Student Code of Conduct 2023-2024

W-O Excellence: Believe It!

The intent of this Code of Conduct is to promote responsible behaviour that creates a safe and orderly school environment. It is the belief of WODSS that everyone in our community must strive toward contributing to this goal. The objective is to develop a school community of:

  • Personal excellence
  • Responsible behaviour
  • Mutual respect
  • Concern for others
  • Co-operation with others

Students have a right to public education, but with this right comes personal responsibility. Students have a responsibility to know and to respect the rules and regulations of the school. Students are responsible for conducting themselves in an appropriate manner. Students are accountable for any inappropriate conduct whether in the school building, on school property, at a school-related event or activity, or while in transit to or from school. Persons who disrupt any teaching, administrative, or extracurricular activity shall be subject to such disciplinary measures determined by WODSS Administration.

Student Responsibilities

  • Be respectful of all individuals and property.
  • Bullying is NOT acceptable under any circumstance in any form.
  • Attend all classes daily, and be punctual in attendance.
  • Come to class prepared, and have appropriate working materials.
  • If a student has a spare period, he/she will be in the library or cafeteria, NOT in the halls.
  • Conduct himself/herself in a safe and responsible manner.
  • Be responsible for his/her work and behaviour.
  • Abide by the rules and regulations of the school and each classroom teacher.

Attendance

(ATTENDANCE LINE – 519- 634-5441)

Regular attendance is a legal requirement and is an important for academic success in each course. Teachers will keep a record of all absences for each class taught.

All student absences (full day or part day) MUST be validated in one of three ways:

  • Parent phones to notify the school of student’s absence
  • Secretary or VP phones home to verify the reason for absence is valid
  • Student provides a note to validate absence (notes must state the date of the absence, the reason for the absence, and must be signed by a parent/guardian).

Note: For absences longer than 15 consecutive days, a doctor’s note is required.

Absences are valid when they are necessitated by illness, dental/medical reasons, family emergencies, school-sponsored activities, or religious holidays. Whenever possible, arrangements with teachers and the office are to be made in advance. If you have given your student permission to miss a class, they must sign out at the Attendance Office and leave the building. Students are not allowed to be in the library or cafeteria during instructional periods once they have signed out.

Parents may legally withdraw a student from school for a short period of time (5 or more days) by completing the Temporary Student Withdrawal On Short-Term Basis Parent/Legal Guardian Request Form at least three days before the absence.

Lates

At Waterloo-Oxford, we have a late policy in an attempt to reduce the number of students arriving late to class and therefore to improve student learning.
We ask staff and parents for assistance in discussing with students the importance of punctuality. This is important for academic success and it is valued by employers as a workplace standard; moreover, lateness interrupts classroom teachers and students.

Leaving School During the Day

  • All students who need to be excused from class during the day must come to the Attendance Office to sign out unless they are involved in school-sponsored activities. For students under 18, a note or phone call from a parent or guardian is required in order for a student to leave the building. Once signed out, students are to leave the premises immediately.
  • Students have the option to bring notes to the Attendance Office prior to their appointment time. They will then be given an excuse slip to give to their teacher to excuse them from class.
  • If a student becomes ill while at school, the student must report to the Main Office immediately.

Bereavement

W-O is a caring community. If you experience a loss in your family, please contact the school to let us know.

Territorial Acknowledgement, National Anthem, and Announcements

If you are in the hallways during the Territorial Acknowledgement, National Anthem, and Announcements, you are to stand at attention without talking. Once announcements are completed you may continue on to your classroom.

Final Evaluations and Examination Responsibilities

Attendance during exams and final evaluations is mandatory. A medical certificate must document any absences due to illness. Examinations will not be rescheduled to accommodate summer jobs, family plans/activities and/or vacations.

Drop and Add Deadlines

Ministry of Education rules dictate that student transcripts must indicate marks for courses not dropped within 5 days of the March report card.

Assemblies

Assemblies are an extension of the classroom; therefore, students are expected to attend and be attentive, respectful and courteous. Students exhibiting inappropriate behaviour will be subject to WRDSB progressive discipline policy as determined by Administration. Please note backpacks are not permitted at assemblies.

WCSSAA Requirements

WCSSAA regulations state that students eligible to participate in high school athletics must be registered as full time equivalent students as defined by the Ministry of Education and Training. This means that students in years 1-4 must take at least 6 courses all year and after the fourth year of high school, a student must be taking 4 courses all year.

