Code of Conduct of
École Sainte-Marie Mère de Dieu

École Sainte-Marie Mère de Dieu ("the School") provides an education that seeks to obey the precepts of the encyclicals on education in connection with the Tradition of the Church. It desires that parents read, study, and adhere to this Code of Conduct.

The School therefore asks students, parents, and teachers for their unconditional support of the Code of Conduct and other common policies in order to better inform the follow-up of everyone in a common effort.

Finally, the School's Board of Directors mandates its administration, teachers, assistants, volunteers, and advisors to consider the students entrusted to them as both a professional and personal priority. It will strive to develop in each of them a sincere appreciation of standards of academic excellence and expressive dynamics.

Code of Conduct of École Sainte-Marie Mère de Dieu

1. It is an obligation for the student and their family to respect the traditionally expressed Catholic spirit of the School, among other things through attire deemed appropriate by the School and through active, daily participation in its spiritual life.
2. The School does not admit any behaviour deemed immoral, nor any lack of politeness (i.e., any lack of good manners, any breach of the rules of propriety; good upbringing), because politeness teaches us to contain hateful passions and gives the habit of caring for others. In addition to excluding anything that can hurt, politeness teaches us to forget ourselves for the benefit of others. Any insult, disrespect, or acts deemed hurtful or offensive that undermine the development of students' personalities are strictly prohibited. Students must show discernment in the use of means deemed peaceful in resolving potential conflicts. Likewise, any form of physical violence, aggression, or psychosis is not tolerated (i.e., the disintegration of personality following a disturbance of perception, judgment, and/or reasoning — despite its incongruity, its presence is frequent and will then require external medical help).
3. Students are therefore obliged to practice self-discipline (i.e., imposing discipline on oneself, in this case self-control) in order to better evolve in the silence of the classroom with dignity (i.e., with the feeling of the intrinsic value of the student that commands the respect of others). Self-control and silence are therefore required in class, regardless of the circumstances, even if the teacher is speaking to a colleague or another student.
4. For any question in class, the student raises their hand and waits for a response from the teacher, no matter how long the wait. Any question or answer from the student is made in a moderate, understandable, and respectful voice; otherwise the student is sanctioned.
5. Students are prohibited from distracting other students or the teacher in class through chattering (i.e., by abundant words, murmured or whispered, lacking interest), borrowing school tools, or shooting projectiles of any kind.
6. Following articles № 4 and 5, any sanction is followed by a punishment. The first form of punishment is copying of predetermined lines during recess time, according to the nature of the sanction. Kindergarten students copy a minimum of 5 lines, grades 1–2 a minimum of 15 lines, grades 3–6 a minimum of 35 lines, and grades 7–8 a minimum of 60 lines. The copied lines will be handed to the teacher who will pass them to the parents for signature. If the copy is not returned the next day, parents will be called and must pick up their children as soon as possible.
7. Wearing the school uniform at school and sports attire in the gymnasium/park are strictly mandatory at all times. If a student is not wearing the uniform, a reminder will be sent; in the event of non-compliance, parents will be called and must pick up their children as soon as possible; if this is not possible, a written justification from the parents will be required immediately.
8. The uniform is also mandatory in virtual learning situations where the student must demonstrate the same dress standards as at school.
9. Chewing gum and anything that can be chewed, outside of lunch and snack times, is strictly prohibited.
10. Any electronic device such as mobile phones, headphones, or laptops are strictly prohibited, except for a calculator (mandatory) and a laptop (not mandatory) for secondary-level students, but exclusively during classes; the prohibition also applies during lunch, snack times, and recess.
11. Any headwear is prohibited for both boys and girls — dyed hair, gel, eccentric haircuts, hats, toques (beanies), kippahs, combs, etc., unless it is a natural dye or natural gel that shows no eccentricity (i.e., that does not seek the emptiness of ostentation).
12. Complete school materials are required for the student at each class, in addition to books and notebooks. Books may be printed in whole or in part. If a student does not have their school materials, parents will be called and must pick up their children as soon as possible.
