In light of its Mission Statement, the 蘑菇传媒 (DPCDSB) is committed to the implementation in every school of the Catholic Code of Conduct that clearly reflects the need to provide a safe, caring, inclusive and healthy Catholic school community. All community members will work together to develop spiritually, intellectually, physically, socially, and emotionally by aspiring to the highest possible standards of Catholic behavior, in living out the gospel values, and by fostering a Catholic culture of respect, responsibility and concern for the common good.
DPCDSB prohibits bullying in all its forms, as a serious offence against the dignity of persons created in God鈥檚 image, and as an affront to the integrity of Catholic learning communities. Bullying will not be permitted on school property either in classrooms or common areas, at school-related activities, on school buses, via social media, or in any other circumstances (including cyber-bullying) where engaging in behavior will have a negative impact on the Catholic school climate or disrupt the learning environment.
DPCDSB considers homophobia, gender based violence, and harassment on the basis of gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnicity, culture, citizenship, ancestry, origin, religion, creed, family status, socio-economic status, disability and/or any other immutable characteristic or ground protected by the Human Rights Code, as well as inappropriate sexual behavior unacceptable and supports the use of positive practices to prevent such behavior and authorizes principals, or their delegates, to impose consequences in appropriate circumstances, up to and including a referral to the DPCDSB Discipline Committee for expulsion from all schools.
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Bullying
鈥淏ullying鈥� means aggressive and typically repeated behavior by a pupil where:
- The behavior is intended by the pupil to have the effect of, or the pupil ought to know that the behavior would be likely to have the effect of,
a) Causing harm, fear, or distress to another individual, including physical, psychological, social, or academic harm, harm to the individual鈥檚 reputation or harm to the individual鈥檚 property, or
b) Creating a negative environment at a school for another individual, and
- The behavior occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance between the pupil and the individual based on factors such as: size, strength, age, intelligence, peer group power, economic status, social status, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, family circumstances, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, disability, or the receipt of special education supports or services.
For the purposes of the definition of 鈥渂ullying鈥� above, behavior includes the use of any physical, verbal, digital, written, or other means.
Cyber-Bullying
For the purposes of the definition of 鈥渂ullying鈥� above, bullying includes bullying by electronic means (commonly known as cyber- bullying), including,
- Creating a web page or blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person;
- Impersonating another person as the author of content or messages posted on the internet; and
- Communicating material electronically to more than one individual or posting material on a website that may be accessed by one or more individuals.
Policy P-2012: Bullying Awareness, Prevention, and Intervention
Progressive Discipline
DPCDSB supports the comprehensive and consistent use of a progressive discipline approach, and shall reflect the model of Christian discipleship, in its implementation of the Catholic Code of Conduct.
Progressive Discipline in DPCDSB is administered with a commitment to a model of Christ-centred discipleship and rooted in an effective management of student behaviours predicated on the belief that 鈥渇airness is not sameness,鈥� and that all consequences for inappropriate behaviours must be discretionary 鈥� including decisions around suspensions and expulsions. To ensure that schools do not employ a 鈥渙ne- size fits all鈥� approach to disciplinary practice, consideration of mitigating factors will be used system-wide in the assessment, investigation, and follow-up of inappropriate student behaviours. In this way, personalized solutions will be reflectively undertaken with consideration for the unique individuals and circumstances involved.
Suspensions 鈥� Education Act, Section 306 (1)
A principal may consider whether to suspend a pupil if they believe that the pupil has engaged in any of the following activities while at school, at a school-related activity in other circumstances (including off-school property) where engaging in the activity will have an impact on the school climate:
- Uttering a threat to inflict serious bodily harm on another person;
- Possessing alcohol, illegal drugs or, unless the pupil is a medical cannabis user, cannabis;
- Being under the influence alcohol or, unless the pupil is a medical cannabis user, cannabis;
- Swearing at a teacher or at another person in a position of authority;
- Committing an act of vandalism that causes extensive damage to school;
- Habitual neglect of duty, DPCDSB and school policy; property at the pupil鈥檚 school or to property located on the premises of the pupil鈥檚 school;
- Opposition to authority, DPCDSB and school policy;
- Bullying;
- Code of conduct, DPCDSB, and school policy;
- Being under the influence of illegal or restricted drugs;
- Profanity/swearing, DPCDSB and school policy;
- Possessing restricted drugs;
- Fighting/violence, DPCDSB and school
A pupil may be suspended only once for an infraction, in any one incident, and may be suspended for a minimum of one (1) school day and a maximum of twenty (20) school days.
Expulsions 鈥� Education Act, Section 310 (1)
Expulsion Hearing Procedures
A principal shall suspend and may consider recommending an expulsion of a pupil if they believe that the pupil has engaged in any of the following activities while at school, at a school-related activity or in other circumstances (including off-school property) where engaging in the activity will have an impact on the school climate:
- Possessing a weapon, including possessing a firearm;
- Using a weapon to cause or to threaten bodily harm to another person;
- Committing physical assault on another person that causes bodily harm requiring treatment by a medical practitioner;
- Committing sexual assault;
- Trafficking in weapons or in illegal drugs;
- Committing robbery;
- Giving alcohol or cannabis to a minor;
- Bullying if;
a) The pupil has previously been suspended for engaging in bullying, and
b) The pupil鈥檚 continuing presence in the school creates an unacceptable risk to the safety of another person; - Any activity listed in subsection 306 (1) that is motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate-based on race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other similar factor;
- Any act considered by the principal to be a serious violation of DPCDSB or School Code of Conduct;
- Activities engaged in by the pupil on or off school property that have caused extensive damage to DPCDSB property or to goods that are/were on DPCDSB property;
- Trafficking in weapons, illegal and/or restricted drugs.