Lockers

It is the student’s responsibility to have an approved combination lock on their locker. Locks may be purchased at the Main Office. Lockers must be locked when unattended. All students must use the lockers assigned to them by the Administration. If a change of lock or locker is requested, contact the Main Office. Students are NOT to share their locker or lock combinations with friends. Lockers are school property and can be accessed at any time by Administration.

If your locker does not close easily, don’t force it—see a custodian immediately. Students choosing to leave valuables in their locker do so at their own risk. W-O cannot be held responsible for items that are lost or stolen. Students who damage lockers will pay monetary restitution.

Parking

Although most students have busing provided for them, occasionally some students bring vehicles (autos, trucks, snowmobiles, motorcycles) to school. A parking registration must be completed and handed into the Main Office immediately. Students MUST register all vehicles they bring to school. It should be noted that students are neither allowed to sit in/on their vehicles during the school day, nor are vehicles to be used as alternate smoking areas. Drivers parking in unauthorized areas may be ticketed under the Wilmot Township Bylaw and/or lose their privilege.

Friends of Students Visiting the School

All persons visiting the school must report to the Main Office upon arrival to obtain a visitor’s pass. Visitors to the school will only be given permission to enter the school for a specific school-related purpose (social visits are NOT permitted). Arrangements to have a visitor attend a class MUST be made in advance in consultation with teachers and the appropriate Vice-Principal.

Books and Materials

Books and materials lent to students must be returned to the appropriate teacher immediately upon notice. Students who officially drop a course must have a drop sheet signed by the subject teacher. Final school documents will not be issued until all equipment, books or materials have been returned or until payment has been received.

School Bus Transportation

Parents and students are able to login and view their transportation details. www.stswr.ca To login you will have to enter the following information:

  • Ontario Education Number (from report card)
  • Student’s birthdate (day, month, year)
  • Street Number (street # from student’s home address)
  • School (select school from the drop down)

RIDING THE BUS IS A PRIVILEGE. All rules of conduct applying to the school apply to conduct on school buses. Students are required to obey all instructions given by the bus driver. Rules governing school bus conduct are posted on all buses.

A student who does not respect the rights of others or endangers the safe operation of the bus may be subject to consequences including the removal of bus privileges. Restoration will be at the discretion of the school officials after consultation with the student, parent or guardian, and bus driver.

Bussed students wishing to ride on an alternate school bus must obtain a bus pass from a secretary in the Attendance Office, outside of class time. Only students eligible for busing may ride on a school bus. Note: No passes will be issued the first 6 weeks of school.

Student Dismissal/Bus Cancellation/School Closure

During severe weather, please monitor the Board web site, WRSB Social Media, or the STSWR website for school closure and/or bus cancelations. You may also listen to the local radio stations for this information.

Parents have the option of keeping their children at home or picking them up before regular dismissal time when concerned about the weather conditions. It is the specific responsibility of parents to arrange alternative accommodation for their student if it is not possible for him/her to return home during an unscheduled school closure.

Public Health Nurse

The school nurse will be in the school on a scheduled basis. Appointments are to be made with the Guidance Office. Health emergencies must be reported to the Main Office.

First aid is available in the Phys. Ed. Office, or the Main Office. Eye wash locations are in the following rooms: 102,104, 202, 204, 208, 508, 537 and 538

Safety on the Highway

Students are not permitted to congregate on or near the highway—for their own safety and for the safety of the public using the highway.

Smoking/Vaping Policy

In accordance with the Smoke Free Ontario Act, vaping and smoking is not permitted for staff or students on any WRDSB school property. The use of chewing tobacco is not permitted for staff or students on any WRDSB school property.

Acceptable Use Guideline

Use of technology is governed by all relevant federal (e.g., Copyright), provincial (e.g. Safe Schools Act 2000), WRDSB (e.g. Acceptable Use Guidelines) and local school (e.g., Code of Conduct, Student Discipline Procedures) laws and guidelines. Disciplinary action is taken by the school/site. The disciplinary action is deemed appropriate by the school/site using the appropriate procedure and/or by involving the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Violating the Acceptable Use Guideline may result in:

  •  restricted network access and/or access to computer technology
  •  loss of network access and/or access to computer technology
  •  suspension and/or expulsion
  •  civil and/or legal action

WODSS is responsible for:

