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CODE OF CONDUCT
lower-school students
The behavior policy of Canterbury is designed to support the schools goal to create the most
positive learning environment for each child so that his or her social, emotional, spiritual,
intellectual, and physical growth is as complete as his or her own unique potential will permit.
We know that a positive learning experience happens in an atmosphere of kindness to and
respect for one another and that creating this environment requires a firm commitment on the
part of all those involved in the life of our school: the Canterbury staff, our students, and their
parents or guardians. Accordingly, the purpose of our behavior policy is to promote the
achievement of this goal by providing clear and specific expectations of acceptable behavior,
incentives that promote this behavior, and appropriate consequences should behavior be
unacceptable.
Lower School Behavior Expectation and Policies, Student Expectations
1. Students are expected to respect the rights of other students to learn and the rights of
teachers to teach.
2. Students are expected to demonstrate respect in both words and actions toward all
teachers and staff members.
3. Students are expected to demonstrate respect in both words and actions toward all fellow
students.
4. Students are expected to be honest in all situations, both academic and social.
5. Students are expected to respect all school property. This includes buildings, equipment,
furniture, and textbooks.
6. Students are expected to adhere to the school dress code.
These expectations apply to all school functions, such as athletic events, social events, and field
trips, as well as to the regular school day.
Incentives and Consequences
As we seek to instill in our students kindness and respect for each other, we feel that positive
incentives should be employed so that students learn that their good behavior is valued. On those
occasions when a students behavior is unacceptable, we feel that consequences should be
directed at repairing the damage or making amends as much as possible. We also recognize
that there are times when we must help children to understand that certain actions can result in
firm consequences.
Incentives for appropriate behavior may include but are not limited to the
following:
Praise
Special privileges

Special recognition
Special activities
Tangible rewards

Consequences for minor offenses may include but are not limited to the following:
Conferences
Time out
Loss of privileges
Loss of recess
Written assignments (please note that we do not use extra homework as a
consequence)
Consequences for major offenses or repeated minor offenses may include but are
not limited to the following:
Detention Suspension from extra-curricular activity
In-school suspension
Suspension
Dismissal from school
In the lower school, a system of white cards and red cards will be used to notify parents and
students about student behavior and its consequences. A separate system will be used to
communicate about dress code infractions.
White cards are issued for minor offenses. Please be aware that younger students will receive a
verbal warning before a white card is issued. The card will need to be signed by the students
parents and returned to school the following day. If it is not returned, a second white card will be
issued. It is important to note that the white cards will refer to five of the six expectations as set
forth in the policy to ensure that the connection between the students action and those
expectations are clear.
After receiving two white cards in a calendar month, the student will have a meeting with his or
her Division Director.
After receiving three white cards in a calendar month, the student will be assigned to detention and
have a meeting with the Division Director.
Red cards are issued when a major violation of our behavior expectations has occurred. Any
time a red card is issued, the student will be assigned to detention.
A consultation with the parents and the Division Director will be required for
repeated violations of the Behavior Expectation Policy.

Disciplinary Procedure for Lower-School Students in Specialty Classes

If a child receives a warning in a specialty class, the special teacher fills out a disciplinary
slip and gives it to the homeroom teacher. The slips are designed to help the teacher
discover patterns of behavior in specialty classes.
The homeroom teacher is not expected to do anything about a slip issued to a child by a
specialty teacher other than be aware that it was issued. Specialty teachers handle
discipline for their classrooms within their own classrooms.
The homeroom teacher might choose to reinforce this disciplinary action with his or her
own disciplinary action. This decision is left to the homeroom teacher.
If a child receives several slips from a specialty teacher, s/he will call the parents and
make them aware of the childs behavior. If the behavior continues, the childs report
card will reflect it.
If the child receives slips from a number of specialty classes, the homeroom teacher will
call the parents to talk about overall behavior patterns.

Our primary goal is to guide students behavior with love and respect. Teachers will be
encouraged to use common sense and flexibility as they use these systems in their classrooms.
Detention
Detention, covered on a rotating basis by faculty, will be on Friday afternoons and will be ageappropriate using the following guidelines:
Pre-Kindergarten/ Kindergarten, no detention
Grades 1-4, thirty minutes
Grades 5-8, sixty minutes
The first thirty minutes of detention is a quiet time with the remaining time being determined by
the Division Director. We feel that a time of stillness and quiet reflection can provide a
meaningful opportunity for students to evaluate their actions.
Lower School Guidelines for Permissible/Non-Permissible Help
non-permissible

permissible
ACADEMIC HELP

looking on a classmate's paper

talking to a classmate during a test
shouting out the answers before others have a
chance to respond
using a classmate's work as your own
copying material from resources
telling a classmate where an answer can be found
using a "cheat sheet" during a test
taking other students' school supplies or materials
and using them as your own

sharing the specifics of an assignment with a

classmate
working with a classmate on a group project
helping a classmate understand daily work

non-permissible

permissible

HELP FROM PARENTS

calling words out for a student
reading with a student
asking questions for a test
asking reading comprehension questions
drilling math facts
purchasing supplies

writing the material for the student (physically or

with thoughts)*
completing a project for a student
doing any of the student work for him/her
typing work when asked not to by the teacher
* exceptions are made for students with learning
needs or by teachers on an as-needed basis

