Student Expectations

The Staff of St. John Brebeuf Catholic School will do everything in its power to create a Catholic learning community in which students will be able to develop their spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social/emotional potential. It is the expectation of the school that students will respond positively and avail themselves of opportunities presented.

Within this context, the school acknowledges the following rights and responsibilities for its students:

Rights

• to be respected in both person and conscience as a son/daughter of God
• to learn in a safe, orderly and stimulating environment free from disruption and physical and verbal harassment
• to receive a meaningful education
• to be treated justly and receive help from teachers and anyone in a position of authority, i.e patrols, custodians, educational assistants, volunteers
• to communicate their concerns to staff in confidence
  

Responsibilities

• to respect the person and the rights of all members of the school community
• to give respect, obedience and cooperation to all adults in positions of responsibility and trust in the school
• to comply with all particular school expectations and regulations respecting student behaviour
• to contribute positively to the Christian climate of the school
• to use language that is appropriate to their dignity as Catholics
• to adhere faithfully to the school dress code
• to respect the property of the school at all times: buildings, grounds, equipment, materials
• to be in attendance at all classes and scheduled activities on time and with the materials required for full participation
• to take part in the service offered by the school to its community;
• to participate fully in the religious life of the school, including the celebration of liturgy, Religious Education courses, and related activities
• to welcome the opportunity to participate, as appropriate to their status and conscience, in the sacramental life of the Church and, in particular, as it is celebrated in the school context
• to develop personal skills and talents to serve God and thereby his/her neighbour

Respect for staff

Students are expected to comply with the rules of the school and with the expectations of staff in the classrooms, hallways, the school grounds, and while on transportation or school sponsored activities. Behaviour which is inappropriate or disrespectful will result in disciplinary action.

Respect for the safety of others

• Students must respect the person and rights of all members of the school community without discrimination. St. John Brebeuf Catholic School stresses a “hands off” policy in order to eliminate acts of physical aggression.
• Student should not be present on school property outside of designated supervision times.
• On each school day, supervision begins at 8:35 a.m. and concludes at 3:30 p.m. The school will not assume responsibility for any injuries or accidents that occur on school property when supervision is not scheduled.
• Students are to enter and exit by their designated doors. Students are to remain outside of the school prior to 8:50 a.m. or after 3:30 pm unless taking part in an inside activity supervised by a staff member.
• Students participating in co-instructional activities are to proceed directly to the designated area.
• On inclement weather days the bell will ring early.
• Use of walkmans, discmans, personal radios and electronic games interfere with communication in a school environment. They are not to be used during instructional time.
• The use of cell phones on school property is prohibited!
• To maintain a clean and orderly school the following are required:
  - students and classroom teachers will determine the appropriate materials to be kept on the coat racks and shelves and other storage areas
  - the classrooms are to be kept neat and tidy
  - food is not to be consumed outside of designated areas
  - reduce, reuse, and recycle materials whenever possible. Students are asked to participate in the school's recycling program.
• When students are in the hallways, they are to walk and conduct themselves quietly.
• The office telephone is to be used only in cases of emergency with a staff member’s permission.
• Students who need to use the staffroom are to do so by knocking and gaining permission from a staff member in the staffroom. Students are to refrain from entering the staffroom when empty.
• Outside play is to stop prior to entering the school.
• Politeness and good manners are to be used with students, staff members, and visitors.

• Respect the individual rights of others including respect of property.
  - Opening and closing exercises are completed respectfully
  - No PUT DOWNS! For example: no racial slurs or name calling
  - Be attentive while others are talking
  - Take pride in their classroom and desk
  - Exercise safe practices with furniture and classroom materials
• Chewing gum is not allowed. Lozenges are permissible at the teacher's discretion.
• Permission is required to leave the classroom for any reason, except in an emergency.
• Appropriate clothes are required for Physical Education classes.
• If students remain for lunch or stay in at recess because of inclement weather, they are to stay seated, talk quietly, tidy up, etc.

Proper Language

• Students are expected to use language that is appropriate to the dignity of Catholics and the dignity of others. Coarse, profane or vulgar language, or taking God’s name in vain are unacceptable.

