Family Handbook 2019-20

Harassment Policy Havergal is committed to maintaining an educational community that fosters mutual respect for the dignity and well-being of all students and employees. Each individual has the right to function in an atmosphere that promotes equal opportunities and prohibits discrimination and harassment. Harassment negatively affects morale, motivation and learning. It may result in lowered self-esteem, increased absenteeism or poor school performance.

Harassment is prohibited by the Ontario Human Rights Code. In keeping with its values and legal responsibilities, the school will treat any complaint of harassment as a serious matter.

Purpose The purpose of this Harassment Policy (the “Policy”) is to maintain a learning and teaching environment free from acts of harassment. This Policy is a clear statement of the school’s commitment and determination to act promptly against any incident of harassment and to create an environment where harassment will not be tolerated. The objectives of the Policy are to: ● maintain a school environment that is free from harassment; ● enhance the knowledge of students with regard to forms of harassment; ● articulate the formal and informal complaint procedure for students and provide confidential, impartial and effective procedures to resolve complaints in ways that respect all parties; ● provide appropriate consequences and responses for the maintenance of a harassment-free learning environment; and ● to define the roles and responsibilities of students and school personnel. 1. What is Harassment? “Harassment” is defined in the Ontario Human Rights Code as engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome. Harassment also includes sexual harassment, as defined below. Harassment can manifest itself in many ways. Types of behaviour that constitute harassment include, but are not limited to: i. sexist, racist or otherwise improper jokes causing embarrassment or offence, which are told or carried out after the joker has been advised that they are embarrassing or offensive, or that are by their nature clearly embarrassing or offensive; ii. derogatory or degrading remarks concerning members of a particular race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, family status, marital status, gender expression, gender identity, or disability;

Last Edited: August 20, 2019 Havergal College Family Handbook 2019–20

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