BEHAVIOURAL EXPECTATIONS

PEBS “Positive Effective Behaviour Supports”
When it comes to teaching students curriculum at school, teachers are given guidelines and outcomes. These outcomes are what we want learners to take away from the information and exploration they are engaged in various learning environments at school. The guidelines help us stay focused as educators, assess student learning and be consistent with other schools offering similar courses. We appreciate that students come from various environments, they have various support systems and needs and we do our best to meet those needs in our school.
Achievement, consistency, needs and support - all words that we are familiar with in the classroom setting when it comes to academics and student performance.
Let us not forget that a major part of students meeting their top potential is demonstrating the behavioural expectations we set and model for them at school.
This year South Queens Junior High will be continuing with year #2 of a system of discipline called Positive Effective Behaviour Supports or “PEBS” – This approach emphasizes teaching, modeling and rewarding consistent positive behavioural practices across the curriculum, in all parts of the school setting. SQJHS will continue to recognize students that consistently demonstrate best behavioural practices by taking responsibility for their learning and behaviour, being respectful of others and assisting to keep our school safe.
In addition, teachers will track students not meeting these expectations. Home communication, opportunities for learning, after school detention and Behaviour Support Plans are tools that will also be used in this systems approach at SQJHS.

1. OUR Behavioural Expectations

A “matrix” of behavioural expectations has been created and will be presented and taught to students at South Queens. Our behavioural matrix will be posted throughout the school, included in this agenda and sent home for review and home reference purposes. Students will become familiar with it through lessons and daily reference by school staff. The matrix is our “curriculum for behavioural instruction” so to speak. It clearly outlines the expected behaviours in all areas of the school relating to being personally RESPONSIBLE, RESPECTFUL and SAFE.
 

2. Our “MINOR, MIDDLE and MAJOR” behaviours

All infractions to the behavioural expectations at SQJHS are taken seriously. Based on information collected through disciplinary office visits and teacher classroom management information we have compiled the list below.
Behaviours are identified and immediately applied to the following categories by the attending staff member(s). Please consult the “Consequences” section to see how these infractions are dealt with at our school.

**Behavioural expectations relating to the PEBS Program apply to all school-related activities, including extra curricular trips**

Minor Behaviours:

Middle Behaviours:

Major Behaviours:

3. OUR CONSEQUENCES

Minors
These behaviours are handled by the classroom teacher or attending staff member.
Step #1   Verbal reminder to the student of the expected, appropriate behaviour(s)
  - Indication of infraction on class day sheet
Step #2 Verbal reminder to the student of the expected, appropriate behaviour(s)
- Indication of infraction on class day sheet
- Restitution by the student
Step #3 Verbal reminder to the student of the expected, appropriate behaviour(s)
- Indication of infraction on class day sheet
- Restitution by the student
- Natural consequence applied by attending staff member
- Home contact made by attending staff member
Step #4 Go directly to Step #2 of “Middles”

Middles
These behaviours are handled initially by the attending staff member and are referred to the administration if they become chronic.

Step #1 Verbal reminder to the student of the expected, appropriate behaviour(s)
- Indication of infraction on class day sheet
- Restitution by the student
- Natural consequence applied by attending staff member
- Home contact made by attending staff member
- Referral to School Counsellor
Step #2 Verbal reminder to the student of the expected, appropriate behaviour(s)
- Indication of infraction on class day sheet
- Restitution by the student
- Natural consequence applied by attending staff member
- Home contact made by attending staff member
- Referral to administration
- Referral to School Counsellor
- If suspended, a copy of the suspension letter will be sent home and placed in the student discipline file.
Step #3 Verbal reminder to the student of the expected, appropriate behaviour(s)
- Referral to administration
- Home contact made by administration
- Parent/Guardian conference with administration prior to student returning from suspension
- Referral to School Counsellor
- If suspended, a copy of the suspension letter will be sent home and placed in the student discipline file.

Majors
These behaviours are immediately referred to the administration

Step #1 Verbal reminder to the student of the expected, appropriate behaviour(s)
- Referral to administration
- Home contact made by administration
- Restitution by the student
- Parent/Guardian conference with administration prior to student returning from suspension – contract created
- Referral to School Counsellor
- If suspended, a copy of the suspension letter will be sent home and placed in the student discipline file.
Step #2 Verbal reminder to the student of the expected, appropriate behaviour(s)
- Referral to administration
- Home contact made by administration
- Referral to School Counsellor
- Parent/Guardian conference with administration prior to student returning from suspension - contract created
- If suspended, a copy of the suspension letter will be sent home and placed in the student discipline file.
Step#3 Verbal reminder to the student of the expected, appropriate behaviour(s)
- Referral to administration
- Home contact made by administration
- Parent/Guardian conference with administration prior to student returning from suspension –contract created
- Referral to School Counsellor
- If suspended, a copy of the suspension letter will be sent home and placed in the student discipline file.
 

The role of a substitute teacher is especially difficult. A substitute teacher is not familiar with school rules, routines and student names unless they have been in for an extended time.

Students are to respect and adhere to the instructions of a substitute teacher without hesitation. Non-compliance and rude behaviour will not be tolerated and will be dealt with immediately.

Teachers may assign detentions to be served in their room. The school administration may also assign detentions.

In the event that behavioural expectations are not met in accordance with the PEBS guidelines and/or school board policy, students may be suspended from the school, bus and all related school functions for a specified period of time.

The school administration may suspend a student for up to five consecutive school days. Both in-school and out of school suspensions may be assigned. Students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) may be expected to meet with the administration to review expectations prior to their return to school.

Any recommendations for a longer suspension must be confirmed by the Discipline Committee of the School Advisory Council.

No person, student or adult, may smoke in the school building, on school property or in vehicles on school property. The ruling is in effect at all after school and week-end activities, as well as during the regular school day. It also applies to all visitors to the school.

Smoking will not be tolerated and anyone caught will be dealt with appropriately. We do intend to administer these rules in a way that will not take an undue amount of our time and effort. To that end, we have defined smoking as either:

1. actually holding a lit cigarette or other tobacco product or

2. being in possession of a cigarette, other tobacco product or the means to light them (matches or lighter).

We request all parents to view this matter seriously and to help end smoking on school property and at school activities.

Students are not to have lighters, knives, rifle ammunition, laser pointers or any dangerous materials in their possession while travelling on the school bus or at school. School Board policies will be followed. Suspension is the usual consequence.

In a continuing commitment to address school safety and improve the general school climate, South Queens Junior High School will be focusing on the School Board’s Race Relations, Cross Cultural Understanding and Human Rights Policy (R.C.H. Policy). The policy states that “our goals of education will be most effectively pursued within an environment that promotes the dignity and self-worth of every person”.

During the school year, staff and students will be using a common language. The terms harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination and stereotyping will be emphasized. Students will be taught what harassment means, how to identify when it is happening to the student and possible consequences for the harasser.

This education boils down to the following procedure:

Sexual harassment should be reported immediately.