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CODE OF BEHAVIOUR
The education of all our students is the primary aim of Ard Scoil na nDéise. We believe that this aim can only be achieved in an environment which is caring, safe, clean and conducive to learning and teaching. We acknowledge the rights and responsibilities of all members of our school community.
School Rules apply in school and during every school related activity.
PUNCTUALITY
8.55 a.m and 1.25 p.m.
- All students are required to be in their classrooms by 8.55 a.m. and 1.25 p.m. each day.
PROCEDURES BETWEEN CLASSES AND AT BREAK TIMES:
Between Classes
- Between classes, all students must remain quietly seated in their classrooms unless they are required to change rooms for subject options.
- Those who must change should do so quickly and quietly. Keep to the right on all corridors and stairs in single file.
Breaktime (10.55 – 11.10 a.m.)
- Students whose base class is in the Junior Building must remain or return to the Junior School/Yard at breaktime and likewise Seniors must return to Senior Building.
- Students are not permitted to cross from one campus to the other without permission
- Students are not permitted to leave the school buildings and grounds during breaktime.
Lunchtime
- Students who are staying in school for lunch must go to the Assembly Hall in the Senior School building at 12.55 p.m., unless otherwise directed. They should remain either in the school buildings or grounds until 1.20 p.m., when they are to go to their classrooms.
UNIFORM
All students of Ard Scoil na nDéise must wear the following uniform in school:
- Grey Ard Scoil na nDéise blouse (available from Shaw’s or Monica’s)
- Blue uniform skirt/grey trousers
- Uniform tie
- Blue uniform jumper
- Dark leather shoes
- In addition, students must have a second trousers or skirt.
PE Uniform:
- school polo shirt (which is available only in the school from the P.E. teacher)
- dark tracksuit bottoms and runners.
Scarves may not be worn in class.
Students may not wear runners in school.
N.B. Make up is NOT part of the school uniform |
We are mindful of Health and Safety considerations and good training for life.
- Each student must always present herself in school neatly dressed in FULL SCHOOL UNIFORM with clean hair, hands and nails.
- Jewellery, if worn, should be kept to a minimum (a ring, a watch, a pair of small earrings)
- Cuts and piercings must be covered at all times
- So that the lift is available when required, student use is confined to those pupils who need to use it because of incapacity.
- Students are asked not to bring items of value or large sums of money to school. (School authorities cannot accept responsibility for loss of or damage to such items.)
Parents of students who refuse to wear full uniform on a regular basis may be asked to bring the uniform to school or to take their daughter home for her uniform.
STANDARDS OF GENERAL BEHAVIOUR
Students must
- obey all instructions given by staff members.
- sit where directed by teachers.
- always obtain a Pass Out from the Principal or Deputy Principal if they must leave the school grounds during the school day.
- always bring their locker key to school and never leave their lockers unlocked. (A spare key should be kept at home. There is a charge of €5 for having the lock removed.)
- always be in time for class, with homework done and have all necessary books, (including Homework Journal which is compulsory) copies and equipment.
- follow all the Health and Safety rules and procedures of the school.
- keep the school campus and buildings neat and tidy at all times for reasons of health and safety.
- refrain from chewing gum on school grounds or on school premises.
- refrain from eating and drinking in class or in the Junior Hall.
Students should always behave in a courteous and responsible way both in and out of school. This applies particularly while students are wearing the school uniform.
Students are not permitted to:
- engage in behaviour which disrupts the work of either their teachers or their fellow students.
- verbally/physically assault or threaten any staff member, student or any other person.
- engage in bullying.
- use offensive language.
- back answer a member of staff or refuse to follow his/her instructions.
- engage in boisterous or discourteous behaviour in school, on the road between the two school buildings or in any school-based activity.
- interfere with or vandalise the property of another person or of the school.
MOBILE PHONES
- Students will have their mobile phones powered off during class (i.e. 9.00 a.m. – 10.55 a.m., 11.10 a.m. – 12.55 p.m. & 1.30 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.) and during supervised study. The penalty for having a mobile phone powered on or its alarm ringing during these times is confiscation of the phone, including the SIM card, for one calendar month.
- Students may not use picture phones to take pictures at any time during school hours and school related activities. Such use may constitute a serious invasion of privacy. The picture phone will be confiscated for one calendar month and further sanctions may be deemed necessary.
- I-pods and MP3 players and any such players are not permitted in class or supervised study. The same penalty applies as for mobile phones.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
In keeping with the Health and Safety Policy and the Drugs Awareness Policy of our school the following regulations apply:
- Students must not behave in any way that might endanger the Health and Safety of any person in the school.
- Smoking on the school campus, (i.e. within the buildings or in the surrounds) is illegal and must be reported to the Principal. Parents will be notified and sanctions will apply.
- Smoking, possession, consumption, inhalation or otherwise taking of drugs or alcohol or any harmful substances and/or any attempt to encourage or involve others in such activities is strictly forbidden. Parents will be notified and sanctions will apply. Please refer to the Drugs Policy of Ard Scoil na nDéise.
- Students should take reasonable care to ensure their own safety and the safety of others.
- Students should familiarise themselves with emergency exit routes for each room that they use.
- Students should obey all safety instructions given by staff.
