Prohibited Behaviours

Violence

Violence is any verbal or physical action taken which threatens or results in the inflicting of physical, emotional or psychological distress or bodily harm on a person. Violence will not be tolerated at Clarence Sansom.

Weapons

The staff and community of Clarence Sansom School recognize that every student has the right to a safe learning environment.

Any student found to have a weapon in their possession, in their locker, or near the school risks suspension and police involvement. It is important to note that the student does not need to use a weapon to be guilty of possession of a weapon dangerous to the safety of others. A weapon is any kind of object, which is either designed or intended for use in threatening or inflicting bodily harm on a person.

Bullying / Harassment

Bullying is a conscious, wilful, and deliberate hostile activity intended to harm, annoy, belittle, induce fear through threat of further aggression, and/or create terror. It can be premeditated or spontaneous, obvious or subtle, and enacted individually or as a group. Its intent is to inflict emotional and/or physical pain.

Bullying can take several forms: verbal, physical, and relational. Verbal bullying can take the form of name-calling, taunting, belittling, cruel criticism, personal defamation, racist slurs, and sexually abusive or suggestive remarks. It can be accomplished in person, through phone calls, social media, e-mails, notes, text messages, online chatting, malicious rumours, and untruthful accusations.

Physical bullying can include slapping, hitting, choking, poking, punching, kicking, biting, pinching, scratching, twisting of limbs, spitting and damaging clothes and property.

Relational bullying seeks to diminish a child’s sense of self-worth through ignoring, isolating, excluding, or shunning. It can be used to alienate and reject a peer or to purposefully ruin friendships. It can involve subtle gestures such as aggressive stares, sighs, frowns, snickers, rolling of eyes, and hostile body language.

Actively engaging with a bully or cheering him/her on encourages the bully, further encourages anti-social behaviour, and risks desensitizing bystanders to acts of bullying and/or engaging in bullying.

Students are expected to act appropriately and intervene in the following fashion: 

1. Do not stand idly by and watch and/or actively engage in supporting the bully/ies. Do not become a passive reinforcement for the bully.
2. Actively intervene on behalf of the target by encouraging the bully to do the right thing.
3. Actively seek adult intervention at the earliest possible moment before serious harm (emotional or physical) can be done.

In the event of a fight, on or off school property, which may or not involve bullying, students are expected to follow the three guidelines above. Though the school attempts to support victims of bullying by providing them strategies to empower them, the possibility of suspension or legal action exists for perpetrators of bullying.

Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868

Sexual harassment is any unwelcome behaviour that is sexual in nature. It can include, but is not limited to the following:

1. Unwanted physical contact
2. Unwelcome remarks or compromising invitations
3. Verbal abuse or display of suggestive pictures

Use of Drugs and Alcoholic Beverages

The CBE forbids the use of alcohol and the use, possession, or trafficking of drugs whether:

1. On the school premises
2. In connection with school activities on or off the school premises
3. To and from school during the school day

Smoking

Students are not allowed to smoke in the school, on the school grounds, or within sight of the school. Any form of smoking is strictly prohibited, including electronic cigarettes or vapes. 

Fighting

Fighting is not tolerated. Physical violence does not resolve problems, and often escalates them. Anyone who is being challenged by another student or who is involved in a dispute, which could lead to a fight, is expected to seek assistance from administration, guidance or other school staff.

Hazing and Froshing

The CBE forbids the practice of “hazing”, that is, the subjection of incoming students to various forms of punishment or indignities, whether:

1. On school premises
2. In connection with school activities on or off the school premises, or
3. To and from school

In determining what constitutes hazing; the decision of the school staff shall be final.

Throwing Snowballs

There is tremendous risk of serious injury in the act of throwing snowballs at other students, pedestrians or motorists. This will not be permitted.

Use of Foul Language

Students are expected to speak in a courteous and respectful manner at all times. Use of foul language is inappropriate and not tolerated at school.

Community & Neighbourhood Relations

Clarence Sansom has many visitors throughout the day, including parents, small children, service personnel, and outside agencies. The front area of the school is not a place to congregate or play. Loud or inappropriate language, activities that may endanger others (horseplay, running, using sporting equipment, etc.) are not permitted at the front of the school at any time.

We wish to maintain good relations with residents and with the proprietors of neighbourhood businesses. By demonstrating respect for their property and individual rights, we will continue to have their support of our school. For this reason, students are not permitted to play or loiter on the sidewalks, pathways, parking lots, alleys or streets neighbouring the school. At all times, students are expected to demonstrate responsible citizenship and respect for the safety, peace and privacy of others. Students are welcome to congregate and play on the school sport fields in the morning and at lunch.