Code of Conduct

All schools in the Halifax Regional School Board are guided by the “Regional Code of Conduct” Policy.

Respect

It is expected that school members will exhibit behavior that shows respect for the rights, property and safety of themselves and others.

Responsibility

It is expected that school members will accept personal responsibility for their behavior in order to maintain a safe and productive learning environment.

Rights

It is expected that school members will honour the rights of others through the process of learning and demonstrating appropriate behavior in the context of social responsibility.

The above principles are supported by the Education Act under several sections including the Preamble and those pertaining to the duties of students, parents, teachers, superintendents, and support staff.

Standards of Behavior

School members will:

• show respect for the rights, property and safety of themselves and others
• respect and appreciate diversity of all school members regardless of their race, culture, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and ability
• express themselves with socially acceptable language and gestures
• exhibit behavior that avoids all forms of intimidation, harassment, racism, and discrimination
• dress in accordance with school dress standards
• treat school property and the property of others with a reasonable standard of care
• respect the responsibility of all school members in exercising their duties
• promote positive behavior through the avoidance of all types of violent acts
• refrain from the possession of any form of a weapon on school property
• refrain from the possession of, and being under the influence of, all forms of intoxicants on school property
• as appropriate, attend classes, activities and events and be prepared and punctual

The integrity of the Lockview High School program depends upon each student’s strict adherence to academic honesty.  Plagiarism, cheating, misrepresentation, falsification of records or academic work, and abuse of computer passwords and accounts constitute violations of school policy.

Cheating:  Cheating involves submitting work in a written assignment or exam that is not your own.  Cheating includes:

·         copying someone else’s work

·         allowing someone else to copy your work

·         having someone else complete your work for you

·         using unauthorized material to help you complete your work

LHS students may not receive or give unauthorized assistance in preparation of any work required for submission for course credit.

Plagiarism:  Plagiarism is a special kind of cheating in which you basically steal someone else’s work and present it as your own.  If you use the ideas, words, statements, theories, data, figures, graphs, or electronic information of another person or source to support your ideas, you must always give credit to the person or source.  Guidelines for citing sources are available from teachers and in the library.

The complete Nova Scotia Department of Education’s Public School Program’s Internet Code of Conduct can be found at:

http://www.ednet.ns.ca/pdfdocs/internet/english/internet.pdf

Cheating or plagiarism detected in an assignment, test, or exam, may result in reduced marks, loss of value of the assignment, loss of credit, suspension, and/or legal action.

It is important for students to complete their assignments on time so that teachers can provide timely feedback.  Timely assessment information helps teachers and students to make decisions and plan next steps for instruction and learning.

Assignments require due dates.  When timelines and due dates are specified, teachers must make provisions for students who legitimately miss the dates.  In such cases, the teacher and student should consult together in order to set an absolute deadline and negotiate a plan for successful completion.

No extensions will be given to students without a legitimate reason.  Students who miss the due date without a legitimate reason have missed an opportunity to demonstrate progress toward the expected learning outcomes.  The missed due date will influence the student’s summative evaluation.

The Nova Scotia Education Act clearly defines student attendance as a responsibility that is shared among parents, students, teachers, principals and the school board.

Students are responsible for:

·          Attending school and arriving punctually.

·          Providing a written excuse for late arrival (by the next day’s class).

·          Abiding by the Board’s attendance policy.

·          Participating fully in learning opportunities.

·          Completing all work missed during excused and unexcused absences.

Parents and guardians are expected to:

·          Ensure that their children attend school and arrive punctually every school day.

·          Phone or provide the school with a dated and signed written excuse within 3 school days in the event that their child is absent or no later than the next day’s class if their child is late.

·          Communicate with their children about the importance of daily attendance and punctuality and their effect on learning and achievement.

·          Inform school administrators of any special circumstances that may have an effect on their child’s attendance prior to the date of absence.

Special Circumstance Absences:

There are several circumstances for which a student will be marked absent due to special circumstances.  These include:

·          Student has a documented acute or chronic medical condition requiring hospitalisation or specialist appointments.

·          Student is absent due to a verifiable religious observance.

·          Student is absent due to a death in the immediate family.

·          Student is absent as a result of participation in an educational opportunity or special activity as deemed appropriate by school administration (e.g. participation in a recognized provincial, national or international competition).  This designation always requires administrative approval prior to the event.

·          Student is absent as a direct result of legal obligations, supported by court subpoenas or appropriate documentation.

·          Student is absent due to a suspension by school administration.

