L. A. Matheson Code of Conduct

L.A. Matheson Secondary School’s Code of Conduct is designed to provide guidelines for appropriate student behaviour while under the jurisdiction of the school (which includes travelling to and from school), while at any school-sponsored function or where engaging in the activity will have impact on a Safe, Caring and Orderly School environment. 

Students have a responsibility to respect the rights and dignity of others and to become actively involved in their own academic learning and social growth.

Safe & Caring School Environments:

Are Free From Acts Of
• bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, threat, intimidation
• violence in any form
• abuse in any form
• discrimination in any form
• theft
• vandalism
• retribution against a person who has reported incidents

Do Not Tolerate the Presence Of
• intoxicating or banned substances
• weapons or replica weapons and explosives
• intruders or trespassers (All visitors to the school must first report to the office)

Or Misuse Of
• Cyberspace/Cell Phones/Electronic Devices/Computers - students are to be aware that they may be subject to discipline (or, if applicable, confiscation of personal property) for misuse of technology if it negatively impacts on the school environment

Forms of unacceptable conduct cited above are only some examples and not an all-inclusive list.

Each student is expected to:

1. Develop positive attitudes and behaviors by:
• Allowing others to work without distraction or undue noise.
• Moving around hallways & grounds without causing harm to others.
• Caring for school property and equipment.
• Using language free from profanity.
• Dressing in clean, appropriate clothing.
• Ensuring that litter is placed in containers.
• Refraining from unacceptable personal behaviours such as spitting
anywhere on school property.

2. Work to achieve the objectives set out for each class session by:
• Being neat and thorough in completing assignments.
• Bringing appropriate equipment and materials to class.
• Asking for assistance when material is not understood.
• Completing any assignments missed due to absence.

3. Attend school on a regular basis as demonstrated by:
• Attending each class regularly and being on time for each class.
• Being absent only for sufficient reason.
• Bringing a note or having a parent telephone the school for each
absence.
• Realizing that absence without sufficient reason will have
consequences.

4. Respect the feelings of others by:
• Being courteous in word and action to others.
• Using appropriate language.
• Treating others as equals, regardless of colour, race, religion, disability,
or sex.

5. Respect the property of others by:
• Not taking the property of others without permission.
• Not damaging or hiding the property of others.
• Not defacing lockers, textbooks, etc.

6. Participate in appropriate decision making processes by:
• Being involved with the student council and their committees
• Communicating with their student council class representative to
express their opinions.

7. Work to solve your problems by:
• Discussing a problem with a teacher or counsellor.
• Talking to a vice principal or the principal.

8. Respect the ethnic, cultural and linguistic heritage of others by:
• Treating others as you would be treated.

9. Becoming knowledgeable about, and assume responsibility for conducting
himself/herself within this code of behaviour.

ALCOHOL AND DRUGS
Being under the influence or in possession of either drugs or alcohol are serious
offences that could lead to disciplinary consequences, including suspension from
the school. Students involved in drugs or alcohol may also be referred to legal
authorities.

AGENDA USE
Student agenda must be used to be excused from class for any reason,
including: washroom, library, locker, and water fountain.

SERIOUS OFFENCES
A school must provide a safe and comfortable environment for students to learn
effectively. Consequently certain actions must be dealt with severely by the
school, the school board, or the law. These include but are not limited to:
a. The use of foul, offensive or racist language towards staff or other
students in or around the school.
b. The use of physical violence, sexual harrassment , verbal threats or racist behaviour in or
around the school.
c. The willful disobedience to teachers, or other adult school personnel.
d. Possession in school of weapons or imitation weapons. Laser pointers
and belt chains are considered potential weapons.
e. The causing of a false fire alarm; the use or sale of fireworks.
f. The causing of willful damage to school property or the property of
teachers or students.
g. Being under the influence of, or in the possession of, alcohol or drugs
while at school or at a school function.
h. Smoking on school premises.
i. Theft

Consequences
Consequences will be applied to unacceptable conduct in accordance with Surrey School District Safe & Caring Schools Reg. 9410.2 Disciplinary Guide. Progressive discipline methods based on the severity and the frequency of the behaviour and age of the student, will be implemented to alter the inappropriate and/or unsafe behaviour.

Notification
As circumstances warrant, administrators have a responsibility to advise other parties following an incident:
• parents/guardians of the student offender(s)
• parents/guardians of the student victim(s)
• Surrey School Board officials will be contacted as required by School District Policy,    (i.e. Level I, II and III suspensions
• police and other agencies as required by law
• school staff and school community as deemed appropriate by the school administration and/or District administration

           
L.A. Matheson Secondary School Code of Conduct has been structured to align with and adhere to the standards outlined in:
The School Act 85(1.1) 168 (2) (s.1) Provincial Standards Ministerial Order 276/07, effective October 17, 2007
B.C. Human Rights Code, as depicted in School District No. 36 (Surrey) Anti-Discrimination & Human Rights Policy No. 10900 and Regulation No. 10900.1
B.C. Ministry of Education: Safe, Caring and Orderly Schools A Guide (Nov. 2008) and Developing and Reviewing Codes of Conduct: A Companion (Aug. 2007), both found at
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sco/
Surrey School District Safe & Caring Schools Policy 9410, Reg. 9410.1 and Disciplinary Guide 9410.2, found on the District website at http://www.sd36.bc.ca/Board/Policies/

