Behaviour Management
Student behaviour policy
The BMiS program and “Charter of Rights” have been in operation in this school for ten years. The school’s discipline policy revolves around the “Charter of Rights” and the plan to deal with student infringements of these rights known as the Behaviour Management in Schools program.
CHARTER OF RIGHTS
The “Charter of Rights” was drawn up by parents, students and staff and lists the framework of rights for all students and staff. Students are reminded of the consequences of infringing these rights and those who do, may receive a reprimand, detention, letter to parents, suspension or other consequence.
CONTRACTS
Contracts are agreements reached with the students about how the “Charter of Rights” has been broken and what the students intend doing about it. Completing a contract makes students reflect on their behaviour and how they intend to modify it.
Contracts can be written on a Learning Area basis or on a whole school basis.
SUSPENSION & EXCLUSION
Under Regulation 43, the Principal or his Deputy may suspend a student for up to 10 days depending on the seriousness of the offence. A parent will be advised that the school intends to suspend a student and the parent will be encouraged to discuss the situation with the Deputy Principal concerned. In the case of a serious breach of school discipline, the Deputy Principal may suspend the student without immediate prior discussion with the parent. The school defines a serious breach of school discipline as one where the act by a student adversely affects or threatens the safety of another person. The Principal may recommend to the Director General exclusion for serious or continuing offences.
Case conferences will normally be arranged involving parents and the student following suspension. Suspension automatically results in the loss of Good Standing.
Charter of Rights
Rights |
Some examples of Infringement |
1. All Staff and Students have the right to be free from fear. |
Fighting, verbal abuse, bullying. |
2. All Staff and Students have the right to be treated with respect. |
Rudeness, insolence. |
3. All Students have the right to learn. |
Disrupting class, not completing work. |
4. All Teachers have the right to teach. |
Disobedience, lateness, being unprepared for class. |
5. All Staff and Students have the right to work in a clean and supervised environment. |
Littering, chewing, smoking, dangerous play. |
6. All Staff and Students have the right to use and enjoy their own and school property. |
Stealing, obscene language, physical and verbal abuse. |
7. All Staff and Students have the right to be protected by the laws of the community. |
Vandalism, interference with other people’s property. |
8. All Staff and Students have the right to feel proud of their school. |
Not wearing school dress. Unacceptable behaviour out of school. |
School Rules
Ocean Reef SHS is a large institution with approximately 1,300 students and over 150 staff. It can only operate effectively if certain rules, procedures and guidelines are in place and parents, staff and students understand them, observe them and support them.
Parents will find that the school will enforce the school rules and that these rules are to ensure the safety and well being of their children. Experience has shown that parents will benefit by not allowing their child to leave home with clothing, electronic devices or jewellery that conflicts with school rules.
1. OBEDIENCE TO TEACHER INSTRUCTIONS
Students must obey the lawful instructions of teaching staff at all times. Disobeying or hindering a teacher carrying out their duties is a serious offence and will incur strong sanctions and very likely result in suspension.
2. THE SCHOOL DRESS CODE
The school dress code is endorsed by the school community and must be complied with. Students must wear approved school dress each day. Variations in colour, style and accessories are not permitted. Dirty, torn, sloppy or immodest dress is not allowed. This rule applies during all school exam periods including TEE exams.
3. METAL STUDS
As designated in the school dress code students may wear only two small studs (one in each ear lobe). Any other metal studs or rings in any other visible part of the body, covered or not, are not permitted.
4. SMOKING
The Department of Education bans smoking for staff, students and visitors on the school campus at all times. Students caught smoking, reasonably suspected of smoking or possessing smoking materials at school will likely be suspended.
5. SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Students being under the influence of alcohol or drugs or being in possession of related items during school hours or at school functions will be suspended and, if appropriate, the police will be involved. Students providing or selling drugs to other students may be referred for exclusion from school and will be reported to the police.
