Code of Behaviour
- School opening and closing times
- Notes from Parents - when are they necessary?
- What is expected of pupils - courtesy, manners, no bullying, co-operation, loyalty, commitment
- Health , Hygiene - lunch, personal cleanliness, head lice
- School Work - what is expected of children
- Property - School and personal
- Suspension - behaviour which results in it / Procedures for
Mission Statement
To support the learning and development of each person in a happy, caring and respectful environment
SCHOOL TIMES:
School begins: 9.00 am
School ends : 1.40 pm - Junior and Senior Infants
2.40 pm - 1st to 6th class
Parents please note:
- In order to facilitate pupils who arrive early, 1st to 6th class children may go to the video room until 8.45 am. The Breakfast Club is available from 8.45 am to 9.00 am
- Junior and Senior Infant pupils who arrive in school before 9.00 am, must be supervised by a parent or guardian in their classrooms. An older sister will not do.
- Parents who arrive with their Junior or Senior Infant child after 9.00am are asked to leave their child's coat and bag into her classroom and bring her to the Breakfast Club. The child should then be left in the care of her teacher.
SCHOOL UNIFORM:
School uniform must be worn at all times
Our present uniform is:
Pale blue shirt, navy cardigan or jumper
Navy pinafore or pleated/flared skirt
Flat shoes only for reasons of safety
School tracksuit and runners to be worn on P.E. day or when going on school trips only
SAFETY ISSUES
- Pupils from Junior and Senior Infants must be supervised in their classroom by a parent or parent's representative before 9.00 am
- Parents must collect their child on time every day
- Notice will be given in writing to parents about early closings, holidays etc
- Parents sending another adult to collect their child must inform the class teacher or Principal in advance
- If this has not been arranged, parents will be contacted by phone before a child is allowed to leave the school.
- Two contact phone numbers must be supplied to the school at the start of the school year so that parents/guardians can be reached during school hours
- Children may not administer medicines to themselves unless an application is made to the school Board of Management. Forms are available for this purpose from the Principal
- Parents are asked to sign a form at the start of each school year, giving permission for their child to be brought on school trips or short outings
- For reasons of safety, wearing of jewellery is not encouraged. One ring at most and stud earrings if needed are allowed. Large rings are not allowed. Nose rings are not allowed (see Policy re: Body Piercing)
SCHOOL WORK
- Children are encouraged to put their best effort into school work
- Teachers will make every effort to cater for the abilities of all children
- It is important that each child brings a pencil or pen, rubber, parer, copies and books etc to school every day
- Children coming late to school should enter their classroom as quietly as possible so that other children can continue working
- Parents bringing their child into the classroom late, are asked to leave as quickly as possible
- Toys, money, jewellery, extra pencil cases, or anything that might distract children should be left at home
- Any items of value should not be brought to school as property lost or stolen cannot be replaced by the school
- Books borrowed from school should return each day
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PUPILS, PARENTS, TEACHERS
In this school, pupils have the right:
- To be respected by everybody in the school community
- To be allowed to learn to the best of their ability
- To develop their gifts and talents
- To be heard and listened to
In this school, Parents have the right:
- To be respected by the whole school community
- To feel welcome in the school
- To be consulted about all matters relating to their child's education
- To any information they need to help their child progress in school
- To have access to their child's teacher or to the Principal by appointment
- To express views or concerns about their child
- To be heard and listened to
- " To participate in the decision-making process for the school
- To be a parent representative, if elected, on the school Board of Management
- To be a parent representative on a parent committee for the school
- In this school Teachers have the right:
- To be respected by the whole school community
- To work in a safe, caring environment
- To be allowed to do their job to the best of their ability
- To be consulted in matters relating to their work
- To ask to meet with parents to discuss their child's progress
- To express professional views or concerns about a child to her parents
- To be heard and listened to
- To be a teacher representative, if nominated, on the school Board of Management
COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS
In this school we value parents as our partners in education. For this reason:
- Class meetings for parents are held during the first term each year
- Individual Parent/Teacher meetings are held during the second term
- Parents are welcome to arrange a meeting with the class teacher at a suitable time for both
- Outside of these arranged meetings, parents are not permitted to visit classrooms during the school day unannounced unless they have spoken to the Principal, Deputy Principal or teacher in charge.