Respect for the property of others

• Students are expected to demonstrate care and respect for school grounds, the school buildings, and the contents of such.
• Students and parents should be aware that in the interests of maintaining order and discipline, in the course of an investigation by school authorities, lockers, desks and student property may be searched.

Lunch Rooms

• Students are expected to consume all food and beverages in their classroom seats and when dismissed, proceed directly outside in an orderly manner. Facilities utilized by the students must be kept clean and tidy.

School Resources

• Parents will be notified of students who lose, fail to return, or damage school resources (i.e. library books, textbooks, musical instruments, etc.) and will be required to make restitution.

Cubbies, Lockers and Desks

• Cubbies, lockers and desks are school property, with students having temporary use only. It is expected that they will be kept neat and clean.

Littering

• Students are expected to keep the buildings, grounds, and neighbourhood clean. They are expected to deposit all scrap paper, wrappers, etc. into waste baskets or recycling containers.

Theft

• Expectations are that the property of others is respected. Permission to use other people's property must be obtained prior to the use. Theft will be treated as a serious offence since it violates the spirit of respect for the property of others and contravenes civil and divine law. Police may be called if deemed appropriate.
  
  Students are discouraged from bringing personal items of value to school.

Vandalism/Willful Damage

• Parents will be notified of students who destroy, deface, or otherwise damage property related to the Board and school community and will be required to make restitution where appropriate. Students may be suspended and the police may be called and charges laid if warranted.

Attendance and Punctuality

St. John Brebeuf Catholic School sets out as the responsibility of each student to be in attendance at all classes and scheduled activities on time and with the proper material required for full participation.

Regular attendance on the part of students is vital to the process of learning. Students who habitually miss class will suffer in the evaluation process because participation and achievement cannot be fully assessed.

Students are responsible for bringing to class the proper materials required for full participation, as outlined by the teacher. Deficiencies in this aspect of student behaviour ranges from forgetfulness or poor organization to habitual neglect of duty.

St. John Brebeuf Catholic School expectations are as follows with respect to attendance and punctuality:

• Students are to be punctual.
• A phone call from the parent/guardian is requested to inform the school each day that a student will be absent or late. A call (519) 833-9994 before 8:50 a.m. must be made each day there is to be an absence. This assists in the effective running of the Attendance Monitoring Program. (The school has an answering machine which can be accessed at anytime.)
• If a student is staying for lunch, they are to remain on school property for the recess period. Students who stay for lunch and who wish to leave school property at the lunch hour are to have a dated note from their parents/guardians requesting that the student be allowed to leave school property. Students are to share the note with their classroom teacher and the office staff before they leave the school property. Students going off of school property for lunch are to consume all food and drink before coming back on to the school grounds.
•  All students will be expected to go outside during recess unless:
  - they are, with proper supervision, involved in co-curricular activities;
  - they are working with a staff member;
  - a medical certificate indicates otherwise. (Supervision will occur at the office.) A dated medical certificate from the doctor must indicate clearly that the child is to remain inside the school for recess, the reason for same, the beginning and ending date for the request for inside recess and be properly dated and signed by the doctor.
  - an "indoor recess" is declared due to inclement weather.

Academics

The following pertains to academic honesty, homework, and completion of assignments.
Issues with regards to specific subjects are to be discussed with the teacher.

• Academic Honesty
  Students must not cheat, or knowingly present the language, ideas or thoughts of another individual as their own work.
• Homework
  Homework, generally, is work assigned or not completed during the course of the day. Homework may be a time to study/review work, to complete assignments or to work on particular projects.
  
  Projects, tests, and major assignments will be sent home at the teacher's discretion, to be signed by parents.
• Assignments Not Handed In
  In special circumstances, students may be allowed to negotiate for an extension. It is up to the teacher as to whether one is granted. The negotiation must take place prior to the assignment deadline. Teachers have the option of sharing the negotiated extension with parents.
  
  Consequences for late or incomplete assignments will be established by individual teachers prior to assigning the work.