Lakers Code of Conduct 

A school is a place which promotes responsibility, respect, and academic excellence in a safe learning and teaching environment. All students, parents, teachers, and staff have the right to be safe, and feel safe, in their school community. With this right also comes the responsibility to be law-abiding citizens and to be accountable for actions that put at risk the safety of others or of oneself. 

Students are to be treated with respect and dignity. In return, they must demonstrate respect for themselves and for others through acceptable behaviour. 

Respect and responsibility are demonstrated when a student: 

• comes to school daily, prepared, on time, and ready to learn 
• shows respect for themselves, for others and property 
• refrains from bringing anything to school that may compromise the safety of others 
• follows the established rules and takes responsibility for his or her own actions 

Teachers and School Staff, under the leadership of their principal, maintain order in the school and are expected to hold everyone to the highest standard of respectful and responsible behaviour. As role models, staff demonstrates these high standards when they: 

• help students work to their full potential and develop their self-worth 
• communicate regularly and meaningfully with parents 
• demonstrate respect for all students, staff and parents 
• maintain consistent standards of behaviour for all students 
• prepare students for the full responsibilities of citizenship 

We Believe: 

The students of Port Burwell have the right to attend a school that is inviting, educationally sound, and free from violence and harassment in any form. 

This code is based on respect for self and others and freedom from: 

• physical, verbal (oral or written), sexual or psychological abuse; bullying 
• discrimination on the basis of race, language, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, culture or any other attribute 
• damage to school property including the school grounds and school buses and the property of others

These beliefs apply to all members of the Port Burwell School community. 

Port Burwell recognizes that most students make decisions that comply with the Code of Conduct. We acknowledge this through our celebration of success. At times some students make decisions which do not comply with the Code of Conduct which we address through progressive discipline. With progressive discipline, parents will be more involved and the principal will respond to each situation in the most appropriate way. 

The principal will consider a range of options to address the behaviour and help students learn from their choices. This could include a meeting with parents, a detention, an assignment, a referral for counselling/medical support, a suspension or expulsion. The principal will consider factors like the student’s age and academic, personal and discipline history. 

Celebrations of Success: 

Verbal praise, office visits, phone calls home, announcements, recognition assemblies. 

Consequences: 

Verbal warnings, phone call/letters home, notes in planners, timeout in the classroom, timeout from the classroom, detentions, restitution, suspension, police involvement, progressive discipline. 

Inappropriate behavior can result in severe consequences, if warranted, even on the first occasion. Parents will be involved in serious issues and will be advised regarding repeated minor issues through the regular discipline process (e.g. telephone calls, e-mails, notes). 

The Code of Conduct for Port Burwell is premised on related Thames Valley District School Board policies. School events and activities are privileges, not rights. Failure to abide by the clear, socially acceptable standards of conduct as prescribed in the Port Burwell Code of Conduct may jeopardize any involvement in these privileged events or activities. 

Dress Code: 

• Underwear, undergarments and midriffs should not be showing 
• No muscle shirts, spaghetti strap tank tops or tops that are revealing or exposing
  
• Offensive sayings, offensive pictures or clothing advertising adult only products (example: alcohol and cigarettes) on any clothing may not be worn at school. 
• Hats are not to be worn inside the school unless for special hat/spirit days

*Students in violation of the Dress Code will be addressed individually by staff and/or administration. Parents will be contacted and students may be asked to change, or turn an offensive t-shirt inside out. Hats maybe allowed to be worn inside the school on certain school Spirit days. 

Electronic Devices: 

Below are clearly defined expectations: 

Students should be "School Ready" when they arrive on school property, this means that all electronic devices including cell phones are out of sight. Students may use electronic devices during instructional time with permission and supervision by the teacher. 

If electronic devices are seen by staff during the instructional day, including nutritional breaks outside, they are to be given to the teacher until the end of the day. Students can then retrieve the device with the message that the device is not to be turned on at school. The second incident with the same student will result in the device being given to the teacher again but parents must then come to the school to retrieve the device and the device will no longer be permitted at school. 

All electronic devices are being treated in the same manner since most now have the ability to take photos and videos. This ability has implications for Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts. 

Please review these expectations and consequences with your students. 

Internet Expectations: 

Students are expected to use the school’s Internet access in support of educational goals. The School’s Code of Conduct outlines expectations for students, which encompasses the use of computers. Unacceptable use includes, but is not limited to: (i) activities which may damage equipment (ii) downloading, copying or transmitting any material which is in violation of any Federal or Provincial regulation such as copyrighted material; threatening or obscene material; hateful, racist, or discriminatory material (iii) any breach of security on local and remote sites including use or attempted use of another user’s account; unlawful entry or attempted entry into any network system; any attempt to gain unauthorized access to view, alter, copy, share or destroy data and the creation and/or willful transmission of computer viruses or virus hoaxes. Inappropriate use by your child could result in denial of computer privileges, suspension and/or legal action.