St. Andre Bessette Catholic Code of Conduct
The purpose of the Catholic Code of Conduct is to ensure that all members of the Catholic school
community, especially our most vulnerable, are treated with respect and enjoy a safe, caring, inclusive
and healthy environment in which to work and learn. The Catholic Code of Conduct sets standards of
behaviour that promote, encourage and foster a shared commitment to gospel values in daily life,
respect for the dignity of persons created in God's image, responsible participation in the civic life of the
school community, harmonious relationships, peaceful conflict resolution, respect for diversity, and a
commitment to exemplary conduct, conscientious work, and service to others. The Catholic Code of
Conduct expressly prohibits those behaviours, attitudes and activities that would potentially disrupt
learning, harm another person, threaten individual rights or personal safety, undermine the moral tone
of the school community, create divisiveness, diminish a person’s well-being, damage property, or
disrespect Catholic social teachings.
St. André Bessette Elementary School is committed to building and sustaining a school climate that is
safe, inclusive and accepting for all students, and to preventing bullying in schools. The Dufferin-Peel
Catholic District School Board considers homophobia, gender based violence, and harassment on the
basis of sex, 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 protected by the Human Rights Code, as well as inappropriate sexual
behavior. The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board supports the use of positive practices to
prevent such behaviour and authorizes principals, or their delegates, to impose consequences in
appropriate circumstances, up to and including a referral to the Discipline Committee of the Board for
expulsion from all schools.