Writing Code of Conduct For Your School

Course Objectives
After working through this course the participants
should be able to:
• Understanding the terms of “Code of Conduct” and
Discipline.
• Identify key areas of Code of Conduct.
• Draft a code of conduct for their school.
• Lessen the frustration of those teachers who are
unable to cope with the behavior of some learners.
Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct is a discipline policy which helps
principals and school managers to manage
discipline in their schools.

School’s Code of Conduct affects learners,

teachers, other staff members and parents. It
is thus vital that when a new policy is
formulated, or an existing one is undergoing
revision, this school community should be
involved.
First, let’s see what discipline is
not...
Discipline

Punishment
 What is Discipline

It’s a STRUCTURE,
a METHODOLOGY,
and a LIFESTYLE
A structure…
Discipline provides a
scaffold for
building a
successful life by
giving the
individual control
of his/her actions.
A methodology...

• Discipline provides a
methodology for successful
interaction and intervention,
especially in cases of
correction of inappropriate
behaviors.
A lifestyle...
• Discipline provides a lifestyle for modeling
respectful,
responsible,

resourceful

“adult” behaviors.
 Goal

To create learning environments that

are both positive and productive.

=Fewer behavior problems

=Better academic performance
=Better student, teacher, and family satisfaction
Key Areas of Code of Conduct

• Purposes
• Vision/Mission Statement
• Rights and Responsibilities of learners and
teachers
• School Rules
• Procedures and Grievances
• Offences and Consequences
3Ps in Code Of Conduct

Code of Conduct
People PlacesProcedures
School Community
Principal
Teachers
Learners
Parents

Code of Conduct must be a product of school community

Forums for Monitoring Discipline
It is your responsibility as principal of the school to ensure that
staff, school board, parents and learners have a good
knowledge of the code of conduct. The following forums offer
the opportunities for the key stakeholders to acquire a good
knowledge of the Code of Conduct and should be fully utilized
for this purpose:
• Staff meetings
• Learner Representative Council meetings
• School Board Meetings
• Parent Teacher Association meetings.
• School Disciplinary Committee meetings
Basic Principles
1. Code of Conduct applies to all students, parents, guardians,
volunteers and school staff while they are on school property,
school buses or at school-authorized events or activities.

2. All members of the school community are to be treated with

respect and dignity, especially persons in positions of authority.

3. Members of the school community are expected to use non-

violent means to resolve conflicts. Physically aggressive
behaviour is not a responsible way to interact with others.

4. Insults, disrespect and other hurtful acts disrupt learning and

teaching in a school community. Members of the school
community have a responsibility to maintain an environment
where conflict and difference can be addressed in a respectful
manner.
Rights
•  All members of the school community have a
right to an environment that:
• promotes only Islamic values and learning;
• is safe, positive, friendly and supportive;
• is free from harassment and discrimination on
the basis of race, gender, nationality,
ethnicity, culture, physical appearance or
socioeconomic class.
Cases the Disciplinary Committee should not handle:

