Kingston Secondary School

Respect, Civility and Responsible Citizenship

Expectation for Behaviour

Reason

Consequences

1. Respect for Self and Others

You are responsible for:

• respecting the opinions, ideas and work of others;
• expressing yourself to all staff and students in a polite and considerate manner; and,
• exercising self-discipline at all times with respect to language and conduct.

All staff and students have the right to learn and work in a friendly, supportive environment where they are trusted with responsibility and treated with respect.

If you choose to practice behaviour which disrupts the learning environment of yourself or others, you will be counselled by your teacher to make other choices. Continued infractions will lead to a meeting with the Administration and may result, where appropriate, in counselling, detentions and/or possible suspension.

2. Dress and Personal Appearance

The Limestone District School Board continues to update their Dress Code. The most recent version is available here.

You are responsible for:

• dressing in clothes which are appropriate to the school setting, i.e. clothing that reflects respect for the public nature of the school environment. All members of the school community must dress in a manner that represents a respectful tone, reflects personal pride and regard for others. Members of the school community must not display in any way or wear clothing or accessories that:

Your appearance reflects your respect for yourself and for others. Wearing inappropriate clothing demonstrates insensitivity and lack of respect for others. Such behaviour interferes with the best interests of the school, which seeks to provide educational opportunities for all students in a positive, respectful and non-threatening environment.

If your clothing is considered by a teacher or the administration to be inappropriate to the school setting or offensive to others, you may be asked to change into something else and not to wear the offending article of clothing to school in the future.

3. Respect for the School Environment

You are responsible for:

• keeping your school premises clean and free from litter;
• using the recycle bins and waste receptacles provided under our recycling program;
• taking proper care of your textbooks, locker, chromebooks and equipment which are the property of the Board;
• refraining from engaging in any type of theft or vandalism;
• not using tobacco products on school property;
• not using skateboards, scooters, bikes or rollerblades in the school; and,
• following the guidelines established for use of electronic devices.

Staff and students have the right to feel safe in a healthy environment which is neat, clean, safe, litter-free, smoke-free and free from crime.

If you litter, you will be directed to clean up the litter. If you lose or damage equipment, you may be expected to pay to replace the equipment. Serious vandalism or theft will result in police involvement and/or possible suspension. If you violate computer guidelines, you could lose access to the computers and could be suspended.

First time offences for smoking/vaping will automatically result in a one-day suspension and could result in a fine from the Tobacco Enforcement Officer. Repeated offences may result in longer suspensions.

4. Technology Use

You are responsible for:

• being accountable for your behaviour during school hours, as well as off school property, such that your actions do not have a negative impact on the school environment;
• ensuring the security of your Limestone account by not sharing your password with other users;
• seek permission from the appropriate staff member to use recording devices (eg: cell phone, camera, video/DVD recorder, etc.) at school or a school event.

As technology continues to advance at an astounding rate, so have the implications related to your safety, privacy, and intrusion into your school and community. You are expected to use the network responsibly and follow “Net Etiquette” as it appears in the Limestone Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) and in Administrative Procedure 351: The Use of Electronic Communication, Social Media and Mobile Devices by Students.

If you use technologies to threaten, harass or demean another member(s) of the school community, and where this action interferes with the member(s)’ safety or ability to function in the school, you will be subject to the school’s Code of Conduct, Board policies and procedures, as well as Provincial and Federal Acts or codes (eg. Criminal Code of Canada).

Individual cases involving this type of behaviour will be dealt with according to the school’s Code of Conduct, Board policies and procedures, and Ministry of Education Safe Schools protocols, as determined by school administration. Your access to school computers, networks and the Internet may be revoked until an appropriate time as determined by administration. You may be suspended and/or expelled under the above named policies. When necessary, police will be involved.

5. Cell Phones & Other Electronic Devices (any cell phone or device with communication capabilities):

No cell phone use in class unless permitted by the teacher.

Cell phones

• must be turned off and not be seen/heard during class time and assemblies (leave in your locker or turned off and put away). Phones can be used in the halls, cafeteria, etc. only during scheduled breaks and at lunch,
• are not permitted during examinations and/or other summative assessments,
• and other electronic devices cannot be used in changerooms, washrooms, etc.

With the prevalence of cell phones, rules and guidelines are needed to encourage the courteous and responsible use of such devices and to ensure that their use does not disrupt the learning environment for students.

Next steps may include a phone call home and/or a referral to a vice-principal.

6. Attendance

613-544-4811 ext. 11120 [email protected]

When you feel sick and wish to go home, you may call your parent/guardian from attendance in the main office as the attendance clerk needs to speak to them as well to have you sign out of the school.

When you are leaving early, you need to sign out (parental permission must be given via phone call/note/text.)