NOTE: Special Circumstances Absences DO COUNT towards loss of exam exemptions.

If a student has missed no more than six classes (all of which must be excused absences) in each course in which s/he is enrolled, then the student can elect not to write one final examination of his/her choice.    Because the mark will be based on class evaluation, it is understood that the student cannot miss any tests or major pieces of evaluation during the semester.  Curriculum field trips and other school-sanctioned activities are excluded from absences. Provincially mandated NSE examinations are not eligible for exemption.

·         A student who has had an out-of-school suspension does not qualify for the Attendance Incentive Program. 

·         Special Circumstance Absences do contribute toward the loss of exam exemptions.

·         Exam Exemptions do not apply to grade 9 students

Students who are absent from class must bring a signed and dated note from their parent/guardian within three school days of their return to school explaining the dates and reason for their absence.  This note should be brought to the secretary in the Student Services Office.  Alternatively, the parent/guardian may phone the school on the day of the student’s absence (Ext.1).  These absences will be considered Excused.

Missed classes that are not covered in the above manner will be deemed Unexcused and students will be ineligible for an exam exemption.

Late Arrival to Class:

Ø       Students are expected to be in class when the bell rings. Students arriving late disrupt learning opportunities for their classmates.  If a student is late for class without an acceptable reason, s/he is recorded as late. 

Ø       Chronic lateness may be referred to administration.

4 lates = 1 unexcused absence which will result in the loss of an exam exemption.

Final Grades / Transcripts:

Students who are removed from a course for attendance reasons will receive a failing mark on their permanent transcript calculated based on the work they have completed to the date of their withdrawal.  A student who is removed from a course must continue to attend the class as a supervised study period.

Courses Change Requests:

a.       Course changes are subject to approval by Guidance Counsellors in exceptional circumstances only.

b.       Course Change Request forms are available in the Student Services office for grade 12 students only for post-secondary admissions only.

c.       Students will not be permitted to drop or change a course after the published course change date.

d.       If a student withdraws from a course during the semester, the mark earned will remain on their official transcript.

Students Living on Their Own:

All provisions of the Attendance Policy apply to students living on their own.  In such cases, all contact regarding the student’s attendance will be made with the student.  Students must apply for this status through Student Services.

Signing Out During the School Day:

If a student must leave school during the day due to an appointment, the student is asked to report to the Student Services Office.  If the absence was pre-planned, (e.g. for an appointment) the parent/guardian should either phone the attendance line (ext.1), or send a note excusing the absence.  If the student has suddenly become ill during the day, a parent/guardian will be notified prior to the student being excused from school.

Parents and guardians can subscribe to our ‘George’ online program to receive reports of student attendance and much more.  George allows a parent or student to: 

·         view student attendance via the Internet

·         receive weekly email reports of student attendance

·         view Transcript and ‘progress towards graduation’ information

·         access the school’s calendar and event information

Students at Lockview can access ‘George’ by using their computer network username and password. Parents and guardians can request an account by filling out the online form at: george.ednet.ns.ca or by using the link to ‘George’ on the school’s web site: http://lockview.ednet.ns.ca. George accounts only allow access to the personal information of a parent’s child and not to the information of other students.

All students are required to have on file at the school a signed (by student and parent/guardian) Computer/Internet Acceptable Use Policy consent form.  This form is usually passed in at the beginning of the grade 9 year.  A username and password is then issued to the student and usually kept until the end of grade 12.

Students are not to share their password with other users and all computer/internet use at school must be in support of curriculum objectives and not for recreational or other unauthorized use.

Only the NS Department of Education’s IMP Web Mail email accounts are to be used at school (e.g. no Hot Mail accounts). Chat-type programs and sites (e.g. MSN, ICQ) are strictly prohibited.

Electronic mail accounts are to be used for responsible communicating only.  The use of obscene, profane, forged, anonymous, nuisance, harassing, abusive, false, rude, inflammatory, or threatening messages is not permitted.  Email is not private.  It can and will be monitored.

Personal laptop computers and other portable technology may not be connected to the school’s computer network.

Students and parents should read and become familiar with the school’s Computer/Internet Acceptable Use Policy.  Questions can be directed to subject teachers or a school administrator.

Cell Phone Use:

The Halifax Regional School Board believes that all students have a right to feel safe and a right to privacy in our schools.   There are telephones in every classroom and it is not necessary to bring a cell phone or pager to school.  Cell phone use is disruptive to the learning environment and, if inappropriately used, it can violate the right to privacy of students and staff.  Consequently, cell phones and pagers are NOT permitted to be used anywhere in the school building during the school day.

