Flex Academy Community Code of Conduct

For background information, see the Flex Academy Code of Conduct Terms and Definitions page.

The details in this code of conduct are not exhaustive but provide a view of how we approach our core values in managing student behaviour.

Purpose & Rationale

This Code of Conduct has been developed to provide parameters around our expectations of students as learners and Community members. The Flex Academy learner Profile and Core Values provide a foundation for this code of conduct.

This code of conduct also includes ways in which Flex Academy may address situations where a student is acting out of synch with the learner profile or our core values.

Flex Academy Learner Profile

A Flex Academy learner is a reflective and adaptable thinker who is inquisitive, discerning, and full of wonder at God's world, courageous and sustained by hope with a merciful, humble, and empathetic heart, and an advocate who is responsive to the needs of others, serving to have an impact on a world in need of redemption.

Flex Academy Core Values

Academic Success - Engaged Lifelong Learners

We aim to inspire every student to become a passionate learner who reaches towards their personal best while continually seeking out opportunities to grow. Our goal is that students leave Flex Academy having developed the skills and tools to remain discerning lifelong learners.

Integrity - Authentic Christ Followers

One of the definitions of integrity is the quality or state of being complete or undivided. We believe this wholeness can only be found in Christ. Our desire for our students and, by extension their families, is to walk in the fullness of an authentic relationship with Christ within a supportive community that prays together, challenges each other and shares life together.

Relationship - Intentional Supportive Community

Responding to the needs of our families, we develop a variety of opportunities for students to connect, to learn together and to build supportive community. Our teachers and staff pray for, encourage and come alongside our students and families as we partner with them in their academic journey.

Flexibility - Personalized Learning Choices

Just as every student is unique, their learning should be as well. We value creating individualized learning plans for every student that are designed to provide a flexible and tailored education, empowering and supporting parents as we partner with them. We strive to create innovative opportunities, including individualized home education, any-pace online courses, community-building face-to-face learning groups, cross-enrolled options and much more.

Conduct Expectations

At Flex Academy, our entire community – including staff, students, volunteers, and parents – is responsible for ensuring Flex Academy is a safe, supportive, and inclusive school. Behaviour that falls within our core values and learner and teacher profiles looks like the following:

At Flex Academy, we commit to being respectful, loving, gentle, humble, kind, patient, and self-controlled as we partner with each other and God's work in our lives and in the life of the Flex Academy community.

The following are examples of behaviours that are in sync with our core values:

Demonstrating respect for ourselves, others, and our school
Apologizing and working toward change when there is a problem
Forgiving one another and working together
Owning our mistakes and taking steps to correct them
Treating all individuals, regardless of race, ability, sexual orientation, self-expression, or religious beliefs with kindness, inclusion, and respect.
Treating school property and the property of others with a reasonable standard of care
Expressing ourselves with socially acceptable language and gestures
Exhibiting behaviour that is free of all forms of intimidation, harassment, racism, exclusion, and discrimination
Dressing in accordance with the school's dress code standards
Informing a school official of any unsafe situation
Make every effort to attend scheduled classes and arrive on time
Respecting the rights of others to learn in an environment free of unnecessary distractions
Assisting in making the school a safe, caring, and orderly place
Modelling respectful and responsible behaviour, not only at school, but within the community and whenever acting as a school ambassador or representative

Problematic Behaviour

Some behaviours demonstrate a lack of willingness or ability to synch up with our core values and learner profile.

The following kinds of behaviours are out of syc with our core values. They will result in consequential responses from Flex Academy in the form of parental involvement, restorative meetings, academic probation, or loss of priveledges.

Distracting others from focusing on classroom instruction or prescribed tasks (including distracting others during Flex blocks or Flex days when on campus)
Creating unsafe situations for school members
Improper use of Flex spaces (the Village or Mez) - includes habitually not signing in or out or a chronic lack of communication with the school if not staying the full day on a Flex day.
Swearing at a Flex Academy community member
Habitual absenteeism
Habitually poor work habits or lack of effort in completing schoolwork
Habitual unkindness toward others (excluding, gossiping, using unkind words)

When problematic behaviour is the result of something that is clearly outside of a student's control, Flex Academy teachers and administration will take an educational, skills-based, supportive and partnering approach to help students reach toward their full potential.

Serious or Dangerous Behaviours

Some behaviours demand serious responses from the Flex Academy Administrative team, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the behaviour.

In all cases, a restorative approach to discipline is preferred whenever possible.

Serious responses include removal from class, suspension, restorative justice, and in some cases, expulsion from Flex Academy.

Behaviours that will bring about a serious response from Administration include, but are not limited to:

Retaliatory behaviour toward others
Possessing any form of a weapon while on school property
Possessing or using intoxicants, illegal, or restricted substances. See the Flex Academy Substance Abuse Policy for more on this.
Willfully and continually interfering with the rights of others to learn
Acts of bullying, violence, targeted exclusion, harassment, or intimidation
Threatening others – in person or online/digitally
Possession or use of weapons
Theft or damage to property

Family Responsibility

It is the responsibility of the entire Flex Academy community to ensure our school is a safe, caring, inclusive and orderly school. For families, it is of the utmost importance that teachers and staff and Flex Administration are treated with dignity and respect. We expect our Staff to do the same toward both students and families.

There is no room for bullying and harassment within the Flex Academy community.

Any parent or guardian who berates, swears at, yells at, intimidates, threatens, bullies or harasses a Flex Academy staff member will be at risk for withdrawal of their student(s) from the school.

A parent or guardian who disrespectfully treats a staff member may also be prevented from entering the school premises until reconciliation takes place between the parent and staff member.

Teacher and Staff Responsibility

Flex Academy Teachers and Staff are committed to exemplifying the Flex Academy Teacher and Staff profiles.

A Flex Academy Teacher is
a RESOURCEFUL and INNOVATIVE educator
growing in WISDOM,
embracing FLEXIBILITY
and continually REFLECTING on their practice,

PASSIONATE about learning,
HUMBLY building RELATIONSHIPS
CENTERED IN CHRIST and founded on GRACE,

a PROFESSIONAL
who demonstrates TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY,
values COLLABORATION and healthy COMMUNICATION,
while partnering with the families and learners they SERVE.

A Flex Academy staff member is
a RESOURCEFUL and INNOVATIVE professional
growing in WISDOM,
embracing FLEXIBILITY
and continually REFLECTING on their practice,

PASSIONATE about learning
HUMBLY building RELATIONSHIPS
CENTERED IN CHRIST and founded on GRACE,

a PROFESSIONAL
who demonstrates TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY,
values COLLABORATION and HEALTHY COMMUNICATION,
while partnering with the teachers, students, families, and colleagues they SERVE.