As you review the academic expectations at Southwood, consider the following questions:
Why is regular attendance so important?
What do you need to do if you are away for an appointment or illness?
Describe your responsibility for work you miss due to absence.
When can you use the library?
What can you NOT do in the library?
How can you show respect for the well-being of fellow students with serious allergies?
Bullying is unacceptable. How and where can bullying occur? What are the consequences for bullying?
Academic Expectations
As a reminder, the student Code of Conduct is available online. https://schools.wrdsb.ca/sss/files/2022/09/Southwood-Student-Information_Code-of-Conduct-2022-2023.pdf
We will review some key elements and expectations below.
Regular school attendance is an important contributor to school success and is also a legal requirement. Students are expected to attend all assigned classes. All absences for students under the age of 18 must be approved by a parent or guardian. Students 18 years of age and older may validate their own absences.
WHAT DO I DO IF I’M ABSENT? Students who are not feeling well, or are experiencing symptoms of illness, must not attend school. There are three ways to report an absence. Please use one of the following options:
Call 519-621-5920, Press 1. Voicemail is available 24/7.
Email sss-attendance@wrdsb.ca
Bring a note from your parent/guardian to be submitted to the main office upon return to school.
WHAT DO I DO IF I’M LATE?
If you are less than fifteen minutes, go directly to class and sign in with your teacher.
If you are more than fifteen minutes late, please sign in at the Attendance Desk in the Main Office.
In either case, your late arrival will be recorded by your teacher and you may be assigned a consequence by your teacher.
If a student continues to be late or misses an assigned detention, parents/guardians will be contacted by the teacher, and the Vice-Principal will meet with the student to determine appropriate consequences, following the progressive discipline model.
WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR PART OF THE DAY? If you are absent for any portion of the day, you must sign-in with the office when you arrive: E.g. if you have an appointment in the morning and arrive at school during the middle of lunch, you must sign-in at the main office before going to your next class. You must sign out at the office if you need to leave for any reason during the school day.
MISSED TESTS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ASSIGNMENTS
It is expected that students complete all assigned work in a timely manner. Work that has not been submitted will be deemed “incomplete” for the purposes of grade reporting. Failure to complete all required work may negatively impact a student’s final grade and prevent successful achievement of the credit.
This means that if you have a planned absence you should be checking in advance with your teacher to get the work you will miss, or arranging an alternate time to write if you will be missing a test. If you have a major assignment due, arrange to have it dropped off to the teacher, or submit it online as appropriate. If you find yourself ill in the morning, check the digital classroom (Google Classroom or Brightspace) for your class and do your best to cover the material that you are able to on your own so you aren’t trying to catch up in class when new material is being presented.
Summative assessments are an important opportunity for students to demonstrate learning. Please see the school year calendar for specific dates. It is vital to attend/complete these assessments. Note these dates in your calendar so you do not schedule appointments that conflict with them.
While it may sometimes be unavoidable that a student misses an extended number of days of instruction due to travel for a major competition or such, as much as possible, long trips should be avoided during school periods. This instructional time is vital for the teaching and learning of new concepts. Students who are not present miss out on the critical support that the classroom teacher provides.
If it is unavoidable that a student must be away for an extended period of time, it is vital that the student pick up an extended absence form from the office. This form will be signed by parents to confirm the dates of the absence. The student then needs to speak to each of their teachers to note where they will access the coursework to stay caught up during their absence. Please note that in some courses with practical, hands-on elements, absence will mean missing the opportunity to participate in labs etc.
Respect and responsibility are key to learning successfully.
● Show respect for yourself, others, and for those in authority. This includes identifying yourself to any staff member upon request.
● Come to school prepared, on time, and ready to learn.
● Take responsibility for your own actions.
● Follow all school expectations as outlined in this code of conduct, on the school website, and as provided to you by your teachers and administrators
Specific areas of the school will have additional behaviour expectations and limits to acceptable activities.
