About Pine RidgeSCHOOL CODE OF CONDUCT
Introduction
The Code of Conduct for Pine Ridge Secondary School is developed by the Safe Schools Committee which has representation from Staff, Student Council, and the School Community Council. The School's Code of Conduct is governed by the Ontario Schools Code of Conduct and follows the applicable policies, regulations, and procedures of the Durham District School Board. The Code of Conduct for Pine Ridge Secondary School is designed to provide a framework to ensure that the school is a safe, productive learning environment for all. We ask families to review this Code of Conduct so that all parties are familiar with school expectations and procedures. The Code of Conduct is subject to change at any time, based on directions from the Ministry of Education or the Durham District School Board.
Pine Ridge Secondary School is a community of nearly 1700 persons, approximately 1550 students and 150 staff including the daycare, custodial, and cafeteria staffs. To function effectively as a community, it is necessary to adhere strictly to the Code of Conduct.
Students are encouraged to take special care with all the attendance procedures to avoid unnecessary interruptions to their day or their parents' work day. Most importantly, it must be stressed that attendance and school performance are directly linked. Attendance is taken every period and sent to the main office where a central attendance file is maintained. Secretaries start contacting parents/guardians of each absent student. School administration requires that each student account for irregularities in attendance.
Responsibility for accounting for legitimate absences (e.g., illness) with notes rests with the student and the parents. A phone call into the school and a written note confirming the legitimate absence will assist in ensuring accountability. Failure to account for legitimate absences may result in missed marks. Medical documentation is required for extended absences greater than 3 days.
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Any student arriving after 8:30 am must SIGN IN at the office.
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Any student leaving the school during the day must SIGN OUT at the office.
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All students must attend all classes. Failure to attend classes will result in an escalating series of consequences including: contact by a Vice-Principal; referral to the Punctuality and Attendance for Student Success (PASS) program; devising a Support and Responsibility Agreement (SRA); intervention of an attendance counsellor; restorative practices; and detentions and/or suspensions.
- Misrepresentation (e.g., forgery, impersonation, etc.) will lead to disciplinary action.
Lateness to class disrupts students and teachers. If students are late without a valid reason (e.g., doctor's appointment) at any time, they will be issued a “charged” late. Students who have excessive lates will follow a progressive discipline process: obtaining a late slip; letter home; contact with a Vice-Principal and call home; PASS program; meeting with parents and student; SRA; restorative practices; detentions and/or suspensions. Students who skip a class to avoid a late charge will face additional consequences.
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Charged Late # |
Consequence |
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1 - 3 |
Late Slip |
|
4 |
Letter sent home |
|
5 |
Vice-Principal contact and call home (referral to PASS program) |
|
6 |
Late Slip |
|
7 |
Vice-Principal contact and call home (SRA meeting or suspension) |
|
8 |
Vice-Principal contact (PASS program) |
|
9 |
Late Slip |
|
10 |
Vice-Principal contact and call home (Restorative Conference or suspension) |
SIGN-IN/OUT
Sign-ins and outs are for special appointments that cannot be scheduled outside of school time. Students must sign in and sign out before leaving and returning to school during regular school hours.
Sign-Out
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If it is absolutely necessary to leave school during the school day, students must bring a note with them from their parents requesting that they be excused at a certain time. This note should be presented to the main office before school begins. A sign-out slip will be issued to the student which must be presented to the teacher.
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Once a student has signed-out, he/she must leave school property immediately or wait for transportation at the front of the school only. Students may not loiter in the school or on school grounds.
Sign-In
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A student, who is returning to school from an appointment or a part day absence, must first report to the office to sign in. He/she will be given a sign-in slip to present to the teacher. There should not be a significant time lag between the arrival at school and sign-in to class.
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Students will be contacted by their vice-principal if this procedure is not followed. Students who sign-in/out frequently or fail to follow established procedures will be subject to discipline.
COMPUTER NETWORK AND INTERNET ETHICS
Computers are for authorized school purposes only. When using computers, the Acceptable and Safe Use Procedure of the Durham District School Board must be followed. Students and Parents/Guardians (if student is under 18) must sign an Acceptable Use Agreement form before they may use the computer and Internet facilities. Any computer vandalism, inappropriate computer use, inappropriate internet access, or computer invasion of privacy by a student will result in disciplinary actions, which may include loss of use, as outlined in the Ontario Schools Code of Conduct.
