CODE OF CONDUCT & PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE PLAN 

General Principles 

 Kitsilano Secondary School is a community comprised of students, staff, and parents. We are proud of our efforts to maintain a safe, caring, and orderly environment at Kitsilano, where everyone can contribute and be successful. The guiding principle in our Code of Conduct is that everyone is expected to behave in a way that shows respect for themselves and for other people.  The Kitsilano Code of Conduct expands on these expectations and promotes the values expressed in the BC Human Rights Code respecting the rights of all individuals in accordance with the law.

 We are KITS: Kind-Inclusive-Thoughtful-Successful

We respect and celebrate the diverse cultures, customs, religions, values, and viewpoints that make up our school community, welcoming the unique contributions that each person can offer. We encourage openness and understanding among all Kitsilano citizens. Our Code of Conduct provides a set of standards and a positive framework for our daily lives at Kitsilano. These standards help us to maintain an appropriate balance between individual and collective rights and responsibilities. The Code also applies during extracurricular activities, field trips, and whenever we represent Kitsilano off campus. We believe that students should learn to take responsibility for the decisions they make and accept the consequences of their actions. The Code of Conduct also includes the expectation that it is reasonable for staff and students to encourage each other to adhere to the standards of the code.

 At Kitsilano, students are expected to be serious about their studies and to show initiative in achieving their goals. Teachers provide help, monitor progress, give encouragement, and outline course requirements, and students in turn are expected to contribute the effort necessary to insure progress and success. We conduct ourselves in a manner that promotes achievement and encourages learning. 

Statement of Purpose

Kitsilano Secondary School is committed to uphold a safe, inclusive, equitable, welcoming, nurturing, and healthy school environment.

• Promote clear behavioural expectations of respectful and responsible citizenship that lead to a culture of safety, caring and respect amongst everyone in the school and programs and at all school-events and activities.
• Promote a positive learning environment of commitment, initiative, effort and encouragement that leads to life-long learning and achievement.
• The School Code of Conduct applies to all members of the school community and visitors.  It applies at school, during school-organized or sponsored activities, on school buses, and any behaviour even if outside of school or school hours, (including on-line behaviour), that negatively impacts the safe, caring, or orderly environment of the school, and/or student learning.

Conduct Expectations

• Acceptable Conduct

• Respecting self, others, and the school
• Contributing to a safe, caring, positive, inclusive, and peaceful environment 
• Seeking to prevent violence and potentially violent situations, and demonstrating social responsibility by reporting such situations
• Engaging in purposeful learning activities
• Abiding by our school code: KITS (Kind, Inclusive, Thoughtful, Successful)

• Unacceptable Conduct

“Students shall not discriminate against others on the basis of Indigenous identity, race, religion, colour, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, family status, age, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or physical or mental disability, or for any other reason set out in the Human Rights Code of British Columbia, nor shall a student publish or display anything that would indicate an intention to discriminate against another, or expose them to contempt or ridicule, on the basis of any such grounds.”  Racism and discrimination will not be tolerated in our school.

• Behaviours that interfere with the learning of other, interfere with an orderly environment, or create an unsafe environment
• Acts of bullying, harassment, intimidation, or physical violence
• Illegal acts, such as possession, use or distribution of illegal or restricted substances
• Theft or damage to property

• Possession and/or use of weapons or objects that may be construed as weapons

Note: Behaviours (both acceptable and unacceptable) cited in the code of conduct are examples only and not an all-inclusive list.

• Rising Expectations

Students are expected to learn and mature as they move through successive grades, and as such the expectations progress towards increasing personal responsibility and self-discipline, as well as increasing consequences for inappropriate conduct/unacceptable behavior.

• Retaliation Prevention

All reasonable steps will be taken to prevent retaliation against a student who has made a complaint of a breach of a code of conduct.

Consequences

• Disciplinary action, wherever possible, is restorative rather than merely punitive. The school will treat seriously any behaviour that discriminates based on Indigenous identity, race, religion, colour, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, family status, age, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or physical or mental disability. 
• Repetitive or severe unacceptable behaviour may result in increased severity of subsequent disciplinary action.  The age and maturity of students are considered when determining appropriate consequences.
• Special considerations may apply to students with special/diverse needs if these students are unable to comply with a code of conduct due to having a disability/challenge of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional, or behavioural nature.
• Responses to unacceptable conduct are consistent and fair.   
• Students, as often as possible, are encouraged to participate in the development of meaningful consequences for violations of the established code of conduct.

• Notifications

• The principal or designate has a responsibility to inform other parties of serious breaches of the code of conduct. These parties include: 
• Parent(s) of student offender(s) and parent(s) of student victim(s) – in every instance
• School district officials
• Police and/or other agencies, as required by law
• School community, when deemed necessary, to reassure members that school officials are taking appropriate action

• Suspensions

In accordance with the School Act, Sec. 85 (2) (ii) and (d), the Board authorizes the principal or designate of any school in the district to suspend a student from attendance at school for up to five days.

