Behaviour & Discipline Policies
It is our goal at Branton to establish and maintain a learning environment that respects the rights, well-being, and property of all people. Everyone has the right and the responsibility to perform at their highest level, and no one has the right to interfere with that process. Discipline at Branton is focused on learning to correct problem behaviours, and making respectful resolutions and restitution.
Branton School staff is committed to the development and maintenance of a safe, secure school that promotes learning and encourages students to be the best they can be. The administration supports action taken by the staff to maintain a learning environment which reflects this commitment. We believe discipline is a part of good teaching and learning. At Branton there are three main considerations in our Discipline Policy.
Personal Growth and Development
Adolescence is an exciting time of growth, development, and change in a young person’s life. Young learners need understanding, encouragement, and guidance as they learn to incorporate self-discipline and positive choice-making into their behavioural and academic learning. We encourage the development of positive relationships. Our Discipline Policy emphasizes helping students understand that positive behaviour is the result of making good choices, and negative behaviour is the result of making poor choices. Positive behaviour is respectful, co-operative, responsible, and productive. In addressing negative behaviour, our goal is to help students understand how and why their choices have been inappropriate. We provide them with the opportunity to choose more positive behaviour.
Consequences
Reasonable consequences, whether positive or negative, should motivate students to improve their behaviour. They need to be realistic and appropriate. School personnel will be reasonable, objective, and consistent in enforcing expectations regarding school conduct. No one individual will be allowed to continually interfere with the learning of others.
Protection
A discipline policy should protect the basic physical and emotional safety of every individual in the school. It should also protect the learning environment we have established. Where attempts to help a student understand and modify certain behaviors fail, and where consequences repeatedly have no deterrent effect, the needs of the student body become more important than the needs of the individual. At that point, for the protection of the general school population, and for the preservation of the safe, positive learning environment, we will remove that student from the school. In most cases, this will be done through suspensions and parental contact. In serious cases, this may be done through formal suspension with the recommendation that the student be relocated to another school. The School Resource Police Officer may be asked to be involved in more serious situations.
Expectations
A state of order in the school depends on an accepted set of expectations concerning behavior.
Branton students are expected to:
- Work with staff and fellow students with respect and understanding, in a spirit of cooperation.
- Come prepared for class, ready to participate in a positive way, and bring required materials. Teachers outline expectations in September and reinforce them throughout the year.
- Attend school daily and be on time for classes. Absences and lates should have a valid reason from parents or guardians, orally or in writing.
- Complete all assignments to the best of their ability and submit them on time.
- Be responsible for their behavior on school premises, on the way to and from school, and in vehicles used for transportation to and from school and to other locations utilized for off-campus activities; represent Branton in a dignified manner as proud ambassadors of the school.
- Replace or pay for any property that they have destroyed, broken, or damaged.
- Avoid eating in class. Food is not generally allowed in classes nor in the library or labs. Water bottles are allowed (no glass please).
Should students make choices contrary to the above expectations, teachers and administrators, in their professional judgment, will decide on the most appropriate action.
An effective discipline philosophy teaches that people have the power to make choices. Although there may be extenuating circumstances, we are ultimately responsible for the choices we make. Staff is expected to treat students in the same way, as would a kind, firm, and judicious parent. In responding to serious and/or repeated offenses of the kind listed below, CBE regulations state that:
“A principal may suspend a student for unacceptable student behavior from school, from one or more class periods, courses or education programs, or from riding a school bus, for a period of ten school days or less.” The notice of suspension is sent to a CBE delegated person who meets with the student and parent/guardian to decide on further school placement either in the current school, or an alternate school or program. The police may also be involved. The following constitute the most serious offenses and will not be tolerated; most will result in formal suspension with a recommendation for alternate placement, parent contact, and probable police involvement:
- Use, possession of, or active contact with weapons, or anything that is perceived to be a weapon
- Involvement in, or association with gang-related activity
- Use, possession of, distribution of, or contact with illegal substances, including drugs and alcohol
- Other criminal behavior of a serious nature (i.e. assault, threats; bullying & cyberbullying)
- Repeated serious offenses and/or defiance
Parents and students must read and understand our policy. Parents are urged to call the school to discuss policy, methods, procedures or any actions taken by teachers or administration. At the time of registration, they will be co-signers in accepting the responsibility of living by its expectations.