Return to topConflicts in a school setting disrupt the school and community. To deal with a situation proactively before conflict occurs:
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Students must contact a teacher, counsellor or administrator immediately. Students who are experiencing difficulty are expected to bring their concerns to the attention of staff so that staff can help resolve the issues before they escalate.
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Students encouraging conflict will face school consequences. Any refusal to clear the area immediately will result in consequences.
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Students involved in disruptive conflicts (such as verbal abuse, harassment, threats, profanity) will be referred to Office Administration.
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Students who have a disagreement with a teacher are expected to deal with the situation in a courteous and appropriate manner.
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Students who are asked to leave the classroom by the teacher must report to the office immediately.
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Students who are directed to the office by any staff member must do so without question.
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Students must provide their full name when requested by a staff member or face suspension.
Penalties for misconduct range from a warning to detentions to suspensions or expulsion.
No matter what the provocation, any physical conflict will result in suspension for those involved. Play-fighting will be treated the same as real fighting. Students should expect police involvement for any violent incident in a school.
Pine Ridge Secondary School is a safe and inclusive place to learn. Any type of bullying* will not be tolerated and will lead to serious disciplinary consequences. Cyberbullying, including posting unwanted audio and visual images of students and staff on the internet may lead to suspension and/or expulsion. *Bullying is a typical 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.
A Dress Code for students, supported by parents/guardians, staff, and students, promotes a safe and respectful environment for teaching and learning. Under the Safe Schools Act established by the Ministry of Education, Pine Ridge has established a Dress Code that respects the diversity and complies with the Human Rights Code and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Heavy coats and jackets are not to be worn in class. Pants are to be worn at the waist - undergarments should not be showing. Revealing tops such as tube tops and tops that expose the midriff are inappropriate for school and students will be asked to change into more modest clothing or be sent home to change. Students wearing clothing and insignia which display illegal substances, offensive products or language, represent offensive stereotypes or promote ethnocultural discord will also be asked to cover them. Any clothing item or style worn by students associated with groups promoting anti-social behaviours or attitudes is not permitted. Further disciplinary action including suspension may follow if warranted. Chains or spikes as accessory items are deemed inappropriate and are not to be worn at school.
All non-religious headgear worn by male and female students, including hats, visors, doo-rags, scarves, kerchiefs, sunglasses, combs, and headbands, etc., is to be removed from their head upon entering the school. Personal grooming is not to take place in public areas. Any gang-related headgear (e.g., bandanas) is not to be worn at school or on school grounds. These items must not be visible in the school. The purpose of this policy is to promote a respectful and safe environment, and to assist in the identification of students. Students failing to comply with this are not promoting a positive moral tone in the school. This may result in the confiscation of these items. The school will not be held responsible for lost items that have been confiscated as a result of students failing to comply with the policy.
Return to topThe immediate neighbours of Pine Ridge include the homeowners of Maple Ridge, The Enclaves, Manresa (a retreat for retired and ailing priests), the stunning natural environment of Duffin's Creek operated by the Conservation Authority, and Beverly Morgan Park. Students should be considerate of others who use these facilities and respect their desire to enjoy clean, quiet and safe surroundings. Loitering along the Liverpool Road sidewalks, in the neighbourhood parks, at the bleachers, and in the Enclaves is not permitted. Furthermore, students are to refrain from trespassing on the property of all elementary and secondary schools during their school day. Failure to do so may result in school and/or legal consequences.
Students who are ill and cannot attend school must have their parents call the school and return with a note from their parents for the home room teacher. Medical notes are required for absences greater than 3 days.
Students who are at school and become too ill to continue with their classes must report to the office. Parents will be phoned to obtain permission for them to go home. Parents should provide emergency contact numbers to call if they are unavailable during school hours. Students may not leave the school without permission from a parent or emergency contact. They must sign out at the main office.
If students go home for lunch and cannot return, a parent/guardian must call the school to report the absence. Students must return the next day with a note to bring to the main office. It is the responsibility of parents and students to account for all legitimate absences with notes.
