RIVERSIDE SECONDARY SCHOOL

Code of Conduct Summary

Please visit our website to view our entire Code of Conduct

Acceptable Conduct

Personal Responsibility

■ Contribute to a safe environment by keeping oneself and others out of harm’s way

■ Arrive on time prepared to learn

■ Identify, describe, and follow class, school, and district expectations

■ Work independently  and as a member of a group

■ Demonstrate positive problem solving skills related to personal issues

Relationships

■ Model positive behaviour

■ Cooperate with others

■ Listen attentively

■ Be inclusive

■ Respect all members of the school community and promote diversity

School and Community Involvement

■ Assist others in the school and community

■ Maintain a clean physical environment

■ Respect school and personal property

■ Participate in school and community activities

■ Initiate projects that support the school and community

Unacceptable Conduct

The following behaviors are deemed unacceptable; they are broad in nature and are not intended to be all inclusive.

Behaviours That:

■ Interfere with the learning of self and others

■ Interfere with an orderly environment

■ Create unsafe conditions

Acts of:

■ Physical violence

■ Swearing and use of inappropriate language

■ Bullying, harassment, or intimidation

■ Cyber bullying or harassment

■ Academic dishonesty

■ Discrimination (specifically, students shall not discriminate against others on the basis of race, religion, sex or sexual orientation,  or disability,  or for any other reason set out in the Human Rights Code of British Columbia, nor shall a student publish or display anything that would indicate an intention to discriminate against another, or expose them to contempt or ridicule, on the basis of any such grounds).

Illegal acts, such as:

■ Possession, use, or distribution of illegal or restricted substances

■ Gambling for money, goods, or services

■ Possession or use of weapons

■ Theft of or damage to property; including willful vandalism, graffiti,  malicious and destructive acts, inclusive to grad pranks (which may result in suspension and/or loss of privileges such as the ability to attend the commencement and/or the grad dinner/dance).

Rising Expectations

■    As students become older, more mature, and move through successive grades it is expected that they will show increasing personal responsibility  and self-discipline

■ There will be a system of increasing consequences for inappropriate behaviour as students progress in grade level. Consequences

■ Students may be subject to discipline under the school and/or District Code of Conduct for any conduct which has the effect of negatively impacting the school environment, whether that conduct occurs on or off School District property, at a school sponsored function or activity, or otherwise

■ Those in authority (adult supervisors, teachers, and administration)  will consider the severity and frequency of unacceptable conduct in determining disciplinary action

■ Disciplinary action will focus on corrective rather than on punitive measures

■ Students, as often as possible, will be encouraged to participate in the development of meaningful consequences for violations of the established Code of Conduct

■ Special consideration may apply to the imposition  of consequences on a student with special needs if the student is unable to comply with the Code of Conduct due to a disability of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional, or behavioural nature.

■ All reasonable steps will be taken to prevent retaliation by a person against a student who has made a complaint of a breach of a code of conduct.

Notification

School staff, depending on the severity and frequency of unacceptable conduct, may have a responsibility  to advise other parties of serious breaches of the code of conduct:

■   Parents of student offender(s) – in every instance

■   Parents of student victim(s)  – in every instance

■   School district officials – as required by school district policy

■   Police and/or other agencies – as required by law

■   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

GENERAL INFORMATION

Attendance

Regular attendance is an attribute  of academic success.  Parents are asked to contact the school by telephone (604 941-6053) if students are expected to be absent. Or click on the ` Absence Report button on the school website CLICK HERE (http://www.sd43.bc.ca/secondary/riverside/Pages/default.aspx). All students will be required to bring notes for any unexcused absences.  Leaving school during the school day is strongly discouraged for safety reasons and the continuity of a positive learning environment.

Early Dismissal

Notes are required for early dismissal.  Students must check out through the office whenever they leave the building before their daily schedule has been completed.

Cars and Parking

Students using the student parking lot must register their vehicles at the office and display a valid school sticker.  Student parking is available at the north end of the school property, adjacent to Gates Park.  Students are expected to drive responsibly and park in designated areas only.  Parking is not permitted in the drop-off area, the fire lane or the driving lanes.  The front and south lots are for staff parking only.  Cars parked improperly may be towed.

Hanging Out

Students may gather with friends almost anywhere around the outside of the school except in student vehicles, the student  and staff parking lots, the far side of Reeve Street and adjoining  lanes, or in front  of the townhouses  on the side streets across from the school.  It is important that we respect the privacy of our neighbours.

