Please click on the attached link to get a pdf (printable copy) of this document: Code of Conduct 2023-24

Mission Statement:  Rockheights Middle School is dedicated to producing responsible, respectful & reflective members of the community, promoting continuous academic growth, and providing a safe and secure environment in which to learn and grow.  Our school is committed to creating a learning community which values diversity and is free from all forms of discrimination.

Purpose:

The opportunity to attend school is provided as part of contemporary Canadian society but this opportunity carries responsibilities.  The purpose of this code of conduct is:

• To establish and maintain safe, caring and orderly environments for purposeful learning.
• To establish and maintain appropriate balances among individual and collective rights, freedoms and responsibilities.
• 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.
• Student conduct and discipline actions shall be in accordance with The Local Education Agreement with Songhees Nation and the Greater Victoria Board of Education (Section 11.0) and the Local Education agreement with Esquimalt Nation and the Greater Victoria Board of Education (Section 12.0).

Acceptable Conduct:         At Rockheights Middle School we . . .

Speak and Act Considerately: 

• Be cooperative, courteous and respectful in dealings with school staff, other students and members of the greater community.
• Demonstrate the highest standards of conduct, personal responsibility and good judgment when involved in school sponsored events.
• Act as responsible members of the school neighbourhood by being courteous to people in the area, by refraining from disturbing their daily activities and by respecting their property.
• Adhere to the School Device Use Policy.
• Adhere to Policy 5132 3.1: Students may attend school and school-related functions in dress of   their choice under the conditions that the choices:  – Conform with established health and safety requirements for the intended activity; and  –  Do not promote drugs or alcohol; display offensive language or images; or encourage discrimination.
•  Respect the rights of others.

Are Where We Belong: Attend my school each day, arriving on time, being prepared for all classes, completing work as assigned, and remaining on the school grounds during the school day.

Do Our Tasks: Attend all classes and complete the work assigned in those classes, and carry out all school expectations.

Have Materials: Treat the school building, grounds and property with care and prevent litter, and take care of the books, equipment and learning materials provided for student use.

Unacceptable Conduct includes:

• Behaviours that:  –   interfere with student learning – yours or others or creates unsafe conditions  (eg: roughhousing/skateboard on school property).

• Acts of   –   bullying, harassment, intimidation, physical violence or aggression,                                                                           –   retribution against a person who has reported incidents,                                                                                                                    –   discrimination from sections 7 and 8 of the Human Rights Code: race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, gender, sexual orientation and age.

• Alcohol, cigarettes, vaping, drug substances, weapons or replica weapons are prohibited at school, on the school grounds or in attendance at any school sponsored event in the community.
• Illegal acts, such as:

–   possession, use or distribution of illegal or restricted substances (eg: including knowingly receiving stolen property and smoking/vaping on school property),

–   possession or use of weapons or replica weapons (eg: knives, slingshots, pellet or other guns),

–   theft of or damage to property (eg: graffiti),

–   plagiarism and unauthorized copying of electronic or print media.

Rising Expectations:

As students mature our expectations regarding their conduct increases:

• We expect an increase in personal responsibility, self-discipline.
• Acceptance of & respect for diversity is required.
• There may be greater consequence for inappropriate behaviour.

Consequences:

The severity, intensity and frequency of unacceptable conduct and age and maturity of the student(s) is considered in determining appropriate disciplinary action.

• Responses to unacceptable conduct are pre-planned, fair and consistent, while reflective of the particular circumstances of each individual case.
• Disciplinary action, whenever possible, is preventative and restorative, rather than merely punitive.
• Students, as often as possible, are encouraged to participate in the development of meaningful consequences for violations of the established code of conduct.

Notification:

School staff may have a responsibility to advise other parties of serious breaches of the code of conduct.  For example:

• Parents/guardians of student offender(s) – where deemed necessary.
• Parents/guardians of student victim(s) – where deemed necessary.
• School district officials – as required by school district policy.
• Police and/or other agencies – as required by law.
• All parents/guardians – 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.

Retaliation Prevention:

The Rockheights Code of Conduct includes the standards in the Provincial Standard for Codes of Conduct. Our Board will take all reasonable steps to prevent retaliation by a person against a student who has made a complaint of a breach of a code of conduct.

For further information, please refer to Policy and Regulation 4303, which can be found on Greater Victoria School District website, and the BC Code of Human Rights.