, CHWD, CHIN, CFNY, CHAY, CKHW, CFTR, CJCL, CJMR, CBC.
The message usually takes the following form: "all busses for the Peel District School Board and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board have been cancelled."
There are two important factors to note here:
1.If busses are cancelled in the morning, they will not run in the afternoon, even if the weather conditions improve.
2.If the announcement states that it is only the Dufferin Section of our board, then this does not apply to our area.
If the school is to be closed during the day, due to severe weather conditions or an unforeseen emergency, then parents or guardians will be contacted by the school's emergency relay system. The school will phone either the parent or the emergency contact person.
NO STUDENT WILL BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL UNTIL SOMEONE ON THE EMERGENCY RELAY FORM HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
Indoor Recess
Students are to remain seated, work quietly or play games and speak softly. Permission is required to leave the classroom for any reason.
Lunchroom
Students who eat at school are to remain seated, talk quietly, tidy up and recycle. Litterless lunches are strongly encouraged at school, and uneaten food should be taken home. Permission is required to leave the classroom for any reason.
Students who go home for lunch may not return to the school grounds until 12:05 p.m. On rainy days these students should not return to school until 12:45 p.m.
Students who normally stay for lunch must have written permission to go home for lunch. They must sign out in the book in the office.
Parents dropping off lunch to students are asked to leave the lunches, labeled with the name of the student and teacher, in the office. Students will be called to the office at 11:45 to receive their lunch.
Medication
Procedures relative to the administration of medication shall only be adopted:
•when authorized by a physician
•when medication must be provided during school hours.
If designated staff must administer medication, the principal shall, after agreeing to the request, obtain signed request/authorization forms from the parents and supervising physician, whenever a prescription is initiated or changed.
Office Telephone
The office telephone is to be used only in the case of an emergency or with a teacher's permission.
Playground
Students are to remain within the designated play areas and away from the parking lot, the front of the school, the back gate and the dumpster enclosure. Throwing anything that could potentially inflict harm is not allowed. Hard balls, baseball bats and hockey sticks are not permitted.
All persons are expected to help keep the buildings, grounds and surrounding neighbourhoods clean.
Proper Language
Students are expected to use language that is appropriate to their dignity as Catholics and to the dignity of others. Coarse, profane or vulgar language, or taking God's name in vain, are unacceptable in classrooms, hallways, school grounds or while participating in school sponsored activities.
• Failure to comply with this expectation shall result in disciplinary action.
The ability to use appropriate and tasteful language is a valuable life skill. When language is offensive or hurtful to others, it can lead to further conflict.
Registration of Students
In order for new students to be registered at the school the family must be living within the school's boundaries. And the following documentation is required:
•Proof that one parent is a Catholic (Baptismal certificate is required);
•Baptismal certificate of the child;
•Birth certificate of the child;
•Immunization Record.
Respect for School and Other Property
Students are expected to show respect for school property and the property of classmates and other individuals. Students, who lose, fail to return, or damage school equipment, i.e. library books, textbooks, musical instruments, etc., will be required to make restitution at value. Students are expected to help keep the buildings, grounds and neighbourhoods clean and are expected to deposit all scrap paper, wrappers, etc., into waste baskets or recycling containers. Gum chewing is not permitted in the school building.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome comments or conduct that intimidates, demeans, or offends an individual. Sexual harassment may include: unwelcome sexual innuendo, sexual advances, inappropriate body contact, request for sexual favours, and display of exploitive material. We all have a right to be treated with respect without discrimination because of race, ancestry, gender, appearance, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship or creed.
Tobacco, Drugs, and Alcohol
Use, possession or sale of tobacco, illegal/illicit drugs or alcohol is forbidden and unlawful. Students who are deemed to be under the influence of alcohol, or illegal/illicit drugs shall face disciplinary action. All board properties are smoke-free environments. This policy applies to students, staff, and anyone using school facilities.
Trespassing
Students shall remain on school grounds during school hours unless written permission to leave is given by parents. Students are to use designated areas, entrances and exits. Students are asked not to use the front doors unless signing in or out, or accompanied by a parent. Students are not allowed in the school prior to 8:30 a.m. or after 3:30 p.m., without the permission of a teacher or the office.
Students are asked not to trespass on the grounds of neighbouring houses and are asked to go home immediately after school unless participating in school activities. Students from other schools must follow the guidelines for visitors when entering St. Elizabeth Seton and report to the office.
Valuable Items
Students should not bring valuable items to school such as: walkman, ipods, video games, expensive jewellery, cell phones, pagers and personal toys.
When items such as the above are lost or stolen, it can cause a great deal of stress and upset to all involved.
Visitors To The School
All visitors to the school are expected to first report to the office. They will be asked to sign the visitors' book and will receive a visitor sticker. This policy will be strictly enforced for the safety of your children.
Weapons and Dangerous Articles
Weapons or replicas, including jack knives, pen knives, firecrackers, cherry bombs, etc., are not permitted. Any objects used with the intent to inflict harm are not permitted.
• when a student is found in possession of a prohibited weapon (such as a firearm, butterfly knife, switchblade knife, martial arts weapon, etc.) on school property, police shall be contacted, and the student shall be suspended and expulsion proceedings shall be initiated.