Regulation 440/20:
- A pupil in Junior Kindergarten, Kindergarten or Grade 1, 2 or 3 shall not be suspended under section 306 of the Act for engaging in an activity described in subsection 306 (1) of the Act.
Regulation Explained: Students in Grades K-3 CANNOT be suspended for offences listed under Section 306 of the Education Act (the lesser offences). BUT:
- The offence will still be reported to the Principal.
- The Principal will determine and put in place appropriate alternatives to discipline.
- A pupil in Junior Kindergarten, Kindergarten, or Grade 1, 2 or 3 shall not be suspended under section 310 of the Act for engaging in an activity described in subsection 310 (1) of the Act unless the principal has conducted an investigation respecting the allegations.
Regulation Explained: Students in Grades K-3 can be suspended for offences listed under Section 310 of the Education Act only following an initial INVESTIGATION and the Principal has determined that a S.310 suspension is warranted.
Suspension Appeal Guideline
This document outlines the Dufferin鈥慞eel Catholic District School Board鈥檚 procedures for appealing a student suspension. It explains who may appeal, how to initiate an appeal, timelines, required documentation, and what to expect during a Suspension Appeal Hearing. These procedures are aligned with the Education Act and the Board鈥檚 Catholic Code of Conduct and are intended to ensure a fair, transparent, and respectful appeal process.
Suspension Appeal Procedures
The Ministry of Education's听听(PPM 128) provides the Provincial Code of Conduct and any updates to school boards. PPM 128 also directs what needs to be included in each local school board's code of conduct for school communities. Part of what PPM 128 tells school boards to do is to gather input from students, teachers, principals and vice principals, other board staff, volunteers, parents and guardians, school councils, and the public regarding future review of the local school board code of conduct. Review of school board codes of conduct occurs at least once every three years.
The 蘑菇传媒's听Catholic Code of Conduct听is DPCDSB's code of conduct. The Catholic Code of Conduct complies with all PPM 128 requirements. To prepare for future review and possible update of the Catholic Code of Conduct, you are invited to provide your input regarding the Catholic Code of Conduct. If you would like to contribute, please click this听.
All members of the DPCDSB community have the right to learn and work in a safe, caring, and inclusive community under positive Catholic learning conditions. All staff and community partners work collaboratively to ensure the safety and well-being of students, staff, and communities and to preserve the dignity of all staff and students. Under certain conditions, students may need to undergo a 鈥淰iolence Threat Risk Assessment鈥� when their behaviours confidently suggest they may be at risk of harming themselves or others.
Threat assessment is the process of determining if a threat-maker (someone who utters, writes, emails, and/or gestures a threat to harm a target or targets) poses a risk to the target or targets they have threatened.
In DPCDSB, all threat-making behaviours are reported to administration. The administration, in consultation with their team, will then discern whether to activate this protocol. Information is obtained from multiple sources to develop an intervention plan to reduce the risk of violence. Catholic communities within Dufferin-Peel allow for students to grow, learn, reflect, and work towards reconciliation with the appropriate supports.
The online reporting tool is now available board-wide and has proven useful. 听It can be found on every school website and is intended for DPCDSB students to report bullying incidents and negative behaviours impacting the school community.
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 S.O. 2017, c. 26, Sched. 3 (the 鈥淪moke-Free Ontario Act鈥�) prohibits smoking (tobacco and cannabis) and the use of electronic cigarettes (vaping) at schools, on school grounds, and all public areas within twenty meters of these grounds. Pursuant to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, anyone smoking or vaping on school property is guilty of an offence and if convicted may result in a fine. (Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 Ontario Regulation 269/18 Policy/Program Memorandum 128: The Provincial Code of Conduct and School Board Codes of Conduct)
Policy P-4013: Smoke, Tobacco-Free and Cannabis-Free Environment
Some helpful resources can be found on the following Cannabis Legalization Websites:
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鈥淗uman Trafficking is an unjustifiable violation of the victims鈥� freedom and dignity, which are integral dimensions of the human person willed and created by God. This is why it must be considered, without a doubt, a crime against humanity.鈥� - Pope Francis
DPCDSB remains committed to promoting safety in schools. The Ontario Ministry of Education has provided school boards with a policy direction () to develop and implement a protocol to respond to suspected human trafficking occurrences. In response, DPCDSB has implemented prevention and intervention strategies to respond effectively and to support students who may be at risk of human trafficking.
is a serious criminal offence under the Criminal Code of Canada. Human trafficking may include recruiting, harbouring or controlling a person鈥檚 movements using force, physical or psychological coercion, or deception and forcing them into labour or sexual services.
Increasing awareness and resources for parents are key components of DPCDSB鈥檚 human trafficking prevention strategy. DPCDSB provides regular training and updated resources to staff on anti- human trafficking and available school and community supports. Anti-human trafficking resources, training materials for staff and prevention materials will be reviewed regularly.
Resources: