Code of Conduct

In keeping with the British Columbia School Act and the BC Ministry of Education provincial standards for school codes of conduct, below is our revised ÉMJS Code of Conduct.
The school will take all reasonable steps to prevent retaliation by a person against a student who has made a complaint of a breach of the code of conduct.
September 2012

Statement of Purpose
Our mission is to create a caring and safe environment at ÉMJS where the love of learning will flourish. Specifically, the purpose of our Code
of Conduct is to:

  • Establish and maintain a safe, caring, and orderly environment for purposeful learning
  • To establish and maintain appropriate balances among individual and collective rights and responsibilities
  • To clarify and publish expectations for student behaviour while at school, coming to and going from school, and while attending any school sponsored activity

Conduct Expectations
Acceptable Conduct – Every child has the right to come to school and be safe and happy. We expect all ÉMJS students to conduct themselves
appropriately. Acceptable conduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • Respecting self, others and the school
  • Behaving safely, and to help make the school a caring and orderly place
  • Being responsible, by being honest, fixing mistakes, and taking ownership for one’s decisions and conduct

Unacceptable Conduct – we do not expect ÉMJS students to display any behaviours or attitudes that discredit themselves, others, or the school. Unacceptable conduct includes, but is not limited to:

1. Behaviours that:

  • Interfere with the learning of others
  • Interfere with an orderly environment
  • Create unsafe conditions

2. Acts of:

  • Bullying, harassment, racism or intimidation
  • Physical violence
  • Retribution against a person who has reported incidents
  • Disrespect, or social exclusion

3. Illegal acts, such as:

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

As per the BC Human Rights code, our Code of Conduct prohibits discrimination based on any of the following grounds

  • race
  • colour
  • ancestry
  • place of origin
  • religion
  • physical disability
  • mental disability
  • sex
  • marital status
  • family status
  • sexual orientation
  • age

Rising Expectations – as students move through the grades at ÉMJS, expectations will increase. As well, progressive consequences for inappropriate acts, or those that become chronic and repetitive, will be implemented. With increased age and awareness we expect:

  • Increasing personal responsibility and self-discipline
  • Increasing understanding of the Code of Conduct guidelines
  • Increasing understanding of the need for progressive consequences

Consequences
The severity and frequency of unacceptable conduct, as well as the age and maturity of students is considered in determining appropriate disciplinary action. In that:

  • Responses to unacceptable conduct are consistent and fair
  • Disciplinary action, wherever possible, is preventative and restorative, rather than punitive
  • Student empowerment and input will be encouraged, so students can use a restitution approach to fix their mistakes and repair relationships affected by their past behaviour

Notification
We have the responsibility to advise other parties of increasing and serious breaches of the code of conduct. When serious breaches occur, the following may be notified:

  • The classroom teacher
  • The parents of the student exhibiting the unacceptable conduct
  • The parents of any student victim(s) involved
  • Associate Superintendent – as needed by School District policy
  • Police or other agencies as required by the incident or law
  • Parents at ÉMJS – when it is deemed to be important to reassure the school community that appropriate action is being taken with respect to a specific incident