Smoking

In keeping with School District Policy, smoking is not permitted inside the school or anywhere on the school grounds, including electronic cigarettes.  Out of respect for our neighbours and visitors to the school, smoking is not permitted  on either side of Reeve Street, in front of the school.

Visitors

Occasionally friends from outside the local area may be visiting.   Students wishing to bring a friend to school are asked to make a request through an administrator at least one day in advance of the visit.  If the administrator approves, students must then check with the teachers whose classes the guest will be visiting, to ensure the time is appropriate.   Any person not in attendance at our school must check into the building at our reception desk.

Litter

At Riverside Secondary we take pride in our environment.  We ask students to put all garbage in the proper waste containers, not only at school, but while walking to and from school, as well.  We also ask students to recycle pop and juice containers.

Academic Honesty

At Riverside, we hold students accountable for developing good work habits and guide students from cheating and plagiarism to honesty and integrity.  Students committing acts of plagiarism, cheating or similar acts of academic dishonesty will be subject to penalty. Consequences may include loss of honour roll / honour cord standing, suspension or other administrative action.

Withdrawing from Courses

In exceptional circumstances, a grade 12 student may wish to drop a course. Course drops will be processed in consultation with parent, counsellor and administrator. The course mark will not appear on the report card if the course is dropped one day prior to the last day of class. Please note that dropping any course will make a student ineligible for Honour Roll.

Quiet Voices in the Hallways

We ask students who choose to socialize during a spare block to do so quietly in the cafeteria.

We expect that classes in session will not be disturbed by noise from the hallways. The library, when space permits, is available throughout the day for study purposes.

Student Dress

Riverside Secondary recognizes and encourages individuality  among its student population.  The dress code is not designed to stifle personal expression but is intended instead to be used as a guideline for students. The dress code is still quite flexible so it is very possible to make an expression through clothing while still maintaining appropriate school attire.

1. General: No symbols, pictures, phrases, or logos, which promote substance abuse, racism, sexism, profanity, or simply bear obviously offensive material are allowed. (Note: this is not limited to clothing and is applicable to accessories or tattoos.)
2. Hats: Hats allowed in common areas of the school (excluding library) and in the classroom with teacher discretion.
3. Bottoms (pants, skirts, shorts): Pants, skirts, shorts that are worn should reflect the professional learning environment in classrooms and that the school is a public institution.
   1. The following are inappropriate for a school setting:
      1. Low-riding/low waist bottoms (pants, skirts, shorts)
      2. Exposure of undergarments
      3. Skirts and shorts that are excessively short (above mid-thigh area)

Note: spandex shorts worn for school sports (i.e. volleyball) are permitted depending on the sense of occasion (e.g. practices, games, PE classes).  However, they should not be worn during  regular classes, with the exception  of PE classes.

1. Tops (shirts, halters, tube, etc): Shirts and tops that are worn should reflect the professional learning environment in classrooms and that the school is a public institution.
   1. The following are inappropriate for a school setting:
      1. Tops that expose excessive bare midriff
      2. Tops that are lower than the start of cleavage line
      3. Tops that expose the navel area
      4. Tops that are sheer enough to see through
      5. Tops with any explicit phrases, symbols as mentioned in the section above

Note:  Special events such as Halloween or School Dances are not exceptions to the guiding  principles  laid out in the preceding paragraphs. These expectations are in effect for all school functions.

Lockers

A locker has been assigned to students for use during the school year on the following conditions:

1. Students are responsible for the lock and locker that is assigned to them and it is not to be used by any other person.
2. Only approved school locks may be used on student lockers and the combination of the lock must be registered at the school.
3. The lock and the locker belong to the school.  School officials may search student lockers at any time, and without prior notice, in order to ensure compliance with the conditions of use, school policies and rules, and when student safety may be in question.
4. The locker may only  be used for  the  storage  of books,  school  supplies  and equipment,  outerwear,  school sports equipment and lunches. No illegal substances, weapons or other prohibited  or offensive material are to be placed in school lockers.
5. The locker  is to  be kept  clean and foodstuffs  are to  be removed on a regular  basis.  Students  are responsible  for cleaning and removing all materials from the locker at the end of the year or when they leave the school.
6. Permission to use the locker may be terminated where a student does not comply with the conditions of use, school policies or rules.
7. It is the responsibility of all members of the school community to keep our schools safe. If any student has reason to believe that a locker contains anything that would threaten the safety of other students, staff, or any other person, that student is expected to immediately report the information to a teacher or administrator. The name of the student making the report will be kept confidential.
8. In the past a number of items have gone missing from the change rooms. Locks need to be purchased or rented from the P.E. Staff. Students are advised not to bring valuables to the PE change rooms.