13. In class, outside of lunch or snack times, students refrain from drinking and eating, except for health reasons or for water.
14. Students will always strive to avoid accumulating overdue work, difficulties, forgetfulness, or negligence in their current work, regular preparation, and daily study.
15. Students will ensure the cleanliness of their desk, classroom, and school, as well as the maintenance and proper use of all materials and equipment made available to them.
16. In case of repeated and/or unjustified absences (i.e., multiple absences that become habitual), the student may be expelled. On a daily basis, they cannot rejoin the class before the next period and must make up the missed work time during the lunch period or after the school day according to the teacher's availability.
17. In case of plagiarism (i.e., cheating), the observed fraud and its consequences (sanctions), following the failure of its prevention, will take into account a) the grade level, b) the level of maturity, c) the number and frequency of fraudulent incidents, and d) the particular circumstances of the student. Consequences will range from a percentage penalty requiring the retake of the targeted work or, in case of recurrences, failure of the course accompanied by a descriptive comment of the fraud on the report card, with mandatory retake of said course the following year. The analysis of the sanction takes into account the moral definition of plagiarism, i.e., intellectual fraud of substituting the author and infringing on the authorship rights of a work. It is about wanting to associate one's name with someone else's work. Plagiarism is not a legal fact, hence the four possible sanctions: 1) counterfeiting where there is a reproduction of formal elements of a work without prior authorization, 2) civil liability in reproducing someone else's work not subject to any protection, i.e., if the plagiarized author has suffered prejudice, 3) criminal liability based on theft and breach of trust, and 4) disciplinary liability for ignoring professional ethical and deontological practices, the most evident case in a student.
18. In case of delay in submitting work, taking into account a) the grade level, b) the level of maturity, c) the number and frequency of delays, and d) the particular circumstances of the student, the sanction will be gradual: 10% per working day up to a limit of 50%, then a failure at 0%.
19. Nature and examination of punitive measures determined according to the rules of conduct necessary for the respect of discipline (i.e., the set of rules of conduct overseen by the moral direction that constitutes instruction — i.e., the precepts behind the transmission of knowledge and their acquisition through study and practice) through informed obedience and active submission. As a student, with the unconditional support of the parents (who, of their own free will and without any hesitation whatsoever, support the documented or undocumented version of the teacher who decides upon and administers the said punitive measure or measures), whether or not the parents, the Board, the teachers, assistants, volunteers, advisors and/or the administration are informed, the student fully, entirely, and freely agrees to submit to the punitive measures described below and to bear their social and academic consequences, if applicable.
    1. The frequent and continuous repetition of profanity during school hours or during extracurricular activities, which constitutes verbal aggression, following recurrence, entails: a) a warning, b) a written sanction (copy or composition of an explanatory letter in place of one or more recesses), c) the summoning of parents, d) temporary expulsion, e) dismissal.
    2. The viewing or practice of video games during school hours, following recurrence, entails: a) a warning, b) a written sanction (copy or composition of an explanatory letter in place of one or more recesses), c) the summoning of parents, d) the suspension of the student's email account and all access to the School's website, e) temporary expulsion, f) dismissal. At home, the School's stated objective is for the student to replace video game play with reading a book or any other similar activity.
    3. Lying or imprecation (i.e., the fierce desire for another's misfortune), which may constitute false testimony, whether it occurs during school hours, during extracurricular activities, or in an electronic message exchange between students (the latter potentially constituting defamation), once discovered, following recurrence, entails: a) a warning, b) a written sanction (copy or composition of an explanatory letter in place of one or more recesses), c) the summoning of parents, d) temporary expulsion, e) dismissal.