Playground Safety
Important rules for children to remember on the playground:
Only one person at a time may cross the horizontal ladder.
No one is to sit on top of the ladder.
Sand is for playing, not for throwing.
Keep sand in the sandbox. We need it to pad the equipment and for playing.
Bars are to be held on to with both hands at all times. Hanging upside down without
hands can be dangerous.
Always walk behind, not in front of, the swings.
Swings are to move back and forth, only. No twisting.
One person at a time is allowed on the swing.
You must stay in the designated play area unless a teacher has given you permission to
leave.
Children must be seated and off of equipment if they are eating.
Kind words are always expected on the playground.
Walk in the playground area. Do not run!
Pushing, shoving, and tripping are not acceptable.
CANTERBURY SCHOOL DRESS CODE
Consistent with the mission statement of Canterbury, our dress code policy seeks to provide
students with a valuable feeling of equality. The dress code is based on a great deal of thoughtful
consideration by faculty, parents, administrators, and the Board of Trustees. It requires that
children dress in clothes that are similar, thus avoiding competition among students to wear the
latest in clothing. We expect students to arrive each day dressed in the Canterbury dress code.
There are three basic categories of dress: daily school dress, chapel dress, and casual dress. The
school dress requirements are slightly different for lower and middle school divisions.
Dress Code Enforcement (Lower and Middle Schools)
We do all we can to ensure that we are fair in implementing our dress code policy. It is our
sincere hope that compliance can be achieved through cooperation between home and school.

Each morning a dress code check will be made in every homeroom or advisory. When mistakes
are made, students and parents will be notified and, when appropriate, students will be provided
Canterbury shirts and/or belts to wear for the remainder of the day. For some violations, the
school may call the parents to bring a change of clothes to the school. Repeat offenses may lead
to detention, further conversations and strategies.
Each first through eighth grade student is required to purchase one light blue polo style shirt with
the Canterbury logo. Students are required to wear these shirts on field trips and other schoolrelated activities such as service learning. These shirts will be available for purchase through the
school store at the opening of school in August.
Parents who are in doubt about the appropriateness of a specific piece of attire should check with the school before
buying it.
Lower School Daily Dress Code
requirements:
hemmed shorts/long pants or hemmed capris/skirt/skort
o length of shorts, skirt, skort, or jumper no more than 2 inches above the knee
o color solid khaki, navy or tan
o fabric twill, corduroy, blends (no denim or knits)
o belt if belt loops are present, a black, brown, tan, or Canterbury belt must be
worn (for students in grades 4-8)
collared polo-style dress with sleeves or collared shirt with a jumper (girls)
o length of dress or jumper no more than 2 inches above the knee
o color any solid color, no contrasting trim
o design logo free (no words, images, designs, or brand markers)
collared shirt with sleeves or turtleneck shirt with sleeves (boys or girls)
o length of shirts long enough to remain tucked in throughout the school day
o color any solid color, no contrasting trim
o design logo free (no words, images, designs, or brand markers)
socks
o color white
o design plain, no logos
tights or leggings
o color black, white, tan or navy may be worn under clothing
o length no shorter than 2 above the knee
shoes
o low-cut athletic or tennis shoes
o full shoe with back
outerwear (optional as weather requires)
o Canterbury sweater/vest/sweatshirt OR any solid color sweater/vest/sweatshirt
(no words, images, designs, or logos)

any type of coat or jacket may be worn while outside but must be removed when
inside any school building
o hats, hoods and head coverings are permitted outside but must also be removed
when inside any school building
o

Chapel Dress (whole school)

For special events, students (including kindergartners) will be required to wear chapel dress.
Advance notice will be given for these occasions.
Boys, grades K-3: dress shirts, ties, long pants, belts, dress shoes and socks (jackets
optional)
Boys, grades 4-8: jackets, dress shirts, ties, long pants, belts, dress shoes and socks
Girls, grades K-8: skirts and tops OR dresses (sufficient length; covered bustline;
covered shoulders), dress shoes, sandals, or boots (no Uggs, cowboy boots, or flip-flops)
No athletic shoes or casual boots will be allowed on Chapel Dress days for any grade. However,
students will, be allowed to change to regular dress code, including athletic shoes, after the
Chapel Dress event is over.
Casual Dress (whole school)
Occasionally, a casual dress day will be announced. Any clothes are allowed, EXCEPT:
sleeveless shirts
inappropriately short shorts/skirts/skorts (the no shorter than 2 above the knee rule
applies)
cut-offs pants with holes, clingy knit pants, sweatpants, or shorts
hats
shoes without backs (including flip-flops)
clothing with inappropriate writing or graphics
clothing that exposes the midriff or bustline
Daily Homeroom Dress Code Checks
Teachers will use the dress code measuring sticks to check length of girls' skirts, dresses, or
shorts. Infractions of the dress code will be negotiated privately with individual girls, when
appropriate.
Teachers will check shirt, pants, belt, shoes, socks, and length of garment (girls).

If shirttails are out, teachers will ask students to tuck them in.
If a teacher notices a student in inappropriate dress, s/he will complete a Dress Code Reminder
which will be sent home with the child for a parent signature. When a child has received three
reminders, s/he will talk to the Division Director about the next appropriate step.
Any students without a belt or with an inappropriate shirt will be sent to the Division Director for
a loaner belt or shirt to wear for the day. It is the student/parents responsibility to return loaner
clothes. Belts should be returned at the end of the day to the Division Director and shirts should
be taken home to launder and return it the next school day.