We are

S afe
O rganized and on time
A ctive Learners
R espectful and Responsible

A. Statement of Purpose:

At Neill Middle School our Code of Conduct clearly states how students are expected to behave. We need a code of conduct so people know the expectations at school and so school can be a safe learning environment.

Our Code of Conduct helps:

• to establish and maintain safe, caring and orderly environments for purposeful learning (i.e. by being helpful, kind and accepting of others, by walking inside the building, by following rules and by being well mannered).

• to establish and maintain appropriate balances among individual and collective rights, freedoms and responsibilities (i.e. everyone has the right to come to school to learn. No one has the right to interfere with the learning environment or safety of others by distracting, teasing or bullying. Everyone has the right to be treated in a respectful manner).

• to clarify and publish expectations for student behaviour while at school, while going to and from school, and while attending any school function or activity at any location (i.e. student agenda books, newsletters, expectations to be reviewed before attending school functions).
  

B. Conduct Expectations

At Neill Middle School students are expected to act respectfully, responsibly and safely at all times: on the way to school, at school, leaving school and when at school sponsored events.

Our Code of Conduct provides guidelines for:

Unacceptable Conduct:

At Neill Middle School some unacceptable behaviours and practices are ones that:

• Interfere with the learning of others: i.e. arriving late, coming to class without necessary supplies, being noisy in the hall or classroom, rough-housing, going to lockers during class time, distracting others and being disrespectful.

• Interfere with an orderly, positive or respectful environment: i.e. ignoring or talking back to staff, skipping school, taking people’s things without permission or swearing.

• Create unsafe conditions: i.e. moving in an unsafe way such as running or jumping down stairs, cluttering the aisles or playing chase in the building.

• Acts of bullying, harassment or intimidation: i.e. physically or verbally hurting others, making racist or sexist comments, spreading gossip, treating others with disrespect or saying or writing unkind things about people.

• Physical violence: i.e. shoving, tripping, fighting or throwing things.

• Retribution against a person who has reported incidents: this includes the offender as well as encouragement of friends to continue the retribution.

Illegal acts, such as:

• Possession, use or distribution of illegal or restricted substances
• Possession or use of weapons
• Theft of or damage to property

Rising Expectations

At Neill Middle School students are expected to learn from their mistakes and to make necessary changes to their behaviour to conform to our Code of Conduct. Discipline will be progressive with more serious consequences for serious or continued breaches. It is expected that grade 8 students will model appropriate behaviour for our younger students.

• Consequences

At Neill Middle School:

• Responses to unacceptable conduct are pre-planned, consistent and fair (see separate sheet listing Level 1, 2 and 3 behaviours and consequences. Ongoing or serious infractions will be tracked on a computer system so discipline will be progressive.

• Disciplinary action, wherever possible, is preventative and restorative, rather than merely punitive (Restorative Justice Circles, Peer Mediation, Room 101 support with a focus on how to right wrongs and to learn from actions and consequences. Inschool or Out of School suspensions may be assigned).

• Students, as often as possible, are encouraged to participate in the development of meaningful consequences for violations of the established Code of Conduct (student involvement is sought in how to make amends).

D. Notification

At Neill Middle School we believe that it takes a community to raise a child. Communication with parents/guardians is practiced when behavioural patterns emerge or when there are serious breeches of the Neill Code of Conduct. Students are invited to be actively involved in these conversations.

Communication may be via note in the student agenda, phone call, email or during a meeting. Participants of these communications may include:

• Parent(s) of student offender
• Parent(s) of student victim
• School district officials-as required by SD 70 Policy
• Police and/or other agencies-as required by law/and or SD 70 policy
• All parents-when deemed to be important to reassure members of the school community that school officials are aware of a serious situation or incident and are taking appropriate action to address it (via newsletters or radio announcement)

This list has sample behaviours under each level. In no way is it a complete

list. The seriousness will depend on history and severity of the incident.

Level 1 Behaviours

Level 2 Behaviours

Repeating Level 1 Behaviours

Level 3 Behaviours

The severity of the intervention will depend on the history of past infractions

and the opinion of the Teacher and Administrator.

Level 1 Intervention/Consequences

Student and Staff Member

Level 2 Intervention/Consequences

Student and Staff Member (Student Services)

Level 3 Intervention/Consequences

Student, Parent and Administration