This handbook contains information about Students' Rights and Responsibilities and explains the Levels of Discipline which are applied at Werris Creek Primary School. It also provides information on the Merit System.
It is written so that students, parents and teachers will have a common understanding of the type of attitudes and behaviour expected of students at this school and what will happen when students perform admirably.
For the Students
This system means that you have to make decisions about your behaviour. If you are just coasting along, extra effort will be needed for you to receive special commendation. Outstanding efforts will be recognised.
For Parents/Guardians
This handbook should provide information that will assist you in discussing behaviour with your children.
For School Staff
The handbook will provide a standardised approach to encouraging self discipline, responsibility and positive values throughout the school. The concepts and understandings in this document will form a unit of work to be taught in all grades as part of the Personal Development Curriculum.
The following beliefs underlie our approach to developing self discipline. They provide a framework for the issues discussed in this booklet. These beliefs will be integrated into programs and made explicit in lots of different ways.
1. Good behaviour is expected of everyone.
2. My rights, and those of others will be met when I fully carry out my responsibilities.
3. There is no such thing as "good" or "bad" people, we choose how to behave.
4. Teachers and parents care for you even when your behaviour is disappointing.
5. I am responsible for my own actions; I can't blame others for what I do.
6. I expect to do well. I will work to make sure I continue to do better.
7. The highest value is placed on citizenship and personal efforts.
8. I will aim at "excellence" in all that I do.
9. Children must value their own thoughts and respect that others may not think the same way.
10. Being considerate of others is everyone's responsibility, especially mine.
11. Children, teachers and parents are all very important people. We need to work together on Education as a team effort.
12. Being a "thinking" person is the best way to learn.
1. Clear and consistent school and classroom rules.
2. Small group discussions/formal and informal social groupings.
3. Classroom problem solving meetings.
4. Relevant and individualised curriculum.
5. Meetings with parents.
6. Assemblies.
7. Structured Merit System.
8. Informal commendations.
9. Notes to parents.
10. Personal Development approaches integrated into class programs.
11. Peer support program between classes.
12. Fitness program.
13. Class remediation and extension.
14. Counselling sessions for students and parents.
15. A positive approach to each child's abilities.
16. Demonstrations of excellence.
17. Constant encouragement and guidance for each child.
18. Developing communication skills.
19. An integrated approach to developing thinking skills across the different subject areas.
20. Merit Awards, Principals Awards, Stickers, Aussie of the Month, Citizenship Awards, Misbehaviour reports, verbal and non verbal commendation.
21. Special school activities each term.
22. Maintaining high standards of work and behaviour.
23. Using Students Council.
24. Providing a range of cultural, academic and sporting activities.
25. Treating each child personally.
Here is a list of the Rights and Responsibilities of all at Werris Creek Public School. All students have RIGHTS which teachers and other students must respect. Teachers also have rights entrusted to them by parents and the Department of School Education. All students and teachers have the RESPONSIBILITY to respect the rights of other students and teachers.
When all rights are respected and responsibilities are carried out, our school runs smoothly and happily.
One parent RESPONSIBILITY is that of ATTENDANCE.
Parents are responsible for children to be at school by 8.55a.m. daily. Partial absences will be recorded and reoccurring instances will be passed onto the Home/School Liaison Office.
A high standard of dress is required at our school. It is expected that students will be proud to wear their school uniforms - including correct footwear! Hats are necessary for sun protection during terms 1 and 4.
The basic requirements in this matter are cleanliness, tidiness and correctness.
1. I have the right to be happy I have the responsibility and to be treated with to treat others with
understanding. understanding - not to
laugh at others, tease others, or try to hurt
their feelings.
2. I have the right to be treated I have the responsibility
with respect and politeness to treat others politely and with respect, even when their opinions differ from mine. I have the responsibility to respect the authority of teachers.
3. I have the right to be safe. I have the responsibility
to make the school safe by not threatening, hitting or hurting anyone in any way.
4. I have the right to expect my I have the responsibility
property to be safe. not to steal, damage or destroy the property of others, and to take good care of my own property.
5. I have the right to obtain I have the responsibility
maximum benefit from all to co-operate with
lessons and classes - other teachers and other
students will not deprive me students to make sure
of this by their behaviour. that lessons proceed and that I keep up-to- date with required work.
I will not interfere with other students' rights to learn.
I also have the responsibility to be punctual, to attend school regularly and to take part in activities that will be of benefit to me.
6. I have the right to have a I have the responsibility
pleasant clean and well to care for the school
maintained school and environment - to keep it
grounds. neat and clean and to be prepared to remove litter.
7. I have the right to be I have the responsibility
provided with a school in of telling teachers about
which I am not in any any defective buildings
physical danger. When or fittings.
defects occur, they will be
repaired.
8. I have the right to learn all I have the responsibility
I can. to complete my work to the best of my ability.
I have the responsibility to listen, take part in all lessons, and seek help from teachers and other students when I can't understand.
9. I have the right to be helped I have the responsibility
to learn self control. to learn self control.
10.I have the right to be I have the responsibility
told the truth. to tell the truth at all times.
11.I have the right to express I have the responsibility
myself. to be courteous and respectful in how I talk and to put my point of view.
12.I have the right to grow I have the responsibility
as a person. to determine what is best for me and to do it.
1. I have the right to courtesy I have the responsibility to
and respect from students model correct behaviour for
students; to point out behaviour that is not courteous or respectful and to be a caring and encouraging teacher.