    4. Disobedience (i.e., refusal to comply), disrespect (i.e., lack of consideration or deference toward authority), or contempt (i.e., reckless judgment) constitutes a revolt (i.e., a refusal that causes scandal) against authority and, as such, deserves particular attention because revolt is at the historical origin of disobedience, where Lucifer refused to accept his subjugation to man and was cast down to earth (S. Luke X, 18). All forms of disobedience, beyond the commandments of Moses, are elaborated here. Disobedience, during school hours or during extracurricular activities, following particular recurrence, entails: a) a warning, b) a written sanction (copy or composition of an explanatory letter in place of one or more recesses), c) the summoning of parents, d) temporary expulsion, e) suspension (i.e., the prevention of the student from fulfilling their duty of State) for a determined period of reflection, f) dismissal.
       iv.1) Any suspension generates counted absences, as well as a lack of instruction. Any academic gap and all necessary documentation then become the responsibility of the offending student.
    5. Insult (i.e., the ad hominem outrage against the person) during school hours or during extracurricular activities, following recurrence, entails: a) a warning, b) a written sanction (copy or composition of an explanatory letter in place of one or more recesses), c) the summoning of parents, d) temporary expulsion, e) dismissal.
    6. The pursuit of harm (i.e., damage caused to the moral or material interests of a person due to a third party), when it is not of a psychopathological delirium, attacks the dignity and honour of the person but often occurs out of ignorance. The injury inflicted mainly concerns reputation and may foster blackmail (intimidation — https://smmd.ca/En/Politiques#BULLY). Any documented harm, during school hours or during extracurricular activities, depending on the nature of the documentation, entails: a) a warning, b) a written sanction (copy or composition of an explanatory letter in place of one or more recesses), c) the summoning of parents, d) temporary expulsion, e) dismissal.
    7. Calumny (i.e., the slanderous accusation) attacks the dignity and honour of the person through false allegation but always occurs consciously with the objective of discrediting the person — https://smmd.ca/En/Politiques#HARC. Any documented calumny, during school hours or during extracurricular activities, following recurrence, entails: a) a warning, b) a written sanction (copy or composition of an explanatory letter in place of one or more recesses), c) the summoning of parents, d) temporary expulsion, e) suspension for a determined period of reflection, f) dismissal.
    8. Violence (i.e., an unconstrained force that manifests in brutality) and/or physical aggression (i.e., a violent unprovoked attack, often without motive) immediately result in a suspension then, following recurrence, a) a second suspension for a much longer determined period of reflection, b) the summoning of parents, c) temporary expulsion, d) a note on the final report card, e) dismissal.
    9. Impurity (i.e., immodesty), immorality (i.e., contempt for morality), obscenity (i.e., what opposes decency), immodesty (i.e., an affront to propriety and reserve), sensual flattery (i.e., the stimulation of the senses as a source of pleasure), or indecency (i.e., what offends modesty), following recurrence, entails: a) a warning, b) the summoning of parents, c) temporary expulsion, d) dismissal.
    10. Theft (i.e., seizing another's property by force or by cunning) or fraud (i.e., theft through deception and trickery), once the facts are established and documented, depending on the nature of the documentation, entails: a) the unequivocal return of the stolen property, the summoning of parents, and a written sanction (copy or composition of an explanatory letter in place of one or more recesses), b) temporary expulsion, c) a note on the final report card, d) dismissal.
    11. Insolence (i.e., the disrespectful boldness of audacity in its vulgar form — i.e., impudence) is the offensive arrogance of pride and expresses itself through confrontation. It is reprehensible when manifested against authority but only questionable when occurring between students of the same age group. During school hours or during extracurricular activities, following recurrence, insolence entails: a) a warning, b) a written sanction (copy or composition of an explanatory letter in place of one or more recesses), c) the summoning of parents, d) temporary expulsion, e) dismissal.
    12. Impoliteness (i.e., ignorance demonstrated either in manner, conduct, writing, reading, or speech, which expresses itself through disregard for the rules of civility associated with courtesy and respect for the moral customs of proper upbringing — cf. № 2) is dictated by insensitivity and misguided intuition — i.e., poorly informed judgment. During school hours or during extracurricular activities, following recurrence, impoliteness entails: a) a warning, b) a written sanction (copy or composition of an explanatory letter in place of one or more recesses), c) the summoning of parents, d) temporary expulsion, e) dismissal.