CELLULAR TELEPHONES
Students should be mindful that cellular telephones are not to be used inside the
school building. If you need to make or receive a call on your cellular telephone,
please do so outside the building, outside of class time. During class time and at
all school functions, cellular telephones are to be turned off and kept out of sight.
Students are not to send or receive text messages on their cellular telephones
inside the school building. The use of “cell phone cameras” is strictly prohibited
inside the school. Cell phones used inside the school may be confiscated

ATTENDANCE
Regular school attendance is a major factor contributing to student success in
school. We expect that students enrolled at L.A. Matheson Secondary will attend
school regularly by reporting on time for scheduled classes. Students will be
requested to bring notes from home to account for missed classes. Irregular
attendance may result in you and your parents meeting with your vice principal
and could result in your withdrawal from school.
From time to time parents may request that students not attend school to attend
various family functions or other events deemed important by the parents.
Whenever possible, we request that the school be informed in advance of
scheduled absences so that we can assist in planning for the interruption in the
student’s education. It is important to note that while the school will attempt to
accommodate these requests, school work will be missed. It may not be possible
to make up the missed work and this may result in a lower grade.

1. Truancy
Truancy is defined as “absence from class or school without valid reasons”.
A student who is found to be truant may be assigned a school suspension. If
a student continues to be truant he/she may be suspended from school.

2. Leaving Early
Students who must leave school early are expected to sign out at the office.
We expect students signing out to provide the office the parent/guardian’s
written permission for early dismissal. In cases where written permission is
not provided, the office staff will phone home to obtain verbal permission
from the parent/guardian.

Never leave the school premises during class time without first
notifying the office. To do so is truancy.

LITTER
It is everyone’s responsibility to keep the building, grounds, and the surrounding
community free of refuse. Use the garbage containers provided. If you like to
frequent the fast food outlets in the neighborhood, and eat on your way back
to school, keep your refuse until you get here. Our neighbors do not appreciate
litter on their property and the school suffers when its reputation is tarnished by
students who litter.

SCENTS AND FRAGRANCES
Students and staff are requested not to wear perfumes, colognes, etc. Many
staff and students are allergic to fragrances.

SCHOOL FUNCTIONS
When you attend a school function, even when it is away from the school, you
are expected to demonstrate the responsible behavior that is characteristic of a
mature young adult. School functions include dances, skating parties, athletic
events, concerts, trips, Grad Dinner Dance and any other activity that is being
sponsored by the school. You will be made aware of specific expectations and
rules governing these events, and it is your responsibility to adhere to them.

WASHROOMS
Our washrooms are meant to serve the needs of our students. These areas
should be used for their intended purpose, and not as lunchrooms, places for
social gatherings, message boards, or smoking areas. You must have teacher
permission through the use of a signed agenda book to go to the washroom
during class time.

SKATEBOA RDS
Skateboarding is only permitted on the back basketball court,
before and after school and during lunch hour. Boarding on
other areas of school property is not allowed.

DRESS REGULAT IONS
The general rule for the dress code is for students to dress in a
manner appropriate to establish a positive learning atmosphere at
school. This means that clothes that may be appropriate for other
settings may not be appropriate for school. School administration
reserves the right to make the best judgment possible about what is
or is not appropriate clothing.
The following list was developed to provide guidelines to students:
• Wear footwear at all times.
• Shorts and skirts must be of sufficient length.
• Graphic art or lettering on clothing must have acceptable
words and pictures. Slogans including violence or profanity, hatred or
discrimination toward any person or group, or promoting illegal drugs or
abuse of alcohol are not acceptable. Again, school administration reserves
the right to determine what is or is not appropriate.
• Jewelry must not be aggressive in nature. Sharp edges or points are a
potential safety concern and must not be worn at school. Chains of any size
(including wallet chains) are not acceptable and should be left at home.
• Tops must cover the majority of the upper body. This means the back, chest,
and navel must be sufficiently covered. Pants/skirts must cover the majority
of the lower torso. This means the lower back and lower stomach must be
sufficiently covered.
• Undergarments must not be prominently in sight.
• Special physical education dress is required – shorts, t-shirts, sweat socks,
and running shoes.
• Hats are not to be worn in the building.
Students will be asked to cover up or change should these guidelines be violated
in the judgement of a school administrator. Students who refuse to comply with
these guidelines may be sent home until a parent meeting has occurred.

NO HATS POLICY
For security reasons, L.A. Matheson is a hats off school. This means that
students are not to wear hats, headbands or other head
coverings while in the school building. This rule is in effect
at all times. Hats worn may be confiscated. Head coverings
that are worn consistently as part of a religious belief are
exceptions to this policy.

VISITORS
While visitors with an important educational purpose are always welcome
in our school, casual visitors are not welcome. All visitors, especially school
age visitors, must report to the office upon arrival. Visitors who arrive with no
particular purpose in mind will be considered intruders and asked to leave. Do
not invite people to visit you here. Meet them away from the school. Likewise,
L.A. Matheson students are not permitted to visit other schools without
permission.