Skip to main content
Student Expectations

​Expectations.png

Expectations for Living in a Homestay​​

​​​Golden Rules for your Homestay.pdf


Expectations for International Students

Central Okanagan International Education Program Code of Conduct

Every international student shall be subject to the District Code of Conduct while participating in the international and homestay programs. Refer to School District No. 23 (Central Okanagan).

Every international student shall be subject to the School Code of Conduct while participating in the international and homestay programs. Refer to the individual school code of conduct on the school's website.

Every international student shall abide by all Canadian Laws and BC Provincial Laws while participating in the international and homestay programs. Please refer to Government of Canada and Province of British Columbia

Code of Conduct Expectations

All international students will:

  • Demonstrate respect for themselves, others, their school, their homestay, their community & the program.
  • Treat school property and the property of others with a reasonable standard of care.
  • Express themselves with socially acceptable language and gestures.
  • Exhibit behaviour that is free of all forms of intimidation, harassment, racism, and discrimination.
  • Dress in accordance with the community and school dress standards.
  • Promote positive behaviour through the avoidance of all types of violent acts.
  • Inform a school official or program staff member of any unsafe situation (individual or behaviour).
  • Attend scheduled classes and arrive on time.
  • Complete all assignments, assessments, and homework.
  • Maintain passing grades and seek assistance when needed.
  • Respect the rights of others to live and learn in an environment free of unnecessary distracters.
  • Assist in making the school and community a safe, caring and orderly place.
  • Model respectful and responsible behaviour not only at school, but within the community, and whenever acting as a school or international program ambassador.
  • Wear a helmet when cycling, skateboarding, skiing or snowboarding.
  • Follow all travel policies and complete required forms as outlined.
  • Abide by host family rules and act as a respectful, responsible and contributing family member.
  • Make every effort to communicate in English.

All international students will not:

  • Engage in academic misconduct or academic dishonesty including plagiarism.
  • Engage in paid employment.
  • Possess a weapon on any kind.
  • Be in the possession of or use tobacco or vaporizer products regardless of the student's age. .
  • Be in the possession of or use any form of intoxicants or associated paraphernalia including alcohol and marijuana regardless of the student's age.
  • Access businesses where minors are not allowed regardless of the student's age.
  • Drive a motor vehicle or drive with a driver who has an restricted "L" driver's license.
  • Enter into any contractual agreement be it business, marital or religious.

These expectations apply to behaviour at all times during participation in the Central Okanagan International Education Program. Any infractions of the above-mentioned conditions will result in disciplinary action and may result in dismissal from the Central Okanagan International Education Program.

Consequences
We believe that discipline is intended to promote the development of pro-social behaviours.  To this end, it is partially our responsibility to actively teach these attitudes and skills. In this process, it will be necessary to draw on consequences to enhance student learning. The use of consequences will be governed by the following principles:

Consequences will:

  • be appropriate to the student's stage of development,
  • reflect the intensity, frequency and/or duration of the inappropriate behaviour,
  • be chosen primarily for their educational value,
  • reinforce student safety,
  • make sense to the student as much as possible, and
  • be appropriately timed.

In addition, special considerations may apply to students with special needs, if they are unable to comply with this code due to having a disability of an intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional or behavioural nature.

Following are some examples of consequences that may be considered (it should be understood that this is not a complete list of consequences:

  • Informal meeting with a student to address the situation  (See Warning)
  • Phone call to host parent or homestay coordinator to discuss the situation
  • Mandatory tutorial time assigned workstation
  • Formal meeting involving student and host parent 
  • Make up or rehearsal time assigned (early morning, lunch, after school)
  • Removal of an assumed school privilege
  • Referral to school official or district principal (See Behaviour Contract)
  • Withdrawal from course
  • Restitution, either monetary or through school-based community service
  • Referral to school-based team
  • Definite in-school or out-of-school suspension ( See Suspension & Behaviour Contract)
  • Indefinite suspension (See Suspension and Behaviour Contract)
  • Dismissal from program (See Dismissal from Program)

Notification
 In instances where a student, or group of students, engages in a serious breach of the code of conduct, it may be necessary for school officials to advise other parties. Specifically, we will adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Parents/guardians/host parents of student offender(s) – in every instance
  • Parents/guardians/host parents of student victim(s) – in every instance
  • School district officials – as required by school district policy
  • Police and/or other agencies – as required by law
  • International student agencies - as required by program

In addition to the above, we have a responsibility to the district and the Ministry of Education to track and generically report data collected on student misbehaviour patterns. This information is used to determine trends, re-tool responses, and determine changes to existing policies and practices. If you have any questions about this code and related applications, contact the school administration.

Warning
A meeting will be scheduled with the student and the rules and regulations will be reviewed.  This meeting may involve a combination of school officials, homestay parents and international program staff.  A verbal warning will be issued and the meeting will be documented.

Behaviour Contract
A meeting will be held with the school officials, homestay parents and international program staff.  The student will be placed on a behaviour contract which clearly outlines the rules and expectations of the student and the conditions under which the student may remain in the program. Copies of the behavior contract will be sent to the student's natural parents and the student's agency. Violation of the terms and conditions set out in the contract may result in termination from the program.

Suspension
Students may be disciplined by authorized school officials (school principals and vice-principals) as per the district policies which include in-school and out-of-school definite suspensions for up to 10 school days. A "suspension" is, by definition, a removal of a student's right to attend regular class instruction sessions. Suspension may be either:

  • Definite – up to ten school days, or
  • Indefinite - in excess of ten school days

    Administrators and teachers authorized by the board and the principal, may suspend a student when the administrator or other authorized teacher concludes that:
  • A student is willfully disobedient to a teacher or any other employee of the board carrying out
  • responsibilities approved by the board,
  • The behaviour of the student has a harmful effect on the character or persons of other students or
  • staff members,
  • A student fails to apply himself in his studies or fails to comply with the rules of the school and does not, after due warning, make a reasonable effort to reform.

Dismissal from the International Program
Should the student commit a major legal offense, fail to abide by the terms and conditions of their behavior contract, or, has ongoing violations of other rules and conditions of the program, the student will be referred to the District Principal of International Education for further action and may be dismissed from the program.  

In the event of termination from the program, a student who is dismissed from the program will be sent home and all costs and expenses will be the responsibility of the student and the student's natural parents.  No refund of program fees will be issued.

Students participating in the Central Okanagan International Program must agree to abide by these policies and conditions and understand that any violation may result in termination of the international student experience with no refund of fees. Students are responsible to make arrangements to return to their home country immediately at the request of the Central Okanagan International Education Program.  The School District and the Superintendent of Schools or designate shall have the final authority in enforcing these rules and conditions. Payment of fees indicates that the international student and their parents understand and agree to follow all rules, regulations, policies and codes of conduct of  the Central Okanagan International Education Program, School District 23 (Central Okanagan), and the provincial and federal legal system.

School District's Appeal Process
Policy 460 – Appeals states that, "A student or a parent of a student who is entitled to an educational program in School District No. 23 may appeal a decision of an employee of the Board of Education which significantly affects the education, health or safety of the student". For a complete description of the Appeals Policy along with the recommended steps to follow in attempting to solve a problem, please refer to Policy 460 – Appeals, that can be accessed from the 'Policies' link under the Board of Education heading on the School District homepage (www.sd23.bc.ca).