Anytime you have arrived at school after 8:35 AM, or are more than 15 minutes late for any period, you need to sign in with the Attendance Secretary. Accurate attendance is important in the event of an emergency.

A parent/guardian may notify the school of a Parent/Guardian Approved Absence through SchoolMessenger or by phone number or email address listed above.

For planned extended absences, please contact the Principal in writing at least one month prior to the extended absences. Students are expected to complete the extended absence sheet, available in the Main Office, prior to departures.

Please note: Students are not permitted to sign themselves out or call in absences until they reach the age of 18.

As part of our ongoing focus on student success, you should expect your student’s teachers to contact you to discuss their progress when your student has unexplained absences or your student’s achievement is being impacted by poor attendance, even if the absences have been approved. Persistent attendance issues will be referred to the appropriate Vice-Principal for follow-up.

We have an automated attendance system that will make calls to all homes in the evening to notify parents of students who have missed a period, periods, or an entire day of school. We hope that this system will assist us with timely communication home with attendance information.

In the event of an emergency, it is imperative that the school has an accurate list of all occupants of the building. For this reason, students must sign in if they arrive at school late or are returning from an appointment. If a student signs out, they must leave the building.

Ontario provincial law requires that “a pupil shall attend class punctually and regularly and is excused from attendance ... if he or she is unable to attend by reason of sickness or other unavoidable cause.” Regular attendance offers you the opportunity to achieve your credits. It is expected that parents will notify the school in advance of any planned absence (doctor’s appointment, family vacation, etc.) and that students take on the responsibility for assignments and tests missed during their absence. Unexplained absences will be reported to parents using SchoolMessenger, an automated telephone messaging service. Students may be excused for extended vacations upon written request to the Principal, but this practice is not encouraged. Forms are available in the Main Office. If possible, work will be sent home in cases of serious illness.

Each day unexplained absences are reported to parents using SchoolMessenger, an automated telephone messaging service and e-mail. If truancy is discovered, you will be reported to the Vice-Principal.

Subject teachers regularly communicate with parents about student absenteeism. In most cases diminished progress and lower marks are the natural consequences of absence from classes.

If you skip classes, you may be given detentions and your parents will be notified. If the truancy continues, a number of things could happen: you may be given detentions; your parents may be invited in for an interview with you, the Vice-Principal and/or your teachers; a referral may be made to the Student Services Department; you may be placed on an attendance contract; you may be removed from the course; the Board’s attendance counsellor may become involved; or, as last resort, you may be suspended from school.

7. Safe Environment

Prohibited Items/Weapons

No student may be in possession of any item, whether “Prohibited” or “Non-Prohibited” under the Criminal Code, that could be classified as a weapon. A weapon is any other device or instrument used to intimidate, threaten or inflict harm.

Possessing or displaying weapons of any kind, including real, toy or replica, and all other objects that could inflict or threaten bodily harm, including all types of knives, are not permitted at the school, on any Limestone Board property, or at any school-related event or activity at any time.

You, along with other students and staff, have the right to a safe learning environment. Any conduct which threatens our safe learning environment and the mental, emotional or physical well-being of our staff and students will not be tolerated.

Individual cases involving this type of behaviour will be dealt with under the guidelines of the LDSB Safe Schools Policy. The use of force or threatened use of force is an assault and is a criminal offence. Intimidation for the purpose of compelling someone to do something they do not want to or should not do or preventing someone from doing something which they are entitled to do is also an offence under the criminal code. Disciplinary actions could include suspension, police involvement and expulsion from school.

Possession of a weapon(s) will result in suspension pending expulsion, as well as police involvement and possible criminal charges.

8. Tobacco Products, Vaping, Alcohol and Drugs

The school recognizes the benefits of a tobacco-free environment to all persons. By law, the use of smoking, vaping and e-cigarette products are not permitted at the school, on Board property, on school buses or while attending any school-related activity. School property includes cars that are on school grounds and all property to the edge of the street. Furthermore, the Smoke Free Ontario Act prohibits smoking within 20 metres of school property. Other tobacco products may not be used on school property. Providing tobacco products to anyone under 19 years of age is illegal. These expectations extend to vaping and e-cigarettes as well.

Alcohol and restricted drugs may be addictive and represent a health hazard. Possessing, using, trafficking in, or providing others with restricted drugs and/or alcohol is illegal and is unacceptable at the school, on Limestone property or at any school-related event or activity at any time. Lighters and drug-related paraphernalia that can be used for substance abuse are not permitted on school property.

A student under the influence of, or in possession of illicit drugs or alcohol negatively impacts the school environment.

Students found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be subject to the LDSB Drug and Alcohol policy and will be referred to Administration. Suspension and KAIROS referral will be considered for instances of possession/impairment/ consumption. Penalties increase with further infractions to include: increased duration of suspensions, police involvement, or expulsion.