  • providing access to telecommunications services and computer technology, as appropriate and available, to all students and staff
  • monitoring the students’ use of the telecommunications services for appropriate use and behaviour
  • dealing with student/staff abuse of privileges in a matter consistent with the school code of behaviour and this Acceptable Use Guidelines

Users of the telecommunications services and computer technology are responsible for:

  • being prepared to use these services for curricular and administrative purposes
  • using the resources and technology ethically and in an appropriate manner
  • using the resources and technology legally
  • adhering to the guidelines and/or rules of etiquette promoted by WODSS and in accordance with WRDSB policies and procedures
  • using the technology responsibly and adhering to the School Code of Conduct and the Acceptable Use Guideline

Use of these telecommunications services and computer technology is a privilege, not a right. The service is provided to students to enhance their educational experience and to staff to assist them in the performance of their jobs. The privilege may be revoked for unacceptable conduct and students or staff may be subject to disciplinary action. Abuse of the technology may also lead to civil and/or criminal action.

Unacceptable conduct includes the following, and other unmistakable misuse of the Technology:

  • Using Board technological property for personal, political, financial or commercial gain
  • Degrading or disrupting equipment or system/network performance of WRDSB or other systems (e.g. introducing a virus, attaching personally owned or non-approved, non-standard devices to the network)
  • Vandalizing equipment or the data of other users (e.g. opening up the equipment)
  • Gaining unauthorized access to resources, files, programs, other computer systems or technological entities (electronic trespassing)
  • Invading the privacy of individuals, harassing others or personally attacking others
  • Sharing or using others’ access codes, account numbers, passwords and other authorizations which have been assigned to them
  • Posting anonymous messages
  • Placing unlawful information on the Board technological property or distributing it via the system (e.g., hate literature)
  • Using abusive, offensive, degrading or objectionable language in public or private messages
  • Sending messages that are likely to result in the loss of a recipient’s work or in the disruption of the system/network (e.g., a computer virus)
  • Sending “chain letters” or global messages or other types of communications which would cause congestion of the system (e.g., spamming)
  • Sending or receiving messages and/or images which are inconsistent with the Board’s curriculum and conduct procedures. These include messages and/or images which are racist, pornographic, dangerous, obscene or contain threats of violence Plagiarism or copyright violation
  • Misuse of peripheral computer equipment (scanners, digital cameras, etc.)
  • Accessing email services which allow a user to be identified as other than themselves
  • Deliberately bypassing or attempting to bypass security provisions implemented by the Board (content filter, firewall, etc.)
  • Establishing or accessing websites, links, postings or email messages, which have a connection to the School Board and are criminal, degrading, defamatory or inappropriate
  • Downloading or posting inappropriate comments, defamatory remarks or pictures
  • Installing unauthorized, non-standard (non-ITS approved) software or operating systems
  • Developing or accessing programs that harass other users, infiltrate a computer system or alter the software components of a system
  • Using Board technological property to give out personal information such as home addresses, telephone numbers or credit card numbers
  • Using Board technological property to offer or provide goods or services or to advertise products
  • Using Board technological property to conduct political campaigns or advocate for or against candidates involved in municipal, provincial or federal elections
  • Downloading files that are not for educational purposes (e.g., games, MP3)

Plagiarism Policy

Preamble: Plagiarism is academic theft. Incidents of plagiarism have been increasing. While individual teachers, departments, and the administration have been dealing with these on a case-by-case basis.

Students must be taught how to properly cite the work of others in a manner that is appropriate for the grade and course. Plagiarism is the intentional use of someone else’s work without recognition of the author. Plagiarism ranges from downloading materials from the Internet to submitting another student’s work as your own.

It is the expectation that students will submit their own, original work for the purpose of demonstrating their learning. In the event that cheating or plagiarism occurs, the following consequences may be implemented, in consultation with administration, depending on the situation:

I. The student may be required to redo all or part of the assignment or assessment.
II. The student may be required to complete an alternate assignment or assessment.
III. The student’s work may be treated as a missed assignment.
IV. Additional consequences for cheating or plagiarizing material may include a loss of access to WODSS academic awards and scholarship opportunities. As well, potential disciplinary actions may include suspension.

The Learning Skills section of the student’s Provincial Report Card will be used to reflect incidents of cheating and plagiarism.

Financial Assistance

Students/families requiring financial assistance should contact any staff member. The staff member will ensure that the student’s issue is dealt with in an appropriate, sensitive and confidential manner.