Code of Conduct

List of 10 items.

• Purpose of the Code

  1. To ensure that all members of the Crescent community, especially people in positions of authority, are treated with respect and dignity.
  2. To promote responsible citizenship by encouraging appropriate participation in the civic life of the Crescent community.
  3. To maintain an environment where conflict and difference can be addressed in a non-violent manner, characterized by respect and civility.
  4. To promote the safety of people at the School.
  5. To promote learning in a healthy environment that discourages the use of alcohol and illegal drugs and, except by a medical cannabis user, cannabis.
  6. To prevent harassment, including bullying and all forms of discrimination in the School.

• Commitment to Equity and Inclusive Education

  Crescent is committed to an equitable education program that upholds and reflects the principles of fair and inclusive education which should permeate all policies, procedures and practices. Please refer to the School’s Equity and Inclusive Education Policy. 
  
  

  The School takes seriously any act of harassment, discrimination, or hate speech. A finding that any member of the Crescent community has engaged in harassment, discrimination, or hate speech will not be tolerated. Depending on the severity of the conduct, any student found to have engaged in harassment, discrimination, or hate speech will be subject to discipline, up to and including expulsion.

• Standards of Behaviour

  By enrolling in Crescent, students automatically assume the obligation to comply with the provisions of the Code of Conduct. Central to the Code of Conduct is the understanding that each student will follow certain standards of behaviour. Self-discipline and a willingness to accept responsibility for one’s actions and conduct are fundamental to the Code of Conduct.
  
  Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to services, goods and facilities, without discrimination because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, age, marital status, family status, or disability. The School recognizes that inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour towards another member of the community requires a serious response.

  
  All members of the Crescent community must: 

  • respect and comply with all applicable local, provincial, and federal laws;
  • comply with the Code of Conduct;
  • demonstrate honesty and integrity;
  • respect differences in people, their ideas, and their opinions;
  • treat one another with dignity and respect at all times, especially when there is disagreement;
  • seek assistance from a member of the School staff, if necessary, to resolve conflict peacefully;
  • demonstrate respect for all members of the School community, especially persons in positions of authority;
  • respect the rights of others and not engage in discrimination because of race, religion, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status or disability;
  • show proper care and regard for school property and the property of others;
  • take reasonable and appropriate measures to help those in need;
  • respect the need(s) of others to work in an environment that is conducive to learning and teaching, including by ensuring that personal mobile devices are only used during instructional time for the educational and other permitted purposes outlined herein;
  • not swear at, threaten, or seek to intimidate a teacher or any other person in a position of authority; and
  • not use disrespectful, disparaging, derogatory or abusive language towards another member of the School community.

  
  For clarity, personal mobile devices may be used during instructional time under the following circumstances:

  • for educational purposes, as directed by an educator;
  • for health and medical purposes; or
  • to support special education needs.

  
  The School will comply with its duty under the Ontario Human Rights Code to provide members of the School community with reasonable accommodations for needs relating to protected grounds, to the point of undue hardship. Usage of a personal mobile device may be an example of such an accommodation.
  
  All members of the Crescent community must not: 

  • commit any criminal offence;
  • engage in harassment, including bullying and cyberbullying, or discrimination against any other member of the Crescent community;
  • inflict harm or encourage others to harm, threaten to harm, or intentionally cause harm to any person (which expressly includes assault and sexual assault);
  • traffic or be in possession of any weapon, including firearms;
  • traffic in weapons or illegal drugs;
  • give alcohol, tobacco or cannabis to a minor;
  • commit robbery or theft;
  • intentionally cause damage to School property, or to property located on School premises;
  • use any object to threaten or intimidate another person;
  • cause injury to any person, including with an object;
  • be in possession or control of, be under the influence of, provide to others, or otherwise use alcohol, cannabis (unless the individual has been authorized to use cannabis for medical purposes), or illegal or restricted drugs;
  • smoke, use electronic cigarettes or a vaping device of any kind in the School, on School grounds, or within 20 metres of any point on the perimeter of the School grounds in accordance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017; 
  • engage in physical or psychological intimidation of another person (either in person or using electronic devices); 
  • be involved in any act or conduct that causes embarrassment or brings disrepute to the School;
  • engage in disrespect or a lack of courtesy towards another member of the School community; or
  • Engage in any prohibited inappropriate behaviour.

