POLICY 5131.0

STUDENT, STAFF AND VOLUNTEER SAFETY

1.0    RATIONALE

The Greater Victoria School District (the District) has the duty to create and maintain a safe, inclusive, and culturally responsive environment for the students and staff in all facilities. The District believes every student and school learning community member in our district should feel safe, accepted, and respected regardless of race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, family status, disability or diverse ability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

The District is responsible for fostering and maintaining a safe working, and learning environment for all students, staff and parents/caregivers through the implementation of effective measures to address safety in schools. This includes the development of district-based student codes of conduct, and the administration of the School Act and School Board policies.

2.0    POLICY

1. The District recognizes that students, employees, and volunteers have the right to a safe school environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, or marital status, physical or mental disability, age, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, or any other protected grounds in the
   BC Human Rights Code. This includes safety from all forms of harassment including while they are participating in school related activities, on school grounds, and on their way to and from school.
   1.1   The District works in collaboration with the Oak Bay, Saanich, and Victoria Fire and Police Departments, and the West Shore RCMP, in maintaining student safety.
   1.2   Students are expected to comply with the Student Code of Conduct which are developed as per the Provincial Standards for Codes of Conduct Order. Whenever possible, conflict resolution practices are restorative rather than punitive, aiming to provide students with a strength-based approach which provides individuals with opportunities to take responsibility for their actions and find resolutions in a supportive and constructive manner with the specific goal of resolving the situation in the best interest of both the student and the school community.
   1.3   Students and staff are expected to engage in safe, respectful, and responsible digital behaviour, including protecting personal information.
   1.4   Individuals are encouraged to bring forward reports of activities that do not align with the Code of Conduct without fear of retaliation or reprisal.
2. The District recognizes the short and long-term health effects associated with substance use and vapour products, and supports early intervention, holistic support and educational approaches. The district prohibits substance use including alcohol, tobacco and vapour products in vehicles parked on school property, at school-related events and on field trips.
3. The District believes that instruction in courses in applied skills, science, art, physical health education, and trades will include and emphasize safety measures and accident prevention.
4. The District acknowledges that everyone in the school community plays a role by helping build knowledge, competencies and self-worth, creating safe, caring and inclusive learning environments, encouraging positive connections and helping to build protective factors. The district recognizes that no school safety program can be effective unless everyone in the school community co-operates in the effort. All safety measures, whether they be School Codes of Conduct, fire drills, lockdowns, safety instruction, or the wearing of protective clothing and eye devices in certain classes requires the support of all students and staff.

3.0    DEFINITION

3.1.   An emergency is a sudden, unexpected occurrence requiring immediate action to stabilize a situation.

3.2    Substances refers to chemicals or plants that can change how we think, feel, act and perceive the world around us.

4.0    RESPONSIBILITIES

4.1    The Superintendent will review the relevant Board policies with principals on an annual basis.

REFERENCES

School Act, Sections 6(1)(2), 17, 20, 22, 65, 85, 94(1)(4)(8), 95(3)
School Act School Regulation 265/89
Songhees Local Education Agreement
Esquimalt Education Agreement
Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act
Greater Victoria Administrative Regulation XXXX

Greater Victoria School District

Adopted:       November 24, 2025