Inclusion and Discrimination Protection Policy

The safety and well-being of children in independent schools is of paramount consideration. Children deserve to be protected from abuse, neglect, bullying, harm or threat of harm.  Therefore, we will ensure that children attending Noah’s Ark School will experience a learning environment that enables every child to feel safe, accepted and respected. As such, we believe that:

a) no part of our program would, in theory or in practice, promote or foster doctrines of

                i) racial or ethnic superiority or persecution

                ii) religious intolerance or persecution

                iii) social change through violent action, or

                iv) sedition

b) we fully comply with the enactments of British Columbia and the municipality or regional district in which the our school is located

c) we fully abide by the Independent School Act and all regulations.

Noah’s Ark ensures that students feel connected through the relationships that are created between students, staff, and parents that are part of the school community. We strive to continuously develop strategies to make students feel valued, respected and connected within the school community.  This will include the protection of the students’ physical safety, social connectedness, inclusiveness as well as protection from all forms of bullying, regardless of their gender, race, culture, religion or sexual orientation, while remaining consistent with our school’s values, cultural perspectives and pedagogy.

Students who feel respected, accepted and connected tend to be physically and mentally healthier, and perform better academically.  They tend to have fewer incidents of violent or “acting out” behaviour, be less sexually active, have a lower rate of “experimentation”, with or “use” of drugs and alcohol (Preventing Bullying and Ensuring Safe and Caring School Communities – Level 1; Province of British Columbia, 2013, p 13).

There are strategies and activities that can be employed within a school to enable students to feel included, safe, accepted and respected, which can facilitate a conversation on strengthening the learning environment for children.

Engage students in the decision-making process of policies and activities that build community:

·    Engage parents in the educational program and school life of their children

·    Encourage parents to share their culture and expectations

·    Promote open communication among administrators, teachers, staff, students, families and communities

·    Be proactive in connecting with students that are experiencing academic or social issues

·    Communicate expectations, values and norms that support positive health and academic behaviour in the school community

·    Acknowledge students by name

·    Be visible within the school during class transitions, breaks, before/after school

·    Find ways to acknowledge students for their contributions in the school community, including those where improvement comes only in small increments.