Positive and responsible student behaviour enables students to achieve their
optimum in all facets of learning and enables the development of a supportive
and safe school environment for students, staff and families. Bullying; verbal,
physical or emotional, where one person or a group of people, frightens, threatens
or hurts another person, repeatedly and over time is not acceptable at Merri
Creek Primary School, nor are single instances of such behaviours.
Aims:
• To develop in students appropriate social behaviours which enable then
to establish and maintain a range of positive social relationships: manage interpersonal
difficulties and refrain from harming others or self and contribute collaboratively
and constructively to peers, family, school and the wider community.
• To build a school environment based on positive behaviour, mutual respect
and co-operation.
• To establish well understood school rules and logical consequences for
inappropriate student behaviour.
• To manage inappropriate student behaviour in a positive and professional
manner.
Implementation:
• Our school will develop, through a process of community consultation,
a Student Code of Conduct, which outlines the school rules, expected behaviours
and logical consequences for failure to meet the expectations.
• The Student Code of Conduct will include student rights and responsibilities
and will be set out in the School Charter.
• The Student Code of Conduct will be sent home to all new students upon
enrolment at our school and to all other students at the beginning of each year.
• Students will be encouraged to ask for help whenever they are in, or
observe, a situation where the school rules are not being followed and teachers
will investigate the situation carefully and thoroughly.
• Teachers will always attempt to defuse situations quickly and effectively
without disrupting the surrounding environment.
• At the beginning of the year all teachers will assist their classes
to define our school rules in language appropriate to the students’ developmental
stages and list logical consequences within the broad framework outlined in
the Student Code of Conduct and the Student Behaviour/Discipline Procedures.
• All teachers will implement this policy in a consistent manner as research
shows that a whole school approach (rather than specific programs) works to
decrease bullying and improve positive behaviours.
• Teachers will recognise and respond to appropriate behaviour more often
than to inappropriate behaviour.
• Student behaviour expectations and school rules will be reviewed regularly
throughout the year and after each term holidays.
• At all times teachers will ensure that students know, and can verbalise
why they have been asked to behave in a particular manner.
• Programs such as You Can Do It; Stop, Think, Do; Friendly Kids, Friendly
Classrooms and Bounce Back! will be taught to develop students’ social
behaviours, attitudes and resilience.
• Peer Support, Buddy programs and Junior School Council will also assist
students to develop a connectedness to individuals and to their school.
• An up-to-date database of individual student’s inappropriate behaviour
will be maintained.
• Consequences for ongoing inappropriate behaviour may include withdrawal
from class or the playground, loss of privileges, individual behaviour improvement
program, referral to counselling, or suspension.
• Where necessary, parents will be kept informed of their child’s
behaviour issues and will be actively encouraged to assist in the improvement
of their child’s behaviour.
• Students who have been bullied will be supported by the school. Their
parents will be notified and likewise supported.
• When parents are concerned about the wellbeing of their child they are
encouraged to approach the school.
• This policy is to be supported by the Student Code of Conduct, the Student
Welfare Policy and the Discipline Procedures in the Staff Procedures Manual.
Evaluation:
• This policy will be reviewed as part of the school’s three-year
review cycle.
This policy was last ratified by School Council in....
References: Student Discipline Procedures, 1994, State of Victoria
Ministerial Order No. 1, Discipline of Pupils, State of Victoria
Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide
