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. Patrick 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.