CF-P1 - Behavioural Procedure

Each school shall make known to its students, parents/guardians, in writing the Division’s Code of Conduct, and also the school’s Discipline Plan which will reflect the Division’s Behavioural Procedure..

K - Grade 4 students should be taught that certain aggressive behaviours are unacceptable.  It should be a compulsory part of the Health and/or Social Studies program.

Formal presentations should be given periodically throughout the school year to Grade 5 - 12 students by the legal profession, to inform students of their rights, but also, to educate them about the legal repercussions for violent and abusive behaviour.

Training should be given to all Teachers on how to deal with hostile students.  The program WEVAS (Working Effectively with Violent and Aggressive Students) could be used as a model.

While the Behavioural Procedure primarily addresses student conduct issues, it also deals with staff and visitors to the school (including parents/guardians).  School and divisional personnel should be knowledgeable about Division policies and regulations that deal with possible unacceptable behaviour.  They include:

CE-P1 - Code of Conduct

CF-P2 - Behaviour Procedure - Threats

CF-P3 - Behavioural Procedure - Abuse/Bullying

CF-P5 - Dealing with Harassment

*KEB-P0 - Visitors to the Schools

EON-P0 & P1 - Student Conduct on School Buses

ED-P0 - Emergency Situations – Crisis Management Plan [PSA 58.7]

JJ-P0 - Student Dress

EF-P1 - Vandalism, Break-ins, and Thefts

IGB-P1 - Acceptable Use of Electronic Technology

The Board of Prairie Spirit School Division is responsible for the safety and well being of all its students and employees.

The Board will support its staff in maintaining appropriate conduct in order to ensure a safe and orderly environment for all within its jurisdiction.  The school environment includes school buildings, grounds, vehicles, bus stops, the time going to and coming from school, and all school-related activities and events.

In accordance with the Public Schools Act after all efforts have been made at the school level to maintain a safe and orderly environment, the Board will authorize the suspension or expulsion of those whose conduct, upon investigation, is deemed to be injurious to the welfare of others within its jurisdiction.

The intent of this Procedure is to outline specific procedures to deal with serious offences.  It is expected that every school will have developed a Discipline Plan to respond to general student behaviour during the regular school day including after school functions.  Such plans should outline student behavioural expectations and a consequence/discipline cycle,  as well as the process for appealing disciplinary decisions. It will be updated annually, and a copy forwarded to Manitoba Education by October 31st of each year. 

(See also JK-P1, JKA-P1)

The School Division shall provide reasonable accommodation for students who have exceptional learning needs that affect their behaviour, and when disciplining the student, take into consideration the student’s ability to comply and the amount of support required (MR 468/88).

GUIDING PRINCIPLE

Students, employees, and visitors to the school have the right to function in an environment free from physical, emotional, verbal and sexual abuse, harassment and any type of bullying behaviour.  (A volunteer serving in a school will be considered a staff member for the purposes of this policy.)

Consequences for the following aggressive or abusive conduct are specified:

• Abuse/bullying (physical, verbal and emotional, harassment, sexual harassment, cyberbullying)  (See IGB-P1)

• weapons possession;

• gang involvement; 

• inappropriate dress (See Policy JJ-P0);

• vandalism/destructive behaviour; (See Policy EF-P0), and

• inappropriate use of electronic technologies.  (See Policy IGB-P1)

• using, possessing, or being under the influence of alcohol, cannabis or illicit drugs at school (See Policy CH-P1)

THREAT ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL

Guiding Principle

The Prairie Spirit School Division believes that all staff, parents, and students have a responsibility to maintain a safe, caring, and respectful environment.  To this end, a threat assessment protocol (CF-P2) shall be used for responding to threats or high-risk behaviours.

Definition

A threat is an expression of intent to do harm or act out violently against someone or something.  Threats may be verbal, written, drawn, sent electronically or made by gesture only and may be direct, indirect, conditional, or veiled.  All threats shall be taken seriously and evaluated since threats have different levels of risk leading to varied interventions.

The Criminal Code of Canada states:

264.1 (1)       Everyone commits an offence who, in any manner, knowingly utters, conveys, or causes any person to receive a threat

1. to cause death or bodily harm to any person;

2. to burn, destroy or damage real or personal property; or

3. to kill, poison or injure an animal or bird that is the property of any person.

I.  GENERAL CONDUCT

ABUSE/BULLYING:

Definitions

Types of abuse/bullying by a student, staff member, or visitor to the school (including a parent/guardian) may include but are not restricted to the following examples:

1. physical - consists of acts of violence against students, employees, their families and/or property with the intent of causing hurt or harm. Examples would include hitting, slapping, biting, kicking, spitting, breaking belongings and throwing objects.

2. verbal & emotional - consisting of but not limited to derogatory comments and/or discriminatory actions directed against an individual or group based on gender identity, race, lifestyle, sexual orientation, religion, etc.  Examples may include swearing, threats, name-calling, harassment/gestures, written abuse/bullying, cyberbullying, wrongful allegations, abusive telephone calls, ostracism, etc.

3. harassment - consists of behaviour/acts which intimidate or threaten a person in such a way as to deny the individual his/her dignity and respect, and results in a feeling of powerlessness.  For examples see (b) OR consists of stalking which is the persistent following, contacting, watching, or any other such threatening actions that compromise the peace of mind or the personal safety of the individual. (See CF-P5)

4. sexual harassment - consists of behaviour which includes any unwanted, unwelcomed sexual advance or sexually oriented behaviour made by a person who knows or who ought reasonably to know that such attention is unwanted.  Sexual harassment may include, but is not limited to, unnecessary touching or petting,    suggestive or other sexually aggressive remarks and gestures, leering at a person’s body, demands for sexual favours, or compromising invitations. (See CF-P5)

Note:  For CYBERBULLYING, see Policy IGB-P1 – Acceptable Use of Electronic Technology  

NOTE: Division employees, by virtue of their positions, have responsibilities and consequently, have certain expectations.  Reasonable insistence upon compliance with these expectations will not be interpreted as harassment. Examples: meeting deadlines, behavioural/academic/procedural expectations, etc.