•When a student uses or threatens to use a non-prohibited weapon, prohibited weapon or replica to harm another person, the police shall be contacted, the student may be suspended and expulsion proceedings may be initiated.
Disciplinary/Procedures/Consequences
The following are the basic interventions and consequences that may be initiated by teachers and/or administrators. Our emphasis is in nurturing a sense of self-worth and self-discipline for all students. This handbook contains a clear outline of realistic and effective consequences for failure to meet the expectations set out in it. To encourage this nurturing of a sense of self-worth and self-discipline the following interventions and strategies should be considered:
•informal interview with the student
•formal interview with the student
•parental involvement; by telephone, correspondence, interview
•utilization of behavioural, attendance or performance contracts
•involvement of school support personnel
•referral to school Special Services team
•attendance conference
•referral to outside agencies, i.e., Children’s Aid, police, treatment or medical
agencies
Behaviour modification strategies may not always be successful or applicable, and may require the immediate application of one or more consequences. The following 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.
•detention of student
•removal of privileges to attend school related functions and/or extra-curricular/co-
curricular programs
•removal of student from the classroom to an alternate setting within the school with
supervision
•requiring the student to make restitution where appropriate
•temporary withdrawal from school
•suspension as set out in the Education Act and Board Policy, Regulation and
Procedure
•expulsion under the Education Act and Board Policy, Regulation and Procedure
Temporary Withdrawal, Suspension, Expulsion
In those areas involving serious misconduct which is a breach of Board Policy or Regulation, and/or against the law, and for which the Board has seen fit to recommend a suspension for a minimum number of days, the Principal must regard this as mandatory.
The following consequences are not taken lightly and are recognized as appropriate to serious offences, since denying a student access to school is a very serious matter. However, school Principals must balance this concern with their responsibility to provide a safe and effective learning environment for all. Exclusion will be considered when other options to modify behaviour have been unsuccessful, or where the seriousness of the situation warrants it. The school reserves the right to send students home immediately, either while at school or on a school-sponsored activity or trip, at no cost to the school. Parents will be notified before any student is sent home.
Temporary Withdrawal
Under some circumstances it may be appropriate for the Principal or Vice Principal and a parent/guardian to agree to a time out of school for the student. Such a temporary withdrawal will point out the seriousness of the situation while providing a cooling off time and avoiding suspension. During this period, further professional support may be sought.
This temporary withdrawal may be for a period of up to four days on the condition that the parent agrees in writing to such action and wishes to become directly involved in resolving the problem. Failure of the parent to agree to a temporary withdrawal will result in suspension of the student.
Suspension
Suspension is the removal of a student from the school for a specified period of time. The Education Act, Section 306, in accordance with Board Policy and Regulation 6.82, and General Administrative Procedure 102.00, governs suspensions.
Suspensions under Board Policy and Regulations and the authority of the Education Act will carry with them the following understandings:
(a) students will not be provided with work to carry on during time missed while
under suspension
(b) students will be fully responsible for material presented while they are
under suspension
(c) the period of suspension may include examination days and the school will not be responsible if the timing of the suspension coincides with such examinations
(d) any student under 18 years of age becomes the direct responsibility of his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) during the period of suspension
(e) students under suspension will not be permitted on school property and will not attend any school-sponsored events.
Expulsion
Expulsion is the removal of a student from all schools in the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and/or all schools in the Province of Ontario. The Education Act, in accordance with Board Policy and Regulation 6.83 and General Administrative Procedure 102.00, governs expulsions
Expulsion of a student is an extremely serious matter. A student may be expelled on the grounds that his/her conduct is such that his/her continued presence in the school creates an unacceptable risk to the physical or mental well being of other persons in the school or Board.
Procedures for the expulsion of a student are initiated on the recommendation of the Principal. Where an expulsion is considered, the Principal will suspend the student for 20 days. There are two categories of expulsion - “limited” and “full”. On a limited Principal or limited Board expulsion, the student is expelled from his/her school and may not attend any other school in the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board for a period of from 21 school days up to 1 calendar year. When the Board imposes a full expulsion, the student may not attend any other school in the Province of Ontario for an indefinite period of time.
Students under expulsion are required to remain off all school/Board property and may not attend school/Board-sponsored events without written authorization.
Debriefing
Issues of behaviour discipline and consequences often involve intense reactions. Administrators and relevant staff are encouraged to debrief these situations as needed. The appropriate staff member(s) should also be advised/informed of the relevant details and outcome associated with the incident.
Where possible, efforts shall be made to debrief students who may have been victimized by violations of the school expectations. Where appropriate, parents may be included in this process.
Students returning from a suspension/expulsion shall meet with the school administrator as part of a re-entry plan.
Mitigating Circumstances
The Principal of the school must have sufficient latitude to meet the individual needs of students and to exercise judgment within the context of specific circumstances. In order to determine the duration of suspension, or in the case of an expulsion, the type and duration, that may be appropriate in particular circumstances, the Principal will consider the student’s history and such other factors as he or she considers appropriate.
In addition, although a student may be suspended or expelled, the suspension or expulsion of a student is not mandatory if:
(a) a student does not have the ability to control his/her behaviour;
(b) the student does not have the ability to understand the foreseeable consequences of his/her behaviour; or
(c) the continuing presence of the pupil in the school does not create an unacceptable risk to the safety or well being of any person in the school.