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Code of Conduct

In order to be preventative our code of conduct is taught and reinforced with all our students.

Charter of Student Rights and Responsibilities

This Charter of Student Rights and Responsibilities is intended to provide guidance to all members of the Timberline Secondary School community of learners. This Charter is subject only to such reasonable limits or interpretations as are required by staff to ensure a safe and orderly learning environment.

As a student at Timberline, I have the responsibility to:                          
As a student at Timberline, I have the right to:                                                               

1. Be respected as an individual in a harassment free environment.

Respect other people.
Respect gender, race, culture, beliefs of all people.
Create an environment free from sexual, racial, verbal or physical harassment.

2. Learn in a caring and supportive environment.

Attend all classes and be on time.
Complete assignments and be prepared for class.
Listen and respect others’ opinions.


3. Be involved in a positive school culture.

Support positive school spirit.
Follow school rules (Code of Conduct).

4. Have someone to turn to.
Take the initiative to seek help for myself and others.
5. Be physically safe.

Maintain a violence and intimidation free environment.
Drive responsibly.
Use good judgement.

6. A clean and healthy environment.
Maintain a clean and healthy environment, both in the school building and on the school grounds.

All behaviours that are given in this code are meant to serve as examples and are not exclusive.  There are circumstances that occur outside of the school that may have an impact on student learning and will be addressed at the school level. Any activity that violates a local, provincial, or federal law is prohibited.

As required, major areas of discipline and deportment will be handled as follows:

Attendance

Students are expected to attend regularly and punctually.  Where positive intervention is unsuccessful, chronic absenteeism may result in removal from courses and/or school with alternative arrangements developed for the delivery of an educational program. Students may be placed on a daily monitoring system (Check In and Connect) which has the student complete a monitoring sheet that is check daily by his or her teacher, administration and parents.  If attendance and performance are a concern, the student may be placed on a performance contract, which is an attempt to keep students in school.  If the contract is breeched, he or she may be removed from some or all classes.

Academic Honesty

Students are expected to present their own work in class and homework assignments.  At Timberline, the working definition of plagiarism is “using another person’s work and presenting it as your own.” Plagiarism is a form of cheating, and it could be in the form of written, visual, audio, or other media.  If another person’s ideas are used, credit must be given in the form of a citation. 

Rude or Discourteous Behaviour

Staff members will deal with students as the behaviours arise, with follow-up documentation provided to the office. Should restitution not be achievable on the spot, the staff member may take further action as per Timberline's range of consequences.  A referral to counselling or administration will be made for repeat or severe offences, with subsequent involvement of the school-based team as appropriate.

Insubordination

Where a student willfully disobeys a requirement of a staff member, the student will be referred to administration. Follow up will include parent contact, suspension (in school or out) and referral to counselling or school-based team as appropriate.

Skateboards /Longboards at School

At this point we recognize that many boarders use their boards as a primary mode of transportation not unlike other students who ride their bikes to school. As long as students do not use the skateboards/longboards on campus or cause unnecessary distractions, we allow them to be brought to school. If students use their boards during school time, staff will have a discussion about the rule and either give them a warning, offer to store it for them or get their name and pass it on to administration for follow up. Please avoid confiscating boards on the spot unless imminent danger to the student or others exists. If you are dealing with repeat offenders or non-compliance issues, get their names and pass them on to administration.

Acceptable Use of Internet and Electronic Device

At Timberline, we acknowledge that internet resources, when used carefully and wisely, can provide important avenues of learning for students. It is expected that students at school will only view appropriate sites. Inappropriate use of internet and electronic communication, including the sending of threatening or harassing comments, is unacceptable.

Electronic Devices

These devices must also be kept out of sight and turned off during instructional times and in the classroom unless used with the permission of the teacher / administrator. Unauthorized use of these devices can disrupt the instructional program and distracts from the learning environment.

All students please note that personal electronic devices (iPods, MP3’s, cell phones, PDA’s etc.) are not allowed to be on your person during an exam. Please leave them at home, in your backpack or in your locker during your exam. Please see the supervising teacher if you have any questions about what equipment is allowed during your exam.

Electronic devices are valuable and the security and storage of these items is the sole responsibility of the owner/user. The school assumes no responsibility for the support, safety, security, loss, repair or replacement of electronic devices.

