Behaviour

Section 1: Students

We expect all members of our community to behave in a way consistent with the ISA values of respect, excellence, diversity, community, integrity, and service.  We expect our students to be socially active and responsible global citizens at a  level appropriate to their age.  

 Students have the right to learn and work: where they are safe; where people and property are treated with respect; free from harassment and other bullying behaviours. In turn they have the responsibility: to help create a positive learning environment; to be honest; to be respectful; to follow all rules, written or implicit; to attend class on time, prepared and ready to learn.  

Board Policy 6 sets out our general approach; there are specific procedures for middle/high and preschool elementary.  We expect students to follow their code of conduct (see here for middle/high and here for preschool/elementary) in addition to an IT code of conduct.  You can read our approach to dealing with bullying here.  

We also have specific policies on tobacco. alcohol, and drugs, anti-bullying and for digital citizenship (see also controlled substances policy).  Bus conduct is dealt with here and more information about school transport can be found in Board Policy 4. Specific rules for the playground can be found here (the risk assessment is here).  Although there is no uniform, the school does have a dress code.

How behaviour incidents are dealt with in middle/high school are set out in this flowchart.  Our behaviour matrix helps students structure their understanding of how school values apply on a day to day basis.  

Section 2: Adults

At ISA we want to live and learn in a kind and inclusive community.  As adults we should both ensure that for each other and model it for our children.

We expect our staff to show high levels of professionalism and live the ISA values.  Each year, we have a training session to remind staff of their code of conduct.  We accept that we are also human, and sometimes do not live up to our high ideals - in which case, you may raise a concern; but please do so politely following this advice.  If this still doesn’t work out you can make a formal complaint.  

We are always very grateful to parents who volunteer.  However, they are also put in a special position of trust, so we give them child protection training and expect them to follow their own code of conduct.  

In fact, we have expectations of everyone who joins our community, not just students, staff and volunteers.  For many parents, their routine engagement is through grade level group chats on social media.  Although these are not official school sites, we recognise they are part of our community, and so have worked with the Parent Teacher Organisation to create this guide to using them well.

Finally a reminder that while our staff have a special responsibility to help create a kind and inclusive community, they should also be treated kindly in turn.  We therefore have a set of expectations of parents and carers, which you can read here.