LIBRARY EXPECTATIONS
The library is available during school hours for class bookings as well as individual and small group study. Senior students are welcome to use the library during their spare when the library is open. It is also a place to come and quietly destress and relax at lunch. We have puzzles, and games like chess available for this. It is also a place to read for pleasure, or do research for coursework. We have varied spaces where small groups may work collaboratively on projects, or studying for tests, or peer tutoring. We ask that you please work quietly so that other students can focus. During class periods, spare, elearning and students sent down from class must sign in using the QR code at the circulation desk.
Students are not to be in the library when they should be in class, unless the teacher has contacted the library to make arrangements for individuals or groups to come down to do work. It is not appropriate for students to be signed out of class and then come to the library to study. If you are on campus, you need to be in your scheduled class.
Key to all of these activities is that they should be done quietly so as not to disturb other students working in the library. The library is not a place to just hang out and have loud conversations or roughhouse. It is also not the place to come to eat your lunch or have a snack. The library needs to remain a safe place for all students, including those with food allergies. We have also recently had a beautiful renovation, and we want to keep the space clean and prevent damage to the books. Therefore, NO FOOD OR DRINK is permitted in the library. Students who are caught eating, roughhousing, or who are unwilling to work quietly will be asked to leave to work elsewhere.
Students are responsible for any materials they borrow. The loan period is three weeks. The due date is stamped on a sticky at the back of the book. Materials lost, stolen, or damaged due to neglectful handling will be charged a replacement fee. Material not returned in a timely fashion will eventually be deemed LOST and the student will be responsible for returning or paying the replacement cost of the item before they will have borrowing privileges again.
ANAPHYLAXIS
Many students have life-threatening allergies to foods, scents, or other substances. We are a scent-aware and nut-aware site and do not permit the use of latex gloves or balloons at school. Each classroom will have a list of prohibited foods. No allergy-inducing foods may be brought into specified classrooms. No food or drink is permitted in the library so that it remains a safe study space for all students. Students who use EpiPens must carry one with them at all times
POSITIVE STUDENT BEHAVIOUR AND BULLYING
It is expected that all interactions between members of the school community are positive in nature, which precludes the use of inappropriate, hurtful, threatening or demeaning language, comments, and actions. Inappropriate comments and actions will be addressed by a staff member and consequences will be progressive in nature, potentially resulting in suspension from school. “Bullying is typically a form of repeated, persistent, and aggressive behaviour directed at an individual or individuals that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear and distress and/or harm to another person’s body, feelings, self-esteem or reputation. Bullying occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance.” (PPM 144) Bullying can take many forms: physical (hitting, pushing, tripping); verbal (name calling, mocking, making sexist, racist or homophobic comments); social (excluding others from a group, spreading gossip or rumours); or it can occur through the use of technology (spreading rumours, images or hurtful comments through the use of e-mail, cell phones, text message, Internet websites or other technology). Bullying using technology is often referred to as cyberbullying. Bullying will not be accepted on school property, at school-related activities, on school buses, or in any other circumstances where engaging in bullying will have a negative impact on the school climate. Students who engage in bullying behaviour can expect school consequences through an administrator, and may include police involvement.
Once the school day is over, students who are not staying behind for extra help, clubs, sports, or extra-curriculars need to leave the building and head home.
WASHROOM USE
It’s important for all students to feel safe using washrooms at school. Loitering and socializing in washrooms is not permitted, and may result in school consequences (progressive discipline). Please keep washrooms tidy and free from vandalism and graffiti. Remember, our custodians are awesome and work hard! Please show them the respect they deserve.
IN THE COMMUNITY
When you are outside of this buidling you are still an ambassador for Southwood. If you go for a walk, go to the plaza for lunch, go to the park, etc., you should still be on your best behaviour. Do not block traffic, jaywalk in front of vehicles, throw items, or use vulgar language in public. Remember that most houses, cars and businesses now have cameras. If your behaviour is unacceptable, the school does get contacted, and you can be identified through that video footage.