Suspensions may be for the following reasons:

1. because a student is willfully and repeatedly disrespectful to a teacher or to any other employee of the Board carrying out responsibilities approved by the Board;
2. because the behaviour of the student breaches the District Code of Conduct or other policy and/or has a harmful effect on others or the learning environment of the school;
3. because the student has failed to comply with the School Code of Conduct. 

Suspensions over five days are made in consultation with the appropriate Director of Instruction as per District Student Code of Conduct, AP 350.  

As per AP 350 7.7 an educational program must be provided.

 As outlined in the District Code of Conduct, effective July 1, 2024, 

 Personal Digital Device Usage

To foster a safe and focused learning environment for students, the use of personal digital devices, that distract from learning, such as cell phones, tablets and electronic devices, are restricted during school hours and on school property. Educators and school staff will continue to model digital citizenship in the classroom and avoid the use of personal digital devices for non-instructional purposes.

Personal digital devices must be turned off or placed on silent mode before entering the classroom and remain silent during the school day. Personal digital devices are not permitted for use during class time unless an educator has given permission. 

The use of personal devices is permitted under the following circumstances:

• For educational purposes, as directed by the educator in the classroom.
• For health and medical purposes as outlined in an Individual Education Plan or Student Safety Plan.
• To support special or diverse educational needs, such as assistive technology related to Individual Education Plans or Student Support Plans.

 The expectation is that students will follow the personal digital device policy and school guidelines. 

 The Vancouver School Board is not responsible for the loss, damage, or disappearance of personal digital devices that students decide to bring to school.

 A regular review of the school’s Code of Conduct guidelines for personal digital devices are essential to ensure their effectiveness and relevance in addressing current issues and meeting the evolving needs of students, teachers, and parents. Adjustments to the Code of Conduct may be necessary to ensure that school guidelines remain relevant and effective in promoting a conducive learning environment.  Changes may be prompted by emerging incidents that highlight the need for enhanced measures to protect student well-being and privacy.

 Specific Items to Note

1. Attendance and Punctuality Expectations:  Students are expected to attend all their classes, on time, prepared and ready to learn. If absent, students and families have a responsibility to connect with classroom teachers to obtain and make up work missed during the absence. Please refer to the school website for details on reporting excused absences.

 Extended vacations and/or vacations during school time are a parental decision. These absences can seriously impact a student’s achievement. Marks lost due to vacation can affect the final letter grade as evaluation of student learning is based on the work of the whole year. Whenever possible, vacation time should be taken when school is not in session.

 2. Academic Integrity:  Students are expected to practice academic honesty and personal integrity by not participating in or encouraging plagiarism or cheating. Should academic dishonesty occur, the classroom teacher will develop a student success plan in collaboration with the student and their family.

 3. Clothing/Personal Accessories:  At Kitsilano we dress in a manner that is appropriate for a learning environment and does not reflect messaging or images which are offensive, discriminatory, or refer to prohibited substances.

 4. Electronic Devices:  Personal electronic devices are not permitted during class time unless permitted under the direction of the teacher.

 5. Other Banned Items:  The use of fireworks, firecrackers, laser pointers/pens, water toys or balloons, skateboards, and snowballs, is not permitted on school property.  Skateboards must remain in lockers during the school day.

6. School Environment:  We take ownership of our school and take pride in maintaining a safe and clean environment. The student and the student’s parents are jointly liable for any graffiti or other vandalism that may occur. Please obtain permission from the administration before posting or distributing any advertising or publicity material on school property. There is a Vancouver School Board policy of no smoking/no vaping in the school building, on the school grounds, and at school functions.

7. Visitors:  The school welcomes purposeful visitors, including parents and guardians. Visitors are asked to report to the office to obtain permission to remain in the building. Visitors who have no legitimate business at the school will be treated as trespassers and asked to leave.

8. Field Trips & School Outings: From time to time throughout the year, field trips are conducted by teachers as an integral part of their courses. Any student going on a field trip must appreciate that participation is a privilege and that circumstances may dictate that a student will not be granted permission by all teachers. Consent forms must be signed by the parent/guardian, classroom teachers, and returned to the sponsor teacher no later than 24 hours prior to the day of the field trip.

9. Lockers:  Students are responsible for maintaining their designated lockers and for the contents within their locker. Locks or lock combinations should not be shared. Personal items of value should not be left in lockers. It is each student’s responsibility to ensure that both gym and school lockers are secure (locked). Locker break-ins should be reported to the office. The school does not have insurance coverage for items lost from lockers.

NOTE: Lockers remain the property of the school; as such school authorities retain the right to inspect lockers to prevent their use in illicit ways or for illegal purposes.

 10. Public Assembly Expectations:  We believe in the value of public assemblies, both for educational and community-building purposes. To that end, we move quickly and quietly in and out of assemblies, and we are always a respectful and appreciative audience.

 11. Vehicle Regulations:  Students bringing cars to school are required to comply with all Vancouver City traffic and parking by-laws. The Vancouver School Board does not permit student parking on school property. Offending cars will be towed away, without warning, at the owner’s expense.