Being a good Member of our Community — Code of Conduct

Students are expected to be engaged, responsible, and caring members of the Edna Staebler Community. All students, staff and visitors are expected to conduct themselves so that all students may take full advantage of the opportunities offered to learn and grow.

At Edna Staebler, our mission is to cultivate confident, resilient individuals who are empowered to navigate life’s challenges with compassion and ownership. Together, we strive to inspire curiosity, and a sense of purpose, shaping responsible global citizens who positively impact their communities and the world.

Words Matter — We Continue Our Participation in the Words Matter Initiative

We, the students, educators, administrators, and staff pledge to create and maintain an inclusive, respectful, and supportive learning environment for all. We recognize the deep impact harmful and discriminatory language can have on students’ well-being and academic growth. We are committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to reach their full potential.

In keeping with the Board’s policies and Ministry Guidelines, these behaviours are not acceptable:

• Verbal abuse: put-downs, racial/religious/sexist comments, swearing.
• Aggressive behaviour: kicking, punching, fighting and/or play-fighting, snowball throwing, spitting and tackling.
• Uncooperative and defiant behaviour: talking back, lying to any staff member, and refusing to follow school rules when instructed to do so.
• Vandalism: destruction of school property, destruction of the property of other students, staff or volunteers.
•   Stealing: taking the property belonging to another student, staff member or volunteer.
• The use, possession or sale of tobacco, alcohol, drugs, possession or use of weapons or items intended to be used that could frighten other students (e.g., any kind of knife, toy guns, cap gun, etc.), possession or use of matches, lighters, lighter fluid or anything that could cause a fire or be deemed a safety hazard.
• Bullying, threatening or intimidating behaviour (either physical or verbal harassment

Progressive Discipline

The Waterloo Region District School Board is committed to encouraging positive school climates for staff and students. Students cannot reach their full potential if they do not feel safe, respected and cared for in the classroom, in the school and on the playground. The Education Act requires school boards to ensure appropriate consequences are applied to inappropriate behaviour and that supports are in place to assist students in changing those behaviours.

Progressive discipline can range from verbal reminders to full expulsion, depending on the seriousness of the incident. The goal is to provide students with appropriate supports that address inappropriate behaviour.

Research tells us that suspensions and expulsions, on their own, further alienate and isolate youth who are most in need of developing strong relationships with adults and peers. (Read further here)

Photographs

Our students and staff enjoy opportunities to share some of their activities with parents and the school community through teams, clubs and special events. Many of these are ‘memory making’ for families and as such, photographs are often taken. We ask that families exercise their discretion when taking photographs or videos at school events and consider the privacy of other students who may also be present in those pictures. We would appreciate if families not upload images of students other than their own to the Internet (e.g. YouTube or Facebook). Your co-operation is appreciated.

The YMCA offers child care inside our school building. The YMCA Child Care is committed to delivering exceptional quality early learning programs that provide children and families a safe and nurturing environment which promotes growth and development of the whole child.

• Provides programming for children age 18 months to 12 years
• Toddler Care: 18 months – 2.5 years
• Preschool Care: 2.5 – 5 years
• Before and After school Programs: 4 – 5 years
• Before and After school Programs: 6 – 12 years

Call us today for a conversation about your families’ needs. We would be happy to give you a tour and registration package. You can also visit us on the web at ykids.ca/childcare, click on sites/contacts for a complete listing of our sites, age groups, and hours of operation.

You can also contact us at 519-885-5722. We look forward to meeting your family’s child care needs!

Busing

Parents can login and view your child’s transportation details by going to www.stswr.ca and following these steps:

• Click on “Student Login”
• Enter your child’s Ontario Education Number (OEN) which can be found on your child’s report card (numbers only, no space, no dash)
• Enter your child’s birth date (dd/mm/yyyy)
• Enter your child’s street number (house number only)
• Select the school your child is attending from the drop down menu

Please note: any address changes need to be done through your school. If you are moving this summer or change caregiver arrangements for the fall, you should communicate the change of address to the office.

You can also visit www.stswr.ca to see bus delays and cancellations, subscribe to receive e-mail notifications for late buses and closures and follow them on Twitter.