  Examples of prohibited inappropriate behaviour include, but are not limited to: 

  • academic dishonesty;
  • swearing at a teacher or other person in authority;
  • committing an act of vandalism causing damage to School property or property located on School premises;
  • hazing, fighting, and horseplay;
  • threatening to cause, or causing, bodily or psychological harm to another person;
  • engaging in hate speech or distributing hate material;
  • inappropriate use of electronic communications/media, including accessing inappropriate materials on the Internet, posting or texting offensive, derogatory and/or degrading comments or images on personal or commercial websites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, ratemyteachers.com, and similar sites, or using fake or parody accounts to hide one’s identity online;
  • inappropriate use of AI tools, such as ChatGPT, to aid in the commission of any unacceptable act under these Standards of Behaviour;
  • any unexcused absence from School activities; and/or
  • conduct injurious to the safety or moral tone of the School, or to the physical or mental well-being of others

• Responsibility of a Bystander

  Crescent is committed to providing a safe and healthy school environment that is nurturing, caring and respectful of everyone. The School teaches social skills that will serve its students well throughout their lives.
  
  

  If a student is aware of or witnesses conduct that could be in breach of this Code of Conduct, the Student must promptly report the incident(s) to a member of faculty or staff at the School. This particularly applies to incidents of harassment, discrimination, and actual or threatened violence.
  
  If the School is not aware of an incident, it cannot respond to the incident appropriately. A student is not "tattling" by reporting an incident; the Student is, in fact, upholding the School’s core values and demonstrating courage by taking the appropriate action.
  
  Failing to report conduct that could be in breach of the Code allows this type of conduct to continue unaddressed. If you know that such conduct is happening, you have an obligation as a member of the Crescent community to report it. A bystander that fails to report inappropriate behaviour of which they are aware could lead to the bystander being disciplined under the Code of Conduct.

• Reprisals Prohibited

  No reprisal or penalty will be taken against a person for bringing forward a complaint in good faith or participating in an investigation that occurs under this Code of Conduct. For the purposes of this Code of Conduct, reprisal means any kind of negative action taken against someone else because they were complying with their responsibilities under this Code of Conduct, including reporting an incident or making a complaint.

• Roles and Responsibilities

  The Code of Conduct recognizes that all members of the Crescent community, including the Headmaster, teachers, other staff members, students and parents, have an obligation to comply with the standards of behaviour outlined in this document. Each member of the community has the following roles and responsibilities, without limitation:
  
  

  Crescent School

  Crescent will provide direction to promote student achievement and well-being and to ensure opportunity, academic excellence and accountability in the School. It is the responsibility of Crescent to:

  • develop policies that set out how the School will implement and enforce its Code of Conduct, and other rules that promote and support respect, civility, responsible citizenship, and safety;
  • review policies regularly with students, staff, parents, volunteers and the community;
  • seek input from the Board of Governors, parents, students, staff members and the School community;
  • establish a process that clearly communicates the Code of Conduct to all parents, students, staff members, and members of the school community in order to obtain their commitment and support;
  • develop effective intervention strategies and respond to all infractions related to the standards for respect, civility, responsible citizenship, and safety; and
  • provide opportunities for all members of the School staff to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to develop and maintain academic excellence in a safe learning and teaching environment.

  
  

  Headmaster

  Under the direction of the School, the Headmaster takes a leadership role in the daily operation of the School. The Headmaster will provide this leadership by:

  • demonstrating care for the School community and a commitment to academic excellence in a safe, inclusive, and accepting teaching and learning environment;
  • holding everyone under their authority accountable for their own behaviour and actions;
  • empowering students to be positive leaders in the School and their community;
  • communicating regularly and meaningfully with all members of the Crescent community;
  • implementing and ultimately enforcing the Code of Conduct; and
  • providing an example of respect and civility for all members of the Crescent community.

  
  Teachers and Other School Staff Members

  Under the leadership of the Headmaster, teachers and other school staff members maintain order in the School and a positive learning environment and are expected to hold everyone to the highest standard of respectful and responsible behaviour. As role models, teachers and school staff uphold these high standards when they:

  • help students work to their full potential and develop their sense of self-worth;
  • empower students to be positive leaders in their classroom, school, and community;
  • communicate regularly and meaningfully with parents;
  • maintain consistent standards of behaviour for all students;
  • demonstrate respect for all students, staff, parents, volunteers, and members of the school community; and
  • prepare students to become Men of Character.

  Teachers shall also assist the Headmaster in maintaining close cooperation with the Crescent community and in establishing and maintaining consistent disciplinary practices in the School. In addition, teachers must assist the Headmaster by reporting incidents and assisting the Headmaster in conducting an investigation, where appropriate.
  
  

  
  Students

  Students are to be treated with respect and dignity. In return, they must demonstrate respect for themselves, for others, and for the responsibilities of citizenship through acceptable behaviour. Respect and responsibility are demonstrated when students:

  • come to school prepared, properly dressed in uniform, on time, and ready to learn;
  • adhere to school uniform rules;
  • show respect for themselves, for others, and for those in authority;
  • refrain from bringing anything to school that may compromise the safety of others; and
  • follow the established rules and take responsibility for their own actions.