Students are expected to do their part to ensure litter gets recycled, or thrown into the garbage. If students are littering on school grounds, or adjacent areas such as the forest and neighbours' properties, they may be assigned community service. When asked to pick up litter, even it is other than their own, students are expected to cooperate with the staff request.
If students are caught vandalizing school property in any way, including writing or drawing on walls, lockers, or other school property, they will be suspended and criminal charges may result.
Tagging is a stylized street name or nickname used by taggers, and is often associated with criminal activity. Tagging is not permitted on any surface at school. School consequences will be assigned, charges may be laid, and/or restitution will be required.
Students who are aware of someone vandalizing the school or tagging have a responsibility to contact the office or Crimestoppers.
Return to topIn keeping with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act, unauthorized video or audio recording on school grounds for any purpose is prohibited. Further, the taking of photos, filming or recording while at school or at school related activities is prohibited unless approved by school staff for educational purposes. In particular, the use of cameras filming and/or recording is strictly prohibited in washrooms and change rooms. However, this is not intended to prohibit sanctioned recording of activities at events open to the general public.
Unless deemed appropriate by the school administration for educational purposes, it is the practice of the Durham District School Board that the use of personal electronic devices is prohibited during the school-day on school property. “Personal electronic devices” include but are not limited to cellular phones, smart phones, portable digital media players and recorders, and gaming systems. If a student brings a personal electronic device to school, it should be off and out of sight. Personal electronic devices may be utilized off school property or in designated areas and during times assigned by the school. The Durham District School Board cannot assume the liability for stolen personal electronic devices.
Personal electronic devices that are used inappropriately inside of schools during the normal school day are disruptive to the teaching and learning environment. The privacy and personal dignity of others could be violated by the inappropriate use of personal electronic devices to text message, social network, and/or share digital media. In addition, communication through personal electronic devices during class time interferes with teaching and learning. An exception to this occurs when the teacher has approved the use of specific technology for purposeful instruction. Parents are to phone the main office and leave a message rather than contacting a cell phone or pager to contact a student. Co-curricular programs, such as field trips and after-school events, are an extension of the classroom, and the expectations of the use personal electronic devices apply. Staff may approve the use of this technology for purposes of education and communication, such as calling parents for pick-up or taking photos or videos of trip highlights.
Students failing to comply with this are not promoting a positive tone in the school. This may result in the confiscation of these items and other school consequences. The school will not be held responsible for lost items that have been confiscated as a result of students failing to comply with the policy.
On essays, assignments, and projects students must acknowledge the work of others. The Resource Centre has Bibliographic Style Sheets which will guide students in the acknowledgement of ideas. On tests and exams, students must not copy another student's work or use unauthorized crib notes. In cases where there is a suspicion of plagiarism or cheating, the teacher will notify the office and discuss the issue with students and parents. All students are responsible for reporting the plagiarism of their own work as soon as they become aware of it.
For incidents where a student is found to be cheating or plagiarizing, depending on the student's grade level, maturity and individual circumstance combined with the degree of intent, number and/or frequency of the incidents, consequences and interventions may include:
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mandatory plagiarism education session(s)
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re‐submission with proper citation
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repeat of the assignment and/or that part of the assignment that is plagiarized
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substitution of an alternate and equivalent assignment
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rewriting with staff monitoring
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mark reduction
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mark of zero
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administrative and parent involvement
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increased monitoring of future assignments
- detentions and/or suspension
Durham Region Transit operates a regularly scheduled bus service to Pine Ridge with extra service at the beginning and end of each day. Discounted bus passes will be sold in the main office at the end of each month. The bus pass is to be used only by the student to whom the pass was assigned. Trading, transferring, borrowing, or lending of bus passes is not permitted.
Students are required to conduct themselves in an orderly manner while riding, embarking or disembarking buses. Staff supervisors are in charge of bus loading and their requests must be obeyed at all times. A student's respectful behaviour on buses and in the community reflect directly on the reputation of all Pine Ridge students. Inappropriate behaviour will result in disciplinary action by the school, and Durham Region Transit may impose further restrictions on these riders.
