At Ohpaho Secondary School, our Student Code of Conduct aims to maintain a positive, productive, and safe learning environment for all. “Conduct” refers to student behaviour, attitudes, and effort at school and during school-related activities. Recognizing that adhering to a code of conduct is a learning process for adolescents, our policy clearly states expectations and outlines discipline procedures to foster this environment.

The OSS Student Code of Conduct defines the standards for student behaviour and academic effort, based on the Provincial Education Act and Black Gold School Division policies.

Section 31 of the Province of Alberta’s Education Act states that a student has the responsibility to:

1. attend school regularly and punctually,
2. be ready to learn, actively engage in and diligently pursue the student’s education,
3. ensure that the student’s conduct contributes to a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that respects diversity and fosters a sense of belonging, 
4. respect the rights of others in the school,
5. refrain from, report, and not tolerate bullying or bullying behaviour directed toward others in the school, whether or not it occurs within the school building, during the school day or by electronic means,
6. comply with the rules of the school and the policies of the board,
7. co-operate with everyone authorized by the board to provide education programs and other services,
8. be accountable to the student’s teachers and other school staff for the student’s conduct,
9. positively contribute to the student’s school and community.

Section 33(2) of the Education Act states:

“A board shall establish, implement and maintain a policy respecting the board’s obligation under subsection (1)(d) to provide a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that includes the establishment of a code of conduct for students that addresses bullying behaviour.”

Black Gold School Division’s Administrative Procedure 350 on Student Conduct outlines specific misbehaviours to be grounds for possible probation, suspension or expulsion. BGSD Administrative Procedure 350 also states that each school principal must establish, maintain, and regularly review a set of expectations for student behaviour, hereby referred to as the Code of Student Conduct. 

Ohpaho Secondary School Code of Student Conduct

Personal responsibility and discipline are key to a safe and orderly school environment. Clear behavioural expectations, supportive interventions for challenging behaviours, and alternatives to suspension or expulsion are preferred methods of positive discipline.

Students are expected to cooperate respectfully with all staff, including support staff, bus drivers, custodians, coaches, supervisors, and substitute teachers, both in and out of class. They should adhere to all school and classroom rules and conduct themselves in an exemplary manner.

1. Grounds for Disciplinary Action

While it is not possible to reasonably foresee all grounds for disciplinary action, clear examples of unacceptable behaviour that could lead to disciplinary action by OSS administration include:

1. Discrimination in any form as defined in the Alberta Human Rights Act;
2. Any action deemed non-compliant or in contravention with
   1. The Education Act section 31 and/or 33(2); 
   2. Black Gold School Division Administrative Procedure 350; 
   3. CSS Student Code of Conduct.
3. Conduct that is deemed disruptive and/or inhibits the process of learning for others;
4. Conduct that is deemed by school administration as threatening, aggressive or intimidating;
5. Conduct that is injurious to the physical or mental well-being of others, including verbal threats or inappropriate comments, whether or not the threats or comments are explicitly stated, written, or posted online;
6. Conduct deemed to exhibit mean behaviour; 
7. Conduct deemed to be inappropriate physical intimacy; 
8. Conduct deemed to be indicative of a poor attitude towards learning (e.g. disregard for punctuality to class, not coming to classes prepared, etc.);
9. Conduct deemed to be bullying and/or cyberbullying;
10. Conduct that causes a student or students to be subjected to forms of punishment or indignities (hazing/froshing);
11. Conduct deemed to be harassment or sexual harassment;
12. Assaulting another person;
13. Damage to property, including personal possessions of staff or other students;
14. Abuse of the Division computer network, the internet, email or any electronic privileges; 
15. Tampering with fire, fire alarm or safety equipment;
16. Possession of a weapon or weapon replica while on school property that is dangerous or has the appearance of being dangerous to students and/or staff;
17. Displaying or brandishing a weapon or weapon-replica in a threatening or intimidating manner;
18. Any possession, use, or act of exhibiting the effects of the influence of any of the following prohibited substances, regardless of the student’s age (i.e., 18+) in school and on school/Division property or at school/Division related events or onsite or offsite activities:
    1. Illicit (illegal) substances as defined in the Controlled Substances Act of Canada;
    2. Tobacco products (including vapour or e-cigarettes); 
    3. Cannabis products (including derivatives); 
    4. Alcohol; 
    5. Inhalants;
19. Any action deemed to be in alignment with trafficking, giving, sharing, trading, selling or distributing to any other student or group of students, by any means, a prohibited substance including, but not limited to illicit or controlled substances, tobacco products, cannabis products, alcohol or inhalants;
20. Possession or distribution (in any form) of paraphernalia, including any item used in connection with ingesting, selling and/or distributing prohibited substances;
21. Conduct that displays an attitude of willful, blatant or repeated refusal to comply with school rules or the reasonable direction of any school staff member.

2. Schedule of Disciplinary Action

Discipline refers to specific corrective learning – and not punishment – that is intended to build foundational behaviours and habits of mind that will actively contribute to an individual’s well-being and success. Learning shall be the foundation and primary consideration of any disciplinary action. 

OSS disciplinary actions may include, but are not limited to:

1. Problem-solving, monitoring, or reviewing behaviour expectations with student and reprimand;
2. Parental involvement that may include a Disciplinary Hearing;
3. Assignment of designated tasks;
4. Temporary removal of privileges;
5. Detention of the student so long as the detention does not interfere with transportation or sustenance;
6. Implementation of an in-school short term learning opportunity (i.e. in-school suspension);
7. Establishment of a behavioural contract with the student;
8. Suspension, as defined in the Education Act (section 36), including:
   1. Suspension by the principal from riding the school bus;
   2. Suspension from a classroom period by the teacher;
   3. Suspension from any school-related activity; and/or
   4. Suspension from school, as per the Education Act, for up to five (5) days; and/or
9. Involvement of police.