Electronic Devices:

Electronic devices such as MP3 players, (iPods, etc.) cameras, and cell phones are NOT needed in the learning environment.

Students who bring these items to school do so completely at their own risk.

The school accepts no responsibility or liability for the loss or theft of these items.

Gambling: 

All forms of gambling, with or without money, are prohibited on the school site.  The use of poker chips or other objects used to gamble are also prohibited.

Smoking:

The use of tobacco products is strictly prohibited on school property by NS provincial law. The consequences of using tobacco products at school may be:

§         A conference with the student and a parent

§         A referral to a smoking cessation program

§         An In-School Suspension

§         An Out-of-School Suspension

School Property:

It is STRONGLY recommended that students remain on school property throughout the day.  Students who choose to leave the school site should have their parent/guardian’s permission to do so. Students are only permitted to be on the cleared areas of the school property and MUST NOT go into the woods surrounding the school. Students who go into the wooded areas may be suspended.

Student Vehicles:

There are a limited number of parking spaces available for students. Students must apply for Parking Permits. Grade 12 students will be given first priority, then grade 11 students, and so on. Students who drive a vehicle to school must apply for a parking permit and will:

Ø       park at their own risk

Ø       display their school Parking Permit prominently on the dashboard

Ø       park in the designated student parking lot

Ø       not park in the bus loop, fire lanes, or staff parking lot

Ø       drive responsibly and obey all laws and posted traffic signs

Students are not permitted to loiter in or around vehicles during the school day.

The school is not responsible for monitoring parking areas or for any damage that may occur to vehicles.  Vehicles not displaying a valid permit may be ticketed and/or towed.

Dress Code:

Staff, students, and visitors are expected to dress appropriately for an educational setting. Clothing which is overly revealing or that displays inappropriate language, offensive phrases and symbols, or promotes alcohol or other drugs are not acceptable.

Appropriate Use of Building:

Lockview has a student and staff population of over 1300 individuals.  Appropriate, respectful, and safe behaviour at school is extremely important.

Students are asked not to stand in or near doorways or to block hallways or stairwells as this poses a safety hazard.

The use of sports equipment (basketballs, hacky sacks, and so on) is not permitted in the school other than in the gymnasium.

Garbage and recycling containers are located throughout the building. Students are asked to promptly dispose of their garbage and not leave waste on cafetorium tables or on hallway floors.

Skateboards and Bicycles are NOT to be used on school property.

Study Periods:

Grade 11 and 12 students are permitted to have a study period in their timetable. Students with a study period will either go to the cafetorium, the library, or outside.  Students must not be in the main forum, hallways or Pod areas during class time.

It is of vital importance that all individuals within our school respect those who are affected by the use of scented products, colognes and perfumes.  It is essential that all staff, students, and visitors to our school help to create an environment where all members of our school community can be healthy and safe.  Being fragrance-free is an important step in establishing a safe, healthy learning environment.  Students, staff and visitors are asked to wear unscented products.

The school’s Student Support Centre is a team of teachers and EPAs who offer support to all students, assisting them with many facets of high school life.  The following programs and services are available to help students reach their full potential: 

·         Academic, Career, Social Counselling

·         Individualized Program Plans

·         Transition Plans

·         Smart Program—Re-entry, mentorship program

·         Teen Lifestyle Centre

·         Career Programs

·         Anger Management / Social Skills programs

·         Peer Tutoring

·         Learning Strategy courses

Further information can be found through the Student Support link on Lockview’s website at: www.lockview.ednet.ns.ca

Lockview High has a strong commitment to honouring  students in various ways throughout the year for their achievements and successes. 

            Throughout the year students receive awards such as class highest mark, merit and Principal’s List, Honours List, or High Honours List.  The criteria for these are:

·         High Honours – Students must have a minimum average of 90% in all subjects with no mark in any subject below 80. 

·         Honours - Students must have a minimum average of 80% in all subjects with no mark in any subject below 70.

·          Principal’s List - Students must have a minimum average of 70% in all subjects with no mark in any subject below 60. 

If a student withdraws from any course at any time in either semester, the student is ineligible for High Honours, Honours or Principal’s List.

Co-Curricular Awards:

Students at Lockview High are offered a wide variety of athletic teams, clubs, organizations, and extra-curricular activities.  In early June, we host an Evening of Recognition for students and their families to honour the achievements of those who have participated in these programs.