Overview

Cheltenham Secondary College is strongly committed to providing a quality education that enables all students to achieve their full potential. Essential to effective learning is a safe, supportive and disciplined learning environment that respects the rights of all sections of the College Community.

The following Guiding Principles for Student Behaviour encourage a safe learning environment where teachers can teach and students can learn. The College makes use of a variety of strategies to improve behaviour which prevents learning or contravenes the rights of others. These strategies are listed below, following clear statements of expectations of our students.

Behaviour

1. No student is to interrupt the learning of any other student or teaching of any teacher.

2. No student has the right to endanger the health or well- being (physical or emotional) of others. eg. * Playfighting is not allowed

3. All students should do their utmost to keep classrooms in a neat and tidy condition.

4. Each student should attend class fully prepared to take part in each lesson, ie. all books, rulers, pencils, homework or special equipment should accompany the student to each lesson,

Attendance and Punctuality

1. Students must attend school for the whole timetabled school day. Students may not leave the College grounds in College hours without a written pass.

2. Notes from parents/guardians explaining absences should be handed to Reception on the day the student returns to the College.

3. All students should arrive at College in time to collect books and equipment from their lockers before their first lesson.

4. Students must be on time to class.

5. Students must not leave the classroom without permission from their teacher.

6. Lockers should not be visited during class time or between double classes, except before or after PE classes.

7. Regular and consistent school attendance is necessary for success at school. Frequent or prolonged absences require a Doctor’s Medical Certificate.

Absences and Notes

1. If a student is absent, even for part of a day, a note signed by a parent or guardian, or a medical certificate, is required.

2. Absence notes should be given to the Year Level Co-ordinator or left at Reception.

3. If the student is to be absent for more than one day, the parent or guardian is asked to notify the College. A note will still be required on the student’s return.

4. In the case of extended absence, the parent/guardian may request that school work be provided for the student.

Uniform And Personal Property

1. The wearing of College uniform is compulsory on the way to school, during the school day including PE classes, and on the way home. The uniform should be worn correctly and students should be of neat appearance.

2. All students must follow the special rules set down by the College or Learning Areas eg. footwear, jewellery, hairstyles, cosmetics.

3. Students should be responsible for their own personal property which must be clearly labelled.

4. The College cannot accept responsibility for the safety of valuable items which students choose to bring to school.

5. Students must not interfere with the property of other students.

6. Student bags are not permitted in the classroom. All items should be kept in padlocked lockers. A school locker remains the property of the College.

7. To assist with the health and safety of all students, the College may require students to open/empty their bags, pockets and lockers on request.

Road And Bike Safety

1. Students must obey road laws on their way to school, on excursions and on their way home, either as pedestrians, motorists, bus passengers or when riding bicycles. This includes the wearing of properly fitted, legal bike helmets when riding bicycles to or from school or in the school grounds.

2. Bicycles should be ridden on the College service roads only and should be placed in the correct enclosures, chained and padlocked.

3. Students should not use iPods or similar devices when riding their bike to or from school.

Personal Safety

• Students must realise that everyone has the right to be safe. Therefore :

  • They should move in an orderly fashion around the College and especially in the corridors.

  • Running, pushing, shoving/play fighting are not allowed.

  • Climbing trees and buildings or jumping chain fences are not allowed.

  • Sports and other games are restricted to the appropriate areas in the college grounds.

  • Department of Education and Early Childhood Development regulations prohibit swinging or hanging from basketball or netball rings

• Students must respect the rights of others and Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and Council Policy. Therefore:

  • Cigarettes, alcohol and illicit drugs are not to be brought into the College grounds by students.

  • Students must not use abusive or discriminatory language, signs or gestures towards others.

  • Pornographic or sexist literature, dangerous weapons/articles or their imitations are not allowed on College grounds.

  • Inappropriate use of photographs is not permitted.

• All internet/email access must be directly related to school study purposes. Students must not access internet sites forbidden by law or Council policy. Students may bring mobile phones, iPods, USB devices to school as long as they have signed and returned the College Acceptable Use Policy. Students must adhere to this policy should they choose to bring electronic devices to school.

College Property

Students should respect and care for the College property and the whole school environment. Therefore:

• Rubbish should be placed in the appropriate containers.

• Out-of-bounds areas should be avoided except by those students who have a right to be there.

• Students may not write on or mark tables, chairs,whiteboards, walls or lockers.

• Students must respect the gardens and grounds of the College.

• Chewing gum is prohibited.

• Classroom management plan

• Reminder of acceptable behaviour by a teacher

• Warning that behaviour is not appropriate/acceptable

• Temporary withdrawal from class.

• Withdrawal from class for a longer time

• Discussion/counselling about acceptable behaviour at a suitable time and place.

• Limitation of privileges

• Conferencing – Restorative practices

• Counselling

• Detention to make up time for lateness or loss of learning time to self and others.

• Meetings with parents/Parental involvement.

• Repairing of damage, payment for damage.

• Exclusion or suspension

• Confiscation of banned items for collection by a parent.

• Completion of work at lunchtime or after school.

In more serious cases, the College may suspend a student from school for a set period of time, or undertake expulsion procedures. Such measures are undertaken only when the situation warrants this approach.