Code of Conduct

J. Alfred Laird Elementary School 

Code of Conduct 

Our Code of Conduct helps our school community to be a safe and caring environment, where all students are encouraged to create, think, and learn. This code is grounded in progressive discipline that focuses on learning and restorative practices. Our code is based on three pillars:  

Respect for myself may look like: 

• Taking responsibility for my words and actions, sometimes with support
• Speaking positively about myself 
• Asking and accepting help when I need:  
  • a break 
  • materials or tools 
  • instructions repeated 
• Being “ready to learn” and participating to the best of my ability 
• Attending school regularly
• Learning how sleep and nutrition support learning and growing
• Learning how regular exercise and time outdoors helps me grow and learn
• Practicing healthy habits
• Following adult direction
• Putting my cellphone away while I’m at school  
• Using playground equipment safely and appropriately

Respect for others may look like: 

• Being kind and friendly to others
• Using school-appropriate language 
• Telling the truth 
• Including others, cooperating, and treating everyone with kindness and respect 
• Caring about the needs of others and accepting their differences 
• Valuing the feelings, ideas, stories, and experiences shared by others 
• Actively listening to understand the views of others 
• Respecting the learning needs of others 
• Waiting and taking turns 
• Going to a teacher or trusted adult when others are being unsafe 
• Keeping my body to myself 
• Playing fairly and by the rules 
• Being a good digital citizen

Respect for this school community may look like: 

• Showing care and respect for the natural world
• Only taking the supplies I need and using them wisely
• Being respectful of other peoples' belongings
• Behaving appropriately in shared spaces
• Cleaning up after myself and others
• Taking pride in the appearance of my school and community

If I am unable to follow our school’s Code of Conduct, staff will support my learning in  making better choices. The focus will always be on learning and restoring relationships within my school community. I will be given opportunities, strategies, and support in changing my behaviour through progressive discipline. This may look like: 

• Giving me some calm-down time; 
• Helping me make a plan for how I am going to make things right; 
• Contacting my parents to help develop a plan; 
• Providing a different space in the school where I can work; 
• Removing privileges (such as having my phone at school, or going outside for recess) until I have shown I can manage myself; 

If I am being unsafe or I have intentionally hurt someone, I may have to go home. That’s because every person in our school deserves to feel safe. When I return to school, staff will help me make things right with those I have hurt. I will be welcomed back by our school community and supported in learning and restorative action. We strive to be a community that is caring, kind, and respectful to one another; we are all growing and learning.  

Bullying will not be tolerated at J. Alfred Laird. Bullying is when someone repeatedly hurts or scares another person on purpose. It can include actions such as: 

• Punching, shoving and other acts that hurt people physically 
• Spreading bad rumours about people 
• Keeping certain people out of a group 
• Teasing people in a mean way 
• Getting certain people to “gang up” on others 

If someone is engaging in bullying behaviour, parents will be contacted. The person bullying someone else may be required to stay at home until a clear plan can be put in place. That person will be removed from situations where they have contact with the victim, which may mean that they will be supported during recess and lunch time. Restorative plans will be put in place and the school may work with my family to access community services, such as police and/or counselling. We will always work in helping the person to understand the impact of their actions and making better choices. 

In accordance with Ministry of Education and Rocky Mountain SD6 policy, student cell phones and digital devices may not be used while on school grounds. Exceptions will be made for students using their phone as a medical device, or when cell phone use has been prescribed in a student's Individual Education Plan (IEP). Students are encouraged to drop their phone off at the office each morning, where we will charge them in readiness for the end-of-the-day. 

Updated September 2024