At the York Catholic District School Board, we are committed to creating school environments where every student feels safe, respected and supported.
Our work is guided every day by our Catholic faith and our commitment to providing a safe, healthy and welcoming learning environment for all our students.
If you are learning about a suspension or expulsion, we recognize that you, your child and your family may feel overwhelmed. These situations can raise many questions and concerns, and we want you to know that you are not alone. Our goal is to work alongside you with care, understanding and respect.
This page is intended to help guide you through the process, explain the supports that are available and outline the steps we can take together to help your child learn, grow and successfully move forward in their educational journey.
As part of this commitment, our schools follow a progressive discipline approach, which focuses on helping students learn from their choices, understand expectations and receive the support they need to make positive changes.
What is Progressive Discipline?
Every student is made in the image of God and deserves dignity, compassion and the opportunity to learn from mistakes. Schools work to uphold safety while also helping students rebuild trust, relationships and hope.
Progressive discipline is a fair and supportive approach used by schools to respond when student behaviour affects safety, well-being or the school climate. It includes prevention, teaching, reflection, support, intervention and, when needed, consequences.
The purpose is to help students learn from their choices and move forward with the support they need.
Progressive Discipline Support for Students
The school will work closely with the student and family to provide guidance, support and clear expectations moving forward. This approach helps promote accountability, well-being and a positive path ahead.
Support may include:
- Reviewing expectations with the student to help reinforce positive behaviour
- Contacting parents/guardians to ensure open and ongoing communication
- Offering counselling, mentoring, conflict resolution or restorative conversations
- Providing accommodations, modifications or safety planning, when needed
- Connecting families to school, board and community supports to ensure continued care and guidance
Understanding How Decisions are Made
The Principal is guided by the Ontario Education Act and will look carefully at the full situation before deciding on the next steps. This includes the seriousness of the incident, the impact on others, the student’s age, personal and academic history, whether earlier supports were tried and whether the student’s behaviour may be connected to disability-related needs, mental health needs, trauma, bullying, harassment, bias or other important circumstances.
Decisions must also take into account fairness, equity,
trauma-informed practice, cultural responsiveness and must comply with the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Positive Practices Used in Schools
Our schools are committed to fostering safe, inclusive and faith-filled learning environments through a range of positive practices that support student well-being, growth and responsible citizenship, including:
- Bullying Prevention
- Violence Prevention
- Student Success and Leadership Opportunities
- Social-Emotional Learning
- Healthy Relationship Education
- Character, Catholic Virtues and Citizenship Development
How we Support Students and Families
We are committed to walking alongside students and families by providing thoughtful supports that promote academic success, well-being and a positive path forward, including:
- Planning for academic success and well-being
- Referrals to social work, psychology, child and youth workers and community resources
- Alternative programming for longer suspensions or expulsions when required
- Re-entry meetings before a return to school