- Homework notebooks may be used by parents and teacher -
- To explain absence or lateness
- To give good news
- To express concerns
- To request a meeting
- To explain why uniform is not being worn
- Notes will be sent home to keep parents informed about what is happening in the school, about holidays, closures, or other information that parents might need
- Parents may be contacted by phone if necessary
- Yearly reports will be given to parents in relation to their child's progress at school
HEALTH AND HYGIENE
- Healthy eating is encouraged. The following are available to all the children:
- Breakfast - cereal, toast and juice
- Lunch - sandwiches and milk
- See Healthy Eating Policy for lunch recommendations
- Parents please note: Yoghurts are discouraged in junior classes because small fingers find them difficult to manage. Yoghurt in the hands of Junior or Senior Infants often destroys school uniforms, books and carpets. Older children must bring their own spoon to and from school if they want to eat yoghurt
- In the interest of good health, crisps (or similar), chocolate bars, cereal bars, cakes, chewing gum, sweets, and fizzy drinks are not allowed
- However, the children are allowed to have a treat on Fridays. The school will provide a muffin at break time or children may bring a treat - for example a small chocolate bar from home. Not both!
- There may be other special occasions when the school will provide celebration food for the children
- Parents are asked to support our 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' campaign, by disposing of their child's lunch waste at home
- A high standard of hygiene is important for all children. Parents are asked to see that -
- Their child's uniform is clean and tidy
- Hair is regularly washed, brushed and tied back if it is long
- Hands are clean and nails kept short
All of the above are very important for children's well-being and self-esteem
- Head Lice is not a school problem, but it does affect us in school. It is a childhood problem that spreads by contact with affected hair only. The best way to prevent it is to fine comb the hair each day. THIS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS. (see Head Lice Policy)
REWARDS FOR GOOD BEHAVIOUR
- Individual class system of rewards
- Special sticker from the Principal
- Monthly Celebration Assembly - 1st class to 6th class
- Principal's Special Award
- 'Keeping the Golden Rules' raffle
- Celebration wall of photographs
- Termly attendance certificates
- " Trips, outings, fun-days
SCHOOL RESPONSE TO MISBEHAVIOUR
- We will do everything we can to create a positive atmosphere in the school, so that pupils will want to behave well. We will work closely with parents to encourage this.
- However, if a pupil misbehaves despite our efforts, the school response will follow closely the guidelines set down by the Department of Education and Science:
1. Class Teacher reasoning with pupil
2. Correction including advice on how to improve
3. Temporary separation from classmates and friends
4. Loss of privileges
5. Note home to parents informing them of the misbehaviour
6. Pupil referred to the Principal and Behaviour Report Sheet given, placing pupil in a different class to work
7. Account of behaviour kept by the Principal
8. Parents informed if behaviour is repeated or there is no improvement
9. Meeting between Parents, Principal and Class Teacher
10. Suspension
Parents please note:
Teachers will keep a written record of all instances of serious misbehaviour as well as a record of improvements in behaviour. Parents will be involved at an early stage rather than as a last resort
SUSPENSION:
Pupils will be suspended for serious misbehaviour such as:
- Aggressive, threatening or violent behaviour towards another pupil or staff
- Continuous disruptive behaviour in class which interferes with other pupils' right to learn
- Behaviour that would endanger the health and lives of others
PROCEDURE FOR SUSPENSION:
1. The Board of Management empowers the Chairperson or Principal to suspend a pupil for three days for serious misbehaviour
2. Parents/Guardians will be requested to attend a meeting with the Chairperson and Principal.
3. The situation in relation to the pupil will be discussed
4. Parents/Guardians will be advised that if the pupil continues to misbehave in the future, a special Meeting of the Board of Management will be called to suspend the pupil for a longer period of time
POLICIES INCLUDED IN THIS CODE OF BEHAVIOUR
- Administration of Medication Policy
POLICIES AVAILABLE TO PARENTS ON REQUEST
- Policy on Reporting Procedures in relation to Child Protection issues
- Policy Document for Relationships and Sexuality Education
Opening statement:
This Code of Good Behaviour was drawn up by representatives from our school community of pupils, parents and teachers working together for the good of all the children.
The policy is designed to help pupils to develop their full potential and it also states clearly what is expected of them in terms of their behaviour. The school is a better place when pupils, parents and teachers play their part in making it so.
These are the things that will be important in making our school the best that it can be:
- A positive atmosphere in the school
- Good relationships between pupils, teachers and parents
- A strong sense of community
- A high standard of behaviour
- Firm guidance to help pupils acquire the skills of self-discipline
- An honest effort at work
- Open communication with parents
- Pupils, parents and teachers supporting one another
- Attention to issues of Safety, Health and Hygiene
The Code of Good Behaviour was ratified by the Board of Management and will be reviewed at intervals agreed by the Board.
Session 3
Parents and Teachers working together on Policy
Code of Good Behaviour
So far:
- Opening Statement
- Mission Statement
- School Times/uniform
- School Rules/Golden Rules
- Rights of pupils, parents and teachers
This session;
- Responsibilities of pupils, parents and teachers
- Considering Safety, School Work and Communication with parents in the light of the responsibilities named
Decision re: how many more sessions before Christmas?
RESPONSIBILITIES
In this school, pupils have the responsibility:
- To respect everybody in the school community
- To be careful about their own and other pupils' safety
- To try their best to learn
- To allow other children to learn
- To do their homework to the best of their ability
- To work to develop their gifts and talents
- To listen and to hear others
- In this school, parents have the responsibility:
- To respect everybody in the school community
- To co-operate with teachers as partners in their child's education
- To ensure that their child does her homework to the best of her ability
- To share any information needed to help their child's progress in school
- To attend meetings arranged to discuss their child's progress in school
- To listen to the views and concerns of teachers about their child
- To arrange for their child to arrive safely to school and safely home at the required times
- To support relevant policies developed in consultation with the whole school community
In this school, teachers have the responsibility:
- To respect everybody in the school community
- To create and maintain a safe, caring environment for pupils
- To do their job to the best of their ability
- To correct the homework they have given
- To co-operate in the decision-making process in the school
- To support and implement relevant policies developed by the whole school community
- To monitor each child's progress and to be available to discuss this with her parents
- To alert parents and the Principal to professional concerns about pupils
- To listen to the views and concerns of parents and pupils
- To approach parents in consultation with the Principal about issues of challenging behaviour
- To serve, if nominated, as a teacher representative on the school Board of Management
Pupil input for the Code of Good Behaviour
1. Who are the most important people in a school?
- A large number said 'teachers' some said 'pupils' some said both. One said 'Vera and Mary'
2. Who are the people who help children to develop?
- Most thought their parents, some said teachers, some mentioned friends and the community
3. If you were a visitor to this school, what are the things you would notice about it?
- Clean, nice surroundings, friendly people, no dirt on the floors, warm, smell of toast, Breakfast Club
4. What are the things you think are important in a good school?
Good education, friendliness, parents feel welcome, people speak English, clean, strict, children feel happy and safe, good environment, nice surroundings, lots of activities, opportunities to develop talents and skills
5. What is good about coming to school?
- good activities, nice surroundings, good education, clean, make friends easily, seeing teachers in the morning, the children
6. What makes school life hard?
- Irish, tests, getting up early, Maths, homework, people not getting on, History, children not reaching potential, bullying, Geography
7. Should children be asked to keep rules in school? Why?
- All said yes for the following reasons:
- Safety: stairs
- school would be dirty - children would throw food on the floor
- there would be bullying
- school wouldn't run smoothly
- children wouldn't learn
- everyone would do as they wanted
- children would be out of control
- children need to be prepared for life where everyone keeps rules
- children may be too young to make important choices for example go to class, do homework
8. What are the most important ones?
Rules to do with safety
9. What are the rights children should have in school?
- Right to an education
- Right to learn
- To be able to listen to the teacher
- Not to be interrupted by others
- Sit beside your friends
- Right to vote or have a voice in school matters for example have a say in the days off and when to take them
- Right not to be afraid to speak up if you are being bullied
- To develop your gifts and talents
- To be respected and listened to
- Give your opinion
10. Responsibilities of pupils?
- To respect everyone
- To do what the teacher asks
- To learn
- To be polite
- To be trustworthy
- To behave well
- To try your best and allow everyone else to try theirs
11. What's the best way to get pupils to keep school rules?
- Bribe
- Threaten with losing favourite activities - PE
- Display rules colourfully
- Display class rules
- Classes decide their own rules
12. What keeps pupils behaving well?
- Fear/Respect
- Consequences for actions - in school: sent to office/ at home: in trouble with parents
- Rewards for positive behaviour
- Having something to look forward to - a trip or Golden Time
13. Can you suggest the most effective ways of dealing with misbehaviour in school?
- Lines or a paragraph to write
- Involvement of parents
- Mrs Tighe
- Warning
- Detention in school - hour after school weekdays
- Going to a different class
- Suspension