Hallways
Students should avoid behaviours that endanger their safety or the safety of others, such as pushing, shoving, horseplay, and running. Offensive or obscene language and profanity are also unacceptable. Except for legitimate locker access, halls are off-limits during class sessions. Students with spares are expected to work quietly in designated areas.
Use Of School Facilities During the Instructional Day
Students who have spares are expected to be in the library, cafeteria, senior lounge, or out of the building. No one should be loitering in the hallways during class time.
Telephones
Office phones may not be used for student calls, except in an emergency. Students should avoid having personal messages left for them.
Cafeteria And Lunch Hour
The cafeteria is open daily from 7:30 a.m. until after lunch. All students are responsible for keeping it clean by disposing of their trash properly. Students are encouraged to eat lunch in the cafeteria. Students may eat outdoors during good weather, ensuring litter is placed in the proper receptacles. Cooperation with staff on supervision duty in the cafeteria is expected. Students may, of course, bring their own lunches or leave the campus provided they return on time for afternoon classes.
Learning commons
The Simcoe Composite School learning commons located on the first floor in the east wing and is open from 8:30 am through 3:15 pm, Monday to Friday. In addition to loaning books for use outside of the library, the library also offers access to vertical files, encyclopedias, reference books, periodicals and much more. There are also computers available for students to use at lunch for academic purposes.
Assemblies
Assemblies are for all students, including those with spares. Students must show respect for guest presenters by refraining from talking during performances or presentations. Cell phones are not to be used during assemblies. Appreciation for presenters should be shown through applause at the end. Students are asked to remain in the assembly until it is over out of respect for the guest speakers.
Changerooms
These are provided for physical education classes and extra-curricular sports. DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN CHANGE ROOMS AT ANY TIME. We will not be responsible for lost or stolen items. The use of cell phone cameras are not permitted in change rooms.
Lockers & Locks
Lockers are issues to students at the beginning of each semester but are the property and responsibility of the school. All backpacks and coats must be stored in lockers during class time. Students must provide a combination lock for their lockers and keep their locker clean. Students must use only the locker which has been assigned to them. Using an unauthorized locker may result in having the lock cut off and contents confiscated. Lockers without locks will also have contents confiscated. Do not share lockers. Do not, under any circumstances, leave any valuables, including money, in your locker.
Skateboards, Longboards, Rollerblades and Bikes
According to Grand Erie policy, skateboards, longboards, and rollerblades are NOT permitted at school or on school property. Repeated violations may result in confiscation by the administration. Students who ride bikes to school must store them in the bike rack outside. The school is not responsible for bike security, so ensure bikes are properly locked. Bikes may NOT be stored inside the school.
Lost And Found
Items which have been retrieved in the school are usually taken to the main office. Please visit these locations if you have lost a valuable item.
Smoking/Vaping
Smoking and vaping are prohibited on school grounds. Adults wishing to smoke or vape must do so at least 20 metre from school grounds. Students violating this rule will face progressive discipline, including consequences enforced by the Tobacco Control Act, Bill 119 and school disciplinary action.
Smoking or loitering on neighbouring and adjacent residential properties is disrespectful and highly discouraged. We expect all students to respect our neighbours and town properties so that SCS can continue to exist harmoniously with the Simcoe community.
Please note that these expectations also apply to all vaping devices.
For more information on Grand Erie District School Board's Smoke Free Procedure, please click the link below.
smoke-free-ontario-schools-2017
Alcohol And Drugs
Simcoe Composite School promotes healthy lifestyles as outlined in the Ontario Curriculum. Any illegal actions in society are also prohibited at school. The possession and use of alcohol and/or drugs by students on Board property, school buses, or during school and Board-sponsored events are strictly prohibited. Violations will result in progressive discipline. To maintain a drug and alcohol-free environment, our school uses various measures to ensure everyone's safety.
Cellphone Policy
Simcoe Composite School is committed to minimizing distractions during instructional time. Ideally, phones should be kept out of sight and on silent in order to maximize student focus.
Social media use on school devices and networks is now restricted to ensure students stay focused during school hours.
School staff are expected to model behaviour of appropriate cell phone use during instructional time and will be asked to keep their devices out of site during this time. Exceptions would be for work-related purposes or emergency situations.
Cellphones and Social Media in the Classroom
Students are not to use cellphones and other personal mobile devices during instruction time. These devices should be turned off or set to silent mode, AND they should be stored out of view.
Students may use their cellphones and/or mobile devices only when:
- A teacher says to use it for educational purposes i.e.) research, visiting a website, etc.
- For health and medical purposes. Any questions should be directed at administration.
- To support special education needs.
Progressive Discipline
Administration will use strategies to encourage the appropriate use of cellphones and other mobile devices, which may include but are not limited to:
- Cellphone to remain in the office until lunch or until the end of day.
- Detention(s).
- Communication or meeting with parents/guardians to discuss the level of infraction(s) of the policy and next steps.
- In-school suspension.
- Out-of-school suspension.
More Information
Want to learn more about Grand Erie District School Board's cellphone policy Read the full document below.
Read GEDSB's Cellphone Procedure
The links below are resources to help you better understand the addictive challenges that teens face with cellphone and social media use.
