A positive school environment and a safe learning and teaching environment are essential to student success. This means that everyone must feel safe, welcome and respected.
Our approach to making schools safe and welcoming is based on the following principles:
- encourage positive student behavior
- early and regular intervention
- preventing inappropriate behavior
- appropriately sanction inappropriate behavior
Positive school climate
At the CSDCAB we have implemented several initiatives to ensure a positive school climate.
Anonymous school climate surveys are given to students, staff and parents every two years in order to gather the necessary information. in order to continue improve school climate in our schools. The results will be studied to guide future leads, and stored for year-on-year comparison.
Each Council school has a school safety committee. The members of these committees act as leaders in the implementation of strategic initiatives and systemic for improve the school climate.
Each school in the council has developed a code of conduct. to guide behaviours and implement light fundamental values of the school. Consult the site Web your school for find out about their code of living.
** Information coming soon **
Bullying prevention
The Aurores boréales CSDC relies on strategies that promote positive student behavior and employs an approach to student discipline that uses a continuum of interventions, supports and consequences to address inappropriate student behavior.
Definition of bullying : Typically repeated, persistent, aggressive behavior toward one or more people, which is intended (or should be known to have the effect) of causing fear, distress or physical harm, or of damaging self-esteem or reputation. Bullying occurs in the context of a real or perceived imbalance of power between the student and the other person, based on factors such as: size, strength, age, intelligence, economic situation, social status, peer solidarity, religion, ethnic origin, disability, special needs, sexual orientation, family situation, gender and race.
Bullying can take many forms. It can be :
- physical: blows, jostling, theft or breakage of personal belongings
- verbal: insults, mockery or sexist, racist or homophobic remarks
- social: exclusion from a group or spreading gossip and rumours
- written: writing hurtful or offensive words or symbols
- electronic (also known as cyberbullying): spreading rumours or hurtful comments by e-mail, text messaging or on social media
Whatever form it takes, bullying is unacceptable.
The conflict
Conflict and bullying can sometimes be confused, but they're not the same thing. Conflict between students doesn't always mean bullying. Conflicts arise when people disagree, have a difference of opinion or hold different points of view. In a conflict situation, everyone feels free to express their opinions.
From an early age, children understand that other people may have different points of view from their own. Developing the ability to put things into perspective takes time, and continues well into adulthood.. It's how people react to conflict that can make it positive or negative.
Schools respond differently to bullying and conflict. For example, in the event of a conflict, a member of the school staff may try to bring the students together so that they can each present their version of what happened, with a view to helping them resolve the problem together. In the case of bullying, school management will consider progressive discipline, which can result in suspension or expulsion.
The Aurores boréales CSDC deals with bullying incidents in a timely and appropriate manner. Read our policy, Positive, safe and inclusive school climate for more information.
If you witness or experience bullying, report it to a family member, teacher, staff member, principal, vice-principal or other trusted adult at the school, in person or by phone.
Preventing sex trafficking
Sex trafficking is a form of sexual exploitation that constitutes a criminal offence under the Criminal Code.Criminal Codeof Canada. It involves recruiting, harboring, transporting, obtaining or providing a person for sexual purposes. This is achieved through the use of force, physical or psychological coercion, or deception. Most victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation are women and girls, but anyone can be a target.
The note,Policy/Program 166: Keeping students safe: Strategic framework for developing school board protocols to combat sex trafficking (PPM166)establishes the basis for Ontario school boards to develop an anti-trafficking protocol.
The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (COMING SOON)will support the concerted actions undertaken by the Council to prevent and identify sex trafficking, and to develop measures to facilitate early and appropriate intervention against it.
If you want to report a potential case of sex trafficking, tell a family member, a teacher, a staff member, the school principal or vice-principal or any other trusted adult at the school, in person or by telephone.
Resources for students and parents
- Thunder Bay Coalition to put an end to human trafficking
- Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline