We believe
For anyone interested in working for the Peel board, it’s important to learn about what we believe in as a school system. Our mission statement is "Lifelong learning: striving to be the best." And it’s our aim to help each student succeed in learning at every stage of life. We are teaching students to be lifelong learners, but our mission applies to our staff as well.
Our staff share a common vision of a school system that is a progressive leader in education. Quality service to our students, community and colleagues is our highest priority. We’re committed to making sure every student has opportunities to succeed. We all take pride in our individual and collective achievements.
We value contribution and talent. We respect differences. Strength comes from learning, teaching and working together and we provide a secure, supportive environment that adapts to changing needs.
Obviously, when we hire new staff, we look for individuals who share our values and our vision for public education.
Principles we value
At the Peel board, we care about the people who work for us, so we do everything we can to make sure we have a healthy, safe, productive and equitable work environment. We’re committed to treating all individuals with respect and dignity. We’re proud of our policies on equity and non-violence. And the board’s policies are progressive in ensuring a harassment-free workplace.
Policies and procedures help enforce principles, but these remain merely words on a page without appropriate action. It's up to every single person to achieve and sustain this progressive learning and working climate, and we welcome each person’s individual contribution.
We recognize the valuable contribution that employees of differing abilities can make to education. So we accommodate employees with disabilities based on their individual physical, emotional or intellectual needs. Our goal is to help them integrate and participate fully in the workplace.
Some examples of types of accommodation are:
- modifying the job duties
- providing an assistive device
- reducing the hours of work
- removing a physical barrier
Commitment to respect and dignity
Under the board’s harassment policies, every person has the right to equal treatment with respect to employment and services, without discrimination because of any of the protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Every employee is responsible for upholding the spirit of the board’s harassment policies by maintaining harassment-free environments.
We believe that companies providing goods or services to our staff and students also have a responsibility to respect and follow our principles and policies.
Commitment to a culture of non-violence
Peel schools work to ensure a safe and orderly learning environment for all students. We have a number of programs and strategies to assist students in acquiring the positive behaviours needed to maintain violence-free schools.
For example, we have a remarkably progressive discipline policy for our schools. It clearly focuses on early intervention, program services and counseling with a focus on preventing discipline problems and violent incidents. Specific procedures for police involvement in violent incidents, and explicit statements on racial and sexual harassment are part of this policy.
As well, we have developed a Protocol for Reporting Violent Incidents which recognizes the need to involve police in all serious matters related to the safety and well being of the school community.
To help maintain safe and effective schools, parents, schools and the community work together to teach discipline. For example, we have partnerships with community agencies such as Peel Regional Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Peel Health Department and Family and Children's Services.
Commitment to community involvement
Each school has a school council which focuses on activities to help children succeed in school, and on supporting communication between school and home.
These advisory councils—consisting of parents, students and teachers—deal with issues relevant to their communities. Councils establish annual priorities on issues such as curriculum delivery, budget priorities and community partnerships related to social, health, recreational and nutritional programs.
Supporting the community
Our values aren’t just words on posters—we put them into action every day. One example is our dedication to being a good citizen in our community. Throughout the year, our staff and students support countless charities. From Jump Rope for Heart and Terry Fox runs to UNICEF boxes and food drives, we demonstrate our commitment and concern for the well-being of the people of Peel. As an organization, we encourage and support these activities. As a school system, we know that participating in charitable activities helps our students learn important values and skills.
Commitment to tobacco-free environment
For well over a decade, the Peel board has maintained school and work environments totally free of tobacco smoke. This policy also applies to all board facilities being rented or used by outside groups.
Principals, supervisors, teachers and other staff are encouraged to work with colleagues and students to help prevent tobacco use and to assist individuals who are trying to break the smoking habit.
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