MILDURA SOUTH PRIMARY SCHOOL

STUDENT CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

(Revised January 2017)

DETENTION

Detention, as a consequence of a serious breach of the Student Code Of Behaviour, was introduced into Mildura South’s Discipline Policy in 1985

  • Detention is reserved for serious breaches of the Student Code Of Behaviour
  • In the event that a child receives a detention, the teacher issuing the detention must contact the parent and speak to them as soon as possible, prior to the detention being served, advising them of the circumstances regarding the serious breach of the Student Code Of Behaviour.
  • As receiving a detention is a result of a serious breach of the Student Code Of Behaviour, repeat instances by an individual student would be a major cause for concern. Consequently, if an individual receives three detentions in one year, a withdrawal of privileges including participation in special events, excursions and camps will result.

In such cases individuals may be referred to appropriate support staff, agencies and services in order to assist them develop more acceptable patterns of behaviour.

  • Students serving detention are to be seated in as much isolation as possible.
  • Students serving detention are not to talk to each other
  • Detention is only to be used as a consequence of unsatisfactory behaviour – never for academic failure.
  • A statement of understanding is to be completed by each child who receives a detention. Children will be required to analyse their behaviour utilising the De Bono Thinking Hats methodology. These are to be sent home for parents to sign, then returned to school and filed.
  • Each detention slip is to be done in triplicate. One copy is to be sent home to the parents, one copy goes in the student’s file and one copy goes to the office for the detention folder.

MILDURA SOUTH PRIMARY SCHOOL
CODE OF BEHAVIOUR GUIDELINES
GUIDELINE 1 - COURTESY GUIDELINE 1 - COURTESY GUIDELINE 1 - COURTESY GUIDELINE 1

Examples of unacceptable behaviour would be ;

teasing, bullying, nastiness, name calling, spitting, swearing, insulting others and failing to tell the truth

Possible consequences for unacceptable behaviour of this kind would be;

  1. Apologies to the person or group concerned
  1. Exclusion from open play areas for repeated breaches
  1. Contact parents to advise them of this behaviour and to seek their co-operation in stopping it

Examples of unacceptable behaviour would be;

Bullying, fighting, throwing dangerous objects, playing on or using playground equipment in a dangerous way, riding bicycles in restricted areas, running on verandas and around buildings

Possible consequences of unacceptable behaviour of this kind would be;

  1. Being banned from using particular items of play equipment
  1. Exclusion from open play areas
  1. Detention
  1. Notification to behaviour to parents
  1. Returning bike to bike rack and then wheeling bike in the school grounds
  1. In cases of repeated misuse of bicycles, it may be necessary to ban a particular student from riding to school for a given period

Examples of unacceptable behaviour would be;

Littering, wilfully or carelessly damaging school property, theft

Possible consequences of unacceptable behaviour of this kind would be;

  1. Cleaning the school ground of litter
  1. Banned from using particular items of equipment
  1. Replacement or repair of damage caused
  1. Replacement of stolen articles
  1. Notification of behaviour to parents

Note; It should be realised that in serious cases of theft or vandalism, legal action beyond the control of the school could result.

These are;

car park, toilet areas and storage areas. Students must remain within the school boundary and shall not be inside buildings unsupervised at lunch or recess times.

Possible consequences of unacceptable behaviour of this kind would be;

  1. Directed to appropriate area
  1. Suspension from open playground for repeated breaches
  1. Notification of behaviour to parents

Examples of unacceptable behaviour would be;

Classroom misbehaviour, shouting , calling out, running about in class time, interfering physically or disturbing others.

Possible consequences of unacceptable behaviour of this kind would be;

  1. Detention to make up for wasted time
  1. Work in areas other than the classroom
  1. Notification of behaviour to parents

Examples of unacceptable behaviour would be;

Disobedience, cheekiness, failing to accept or fulfil consequences of previous misbehaviours

Possible consequences of unacceptable behaviour of this kind would be;

  1. Apologies to people concerned
  1. Explanation of behaviour to Principal
  1. Notification to parents
  1. Detention
  1. Counselling
  1. In cases of consistent misbehaviour of this kind, it may be found necessary after due consideration to exclude the student from school outings and excursions
  1. Serious and extreme instances of this kind may lead to suspension of the student