    The pedagogical objective of punitive measures is to cultivate a detestation (repugnance) of the fault committed that led to the punishment, through an intimate understanding of the deep symptoms behind said fault. Every fault being an offense against God (i.e., a sin), one will always seek the satisfaction of the moral imperative in the conclusion of the sought pedagogical objective.

20. Parents have the obligation to read the Code of Conduct of the School, to become familiar with it, and to adhere to it unconditionally in order to implement it effectively.
21. For grades 1, 2, 3, and 4, parents must consult the student's daily notebook (the school agenda) and sign the teacher's observations, if applicable. Parents must also sign any academic control document (exam, test, or quiz) and return it within the deadline set by the teacher.
22. It is prohibited to have medications in one's possession in one's bag or within reach. Parents must bring them to the administration at the beginning of the day and retrieve them at the end of the day. For their administration, parents must formulate in writing to the administration an express permission for consumption, otherwise nothing will be administered to the student even if complications result. The possible medications in question here (about 80 medications) are summarized in the following six categories: pain relief (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, Aspirin, and topical cream), cold and cough (decongestant, expectorant), allergies and sinus (antihistamine, pseudoephedrine, oxymetazoline, fluticasone), digestive health (antacid, laxative, loperamide, bismuth subsalicylate), skin and hair care (topical cream, antifungal, pyrithione, ketoconazole), vitamins and minerals. In the event of non-compliance with the preceding directives, parents will be called and must pick up their children as soon as possible.
23. Parents ensure regular attendance and punctuality of their child(ren) and notify the School, at the latest on the same morning, of any absence or lateness of their child(ren). Students will only be admitted to class with a written justification from their parents.
24. Authorization from the School's administration is mandatory to leave school before dismissal time. Without this authorization, which a teacher cannot substitute, the student cannot leave school before dismissal time.
25. Parents familiarize themselves with the regulations and academic activities of the School, in addition to the considerable resources found there, among others thanks to their access to the School's website Intranet through their personal account, which is mandatory.
26. The Board of Directors of École Sainte-Marie Mère de Dieu ("the Board") strives to develop the faith of students. It teaches them to be proud of their language and culture, but also to respect the ethnic groups entrusted to it by instilling in them a sincere appreciation of the principles of political pluralism for the benefit of the coexistence of different cultural, economic, and social elements within a community organized around the same faith, as well as an appreciation of human freedom (i.e., the appreciation of the natural freedom of the student in society and their power over the things of this world, this freedom that produces the "necessity to be").
27. Unless duty-bound, the Board refuses to disclose any confidential information about a student. It informs parents about the conduct, performance, and abilities of students through performance reports, report cards, formal and informal meetings, or telephone calls of a strictly professional nature. It respects the confidences received and shows discretion in all circumstances.
28. The Board must intervene with the aim of resolving amicably and with respect and civility any conflicts that may arise between students, between parents, or between teachers. In this regard, https://smmd.ca/En/Politiques#VIEPRIV.
29. It prohibits any teacher, as well as any current member of the Board of Directors employed by the school, whether in a situation of voluntary departure, medical leave, preventive layoff, or any employee or volunteer who has been dismissed, from soliciting anything whatsoever from the families of the school, or from speaking or writing about the school in disparaging terms through rumors, defamation, lies, gossip, indiscretion, or slander toward anyone — including current teachers, assistants, volunteers, advisors, parents, and the administration — for a period of ten years from the date their activities cease, whether that cessation is temporary, momentary, or permanent, under penalty of sanctions.