2. I have the right to teach in I have the responsibility to
a climate that is free from establish a learning
disruptive behaviour. that is approximately well ordered, peaceful, relevant, challenging and conductive to learning.
3. I have the right to expect I have the responsibility of
students to exercise some providing students with the
responsibility for their actions. opportunities to exercise responsibility and initiative and to expect students to be responsible.
4. I have the right to expect I have the responsibility to
behaviour from students which teach in ways that meet
contribute to their optimal the learning needs of all
learning. students in the class.
5. I have the right to limit I have the responsibility of
students' inappropriate preventing any child's
behaviour. misbehaviour interrupting
the learning of the rest of the class.
6. I have the right to ask for I have the responsibility to
and receive support from the resolve to the best of my
Principal and parents. ability any problems that occur in my classroom and call on parents and Principal when required.
7. I have the right to develop I have the responsibility of
professionally. seeking ways of improving the standards of students in my care; to continue my own professional development and encourage that of my colleagues.
Children are expected to obey all school rules whether at school, travelling to and from school, participating in excursions, sport or any other organised activity.
Any breach of school rules whilst student is travelling to and from school will warrant notification of parents and action should be taken by both parents and the school to avoid repetition.
1. Be co-operative and respect the rights of others.
2. Carry out your responsibilities to the best of your ability.
3. Stay away from out of bounds areas for playing. These areas include behind buildings, around bikes, playing in toilets and where you can't be seen by a teacher.
4. Rooms: Children are only allowed in buildings under the supervision of a teacher.
5. Fighting, hitting, swearing, teasing or being aggressive towards others is prohibited.
6. Unsafe Games: Children will not play unsafe games such as brandings, or games involving sticks, stones or tackling.
7. Bikes are only to be walked through the playground.
8. School Uniform should be worn at all times.
9. No child should be at school before 8.30a.m. except in special circumstances.
10.Children are not to leave the school grounds without permission.
11.Possession of weapons at school as outlined by Departmental procedures of June 1996, Ken Boston D.G. are banned.
The Merit System seeks to identify and reward students for any outstanding effort, achievement and for setting fine examples to others in our school.
Special recognition for work efforts, positive attitudes and behaviour are an integral part of class and school life.
A variety of informal awards are provided for improvement and exemplary work and behaviour. e.g. stamps, stickers, being held up as an example for others to follow etc...
1. School Merit Awards will be given as formal recognition of special efforts. These school awards will be presented at weekly assemblies.
These include:-
* Diligence in class work and assignment work.
* Making a valuable contribution to activities taking place within the school.
* Initiating some activity or scheme of benefit to the school.
* Particular outstanding achievements.
* Generally assisting other pupils, teachers or visitors to the school.
* .....and many, many more.............
2. Teacher rewards will be given out within each class at intervals to deserving students.
3. If you receive a School Merit or Principal's Award, your name will be printed in the school newsletter and newspaper.
4. The Student Support Committee will consider your school and class merit cards together with your general behaviour when assessing your movement up or down the level system.
5. At the end of the year grade Citizenship Awards will be presented. (This will be in addition to class and sporting awards.)
REMEMBER
* The Merit System works in conjunction with the overall Discipline System.
* You are awarded Merit cards for your efforts not your natural abilities.
To be used as recognition of a child's consistent efforts in the area of citizenship and positive participation.
Aussie of the Month will be selected at the end of each calendar month. It will be awarded to the child/ren who:-
* has/have the most citizenship slips awarded that month (a minimum of 3)
* has/have no blue or green reports for the 8 school weeks.
The child will be presented with:-
* An Aussie of the Month Certificate.
* An Aussie of the Month badge (to be returned at the end of the month)
* An special sponsorship voucher (i.e. McDonalds,KFC)
In the event of 2 or more children being eligible, a joint staff decision will be made as to the children most deserving of the award.
Maximum of 2 children awarded per month.
Each month the HOUSE with the children earning the most Gold Awards will deserve the honour of having their house flag proudly displayed in the Library. At the end of each Semester all the children in the house having won this honour the most times would receive a small "treat" from the Canteen.
Placement on Level A will result for the child who consistently shows himself/herself to be a good citizen of our school and makes a worthwhile contribution to it whenever possible, in and out of the classroom. Special privileges will be given to children placed on this level for the remainder of that school year. These privileges will however, be withdrawn if the student receives a green or blue report, and the student will be placed back on Level 0.
Any child will be placed on Level A if they fulfil the following criteria:-
* two Principals Awards for citizenship
* recommendations from all members of staff that the child meets the requirements of responsibility necessary to enable him/her to enjoy the privileges of Level A without creating difficulties for others
Privileges arising from Level A
^ One free item to be obtained from the school canteen every Friday.
^ Access to 'out of bounds' areas. e.g. grassed area, classrooms for extra activities of reading, computer, games, painting etc. after teacher's permission sought.
^ Access to special equipment e.g. table tennis, computers, piano, tape players etc after teacher's permission sought.
^ A Principal's certificate will be given to any student who has been on Level A throughout the year, stating the period of time that child maintained his/her position on Level A.
^ A child will remain on Level A until the end of the year, or for as long as they receive no blue or green reports. Children who have reached Level A in their previous school years are granted a credit of 3 gold awards, to be used in the following year ONCE they have attained the other 7 awards necessary.
WCPS Home