At Millen Woods, our goal is to ensure that everyone feels a sense of belonging so that they can feel safe, happy, and learn.

Millen Woods Public School is a place that promotes a positive, cooperative, caring and inclusive community based on mutual respect. We advocate for responsibility, respect and academic excellence in a safe, caring learning and teaching environment. All rules, procedures, and policies outlined in this Code of Conduct are designed to uphold and support this safe, caring learning environment in keeping with the Education Act, the Ministry of Education’s Safe Schools initiatives and other appropriate legislation.

All students, parents, teachers and staff have the right to be safe, and feel safe, in their school community. With this right comes the responsibility to be law-abiding citizens who are courteous and respectful of others. This Code of Conduct has been developed in accordance with the guiding principles of the Education Act, Part XIII (Behaviour, Discipline and Safety); in order to create a common philosophy and understanding upon which safe learning and working environments can be maintained for all school community members.

Guiding Principles:

  • All members of the Millen Woods School community – student parents and guardians, teachers, volunteers and other staff members – are included in this Code of Conduct whether they are on school property, on school buses, or at school authorized events or activities.
  • All members of the school community are to be treated with respect and dignity.
  • Responsible citizenship involves appropriate participation in the life of the school community. Active and engaged students are aware of their rights, but more importantly, they accept responsibility for protecting their rights and the rights of others, while contributing to a positive school climate. Insults, disrespect, sarcasm, bullying and other hurtful acts disrupt learning and teaching in a school community. Members of the school community have a responsibility to maintain an environment where conflict and difference can be addressed in a manner characterized by respect.

 

Roles and Responsibilities:

  • School Staff shall maintain order in the school and are expected to hold everyone to the highest standard of respectful and responsible behaviour. As role models, staff uphold these high standards when they:
    •  Help students work to their full potential and develop their self-worth;
    • Communicate regularly and meaningfully with parents;
    • Maintain consistent standards of behaviour for all students;
    • Demonstrate respect for all students, staff and parents;
    • Prepare students for the full responsibilities of citizenship;
    • Empower students to be positive leaders in their school community.
  • Students are to be treated with respect and dignity. In return, they must demonstrate respect for themselves, for others and for the responsibilities of citizenship through acceptable behaviour. Respect and responsibility are demonstrated when a student:
    • Comes to school prepared, on time, and ready to learn;
    • Shows respect for themselves, for others, and those in authority;
    • Refrains from bringing anything to school that may compromise the safety of others;
    • Follows the established rules and takes responsibility for his or her actions
  •  Parents play an important role in the education of their children and have a responsibility to support the efforts of the school staff in maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment for all students. Parents fulfill this responsibility when they:
    • Show an active interest in their child’s school work and progress;
    • Communicate regularly with the school;
    • Ensure that their child attends school regularly and on time;
    • Promptly report to the school their child’s absence or late arrival;
    • Help their child be appropriately dressed and prepared for school;
    • Assist schools in dealing with disciplinary issues, by bringing them to the attention of staff
    • Become familiar with Millen Woods’s Code of Conduct and rules;
    • Encourage and assist their child in following the rules of behaviour.

Standards of Behaviour:

Respect, Civility and Responsible Citizenship

All members of the school community must:

  • respect and comply with all applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws;
  • demonstrate honesty and integrity;
  • respect differences in people, their ideas and opinions;
  • treat one another with dignity and respect at all times, and especially when there is a disagreement;
  • respect and treat others fairly, regardless of, for example, their race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability
  • respect the rights of others;
  • show proper care and regard for school property and the property of others;
  • take appropriate measures to help those in need;
  • seek assistance from a member of the school staff, if necessary, to resolve conflict peacefully;
  • dress in a manner that is appropriate to school activities
  • respect all members of the school community
  • respect the need of others to work in an environment that is conducive to learning and teaching;

Safety:

All members of the school community must not:

  • be in possession of any weapon, including firearms;
  • use any object to threaten or intimidate another person;
  • cause injury to any person with an object;
  • be in possession of or under the influence of alcohol and/or illegal/restricted drugs;
  • provide others with alcohol or illegal drugs;
  • be under the influence of a noxious substance, such as glue or gasoline;
  • be in contravention of the Tobacco Control Act;
  • inflict or encourage others to inflict bodily harm on another person;
  • engage in bullying behaviours;
  • commit sexual assault;
  • traffic weapons or illegal/restricted drugs;
  • give alcohol to a minor;
  • commit robbery;
  • engage in hate propaganda and other forms of behaviour motivated by hate or bias;
  • commit an act of vandalism that causes extensive damage to school property or to property located on the premises of the school.

Statement Of Non-Tolerance:

In accordance with the Safe Schools Act and the Provincial Code of Conduct, the following behaviours will not be tolerated within the Waterloo Region District School Board of Education, on school property, or at school-sponsored or related activities.

The behaviours below fall under the Revised Ontario Code of Conduct and require discipline that may include suspension or expulsion.

  • Uttering a threat to inflict bodily harm;
  • Possessing alcohol or illegal drugs;
  • Being under the influence of alcohol;
  • Swearing at a teacher or at another person in a position of authority;
  • Committing an act of vandalism that causes extensive property damage to school; property or to property located on the premises of the pupil’s school;
  • Bullyinga progressive pattern of negative behaviour that is contrary to the school behaviour code.

Bullying

Bullying is typically a form of repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour directed at another person that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear, 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. When someone experiences or observes bullying behaviour, he/she is expected to report it to a teacher, teaching assistant or school administrator immediately.

At Millen Woods Public School, we believe it is important that all members of the school community have a safe, caring, accepting and inclusive school environment based on mutual respect, in order to maximize the learning potential of all students and to ensure a positive school climate for all members of the school community.