SKATEBOARDS AND IN-LINE SKATES
Pine Ridge works in partnership with the Department of Health to discourage smoking. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act prohibits smoking anywhere on school property. This includes the wooded areas near to the school and areas used by the school on a regular basis (parking lots, bleachers, Beverly Morgan Park, etc). Cigarettes must not be visible within the building or on school grounds. The Administration may confiscate such items. Smoking cessation programmes offer a positive way to deal with the hazards of smoking. Students can check with Student Services to find out when these programmes are offered.
A protocol established between the Board and the Department of Health requires that, when a smoking infraction occurs, the school sends an incident report to the Tobacco Enforcement Officer and inform parents of students under 18 years old. Students under 16 will be issued a summons to appear before a judge who may impose a fine of up to $305. In addition, flagrant or repeated violation of this rule will result in suspension. The Tobacco Enforcement Officer has the authority to come on to school premises without any prior warning and to issue a ticket, on a first offence, to any member of the community who commits an infraction. School consequences will also apply.
SNOWBALLS and THROWING OF OTHER OBJECTS
The throwing of any object is not acceptable as it leads to conflict, personal injury, and/or property damage. This includes snowballs and other objects. Misconduct will result in disciplinary action, and possible police action.
Return to topSOCIAL HARMONY, EQUITY & ETHNOCULTURALISM
Pine Ridge staff is committed to the principles of equity, anti-racist and character education, and providing and maintaining a working and learning environment free from harassment. Staff and students are requested to report any inappropriate behaviour. Consequences for disrupting the social harmony of the school will vary from counselling to suspension and expulsion. Parents and guardians of the students cited for inappropriate behaviour will be contacted.
Using, dispensing and trafficking in alcohol, illegal drugs and controlled or intoxicating substances not prescribed or dispensed for medical purposes, will result in suspension or expulsion. Possession of drug paraphernalia will not be tolerated. Police will be involved as outlined in the Police/School Board Protocol and charges will be laid. Substance abuse is a symptom of a breakdown in self-image and self-respect. Professional help should be sought to deal with this problem. Student Services will liaise with the Pinewood Centre (905-683-5950) which provides individual and group counselling for substance abuse problems.
Acts or threats of aggression, intimidation and violence will not be tolerated. While most discipline is incremental, a single act of this type can result in immediate suspension and may proceed to an expulsion. Under the Education Act, school authorities have a responsibility to provide a safe and positive learning environment and to maintain good order and discipline. Students are expected to demonstrate respect for themselves, for others and for the responsibilities of citizenship through acceptable behaviour. Inappropriate behaviour at school, or in the community where there is a direct link to the school, will result in disciplinary procedures. See the Ontario Schools Code of Conduct.
Students and members of the community have a responsibility to help maintain a safe environment and prevent intimidation and violence in schools. Students must not obstruct hallways, stairways, doorways, etc. Excessive noise and boisterous activities are not allowed. Profanity and other inappropriate language are not permitted. Inappropriate displays of affection are not acceptable. All incidents of aggression, intimidation, and violence must be reported to staff and/or administration. The Pine Ridge community is a safe place because students do bring things forward and they are investigated and handled appropriately.
WEAPONS / OTHER DANGEROUS OBJECTS
A weapon is any instrument or device which can be used for the purpose of inflicting injury on others. Any object used to inflict injury on others becomes a weapon. In considering an object as a weapon, a school administrator may consider factors such as concealment of the object, its appropriateness in the school environment and its potential risk to the safety of others. For this reason, the school prohibits such items as laser pens, large chains and spikes. Replicas are not permitted. Dangerous items and nuisance items (e.g., firecrackers) are not to be brought to school. This also includes pepper spray, pocket knives and EXACTO-type knives and blades. Questionable theatrical props must be cleared by the administration. Possession and use of a weapon requires Police involvement as outlined in the Police/School Board Protocol and charges may result. School consequences will also apply.
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The distribution of flyers or posting of materials is not permitted without administrative approval.
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Gambling and other illegal activities are not permitted.
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Students may be suspended or expelled for behaviour that puts the safety of themselves or others at risk.
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Students must cooperate fully with all school investigations.
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Other rules may be added at any time at the discretion of the administration.