Smoking

At Timberline our primary concern related to tobacco use is health, so cessation programs will be available to all students. In accordance with school district policy, no use of tobacco, which includes "chewable" products (tobacco or herbal), will be allowed in the school building or on school grounds. 

Smelling of, Possession or Influence of Drugs or Alcohol

Involvement with drugs or alcohol will result in suspension and referral to mandatory counselling. If this issue of drugs and alcohol is reoccurring the student will be sent to the district for further action.

Harassment

At Timberline we are committed to providing a learning environment that is free from harassment. The administration and staff of the school consider any form of harassment to be a serious matter and will take appropriate action to eliminate harassment from the school. Harassment may also include events such as cyber bullying that occur outside of the school and still impact student learning. 

Appropriate Language

Language used by all members of the school community should be respectful and polite. Any communication that is disrespectful or demeaning to others, including lying, inappropriate or profane language, is unacceptable.

Vandalism

Willful damage of school property will be assessed and restitution will be made.

Violence, Intimidation, Threats

Violent, intimidating or threatening behaviour may result in suspension and referral to mandatory counselling. 

Instigators or Spectators

The daily endeavour of students, and all school activities, should take place without interference of disruption. Students who encourage, support or promote acts of intimidation, harassment or violence wither by direct action or by watching are subject to school disciplinary action. This can include activities that occur during or after school hours as well as on or off school property.

Duty to Report

Students are expected to inform a staff member of incidents of bullying, harassment and intimidation as well as of any knowledge related to possession of weapons or illegal substances.

Possession or Use of Weapons

Involvement with weapons will result in an automatic suspension and referral to mandatory counselling. Police will also be involved to the extent possible within the law. 

Discrimination

Behaviours that result in the discrimination against a person or a group of persons in a public way will not be tolerated.

Public Displays of Affection

Students are asked to minimize public displays of affection. These may be inappropriate to the school setting and can be addressed by any student or staff member.

Litter

We are a school that is committed to being environmentally friendly, and we ask that all members of the school community look after their litter by putting it in the nearest garbage can or recycling container.

Rising Expectations

When students find themselves in conflicting situations with the school and staff, they need to see rational reactions reflected back to them. They need to know the range of consequences for breaching our code of conduct. They need to be encouraged to take ownership and responsibility for their actions.  They need to know what rules were broken. They need to be taught how to find a solution so that they will know how to appropriately deal with the situation next time. They may have to make restitution in some form or another (restorative justice).  Alternates to suspension may also be used when appropriate. When these techniques are used in a fair and consistent manner, students will be able to take more personal responsibility for their own behaviour as they get more mature and move towards graduation.

Consequences

At Timberline the responses to unacceptable conduct are consistent and fair for all students.  In some cases interventions will be identified in students’ individualized education plans (IEP).  In cases where special needs students are unable to comply with the code of conduct, whereby their behaviour results in serious or repeated misconduct they may be removed from school until an approved safety plan has been developed.  Attempts will be made to consult with parents in the development of this plan.

The following is the range of consequences, which will be used at Timberline:

  1. On-the-spot reminders, conference, reprimand.
  2. Follow-up meeting between the student and the staff member.
  3. Phone call to parent or guardian.
  4. Additional time for the student with the teacher or office (detention).
  5. Restitution, a logical remedy for the problem.
  6. Referral to counselling or administration.
  7. Supportive intervention and/or service to school.
  8. Persistent or serious indiscretions directly to vice-principal or principal.  Administration response can include steps 1-5 above, but responses to major or repeated indiscretions will be strong as well as consistent with school and district policy and may involve in referral to a Level Two or Level Three Resolution. Where students openly defy authority as repeat offenders or through single incidents of major insubordination, suspension and parent involvement will result. As well, suspensions will occur and parents and police will be involved where chargeable offences occur (fighting, threatening, assault, willful damage, possession or use of weapons, theft, tampering with fire alarm, possession or influence of drugs or alcohol, break and enter, trespass).

