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Code of Conduct

HDSB Code of Conduct & Safe and Accepting Schools​

To ensure safe, caring and inclusive schools, the Halton District School Board (HDSB) follows a Code of Conduct. The HDSB Code of Conduct is developed from the Ministry of Education’s Provincial Code of Conduct (PPM 128). 

The HDSB is committed to a whole-school approach in creating and maintaining safe, caring and inclusive school environments. The HDSB Code of Conduct promotes responsibility, respect, civility, kindness and academic excellence, and sets clear standards of behaviour for all members of the school community including students, staff, families, volunteers and community members.

The HDSB Code of Conduct upholds standards of behaviour in alignment with the Ontario Provincial Code of Conduct, and all members of the school community have a responsibility to both understand and adhere to these standards. 

The HDSB believes that all individuals on Board or school property, on school buses or at school-related events or activities, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. At the HDSB, we value kindness, connection and community and support all students in developing healthy relationships, making good choices, continuing their learning and achieving success.

Our goal is to create a positive school climate where every student, staff and member of the school community feels safe, included and accepted.

Standards of Behaviour​

All members of the school community, including Trustees, HDSB employees, students, parents/guardians, School Council, visitors, volunteers, contractors and community members on school premises, while on school buses, at school-related events or activities, or in any other circumstances that could affect the school climate, are expected to: 

  • Respect all members of the school community
  • Model behaviour that inspires empathy, kindness, respect and positive connections at every level of the organization.
  • Use respectful and kind words and actions when communicating with others
  • Demonstrate honesty and integrity
  • Uphold Indigenous Rights and Human Rights
  • Respect and comply with all applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws
  • Treat one another with dignity and respect 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
  • Refrain from using abusive language or swearing at another person
  • Respect the needs of others to work in an environment that is conducive to learning and teaching

All members of the school community must not:

  • Engage in bullying behaviours, including cyberbullying
  • Commit sexual assault
  • Traffic in weapons or illegal or drugs
  • Give alcohol or recreational cannabis and/or tobacco to a minor
  • Commit robbery
  • 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 be under the influence of, or provide others with alcohol, recreational cannabis or illegal drugs
  • Inflict or encourage others to inflict bodily harm on another person
  • 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​ 

A Shared Responsibility

When students, staff and parents/guardians work together to create safe, caring and inclusive schools, it has a powerful impact on the climate of the school. Each partner has an important contribution to make toward the establishment of a positive school climate in which all members of the school community feel safe, included and accepted and actively promote positive behaviours and interactions.

The School’s Responsibility  

School staff demonstrate a safe and respectful learning environment when they:

  • Provide a safe, caring and inclusive learning environment
  • Teach and model positive behaviour 
  • Teach acceptance of and respect for others
  • Foster open and collaborative communication
  • Help students work to their full potential and develop their sense of self-worth
  • Integrate bullying prevention strategies throughout the curriculum 
  • Notify parents/guardians of students who have been harmed and those of students who are believed to have caused harm
  • Provide support for students who have been harmed, students who have witnessed harmful behaviours and students who have caused harm

The Student’s Responsibility

Students demonstrate a safe and respectful learning environment when they:

  • Treat others with kindness and dignity
  • Show respect for self, others and school property
  • Refrain from bringing anything to school that may compromise the safety of others
  • Refrain from bringing to school recreational tobacco, cannabis, alcohol or vaping products and paraphernalia
  • Follow requests of staff
  • Report real or perceived bullying incidents and follow the Bullying Response and Discriminatory and Harmful Language Protocols
  • Report activities motivated by bias, prejudice or hate 
  • Adhere to the HDSB Responsible Use Procedure for Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

The Parent/Guardian's Responsibility

Parents/guardians support a safe and respectful learning environment when they:

  • Encourage and assist children in following the rules of behaviour outlined in the Provincial and HDSB Code of Conduct
  • Encourage and assist children to attend school regularly and on time
  • Show an active interest in the academic and social development of children
  • Talk with children about how they can contribute to keeping their school a safe and inclusive place
  • Communicate regularly with the school, participate in meetings with teachers and other members of the child's education team, and collaborate with school staff in dealing with disciplinary issues 
  • Engage and collaborate with staff in respectful dialogue and actions that demonstrate kindness and connection to the school community and avoid: 
    • excessive demands for meetings or unreasonable communication requests
    • shouting/swearing at or making derogatory/insulting comments to staff
    • bullying/gossiping
    • recording others without consent

The HDSB Code of Conduct is informed by:

Administrative Procedures

​Progressive Discipline

Progressive Discipline is a whole school approach using a continuum of interventions, supports and consequences that include opportunities for reinforcing positive behaviour and helping students make good choices.​ To learn more about Progressive Discipline, please see the Positive School Climate AP.

Questions about Safe Schools and the HDSB’s Code of Conduct, including the application of progressive discipline, suspensions, expulsions and matters pertaining to student safety should be directed to: 

Safe and Healthy Schools safeschools@hdsb.ca