Smokefree and Vapefree School Policy

 Our school/kura promotes a smokefree and vapefree lifestyle to all members of the school/kura community. 

The Legislation 

The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 directs that all school buildings and grounds are smoke-free and vape-free 24 hours a day, seven days a week (with no exemptions). The law applies to everyone on the school grounds, including people using the school facilities outside school hours. 

The education provisions in the Act aim to: 

• prevent the exposure of children and young people to second-hand smoke 

• prevent children and young people being influenced by seeing others smoke or vape

• prevent students from taking up smoking and vaping

• send a positive message about a smokefree and vapefree lifestyle.

Consistent Messages 

• we display 'Smoke-free' and ‘No vaping’ signs 

• we educate students through the curriculum about the harmful effects of smoking and vaping, and exposure to second-hand smoke

• we communicate our smoke-free and vape-free policy to the school community via the school/kura newsletter and other means, at least once a year.

• we remind everyone on the school grounds, or attending school events (including helping at these events) that they must not smoke or vape.
  e.g. Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) activities and sporting and cultural events. 

• we ask employees who smoke or vape to ensure they cannot be seen smoking or vaping by students even when they are off the school/kura grounds 

Breaches of the Smoke-free and Vape-free Policy 

Students found smoking or vaping around our school/kura, or providing tobacco or vapes to other students are offered appropriate counselling and education.

(This also includes the use or provision of alcohol and other drugs.). Parents/caregivers will be contacted.

Adults smoking or vaping in or around our school/kura environment will be reminded that Gorge Road School is smoke-free and vape-free by law.
They will be asked to either stop smoking/vaping immediately or to leave the premises and move to a place where students cannot see them.  

Complaints 

All complaints involving smoking and vaping are referred to the Principal, who may pass these to the Board of Trustees for investigation. Investigations take place within 20 working days of the complaint or incident and follow the procedures laid down in the legislation. 

Reviewed 31/10/2022

Code of Conduct for visitors, expectations around alcohol etc.

https://sites.google.com/view/grspoliciesandprocedures/health-and-safety/visitors/code-of-conduct-expectations-for-visitors