  
  

  Parents and Guardians

  Parents and guardians play an important role in the education of their children and have a responsibility to support the efforts of School staff in maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment for all students. Parents and guardians fulfill their role when they:

  • are engaged and show an active interest in their child’s schoolwork and progress;
  • communicate regularly and respectfully with the School;
  • help their child be appropriately dressed, including in uniform, and prepared for School; 
  • ensure that their child attends School regularly and on time;
  • promptly report to the School their child’s absence or late arrival;     
  • show that they are familiar with the Code of Conduct and School rules;
  • comply with the Code of Conduct applicable School rules and policies and encourage and assist their children to do the same;
  • act at all times with the health and safety of the school community in mind;
  • support, model and maintain respectful and appropriate communications with other members of the School community at all times;
  • assist School staff in dealing with disciplinary issues involving their child.

  It is crucial that the School maintains a positive and constructive working relationship with parents and guardians. If this working relationship becomes dysfunctional or otherwise harmful to the educational environment, e.g. due to disrespectful or harassing behaviour by parents towards School staff or other members of the School community, the School reserves its right to discontinue the respective student’s enrolment, deny re-enrolment for the following School year, or take such measures as the School deems appropriate to ensure and maintain a positive, safe, and productive educational environment.

• Sanctions

  All School community members are responsible for observing both the letter and the spirit of the School’s policies and procedures. As a general principle, the School reserves its right to apply a full range of sanctions, including expulsion, to any offence committed by a student. Although the specific provisions set out in this Code of Conduct outline steps that the School normally will take in the event that a student contravenes, or attempts to contravene, the provisions of a Code of Conduct, they do not take away from the ultimate discretion of the School to apply any sanction that is appropriate in the particular circumstances of an offence, including the expulsion of a student.
  
  When exercising its discretion to determine the appropriate sanction to apply to an offence, Crescent will take into consideration factors including, but not limited to: 

  • the particular student and the circumstances;
  • the nature and severity of the behaviour; and
  • the impact on the school climate, including the impact on students or other individuals in the Crescent community.

  Crescent School employs a progressive discipline model with a range of sanctions that includes, but is not limited to:

  • meeting with appropriate person(s) such as peers, faculty, administration; 
  • removal from a school activity, special program or recess to complete work or a special assignment designated by the teacher;
  • detention;
  • behaviour or performance contract with the involvement of the student, teachers and parents;
  • financial restitution, reparation or service in a case where damage is caused or maintenance work made necessary;
  • in-school suspension;
  • out-of-school suspension; 
  • probation; and/or 
  • expulsion from the School.

  
  

   

• Suspension

  A student who is suspended is removed from curricular and co-curricular programs for a specific period of time, usually between one and 20 school days. The suspension may be served in-school or out-of-school, at the discretion of the Head of School.

  While under in-school suspension, the student:

  • attends school;
  • does assigned work in an area removed from other students;
  • may not participate in co-curricular activities;
  • may not eat lunch or otherwise socialize with other students; and
  • is responsible for all work assigned in the student’s absence (information may be acquired from teachers or classmates).

  
  

  While under out-of-school suspension, the student:

  • may not visit the School or grounds;
  • may not participate in co-curricular activities; and
  • is responsible for all work assigned in the student’s absence (information may be acquired from teachers, or, as directed by teachers, classmates).

   

• Probation

  A student who has been subject to serious disciplinary action, or who has been subject to disciplinary action for repeated violations of the Crescent School Code of Conduct, will ordinarily be placed on probationary status. This involves a heightened level of supervision and support together with clear expectations for learning and growth, and demonstration of commitment to the Crescent community and our core values. 

  
  Students who have been subject to formal disciplinary action during the year, and have been placed on probation, are not eligible for leadership opportunities. Any leadership responsibility currently held is suspended until probation has been lifted.

  
  It is important to note that the School may be required to report serious disciplinary action, such as suspension and/or probation, to universities or other institutions.

• Expulsion

  Expulsion is the most serious consequence exercised by the School. Crescent reserves the right to, in its sole discretion, expel a student when the continued attendance of that student would not be in the best interests of that student or the School. Crescent also reserves the right to, in its sole discretion, expel a student when the student’s behaviour is in breach of the Code of Conduct, seriously jeopardizes the School’s ability to guarantee the dignity and safety of its students and/or interferes with learning, or involves conduct which is injurious to the School's moral tone or to the physical or mental well-being of others. In these circumstances, the School will make reasonable efforts to assist the student’s family in securing suitable alternative education arrangements.