GOULBURN EAST PUBIC SCHOOL

WELFARE POLICY

RATIONALE:

The NSW Department of Education and Goulburn East Public School (PS) are committed to providing a school environment that is based on our core values of integrity, excellence, respect, responsibility, cooperation, participation, care, fairness and democracy.

The critical role of parents and care-givers is recognised as the primary influence on each child’s character and behaviour and as essential partners in supporting the core rules and the successful education of their children.

Goulburn East PS believes that each child and staff member has the right to a school environment that is safe, productive and collaborative. As a team, together with our parents, we promote positive relationships and responsibilityat the school.

Our motto ‘Success through participation’ encompasses all aspects of school life and protects the rights, safety and health of all school community members. These rules are continually referred to and reinforced to the students to establish and maintain an acceptable code of conduct.

At Goulburn East PS, we recognise the relationship between student and staff welfare and ensure that staff welfare is also a priority.

CORE RULES

We accept and promote the core rules as outlined in Departmental policy (appendix 1);

All students in NSW government schools are expected to:

  • Attend every school day, unless they are legally excused, and be in class on time and prepared to learn.
  • Maintain a neat appearance, including adhering to the requirements of the school’s uniform or dress code policy.
  • Behave safely, considerately and responsibly, including when travelling to and from school.
  • Show respect at all times for teachers, other school staff and helpers, including following class rules, speaking courteously and cooperating with instructions and learning activities.
  • Treat one another with dignity and respect.
  • Care for property belonging to themselves, the school and others.

Behaviour that infringes on the safety of others, such as harassment, bullying and illegal or anti-social behaviour of any kind, will not be tolerated.

At Goulburn East PS we communicate these core rules explicitly.

Goulburn East PS Whole School Values

  • Be Tolerant
  • Be Proud
  • Be Safe
  • Be Considerate

School Value / What does this mean for students? / How will the school promote this whole school rule?
BE TOLERANT /
  • Accept differences and similarities of others.
  • Solve problems without fighting, violence or bullying.
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  • Life Education and Multicultural-Education
  • Anti-racism expected.
  • Anti-discrimination expected.
  • Social skills program development.
  • Aboriginal Education.
  • Peer support/ Peer buddy program
  • Encourage restitution.
  • All assemblies reinforce happy and safe ideals.

BE PROUD /
  • Wear full school uniform appropriately.
  • Keep the school clean.
  • Show pride in personal appearance.
  • Always give personal best efforts.
  • Respect school property.
  • Respect the property of others.
  • Be proud of our personal achievements and the achievements of others.
/
  • Expect and encourage all children to wear school uniform with pride according to the School Uniform Code and Sun Protection Policy.
  • Encourage the clear labeling of all property.
  • Expect all children to dispose of rubbish appropriately and assist in keeping the school clean.
  • Promote recycling.
  • Reward students for best efforts.
  • Constantly promote the positive aspects of the school in the community.

BE SAFE /
  • Keep within recognised safety boundaries.
  • Wear a hat in the playground
  • Travel safely when on buses.
  • Walk when on paths and walkways.
  • Play safely.
  • Follow class safety procedures.
  • The school will be free of alcohol, cigarettes, illegal substances and weapons.
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  • Identify and teach boundaries and use of different play areas.
  • Expect the school’s blue hats to be worn at all times when outside.
  • Display safety messages throughout school.
  • Expect a high standard of safe behaviour on buses.
  • Train children in road safety issues.
  • Always expect children to walk on concrete areas.
  • Promote peaceful co-existence in play areas.
  • Teach children games suitable for small areas.
  • Develop and teach class rules and display them.
  • Demonstrate how to play safely with all equipment.

BE CONSIDERATE /
  • Children will solve their problems without teasing, bullying or violence.
  • Children will be truthful, cooperative and trustworthy.
  • Children will show respect to each other
  • Children will use appropriate verbal and non-verbal language.
  • The rights of all people will be respected.
  • Children will learn that with rights go responsibilities.
  • Children will stay on task and complete set work.
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  • Provision of both passive and active areas of the playground.
  • Children will be made aware of positive conflict resolution skills.
  • Only appropriate equipment necessary for child use will be allowed at school.
  • In all situations children will be taught to understand that rights involve reciprocal responsibilities.
  • Children will respect the learning time of other students.

These Whole-School values areto be displayed in each classroom and reinforced in the classroom, playground, at assemblies, in lines etc.

The possession, supply or use of drugs (including tobacco) at GEPS or at any school related activity will result in an immediate long suspension.

Implementation

Strategies for promoting positive behaviour;

Each child will receive a ‘Being a good School Citizen’ poster (Appendix 2)at the start of each year.

Children will strive to receive dots to put on their poster for each category (Whole School Values)

Once a child receives 10 dots for a value, they will receive a certificate at the next assembly. This will also be recognised in the school newsletter.

Every sticker a child receives equates to a house point.

At the end of the year, children who have acquired 5 school value certificates will be invited to attend a special reward activity with Mr Darcey.

At each assembly, class teachers will award 4 certificates. Each child that receives a class certificate will also receive a dot on their poster for the appropriate value.

Strategies for managing negative behaviour;

In the classroom;

1.Classroom teachers respond to low level inappropriate behaviours by ignoring where possible, giving clear directions, reinforcing positive behaviours and using non-verbal messages to alert the student.

2. Rule Reminders & Corrective Conversations

The teacher will restate the rule and remind the student of the whole school value/s and expectations. The teacher will give a specific direction.

3. If the child does not follow this specific direction and the inappropriate behaviour continues, the child will be sent to the principal. This action leads to one detentionat the Principals discretion- if this occurs in the morning session, the detention will be at lunchtime that day. If after lunch, the detention will occur the following day. A formal behaviour letter and return slip (appendix 3) will be sent home to the child’s parents/carers.

Please note:

  • If a child receives two detentions in any one term, parents will be contacted and asked for a formal behaviour review meeting with the principal and classroom teacher.
  • If a child receives three detentions in any one term, parents will be contacted and an in-school suspension will occur for one week (this means the child will go straight to the principal’s office at the end of every class session and will not be involved in ANY excursions, sporting representations or out of school events for a period of 10 consecutive weeks (maybe overlapping terms) at the discretion of the Principal.
  • If a child receives four detentions in any one term, parents will be contacted and a short suspension will be administered. The child will not be involved in ANY excursions, sporting representations or out of school events for period of 10 consecutive weeks (maybe overlapping terms) at the discretion of the Principal.

The Minister for Education and Communities has instructed that ‘Any student intentionally causing injury or threatening serious violence against any student or teacher is to be suspended immediately’.

Students may be suspended for persistent disobedience, insolence, verbal harassment and abuse, possession of an illegal substance or possession of a weapon (appendix 5).

In the playground;

All teachers on playground duties may refer any child to the Principal for breaking school values.

Students are to be directed immediately to the Principal/delegate serious incidents on the playground.

All teachers are to monitor the playground areas diligently and be a constant presence in the playground.

Appendix

  1. NSW Department of Education & Training Core Rules
  2. Being a good School Citizen poster
  3. Formal Behaviour notification and return slip
  4. Suspension/Expulsion from school notice to parents

Bede Darcey (Principal) & Goulburn East Public School Teaching Staff

December, 2012

To be evaluated and revised December 2013 or when need arises.