Examples of unacceptable behaviour would be;

Ignoring bells, dawdling to assembly points

Possible consequences of unacceptable behaviour would be;

  1. Make up lost time after school or at recess time
  1. Notification of behaviour to parents

Examples of unacceptable behaviour would be;

Running on verandas and around buildings

Possible consequences of unacceptable behaviour would be;

  1. Return to starting point and move appropriately
  1. Exclusion from certain areas or activities
  1. Assemble at point away from class group for a given period

Unacceptable behaviour would be;

Leaving the school grounds without permission

Possible consequences of unacceptable behaviour would be;

  1. Detention
  1. Notification of behaviour to parents.

DEALING WITH UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR

It is realistic to expect that from time to time our school will have to deal with children who exhibit problem behaviour.

Children are exhibiting unacceptable behaviour if they;

  • Habitually interfere with the rights of others
  • Habitually interfere with the learning of others
  • Through their behaviour, constitute a safety risk to themselves or others.

In dealing with these children the following guidelines will apply;

  1. Avoid exacerbating the problem by adopting the maxim of “rejecting the behaviour and not the child.”
  1. Attempt to discover, and address, the underlying cause of the unacceptable behaviour.
  1. Attempt to solve the problem at the classroom level, but if necessary, teachers should seek the assistance of co-ordinators or senior staff.
  1. The school, via its senior staff must organise support systems within the school to assist;

(a)The Student by ;

Providing counselling, and applying acceptable and justifiable measures to assist the child to control the problem behaviour.

(b)The teacher by ;

(i)providing counselling, advice and assistance in finding causes and solutions to the child’s problem behaviour.

(ii) recognising that dealing with discipline problems is a major cause of teacher stress and therefore provide appropriate support as deemed necessary.

  1. Staff will be provided with a graduated, sequential and logical framework upon which to base responses to instances of unacceptable behaviour.
  1. As soon as it becomes evident that habitual behavioural problems are developing, parents will be advised and are expected to assist the school in addressing and rectifying the situation.
  1. As it is not considered reasonable to expect staff in charge of excursions and special events to be involved in continual discipline problems, which serve to reduce the educational experience for other students, or compromise safety, it may be necessary to exclude individual children from these activities.
  1. Students who maintain unacceptable behaviour, despite intervention and best efforts at the school level, will be referred to the school psychologist or social worker. Parental co-operation in this regard is expected.
  1. In the event of extremely serious and /or ongoing breaches of the Student Code of Behaviour, it may be found necessary to suspend, or very extreme cases, expel a student in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Ministerial Order 625. Parental involvement would be mandatory in these circumstances.

DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE

  • The Discipline Committee shall comprise senior staff, teachers, representative of each unit and specialists, and shall have gender equity.
  • The role of The Discipline Committee will be;
  1. Ongoing evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness of the Student Code of Behaviour.
  2. To provide counselling and support for students as required.
  3. Facilitation of formal and informal in-servicing of staff in matters relating to discipline and student management.
  4. To provide special assistance to beginning teachers to enable them to develop effective class management skills and sound discipline techniques.
  5. Report annually to school council regarding school discipline

PROGRESSIVELY STAGED APPROACH TO DEALING WITH BEHAVIOURAL ISSUES

Detention is reserved for serious breaches of the Student Code of Behaviour, and can have additional ramifications, such as exclusion from excursions, camps and loss of privileges. Consequently, a system, which addresses discipline issues which go beyond those which might usually be dealt with in the classroom, but which also might not necessarily merit detention, is appropriate.

It is intended that this system would provide teachers with flexibility and options, which may avoid the possible premature use of detention.

As circumstances will vary in each case, teachers should use their professional judgement to determine the stage appropriate to each individual circumstance. They should also be aware it is not obligatory to work through all of the stages.

The whole process, rather than being purely punitive in nature, should result in modification of inappropriate behaviour, through the co-operative efforts of students, teachers, parents, office and support staff where require

PROGRESSIVELY STAGED APPROACH TO DEALING WITH BEHAVIOURAL ISSUES

  • Class teacher and student(s) are involved

MILDURA SOUTH

PRIMARY SCHOOL

STUDENT CODE OF

BEHAVIOUR

2017

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