This range of responses is not necessarily sequential. This means that the point at which we begin our intervention will vary with the severity of the incident, and that not all steps are necessary in all situations. For example, a teacher may simply confer with a student or may refer the matter to counselling or administration. Some issues, such as classroom misbehaviour, may result in sequential elevation up the scale, depending on the student's response to teacher intervention. On the other hand, major infractions such as fighting, involvement with alcohol, etc., will be elevated directly to step 8.

Notification

At Timberline we value open and positive communication with students, parents, SD72 and our community. We take responsibility for notifying the appropriate parties when there is a serious incident or breach of our school code of conduct. Depending on the situation, that may involve contacting:
Parents/guardians of both the victim and offender.
School district officials – as required by school district policy.
Police and/or other agencies required by law.

All parents or guardians when the situation is deemed 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.

Dress Guidelines

The primary intention of a guideline for dress is to make expectations, and the underlying reason for those expectations, clear in advance so that there is no need for correction or discipline. It should provide a level of clarity that will assist staff, students, and parents in their decision-making with respect to dress, but it is not intended to be prescriptive.

Dress Guideline Attributes

- pays careful attention to the individual right of students, and their families, for the students to dress in a manner that they choose.
-  the right of individual choice is tempered by a responsibility to the school community and recognition that a school is a unique context in which students may be expected to follow reasonable guidelines.  

At Timberline the expectation is that clothing will:

- be appropriate to, and safe for, the intended activity;
- demonstrate respect for the rights and perspectives of others; and
- demonstrate a respect for the school context and the wearer’s responsibilities as a member of the school community.

Responsibilities

All members of the school community have a responsibility to contribute to a positive climate and public confidence in the school through their dress and demeanour.

All staff have a responsibility to assist students in understanding and abiding by the school dress guidelines, both through words and actions.  

All staff, students, and parents have a responsibility to exercise their individual right to choice in a manner that also respects the perspectives and sensibilities of other members of that community.

Parents have a responsibility to help their children develop appropriate and responsible habits of dress for the school and the workplace.

The principal has the authority to enforce the guidelines when necessary.  

Guideline Violations

Articles of clothing that promote alcohol or drugs that display offensive language or images, or that encourage sexism, racism or bigotry are not acceptable in a school.

Consequences

If necessary students will be asked to change into clothing that is deemed to be appropriate. Refusal to comply or repeated misconduct may result in further discipline. Parents will be involved in a plan to assist the student in understanding what is expected and why.

Miscellaneous Policies Related to Students

Sign-Out

If students have to leave the school during class time they are expected to "sign out" at the student services office, with the permission of a parent or guardian. This is necessary to ensure the safety of the student, and to inform parents of their student's whereabouts.

Study Periods

With the exception of grade 12s and adult students, all Timberline students will be required to carry a course load equivalent to 4 "full" courses each semester. If students are enrolled in a class outside of regular class time, a "study block" may be allowed with the permission of the administration and parents. Study blocks at Timberline must be "meaningful", and not interfere with the learning of others. A specific study "space" may be designated.

Course Changes

Students who have failed courses in the previous semester may have to change courses to begin the semester. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that prerequisite courses are completed. Although students are expected to stay in the courses selected during registration, there may be circumstances that require a change.  This will be arranged through the counsellors in consultation with the teacher, and parents.

Visitors

During the school day, the school grounds and buildings are off limits to everyone except Timberline, and North Island College students, staff, school district employees and parents. Other guests and individuals must obtain permission to be on school premises from the main office. It is important for Timberline students to pass this information on to their friends and acquaintances that wish to visit.

Environment

Our school/college complex has been provided to us in pristine condition by the taxpayers of British Columbia. Timberline staff will support students in their efforts to keep our shared campus clean and free of litter, graffiti or vandalism.

Cafeteria

The cafeteria is a shared space with the college. In order to have a smooth relationship where both high school and college students can enjoy the facility the following guidelines need to be followed:

  • Please clean up your area before you leave as college students have a later lunch and deserve a clean space, too.
  • Leave your backpack outside and out of the way of the servery.
  • Please use the cafeteria during non-instructional times for a quiet place to enjoy some food and time with friends.
  • If you have an authorized study block please feel free to use the cafeteria or library as a quiet place to work.
  • There is no gambling or unauthorized card playing allowed on campus.
  • Please notify the cafeteria supervisors if there is a mess you are unable to clean-up or if you notice any damage to the cafeteria environment.
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