Code of Conduct
The purpose of the Gleneagles Ch’axáý Elementary School Code of Conduct and West Vancouver Schools District Code of Conduct is to establish and maintain a safe, caring, and orderly environment for purposeful learning and to establish and maintain appropriate balances between individual and collective rights, freedoms, and responsibilities. The Code of Conduct also outlines expectations for behaviour of the Gleneagles community; this includes students, staff, and families. Please note that special considerations may apply to specific students if they are unable to comply with a Code of Conduct expectation due to having an identified disability of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional, or behavioural nature.
Gleneagles Ch’axáý Elementary School promotes the values expressed in the BC Human Rights Code, respecting the rights of all individuals in accordance with the law and prohibiting discrimination based on (but not limited to): appearance, indigenous identity, race, colour, disability, sex, real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and age – in respect of discriminatory publication and discrimination of accommodation, service and facility in the school environment. Students, staff, and families will not be involved in bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, intimidation, threatening or violent behaviours while at school, at a school-related activity or in other circumstances where engaging in the activity will have an impact on the school environment. Weapons and objects imitating weapons are prohibited.
The culture at Gleneagles Ch’axáý Elementary School is built upon a common language of kindness and respect. We ask students, staff, and community members to observe the rights of others by being responsible citizens and considering the needs of those around them before their own. Our culture is rooted in our P.O.W.E.R. values. Gleneagles Ch’axáý is committed to providing a safe, caring, and socially responsible school environment.
At GEC we endeavour to:
- Establish and maintain an environment where students feel safe, respected, and have a strong sense of belonging within the school setting
- Obey district, school, and classroom rules
- Respect public and personal property
- Actively promote the general welfare of the school
- Refrain from violence or threats of violence
- Maintain courteous relations with fellow students, teachers, staff, and people in general
- Maintain appropriate standards of hygiene, dress, and language
- Be honest and straightforward in our interactions
Those who struggle to exhibit P.O.W.E.R. values and fail to observe and follow the Gleneagles Ch’axáý Code of Conduct may be asked to meet with administration to examine their own choices and the impact they may be having on the individuals around them. Disrespectful or irresponsible behaviour is dealt with on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the individual learning and social emotional profiles of those involved. Special consideration and advocacy may apply for students and families of indigenous ancestry, with an approach that is mindful of historical context and indigenous ways of knowing and perspectives.
School administration, in collaboration with staff, will discuss issues of behaviour individually with students directly; discussions may sometimes involve parents of the child or children involved. Consequences for irresponsible or disrespectful behaviour will depend on the situation and the severity of the offence. The consequences may result in a temporary suspension of school privileges, exclusion from school wide events; or in serious situations, in-school suspensions or out of school suspensions based on District Policy.
Our main goal is to teach everyone to take responsibility for their choices, learn from their mistakes and repair the damage to the relationships around them; thus moving forward with a strong commitment to making better choices in the future. Whenever possible, and where appropriate, consequences shall be restorative in nature, rather than punitive.
Dress Code:
Gleneagles Ch’axáý Elementary School is committed to providing learning environments that are safe, responsive, and inclusive. Our dress code recognizes that decisions about dress reflect individual expression of identity, socio-cultural norms, and that such decisions are personal. Students may attend school and school-related functions in dress of their choice provided that their choices:
- Do not represent or promote alcohol or drugs
- Use respectful language
- Do not depict or promote violence, racism, sexism, or discrimination, and
- Conform with established healthy and safety requirement for the intended activity
- Are not intimidating to others
Individuals have the right to dress in a manner consistent with their gender identity or gender expression. This includes students who may dress in a manner that is not consistent with the societal expectations of masculinity/femininity.
Personal Digital Devices:
Personal Digital Devices* are to be appropriately used during the school day including before school, after school and break times in accordance with the District Admin Procedure 370 and the student expectations outlined within this School Code of Conduct.
If a personal digital device is required for instructional purposes, or to support a student’s medical and health or accessibility and accommodation needs, teachers/staff will provide clear guidelines and expectations around their use for these purposes and ensure that use is adequately supervised. Considerations for personal digital device use will also be made to ensure equity to support learning outcomes for any student who may be disproportionately impacted by the lack of access.
*Personal Digital Devices means any personal electronic device that can be used to communicate or to access the internet, such as cell phones, phones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, and any other portable technology device.