• Assaults leading to serious bodily harm

• Possession dangerous weapons.
• Cheating and forgery
• Arson (setting fir to a building or other properties.)
• Serious cases of theft
• Continuous absenteeism
• Persistent disrespect toward authority
• Theft , possession, or sale of others property
• Damaging school property
• Selling, giving or delivering alcohol or narcotics
• Sexual misconduct rape and sexual intercourse with a
minor.
Roles & Responsibilities
Administration
• The Administration will provide leadership by:
• demonstrating care and commitment to
academic excellence and a safe, Islamically
sound teaching and learning environment;
• holding everyone under their authority
accountable for their behaviour and actions;
• communicating regularly and meaningfully
with all members of the school community
School Staff
• Teachers and school staff will maintain order in the school and are
expected to hold everyone to the highest standards of Islamic conduct,
specifically, conduct that is respectful, responsible and cooperative. As
role models, staff will uphold these high standards when they:
• maintain a personal high standard of responsibility and integrity so
that we may lead by example;
• help students work to their full potential and develop their self-worth;
• assist students in the development of self-control and self-discipline;
• promote open and honest communication among all members of the
school community;
• communicate regularly and meaningfully with parents;
• to welcome contacts with and visits from parents who wish to observe
or assist in any phase of the school's operation in which they can be of
service. We want parents to feel confident that the school has their
child's best interests at heart;
• maintain consistent standards of behaviour for all students;
• demonstrate respect for all students, staff and parents;
• teach students proper Islamic manners and habits.
Professional Standards for Teachers
Teachers are expected to:
• maintain professional relationships with
students.
• demonstrate impartial and consistent
respect for all students as individuals
• model Islamic principles of respect,
integrity, honesty, fairness and dignity
• follow the example of the Prophet
Mohammad (pbuh).
Parents
• Parents play an important role in the education of their children
and have a responsibility to support the efforts of the school
staff in maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment
for all students. Parents fulfill this responsibility when they:
• show an active interest in their child's school work and
progress;
• communicate regularly with the school;
• help their child be neatly dressed in the school uniform and be
prepared for school;
• ensure that their child attends school regularly and on time;
• promptly report to the school their child's absence or late
arrival;
• become familiar with the Code of Conduct and school rules;
• encourage and assist their child in following the rules of
behaviour;
• assist school staff in dealing with disciplinary issues;
• teach their children proper Islamic manners and habits
Students
• Students are to be treated with respect and dignity. In return,
they must be respectful, responsible, and cooperative and
demonstrate good Islamic behaviour at all times by:
• speaking, dressing and acting in an Islamically acceptable
manner;
• respecting the sanctity of the environment (masjid/school);
• showing respect for themselves, for others and for those in
authority;
• maintaining cleanliness of mind, body, clothing, school materials
and surroundings;
• following established school and classroom rules and routines;
• treating personal and school property with care and respect;
• working and playing cooperatively and showing consideration
for others
CLASSROOM CODE OF CONDUCT
1. All students must be in their classes on time and in their
assigned seats.
2. Students will treat all the teachers and other students with
respect.
3. There will be no gum chewing, eating, talking, shouting,
laughing, drinking, moving around or leaving class without the
permission of the teacher. All students must come to class
prepared with pencils or pens (blue/black) per teachers’
request, notebook, books and completed homework
assignments.
4. All students are required to raise their hands before speaking
in class.
5. All students must copy from the board their class work,
homework and other assignments before leaving class.
6. Students must be aware of the GSA and STEMS code of
conduct.
7. Students who need to use the restroom must ask the
permission of the teacher, get up from their seats quietly, take
the “Bathroom Pass,” and then return as quickly and quietly as
possible.
8. All students will act safely and keep their hands to themselves.
Acceptable Behaviors
• Reporting to school on time
• Reporting to school regularly
• Bringing required books and supplies
• Following the dress and grooming code
• Giving your best in class
• Performing at your best behavior, at school
and school sponsored programs
• Respecting others and their property
• Being courteous
Unacceptable Behaviors
• Eating in class
• Teasing other students
• Using bad language
• Cheating
• Plagiarizing
• Bothering/harassing others
• Fighting
• Telling lies
• Disobeying school staff
• Possessing, using/selling drugs and weapons
• Damaging property
• Wearing long hair (boys)
• Not wearing school uniform
• Wearing garment with slogans, pictures, writings
• Backbiting
• Defacing walls
• Being disruptive/making the class unsafe
Disciplinary Actions
• Detention
• Suspension
• expulsion
Detention

Detention is a period of silent study, manual

work, or an alternative activity assigned by
the Administrator or a detention monitor.
Detention is served after school hours.
Parents will be notified in advance and the
names posted in the office. Parents are to
make arrangements to pick up their children
after detention. A student on detention must
be on time or will automatically receive a
second detention.
Suspension

1. Pending Parent-School Conference: This

involves the removal of a student from the class who
had repeatedly violated the general school rules.
2. Temporary suspension: Temporary suspension
is used for more serious problems and for recurring
offences. The student can be sent home from school
for up to five (5) days.
3. Indefinite Suspension: It is used in extreme
circumstances and to determine whether or not a
student will be permitted to continue attending
schooling.
Expulsion
The decision to expel a student should be taken by the principal in
consultation with the Disciplinary Committee. There will be no
possibility for appeal. The student will not be allowed to re-
register in the school at any time in the future. A notice of
expulsion will be placed in the student's Ontario Student
Record.
A student will be expelled from the school if :

• the student does not show improvement in his/her behavior

after much effort has been spent by the staff to help the
student improve, and the student has received what would
deemed to be an adequate number of consequences;

• the student has committed a serious misdemeanor, which in it's

severity would automatically warrant immediate expulsion.