Policies/Procedures

Policies and Procedures

Cottingham Public School Code of Conduct

Cottingham Junior Public School is committed to providing a healthy learning and working environment by promoting respect, civility, safety, responsibility and academic excellence.

All students of the school are expected to:

Respect

  • Oneself, others, staff and community members
  • Property belonging to the school, others and the community
  • Diversity in all people (ideas, beliefs, values, opinions)

Responsibility

  • Follow all school, TDSB and Ministry rules and policies
  • Help to promote a positive school climate at all times(PR697)
  • Communicate and dress in an appropriate manner
  • Demonstrate honesty, integrity and accountability for their own words, actions and decisions

The Cottingham School Code of Conduct was developed collaboratively by parents, students and staff in accordance with the TDSB Code of Conduct, Board policies, the Education Act and the Provincial Code of Conduct.

As a student at Cottingham Public School:

  • I follow all the TDSB, school and class rules and routines.
  • I do my best and I am always polite and courteous to others.
  • I always keep my hands, feet and other objects to myself.
  • I arrive on time and prepared for class. If I am going to be late/absent, I will have a parent/ guardian call the school. If I am late, I will get a late slip.
  • I will not bring electronic devices (cell phones, music players) into the classroom. I will leave these things at home unless necessary. If they must come to school, they will remain off during school hours. I am fully responsible if these objects are lost or stolen.

Dress Code:

  • I will always dress in an appropriate manner
  • I will not wear attire that has language and/or representations that depict violence, profanity, racial or gender discrimination, or could be seen as offensive by any individual or group.
  • I will dress appropriately for the weather and have a change of footwear for winter use.
  • I will have appropriate clothing for gym class, or may not be permitted to participate.

Movement through the school (including halls and stairways):

  • I will move in a quiet and orderly manner. I will not run!
  • I will keep to the right of the hall at all times.
  • I will stay with the flow of my class, and I will keep up with the teacher.
  • I will enter the gym/classroom only with direct permission from a teacher and only when a teacher is present.
  • I will try to limit bathroom and water breaks to recess and lunch. If I must go during class time, I will go quickly and quietly and return immediately to class.
  • I will never go anywhere in the school on my own. I will always take a buddy with me.
  • I will leave the school immediately when dismissed at recess, lunch, and at the end of the day.
  • I will not enter the school during recess, lunch or non-school hours without expressed permission.


Provincial code of conduct

Ontario's provincial code of conduct for the education sector sets clear standards of behaviour that individual school boards must follow. The standards of behaviour in school boards' codes of conduct must also follow the provincial code of conduct.

Who the code applies to

The code of conduct applies to everyone in the publicly-funded school system, including:

  • students
  • parents or guardians
  • volunteers
  • teachers
  • early childhood educators
  • other staff members

The code applies:

  • on school property
  • on school buses
  • at school-related events or activities
  • to before and after school programs
  • in other circumstances that could have an impact on the school climate

Fundamental values

  • Everyone has a responsibility to promote a safe environment.
  • Everyone should be aware of their rights, as active and engaged citizens. Everyone should also protect their own rights and the rights of others. Responsible citizenship involves taking part in the civic life of the school.
  • All members of the school community are to be treated with respect and dignity, especially those in positions of authority.
  • Everyone has a responsibility to resolve conflicts in a way that is civil and respectful. Insults, hurtful acts and a lack of respect for others disrupt learning and teaching in a school community.
  • Everyone is expected to resolve conflicts without using violence. Physical aggression is not a responsible way to deal with other people. No one should use an object to injure another person or threaten to use an object to injure another person. Violence and threats are unacceptable and puts everyone's safety at risk.

Standards of behaviour

The two key focus areas for the standards of behaviour are:

  • respect, civility and responsible citizenship
  • safety

Respect, civility and responsible citizenship

All school community members must:

  • respect and follow all applicable laws
  • show honesty and integrity
  • respect differences in people
  • treat others with dignity and respect at all times, especially when there is disagreement
  • respect and treat others fairly, regardless of their race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, creed, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status or disability
  • respect the rights of others
  • show care and respect for school property and the property of others
  • take the proper steps to help those in need
  • respect all members of the school community, especially those in a position of authority
  • respect the need of others to work in an environment that is good for learning and teaching, including by ensuring that cellphones and other personal mobile devices are only used during instructional time for:
    • educational purposes (as directed by an educator)
    • health and medical purposes
    • special education needs support
  • seek help from school staff to resolve conflict peacefully, if necessary
  • not swear at a teacher or at another person in a position of authority

Safety

All school community members must not:

  • start or join in any form of bullying, whether in-person or through technology (for example, email or cell phones)
  • commit sexual assault
  • traffic weapons or illegal drugs
  • commit robbery
  • give alcohol or cannabis to a minor
  • be in possession of a weapon, including firearms
  • use any object to threaten or intimidate another person
  • injure anyone with an object
  • be in possession of alcohol, cannabis (except when the person is authorized to use cannabis for medical purposes) or illegal drugs
  • be under the influence of alcohol, cannabis (except when the person is authorized to use cannabis for medical purposes) or illegal drugs
  • give others alcohol, illegal drugs or cannabis (unless the receiver is someone who has been authorized to use cannabis for medical purposes)
  • inflict, or encourage others to inflict, bodily harm
  • start or join in hate propaganda or other types of behaviour caused by hate or bias
  • commit vandalism that causes large-scale damage to property on school premises