Code of Conduct

RESERVOIR WEST PRIMARY SCHOOL 

Below is a brief outline of the Student Code of conduct, outlining the main rules, rewards for appropriate behaviour and consequences for inappropriate behaviour.

CLASSROOM RULES
  1. Follow directions.
  2. Work and learn without disrupting others.
  3. Respect and care for others.
  4. Orderly behaviour in the classroom is expected.
  5. Respect and care for your own property and that of others.

CLASSROOM CONSEQUENCES

If a student chooses to break a classroom rule during a day, the following steps (consequences will be implemented:

First time a rule is broken: Warning.

2nd: Removal from group (within the classroom).

3rd: Two minute reflection after class.

4th: Time-out in another classroom.

5th: Sent to Principal.

Options ~ lunchtime reflection

~ parents contacted

~ suspension

SEVERE DISRUPTION: inflicting physical harm, wilfully damaging property, behaviour that stops the class from proceeding

First Violation: Sent to Principal. Same options.

SCHOOLYARD RULES
  1. Follow directions.
  2. Act, play and move safely – use equipment in the correct area and in a safe manner.
  3. Respect yourself and others by being courteous and polite.
  4. Respect school property and that of others.

SCHOOLYARD CONSEQUENCES

If a student chooses to break a classroom rule during a day, the following steps (consequences will be implemented:

First time a rule is broken: Warning.

2nd: Time-out on seat.

3rd: Lunchtime reflection.

4th: Parent contact.

5th: Suspension.

SEVERE DISRUPTION: Sent to Principal. Options ~ detention

~ parent contact

~ suspension

~ Police action

For children who regularly choose to break rules in either the classroom or the school ground, the starting consequence may be moved down ie. the first violation would result in consequence 3, 4 or 5 depending on the frequency of inappropriate behaviour.

In order to shift the emphasis of our behaviour plan away from the negative, punishment orientated system, the school believes that by giving the attention to the children who are exhibiting good behaviour it will encourage the children to follow the rules. Appropriate behaviour in the classroom and the schoolyard will be rewarded and recognised with praise, positive recognition, certificates and rewards.

The main rules in the classroom and the schoolyard have many inherent minor rules. At the beginning of each school year teachers are responsible for teaching the rules to the children in the class making sure that each child has a clear understanding of why these rules are important, how and why they were chosen and most importantly what they mean.

For most children at Reservoir West Primary School this plan will not affect them apart from providing them with a more secure, orderly and safe learning environment. We are most fortunate to have children who generally exhibit excellent behaviour at school.

Five levels of behaviour/consequences have been established:

A – desired behaviours

B – behaviours that result in a time-out

C – behaviours that result in a reflection

D – behaviours that result in suspension

E – behaviours that result in expulsion

It must be understood that nearly all students at Reservoir West operate at Level A, and exhibit appropriate behaviour almost all of the time. These are the students that teachers will endeavour to focus most of their attention on and reward good behaviour whenever possible. However (and it is a big however), there are a small number of students who continually exhibit inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour at school and make life and learning difficult for other students and teachers.

In a nutshell:

  • Students are going to be rewarded for exhibiting Level A behaviour.
  • If a student exhibits Level B behaviour a Time-out will be given and recorded. No parent contact. Three Time-outs in a month will result in a Detention.
  • If a student exhibits Level C behaviour (or three Time-outs in a month) a Detention will be given. Letter sent home to parents for each detention.
  • If a student exhibits Level D behaviour (or three Reflections in a month) a Suspension will be given.
  • If a student exhibits Level E behaviour (or has 20 or more days of Suspension in a school year) expulsion will result.

A: STUDENT BEHAVIOUR EXPECTED AT RESERVOIR WEST PRIMARY SCHOOL

Student behaviour

Consequences/Actions

Notes for teachers
  • Follow directions
  • Act, play and move safely – use equipment in the correct area and in a safe manner
  • Respect yourself and others by being courteous and polite
  • Respect school property and that of others
  • Be co-operative and self-controlled
  • Maintain atmosphere through positive praise and positive relationships
  • Use of reward systems: golden tickets, stickers, certificates, house points.
  • Praise can be individual or in front of peers
  • Language which identifies the positive behaviour
  • Acknowledgement at assemblies, in newsletter

B: STUDENT BEHAVIOUR WHICH MAY RESULT IN A TIME-OUT

Student behaviour

Consequences/Actions

Notes for teachers
  • Interfering with others’ games
  • Not playing co-operatively
  • Unintentionally hurting due to silly behaviour (rough play)
  • Talking back to teachers
  • Throwing tantrums
  • Being nasty to other children verbally (teasing)
  • Unsafe behaviour – climbing trees, fences, running in and around buildings
  • Offensive language
  • Non-verbal/verbal warning
  • Restitution
  • Verbal/written apology
  • Walk/talk with teacher
  • Sent away from games/area
  • Withdrawal of privileges
  • Sent to time-out seat for set period of time
  • Verbal warning should be one-to-one restating rule, calm delivery, re-direct student to the appropriate behaviour
  • Avoid verbal confrontation with student
  • Degree of consequence to be at teacher discretion
  • Incident recorded in time-out book

C: STUDENT BEHAVIOUR WHICH MAY RESULT IN A DETENTION

Student behaviour

Consequences/Actions

Notes for teachers
  • Regular and serious disruptions to others’ games and play
  • Rudeness and insolence, poor attitude, refusal to do as told (especially in anger)
  • Damaging school or other property
  • Leaving school ground without permission
  • Theft
  • Intentional physical, verbal or emotional abuse (bullying)
  • Continuous/repetitive ‘B’ behaviour
  • Three Time-Outs in the space of one month
  • Detention to be taken next day
  • Immediate removal from school yard for period of time
  • Use walkie-talkie to inform staffroom of student being sent in
  • Inform student of detention
  • Write up detention slip and send to class teacher

D: STUDENT BEHAVIOUR WHICH MAY RESULT IN A SUSPENSION

Student behaviour

Consequences/Actions

Notes for teachers
  • Continual repetitive behaviours that are a danger to health of staff and students
  • Commits an act of significant violence or causes significant damage or destruction
  • Possesses, uses or assists others to use illegal drugs/substances
  • Fails to comply with and reasonable and clearly communicated instruction of a principal or teacher
  • Consistently behaves in a manner that interferes with the educational opportunities of any other student
  • Behaves in a way that threatens the good order of the school’s program
  • Engages in unacceptable discriminatory behaviour towards another person
  • Three Detentions within the space of a month
  • Immediate removal from school yard
  • Immediate suspension for a period of time from one day to five days.
  • Suspension maybe Internal or External at the discretion of the Principal

  
  • Use walkie-talkie to inform staffroom of student being sent in
  • If behaviour is observed by teacher then state consequence and then complete suspension with Principal

E: STUDENT BEHAVIOUR WHICH MAY RESULT IN EXPULSION

Student behaviour

Consequences/Actions

Notes for teachers
  • Any extreme behaviour outlined above
  • The student’s behaviour is of such magnitude that having regard to the need of the student to receive an education compared to the welfare and safety of other students and the need to maintain order and discipline within the school
  • A suspension is inadequate to deal with the behaviour
  • When a student reaches 20 days’ Suspension within one school year
  • DEECD Expulsion procedure will commence
  • Principal responsible for Expulsion procedure in conjunction with Regional Staff