WEAPONS POSSESSION

Definition

A weapon is any instrument designed or used to injure or intimidate another person.  This includes items generally understood to be weapons as well as replicas of weapons.  Any other item, if used to injure, threaten or intimidate, is also a weapon.  Possession is defined as having a weapon on one’s person, or in an area subject to one’s control, on school property or at a school activity.

(Section 2 of the Criminal Code of Canada)

“Every teacher shall:

1.  seize or cause to be seized and take possession of any offensive or dangerous weapon that is brought to school by a pupil and hand over any such weapon to the Principal who shall notify the parent or guardian warning him that the pupil may be suspended or expelled from the school.” [PSA 96 (1)(f)]

Consequences for weapons possession

No person shall bring onto any school property or into a school building or Division vehicle, or have in their possession or in a locker, any weapon or item intended to be used as a weapon.

When a person is found or suspected to be in possession of a weapon while under a school’s jurisdiction or such weapon is discovered in that person’s locker, the following shall occur

1. The administrator (or designate) shall call the police to deal with the incident

2. If the person is a student, he/she shall receive a suspension from the class or school with the possibility that the suspension may be extended or that expulsion may be recommended to the Board.  The latter shall be after consultation with the Superintendent

NOTE:  Parents or guardians shall be notified when consequences for weapons possession need to be carried out.

 Where the offender is a student and a suspension has been imposed, readmission to school shall be contingent upon prescribed criteria for readmission being met by the student and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s). 

GANG INVOLVEMENT

 Definitions

Gangs are groups of youth who share common beliefs, attitudes and attire and exhibit unlawful and anti-social behaviour, and who associate with each other for mutual protection and/or profit.  (See Project Gang-Proof – A Handbook on Street Gangs for Parents and Communications – Manitoba Justice.)

Consequences for gang related activity like displaying gang insignia or soliciting students for gang membership etc.

See consequences outlined in Student Consequences for Abuse/Bullying (Procedure CF-P3).

INAPPROPRIATE DRESS

Schools are expected to delineate standards of dress for the schools and inform students of expectations.

Consequences for inappropriate dress 

Consequences can range from an informal interview on the first instance to withdrawal from the class or school setting.  (See JJ-P0)

VANDALISM/DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR

Vandalism is the willful damage or destruction of property.  It includes:

1. damage to property such as defacing ceilings, walls, school furniture, carpeting, textbooks, school materials, electronic equipment or computer software, fire extinguishers, smoke and heat detectors, fire alarms, lockers or any other property not belonging to the individual.

2. destruction of private, personal or school property (one’s own school or a school being visited).

Damage and destruction of property shall result in a restitution for damages, as well as the application of one or more of the consequences outlined in Student Consequences for Abuse/Bullying (Procedure CF-P3).  (See also Policy EF-P0)

INAPPROPRIATE USE OF COMPUTERS/NETWORKS/IITV

Students are expected to adhere to the terms and conditions of the IITV Policies which they and their parents/guardians are required to sign. (See also Policies IFJ-P1 and IGB-P1)

Consequences for inappropriate use of computers

See consequences outlined in Student Consequences for Abuse/Bullying(Procedure CF-P3).

USING, POSSESSING, OR BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL, CANNABIS OR ILLICIT DRUGS AT SCHOOL

The terms outlined in Policy CH-P1– DRUG FREE SCHOOLS shall apply.  In addition, the consequences outlined in Student consequences for Abuse/Bullying (Procedure CF-P3) shall apply.

II.       STAFF CONDUCT

Physical Contact: Acceptable physical contact may include but is not restricted to the following example

1. when used as an integral part of the instructional process (i.e. spotting in a P.E. class; guiding in handwriting);

2. when clearly used for positive reinforcement or encouragement (i.e. a pat on the back accompanied by a statement such as, “Good work on that test.”);

3. when used to control students who are obviously out of control and are a danger to themselves, others or property;

4. when used for comforting distraught students;

5. when used to aid an injured or sick student;

6. when used to protect self, a student or staff member provided that such physical force is that which is required for protection only.

NOTE:  

1. Staff must be sensitive to each student’s comfort level regarding physical contact.

2. The Division acknowledges its commitment to ensuring that its personnel are protected from unfounded abuse/bullying,  allegations which may be directed against staff.  The rights of its personnel will be respected in situations which may arise from an allegation of abuse/bullying or harassment directed at a member of staff by a student.  (See Physical Contact)

APPEAL

Any disciplinary action taken by the Superintendent or Board against a student shall be open to any or all of the following appeal procedures:

1.  to the Superintendent;

2. to the Board

Any disciplinary action taken by the Superintendent or Board against a staff member shall be open to any or all of the following appeal procedures:

1. to the Superintendent;

2. to the Board;

3. to arbitration (as per terms of Collective Agreement).

III.        VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL, (INCLUDING PARENT/GUARDIAN CONDUCT

The terms outlined in procedures related to dealing with harassment shall apply:

CF-P5 - Dealing with Harassment

CE-P1 - Code of Conduct

CF & CF-P2-P4 - Behavioural Policy and Regulation

KEB-P0 - Visitors to the Schools

ED-P0 - Emergency Situations – Crisis Management Plan [PSA 47.1]  

Revised August 2008

Revised March 2009