Section 1: Students
We expect all members of our community to behave in a way consistent with the ISA values: balanced, risk takers, knowledgeable, thinkers, inquirers, reflective, principled, open minded, communicators. 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, and anti-bullying.(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 (see section below).
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.
Study Tools
Every student between Grade 5 to Grade 12 is issued with an ISA chromebook. It remains the property of the school but is used by the student for school work. Please follow the links for the IT code of conduct. Families may be liable for all or part of the cost of repair in case of damage.
From Grade 6 onwards students take their chromebook home with them. Fire safety laws mean that they cannot use their chargers at school, and we have limited spares. They should therefore make sure that they are fully charged.
In addition, students are expected to come equipped with the following supplies: preschool/elementary, middle school, high school.
Food
All students are strongly encouraged to bring a water bottle to school each day; preschool students are required to. Preschoolers are also required to bring in a safe snack. Lunch can be bought at school or students can bring their own safe packed lunch. We are an allergen aware school: students should not bring in food to share.
Clothing
ISA does not have a uniform, but students can buy spirit wear. We do expect students to follow our dress code.
Please ensure your children have enough layers - the weather can be cool in most months we are at school. Students are expected to play outside except in heavy rain.
The Parent Teacher Organisation runs our lost property. We strongly encourage you to label your children’s clothes (you can order labels here: quote the code 35395 to support the PTO).
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.