6. FIGHTING
Fighting will not be tolerated and students who involve themselves will be suspended, including those who act to provoke, encourage or incite students to fight. Rough play likely to result in injury in the school grounds at recess or lunch is not permitted and offenders will face a sanction.
7. WEAPONS
Any student found in possession of a weapon, including any form of knife, on their person, in their bag or locker, will be suspended and may be referred to the police.
8. THROWING OBJECTS
This is a dangerous practice that could result in injury and will not be tolerated. Offenders will most likely be suspended. Squirting water and throwing water balloons are also banned.
9. MOBILE PHONES
Mobile phones are not needed and should not be brought to school. Students have access to a “blue phone” and parents may phone the school in the case of an emergency. Mobile phones are a major device for bullying and a major target for thieves. Mobile telephones may not be used by students by students on school property. If mobile telephones are lost or stolen, the school or the Department cannot be held liable. Students must comply with the Mobile Telephone Order on page 17.
10. LASER LIGHTS
These are considered a danger to eyesight and are not permitted at school. They will be confiscated if brought to school and students using them may be suspended.
11. MUSICAL DEVICES ( iPods, MP3 players, radios, CD players)
Students should not bring these devices to school. They may not be used in class or the library. If used in class or the library they will be confiscated. If stolen or lost, the school or the Department cannot be held liable.
12. STUDENT VEHICLES
Students must park their cars in either the student car park off Herreshoff Ramble or in the Lexcen Park car park in Venturi Drive. All vehicles must be registered with the Year 12 Co-ordinator. Parking in the student car park is at the student’s own risk. Students are not to drive in a dangerous manner, transport other students and are not to go to their cars during the school day. Offenders will forfeit the right to park at school and dangerous driving will be reported to the police.
13. BICYCLES
Bicycles must be placed in the bicycle racks when at school. No bicycles may be ridden through staff or student car parks or on school grounds. Students must wear a helmet whilst riding a bicycle. Offenders will forfeit the right to bring bicycles on to school grounds.
14. SKATEBOARDS
Skateboards and scooters and similar devices are not permitted at school. Offenders will have these devices confiscated, which must be collected by parents.
15. PUNCTUALITY
Students must be on time to start school in the morning and for each lesson during the day. No students will be admitted late to class without a note. Late notes must be obtained from the Year Centre or a deputy. Students who are consistently late will incur sanctions and detention. Students should not arrive at school before 8.30am except for period “0”.
16. TRUANCY
Avoiding attending a lesson or series of lessons is truancy and is not permitted. Students are compelled by law to attend school and parents expect them to attend class. It is a parent’s responsibility to ensure students attend school. The school is responsible for informing parents of cases of truancy. Persistent truants will be referred to the District Attendance Officer.
17. PERIOD “0”
In some subjects teachers decide to operate an early morning period once a week. Students are expected to attend these periods as for any other period at school. Failure to attend without a reasonable excuse is considered truancy. Students who cannot consistently attend these periods must choose another subject. Similar arrangements exist for period 7 which occurs after school.
18. LEAVING SCHOOL GROUNDS WITHOUT PERMISSION
Unauthorized leaving of the school grounds is truancy. Students who wish to leave school must bring a note from their parents and be officially signed out by Year Centre staff or a Deputy. Parents will be notified of students leaving without permission and offenders will incur sanctions.
19. OUT OF BOUNDS AREAS.
Students are not permitted in designated out of bounds area. Teaching areas are out of bounds unless a teacher is present. Food and drink cannot be taken into classrooms or onto the oval and sport courts. Car parks and the bicycle racks are out of bounds during school hours. The oval and sport courts are to be used solely for the purpose of sporting activities and not for social activities.
20. GRAFFITI
Students who deface or damage the school buildings or school property will be reported to the police and the cost of restitution will be sought. Students will also be suspended.
21. LIQUID PAPER AND CHEWING GUM
Liquid paper and similar correcting fluids and chewing gum must not be used or brought to school. |
