Harrisfield Public School 

2025-2026 Safe and Inclusive School Plan

Our school is committed to providing all students with a safe, caring, and inclusive learning environment free from bullying and harassment that promotes respect, acceptance, and empathy.

Staff, students, parents and caregivers, and community partners will work together as a team to help make our school safe and welcoming for everyone.

The Safe and Inclusive School Plan highlights some of the key actions that our school community will put in place as part of our bullying prevention and intervention efforts.

Key Priorities and Goals

This year we are focusing on building a culture of connection, character, and restorative practices to ensure every student feels safe, heard, valued, and connected to the school community

Key Actions or Strategies

• Promote a respectful and inclusive school environment by embedding character education into the school culture through student council and bi-monthly assemblies.
• Equip students with the tools to manage interpersonal conflicts constructively and independently through
• Strengthen relationships and community through restorative approaches to discipline and communication.

Community and Home Connections

• Check out the Parents Guide – Restorative Approaches This guide will provide you and your family with some practical tools to help improve communication, navigate conflict and strengthen relationships!

 

CODE OF CONDUCT

Harrisfield Public School is committed to fostering and maintaining a positive learning environment. Parents/guardians, students, staff and the community are involved in helping to make our school a safe and welcoming place.

 

SCHOOL CODE:

Learning is our First Priority

• Students are expected to arrive at school on time, be prepared for each class and complete all assignments to the best of their ability.

Respect for Others

• Students will follow the Hands Off Rule.  Physical aggression or fighting will not be tolerated. Students will work and play cooperatively with others.

Respect for School Property

• Take pride in our building, materials, equipment and school grounds.

Display Good Manners

• Address other students, school staff, parents, visitors, volunteers or lunchroom supervisors politely and respectfully.

Appropriate Language

• Students are expected to use appropriate verbal and non verbal language in the school, on the school grounds, on buses and on school trips.

Dress Appropriately

• Students are to dress in such a way that they are able to fully participate in all learning activities.

Attendance/Punctuality

• Regular attendance and punctuality are essential for student success.

Hall Expectations 

• Students will walk in an orderly manner while moving through the halls, staying to the right.  Students must have permission from staff during recess to go to the washroom, office or other designated area.

Prohibited Materials

• Prohibited materials such as drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, lighters, matches, vapes, and weapons are not allowed on school property.

Electronic Devices

• Please follow the Responsible Use of Electronics Code – Personal Device Policy

Leaving School Property

• Students will remain on school property unless they have parental permission to leave the grounds.

By following these rules, we will maintain a safe and positive environment in which to work and play. Students who choose not to follow our Safe Schools Policy and Code of Conduct will be addressed by teachers, supervisors, or school administration. Consequences for inappropriate behaviour will depend on the situation and our Progressive Discipline guideline. In all matters parents will be kept informed.

 

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITES:

The Student responsibilities are defined in Regulation 262 made under the Education Act.  Others are more specific to our school.

All students have the responsibility to:

• maintain a positive school spirit
• recognize and accept responsibility for their own behaviour
• be prepared for each learning activity with the proper books and materials
• demonstrate self discipline and self control
• accept such discipline as would be exercised by a kind, firm and judicious parent
• be courteous to fellow students
• be courteous and respectful to all staff
• be accountable for their actions
• consult with a staff member if a problem arises
• practice personal hygiene
• show respect for school property and school busses
• be aware and follow school rules
• complete projects, assignments and homework on time
• seek extra help when needed
• to become an Upstander in difficult situations
• conduct themselves as ambassadors for the school at all times
• respect personal space of others
• treat all guests with respect
• accept the fact that they are a part of a group/class and decisions are made for the best interest of all concerned

• be rested and ready to work

Students are responsible for their conduct while:

• on school property
• on co-curricular trips
• on buses/vans owned or under contract by the Board

POSITIVE RECOGNITION FOR RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR:

By conducting yourself responsibly you will have:

• Increased feelings of self-worth
• Other people liking and respecting you
• A classroom atmosphere where everyone can learn
• Participation in special field trips or special activities
• Recognition through awards or rewards
• Positive reports to parents
• Opportunities to be positive role models to others
•     Opportunities to be a leader within the school

CONSEQUENCES FOR IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR:

• Counseling with suggestions for improvement
• Warning regarding the consequences of continued misbehaviour
• Loss of privileges
• Detention
• Repair, restitution or community service
• Contact with parents or personal interview with administrator
• Problem-solving discussions
• In-school withdrawal from classroom
• Alternative location for learning (e.g. resource room, another class, office, etc.)
• Make amends with fellow students and/or staff
• Removal from school yard
• Suspension from school
• Police involvement
• Expulsion

SCHOOL DRESS GUIDELINES 

The Harrisfield Dress Guidelines emphasizes our commitment to promoting a positive learning environment, safety and respect for all members of our school community. 

• Students are required to have footwear (non-marking soles) on at all times in the school for safety reasons.  Students are asked to dress appropriately for physical education classes.  Loose fitting clothing, scarves and hard sole shoes pose safety concerns and should not be worn in gym class. 

• Students are expected to wear “appropriate” clothing that: 
• Does not contain offensive language and graphics, is free of profane, vulgar or discriminatory remarks, and is not derogatory or offensively suggestive in nature  
• Does not glorify products that are illegal for minors to purchase 

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR TECHNOLOGY

Several of the projects in which your child will be involved at school this year include the use of the Internet. With access to computers and people all over the world also comes the availability of material that is not consistent with educational goals. The Thames Valley District School Board focuses on supervision and student awareness, supplemented by Internet filtering of potentially inappropriate materials. On board-owned devices, warning pages appear for potentially inappropriate sites, and these sites are blocked on personal devices using the wireless network. On a global network it is impossible to control all materials, and an industrious, determined student can uncover controversial information. We believe that the value of the information and interaction available on this worldwide network, when combined with supervision and student awareness, makes the Internet a benefit to a student's educational experience. Students are expected to use the school's Internet access in support of educational goals. The school's Code of Conduct outlines expectations for students, including behaviour with respect to use of computers.

Unacceptable use includes, but is not limited to:

(i) activities which may damage equipment;

(ii) downloading, copying or transmitting any material which is in violation of any Federal or Provincial regulation such as copyrighted material; threatening or obscene material; hateful, racist or discriminatory material; and

(iii) any breach of security on local and remote sites including use or attempted use of another user's account; unlawful entry or attempted entry into any network system; any attempt to gain unauthorized access to view, alter, copy, share or destroy data and the creation and/or willful transmission of computer viruses or virus hoaxes.

USE OF PERSONAL MOBILE DEVICES

At Harrisfield PS, our school policy on the use of personal mobile devices is compliant with the requirements established by the Ontario Ministry of Education, as stated in Policy and Program Memorandum #128 (effective November 4, 2019).

At Harrisfield, personal electronic devices are used during the school day for three reasons:

-As directed by a teacher or early childhood educator, for curriculum-based learning.

-For a student’s health or medical requirements.

-To support Special Education needs.

Otherwise, personal electronic devices are not used at Harrisfield during the school day. 

     

 

 

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