Code of Conduct
Behaviour Expectations and Consequences for the Students, Staff, Parents/Guardians
Our school is a place that promotes responsibility, respect, civility and academic excellence in a safe Islamic learning and teaching environment.
We believe that students, parents/guardians, teachers, staff and volunteers have the right to be safe and feel safe in our school. With this right comes the responsibility to be law-abiding citizens and to be accountable for actions that put at risk the safety of others or oneself.
Manitoba’s Safe Schools Charter – Bill 30 – is now in place to make all of Manitoba’s schools even safer and more secure. It was introduced on June 10, 2004 to promote respect, responsibility, civility and, to provide a descriptive framework for province-wide standards of behaviour.
Our Code of Conduct outlines the responsibilities students, parents and staff must accept to maintain a safe, secure, productive, and Islamic learning environment. It addresses nine aspects conducive to a safe, healthy and productive learning environment.
Section 1
Students, parents and staff must behave in a respectful manner and comply with the Code of Conduct.
The school’s code of conduct is based on respect. As the students mature, awareness develops that sensible rules serve to safeguard the safety and success of the individual. Rules at the Academy are reasonable, well communicated, and fairly administered. Demonstrated respect for others fosters a spirit of mutual respect in which orderly behaviour flourishes.
Staff shall:
- create a positive Islamic learning environment where all students are accepted and encouraged to develop self-esteem and respect
- encourage the involvement of parents/guardians in educational decisions involving their children
- operate on the premise that home and school work together for the benefit of all students
- maintain a warm and welcoming family atmosphere at the Islamic Academy of Manitoba/École Sofiya School
- respect and demonstrate consideration for every human being
- treat students and staff fairly and consistently
- teach and model by positive example
- provide the programs and services prescribed by the Department of Education and the Islamic Academy’s Board of Directors
- evaluate student’s achievement and explain the evaluation procedures to be used in each course
- keep students, parents/guardians and administration informed about student progress, attendance and behaviour
- respect confidential information about students, parents and staff
- dress appropriately for the working environment
- assist students in resolving conflicts peacefully and use the Code of Conduct to encourage appropriate behaviour
Students shall:
Respect the rights and safety of others by:
- developing self-discipline
- demonstrating behaviour that contributes to an orderly, supportive and safe learning environment
- respecting and demonstrating consideration for every human being;
- using courteous, non-abusive language towards all; defiance of authority, abusive language and aggressive behaviour are unacceptable at all times
- maintaining quiet in hallways during class time
- complying with the school’s dress code
- resolving conflicts and difficulties with others without resorting to threats or disrespect, and especially by the use of discussion or, by seeking assistance from school personnel
- respect school property and property of others; borrowing the property of others only if permission has been granted and returning same at the time agreed upon in original condition
- assisting all staff in maintaining a clean and healthy environment
- maintaining a warm and welcoming family atmosphere at the Islamic Academy of Manitoba
- following this Code of conduct and any other code/policy which the school may have
Make a commitment to promote their academic success by:
- understanding that it is a privilege to attend the Islamic Academy of Manitoba
- attending school regularly and punctually
- coming to class on time with all necessary materials, e.g., texts, pens, notebooks, etc.
- completing assignments and handing them in on time
- participating, to the best of their ability, in class and school activities
- making the most of the time in school: striving for academic excellence through classroom participation
- when finished for the day, leaving the school grounds promptly
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are encouraged and/or expected to:
- ensure regular and punctual attendance and encourage completion of all school assignments by their children
- contact the school should their child have to be absent for any period of time
- ensure that their children are eating properly and getting enough sleep in order to perform well at school
- refrain from bringing their children to school when they are ill
- attend school meetings and events, and support the school
- refrain from speaking to the teacher during class time; so as not to interrupt learning time, parents wishing to sit in on a class should be inside the classroom before the start of that class
- maintain open communication with staff by addressing concerns through proper lines of communication: should there be a concern, try to solve it with your child’s teacher; if unresolved, contact the principal; if the problem remains, then contact the Board of Directors of the Islamic Academy of Manitoba
- treat all students and staff with dignity and respect.
- assist their children to establish positive attitudes towards achievement as well as respect for peers, school personnel and property
- inform the school of problem areas or areas of behavioural concern
- discuss with their children and support the school’s Code of Conduct and policies.
Section 2
Bullying, or abusing physically, sexually, or psychologically – orally, in writing or otherwise – any person is unacceptable.
Bullying is harmful and hurtful. Staff and students have the right to come to school and be safe. Bullying is any physical act, verbal comment, gesture, facial expression or action that would intentionally hurt someone on the inside or outside. It also means leaving people out. Bullying is a deliberate and typically repeated attempt to hurt either physically or emotionally from which the aggressor derives gratification. Bullying is made possible by an imbalance of power and the unjust use of power by individuals or groups.
Types of Bullying may include but, are not limited to:
Physical – such as gestures, slapping, hitting, choking, poking, punching, pinching, kicking, scratching, spitting, defacing property, physical acts that are embarrassing, locking in and out of space, physical violence against family or friends, threatening with a weapon, or inflicting bodily harm.
Verbal – such as name calling, gossiping or embarrassing another, spreading rumors, ethnic slurs, setting up to take blame, taunting, teasing, threatening, phone calls, text messaging, threats of violence against family or friends.
Social/Relational – such as rejection, exclusion, manipulating, social order, setting up to humiliate in person or through the use of technology.
Cyberbullying – such as the use of information and communication technologies such as e-mail, cell phone and pager text messages, instant messaging (IM), defamatory personal web sites, and defamatory online personal polling Web sites, to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others.
Section 3
Discriminating unreasonably on the basis of any characteristic set out in subsection 9(2) of the Human Rights Code is unacceptable.
Section 4
Using, possessing or being under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or illicit drugs at school or, on school related activities – inside or outside the school – is unacceptable.
Section 5
Gang involvement will not be tolerated inside or outside the school.
Section 6
Possessing a weapon, as defined in section 2 of the Criminal Code, will not be tolerated at school.
Section 7
Pupils and staff must adhere to school policies respecting appropriate use of electronic mail and the Internet, including the prohibition of accessing, uploading, downloading or distributing material that the school has determined to be objectionable.
Access to the internet is a privilege and not a right. To gain access all students must obtain parental permission and must have their parent/guardian sign and return the school’s Acceptable Use Policy to the school.
Section 8
Electronic devices at school
Any electronic device, such as a tablet, phone, camera, etc, must be first approved by the principal before being brought to school.
Students, parents, and staff are not to take pictures of a student unless a written permission form is filled out and signed by parents/guardians of every student concerned and submitted to principal.
Pictures of staff must not be taken without written permission of staff concerned.
Section 9
Consequences for students
Disciplinary consequences for violating the school’s Code of Conduct include, but are not limited to:
Minor infractions
- Warning by teacher or principal
- Phone call home by teacher or principal
- Detention
- Restitution
Major infractions
- Formal meeting with parents
- In-school suspension
- Out-of-school suspension
- Expulsion/non-re-admittance
Suspension and expulsion policy
The student who continually lacks respect for his or her teachers and classmates does not belong at the Islamic Academy of Manitoba. Examples of behaviour the school will not tolerate include but are not limited to:
- insults or swearing
- fighting, physical or verbal threats
- refusal to follow the teachers directives
- endangering the welfare of others
- vandalism or destroying of school property or another student’s property
- stealing
- lying
- tampering with the fire alarm or other school equipment
The Principal and staff will deal with any infraction on a case by case basis; guidelines to be followed are:
- staff will work with the child in order to encourage him or her to improve behavior
- should the child’s behavior not improve, Principal will communicate with the parents or guardians of the child (communication with the parents is essential if inappropriate behavior is more than minor or is repetitive; records will be kept)
- if there is still no progress, the child will be suspended from school for a duration that will be determined by the Principal
- upon the child’s return to school, the parents and the child will meet with the school Principal
- after all these measures, if the conduct of the child does not improve for the best, the child will be expelled from school
Consequences for repeated bullying, and other infractions to the code of conduct:
Students who disturb others during prayer, who bully or hit other children, or who vandalized school property might be excluded from the school after three suspensions.
Parents are financially responsible for the repair of any damage to the school caused by their children.
The school wishes to prevent problems before they arise or get to the point of suspension and expulsion. Among other initiatives,
- Students will be encouraged to make up a set of school rules, in a language they can easily understand; students will be encouraged to reflect on their behaviour and self-evaluate their performance; students should get regular feedback in order to know what is expected of them and how well they are doing.
- Teachers will be encouraged to report to all parents on a regular basis in order to promote good communication between home and school; these reports may include the self-evaluation of the students.
- Parents and school are encouraged to provide students with a well-structured organized life where clearly defined limits are established.
- When the staff is working with the child in order to encourage him or her to improve their behaviour the following may apply:
- reaching a verbal agreement with the student concerning his or her future behaviour
- having the student, school and parents write out a contract detailing the student’s future behaviour;
- having the student withdrawn from the class to an alternate location to complete his/her assignment; if his/her behaviour is disruptive to the class
- withdrawing privileges such as access to the playground, lunch program, or other school activities
- requiring students, or their parents, to compensate for any damages
- giving a student a detention: requiring a child to stay after school hours after parents/guardians have been notified
- at the discretion of the principal, assigning students to an in-school suspension
Suspension : Suspension is governed by school policy and Manitoba legislation. Principals have the authority to suspend students from school up to one week. The Board of Directors may suspend a student from school for up to six weeks. Parents/guardians will be notified of the suspension
Expulsion : Expulsion is governed by school policy and Manitoba legislation. The Board of Directors may expel a student from school if, after several attempts on the part of the home and school, the student continues to refuse to follow the school’s Code of Conduct. Expulsion may be immediate if any of the following applies: use of a weapon to threaten or inflict injury, physical assault, verbal threats or unprovoked assault resulting in injury.
Consequences for Staff
The conduct of staff members are governed by the policies of the school, by this code of conduct, by the code of conduct of their individual organizations, and by provincial and federal legislation. Consequences for inappropriate behaviour may range from a verbal warning to termination of employment.
Consequences for Parents/Guardians
The conduct of parents are governed by this code of conduct, as well as by provincial and federal legislation. Consequences for inappropriate behaviour may include a verbal warning, restricted access to the school or other consequences as defined by law.
Section 10
Parents/guardians have the right to appeal the disciplinary consequences by submitting a written request for a meeting with the Board of Directors of the Islamic Academy of Manitoba.
