catholic-code-of-conduct
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ."
- Philippians 1:27
CATHOLIC CODE OF CONDUCT
In light of its Mission Statement, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is committed to the implementation in every school of the Catholic Code of Conduct that clearly reflects the need to provide a safe, caring, inclusive and healthy Catholic school community. All community members will work together to develop spiritually, intellectually, physically, socially, and emotionally by aspiring to the highest possible standards of Catholic behaviour, in living out the gospel values, and by fostering a Catholic culture of respect, responsibility and concern for the common good.
Responsibilities of Student
Students will exercise self-discipline in their respect for self, staff, fellow students, school property and the property of others. They will take full responsibility for their own actions and strive to live up to the expectations of the Catholic Code of Conduct and all other board/school/class expectations, policies and procedures. They will work towards achieving a virtuous lifestyle, high standards of personal conduct and academic performance, active participation in leadership and service initiatives, concern for the environment, and compassion for those in need.
Students fulfill these responsibilities by:
- coming to school prepared, on time, ready to learn, and properly attired;
- striving for excellence in personal conduct and academic performance;
- cultivating opportunities to develop talents and strengthen personal leadership skills;
- demonstrating courteous behaviour to fellow pupils and staff;
- contributing to an inclusive school culture by advocating that no student be excluded;
- defending the rights of fellow students by reporting and/or safely intervening when the rights of others are threatened or violated;
- cultivating a virtuous life through a commitment to gospel values and service to others;
- participating respectfully in the faith life and liturgical practices of the school community (sacraments, retreats, religion courses, etc.);
- participating in school programs related to wise stewardship of resources, human and other;
- accepting school discipline as a tool for personal growth, and as an extension of the responsibilities that would be exercised by a kind, firm and judicious parent;
- refraining from bringing anything to school that may compromise the safety of others;
- acknowledging that school safety is a shared responsibility that depends on student commitment and involvement
Bullying Prevention
DPCDSB prohibits bullying in all its forms, as a serious offence against the dignity of persons created in God's image, and as an affront to the integrity of Catholic learning communities...Bullying will not be permitted on school property either in classrooms or common areas, at school-related activities, on school buses, or in any other circumstances (including cyber-bullying: i.e., email, cell phone, pager, text messages, instant messaging, and websites) where engaging in bullying will have a negative impact on the Catholic school climate or disrupt the learning environment.
The board considers homophobia, gender based violence, and harassment on the basis of sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnicity, culture, citizenship, ancestry, origin, religion, creed, family status, socio-economic status, disability and/or any other immutable characteristic or ground protected by the Human Rights Code, as well as inappropriate sexual behaviour unacceptable and supports the use of positive practices to prevent such behaviour and authorizes principals, or their delegates, to impose consequences in appropriate circumstances, up to and including a referral to the Discipline Committee of the Board for expulsion from all schools.
Ontario Ministry of Education's Definition of Bullying
Link to Full Definition
BULLYING
"Bullying" means aggressive and typically repeated behaviour by a pupil where,
(a) the behaviour is intended by the pupil to have the effect of, or the pupil ought to know that the behaviour would be likely to have the effect of,
(i) causing harm, fear or distress to another individual, including physical, psychological, social or academic harm, harm to the individual's reputation or harm to the individual's property, or
(ii) creating a negative environment at a school for another individual, and
(b) the behaviour occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance between the pupil and the individual based on factors such as: size, strength, age, intelligence, peer group power, economic status, social status, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, family circumstances, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, disability or the receipt of special education
For the purposes of the definition of "bullying" above, behaviour includes the use of any physical, verbal, electronic, written or other means.
CYBER-BULLYING
For the purposes of the definition of "bullying" above, bullying includes bullying by electronic means (commonly known as cyber-bullying), including,
(a) creating a web page or a blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person;
(b) impersonating another person as the author of content or messages posted on the internet; and
(c) communicating material electronically to more than one individual or posting material on a website that may be accessed by one or more individuals.
If you are feeling bullied, listen to God's voice and take care of yourself: Tell an adult you trust.
If you know someone who is being bullied, listen to God's voice and help them. Do something that you feel safe doing.
Progressive Discipline
DPCDSB supports the comprehensive and consistent use of a progressive discipline approach, and shall reflect the model of Christian discipleship, in its implementation of the Catholic Code of Conduct.
Definition
Progressive Discipline in Dufferin-Peel is administered with a commitment to a model of Christ-centered discipleship and rooted in an effective management of student behaviours predicated on the belief that "fairness is not sameness," and that all consequences for inappropriate behaviours must be discretionary – including decisions around suspensions and expulsions. To ensure that schools do not employ a "one-size-fits all" approach to disciplinary practice, consideration of mitigating factors will be used system-wide in the assessment, investigation, and follow-up of inappropriate student behaviours. In this way, personalized solutions will be reflectively undertaken with consideration for the unique individuals and circumstances involved.
Suspensions
Education Act. Section 306. (1)A principal may consider whether to suspend a pupil if he or she believes that the pupil has engaged in any of the following activities while at school, at a school-related activity or in other circumstances (including off school property) where engaging in the activity will have an impact on the school climate:
- Uttering a threat to inflict serious bodily harm on another person.
- Possessing alcohol, illegal drugs or, unless the pupil is a medical cannabis user, cannabis.
- Being under the influence of alcohol or, unless the pupil is a medical cannabis user, cannabis.
- Swearing at a teacher or at another person in a position of authority
- Committing an act of vandalism that causes extensive damage to school property at the pupil's school or to property located on the premises of the pupil's school
- Bullying
- Code of conduct, board & school policy
- Being under the influence of illegal or restricted drugs
- Habitual neglect of duty, board & school policy
- Opposition to Authority, board & school policy
- Profanity/Swearing, board & school policy
- Possessing restricted drugs
- Fighting/Violence, board & school policy
A pupil may be suspended only once for an infraction, in any one incident, and may be suspended for a minimum of one (1) school day and a maximum of twenty (20) school days.
*Bullying
In the case of bullying, principals must suspend a student for bullying and consider referring that student for expulsion if:
- the student has previously been suspended for bullying and
- the student's continuing presence in the school creates, in the principal's opinion, an unacceptable risk to the safety of another person.
Expulsions
Education Act, Section 310. (1)A principal shall suspend and may consider recommending an expulsion of a pupil if he or she believes that the pupil has engaged in any of the following activities while at school, at a school- related activity or in other circumstances (including off school property) where engaging in the activity will have an impact on the school climate:
- Possessing a weapon, including possessing a firearm
- Using a weapon to cause or to threaten bodily harm to another person
- Committing physical assault on another person that causes bodily harm requiring treatment by a medical practitioner
- Committing sexual assault
- Trafficking in weapons or in illegal drugs
- Committing robbery
- Giving alcohol or cannabis to a minor
- Bullying, if, i. the pupil has previously been suspended for engaging in bullying, and ii. the pupil’s continuing presence in the school creates an unacceptable risk to the safety of another person.
- Any activity listed in subsection 306 (1) that is motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other similar factor
- Any act considered by the principal to be a serious violation of the Board or school Code of Conduct
- Activities engaged in by the pupil on or off school property that have caused extensive damage to the property of the Board or to goods that are/were on Board property
- Trafficking in weapons, illegal and/or restricted drugs
