Code of Conduct – APC018
Reviewed/Revised: August 2024
PURPOSE
On June 5, 2012, Bill 13, the Accepting Schools Act, was passed, amending the Education Act. The amendments came into force September 1, 2012.
The revised provincial Code of Conduct states that:
“A school should be a place that promotes responsibility, respect, civility, and academic excellence in a safe learning and teaching environment. A positive school climate exists when all members of the school community feel safe, included, and accepted, and actively promote positive behaviours and interactions.
Building and sustaining a positive school climate is a complex challenge requiring evidence-informed solutions. A whole-school approach, which involves all members of the school community, is also important in supporting efforts to ensure that schools are safe, inclusive, and accepting. It is an effective approach to making systemic changes that will benefit all students and the broader community.
All students, parents, and teachers and other school staff have the right to be safe, and to feel safe, in their school community. With this right comes the responsibility to contribute to a positive school climate.
The provincial Code of Conduct sets clear provincial standards of behaviour. These standards of behaviour apply to students whether they are on school property,in a virtual learning environment, on school buses, at school- related events, or activities in before and after school programs or in other circumstances that could have an impact on the school climate.
They also apply to all individuals involved in the publicly funded school system – principals, teachers ,early childhood educators, other school staff, parents, school bus drivers, volunteers, and members of various community groups.
Responsible citizenship involves appropriate participation in the civic life of the school community.
Active and engaged citizens are aware of their rights, but more importantly, they accept responsibility for protecting their rights and the rights of others.”
The Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) recognizes the inherent dignity and worth of the individual. All individuals concerned with the school system – trustees, staff, students, parents, visitors to schools – are subject to the following code of conduct; a code of conduct that will be implemented within the Catholic faith life experience of each school community and consistent with the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE), the Safe School’s provisions of the Education Act and Regulations and the constitutional right of Catholic school boards to manage their schools as stated through section 93 of the Constitution Act, 1867.