- Students must not interfere with any safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, alarm bells or fire hose reels.
- In the interests of health and safety each classroom must be kept clean and tidy at all times.
ATTENDANCE AND ABSENTEEISM
Full attendance and participation in school are very important and the school will actively encourage both.
- Students must bring a note in their School Journal signed and dated by a parent or guardian to explain absence.
- A Medical Cert. issued by a recognised practitioner must be provided for pupils who are to be excused from P.E. for more than two weeks.
Criteria for students to be accepted on school outings
- Good disciplinary record in school, indicating ability to obey school rules.
- Capacity to obey instructions.
- Ability to work as part of a team.
DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
Ard Scoil na nDéise has a Board of Discipline which consists of two staff members. The purpose of the Board of Discipline is to meet with students whose behaviour falls short of the standards expected, to encourage improvement and to impose sanctions where appropriate.Serious breaches of the School Rules will be referred to the Principal.A Record Copy for each class will be kept in the staff room. Breaches of the Code of Behaviour will be recorded in it, including minor offences which occur repeatedly.
For example:
- No homework
- Late for school
- Late for class
- Forgetting locker keys
- Forgetting books or PE gear or Home Economics ingredients.
- Not wearing full correct uniform
- Chewing gum.
Class teachers may inform parents of such offences by writing a note in the Student Journal. Parents will be asked to read and sign such notes and to take appropriate action.If a student’s name appears three times in a school year the Record Copy, it will merit a Reprimand Slip.
Teachers will inform students on each occasion of entry in the Record Copy and will explain the reason. A student who is mentioned in the Record Copy may be interviewed by the Board of Discipline.
Reprimand Slips may also be given for more serious offences. On receipt of three slips, a student will be detained and her parents will be notified. (See note on Detention)
A student will also be called before the Board of Discipline for other offences including the following:
- Mitching from school or absenting herself from class without permission
- Forgery of notes from parents, re. absenteeism, homework, etc.
- Failure to produce a note signed by a parent/guardian to explain an absence.
- Vandalism
- Back answering a member of staff or refusing to follow his/her instructions.
- Breaches of Health and Safety rules and procedures.
- Smoking on the school campus.
On Report
If a student’s work or behaviour is unsatisfactory she may be placed “On Report” by the Year Head, the Class Tutor, the Board of Discipline, the Principal or the Deputy Principal. This means that each subject teacher will comment on the student’s behaviour and/or work for a given period. The parents will be required to sign the report sheet.A student may also be put on Homework Report.
Detention
Detention takes place under teachers’ supervision.
Detention times are: lunchtime, break time, during school hours on days of staff meetings, parent/teacher meetings etc.
Other Disciplinary Procedures
- Students who are disruptive may be withdrawn from a lesson and placed temporarily with another teacher.
- This procedure may also be used with students who fail to bring the equipment necessary to participate in a lesson.
- Students may be withdrawn from their own class and placed in the care of a teacher whom they will accompany to class for the day.
- In exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to place a student on a contract of good behaviour. If the student breaks the contract the parent/guardian may be required to remove her from the school premises for part of the school day.
- Where a student openly defies school rules or school authority, parents may be asked by the Principal to remove the student from the school until such time as the student undertakes to behave properly.
SUSPENSION & EXPULSION
The following offences may merit suspension from the school, or expulsion in extreme cases.
The Principal will contact the parents as soon as possible for offences such as:
- Verbal/Physical assault or threats to a member of staff, another student or any other person.
- Bullying
- An accumulation of appearances before the Board of Discipline
- Interfering with another’s property
- Interfering with any safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, alarm bells or fire hose reels.
- Acts of vandalism.
- Breach of the substance abuse rule will be considered to constitute serious misconduct.
The above list is not exhaustive and other serious breaches of the Code of Behaviour could lead to suspension or expulsion as appropriate.
Personal Commitment
Students have a right to learn and teachers have a right to teach in an environment that is secure, safe and calm.
Everyone in Ard Scoil na nDéise has a right to be treated with respect and dignity.
I will treat everyone in Ard Scoil na nDéise with respect and dignity.
(see Appendix I) |
All parents/guardians are required to sign the current Code of Behaviour and the Personal Commitment Statement on the enrolment of a student. The Code of Behaviour is the subject of ongoing review by the Board of Management and it is possible that it may be amended from time to time. The Board of Management will endeavour to notify parent and guardians of any changes thereto. It is presumed that on signing the Code of Behaviour that parents are agreeing to be bound by the Code and any subsequent amendments.
This Code of Behaviour was adopted by the Board of Management meeting on 4th March 2009.
Signed:
John O’Flynn,
Chairperson Board of Management.
Date: 4th March 2009
APPENDIX I
We have discussed this Code of Behaviour with our daughter and have made her aware of the necessity for it and the implications of it.
Personal Commitment
Students have a right to learn and teachers have a right to teach in an environment that is secure, safe and calm.
Everyone in Ard Scoil na nDéise has a right to be treated with respect and dignity.
I will treat everyone in Ard Scoil na nDéise with respect and dignity.
We, the undersigned, accept this
Code of Behaviour and Personal Commitment Statement:
Signature:__________________________Parent/Guardian
Name: ____________________________ (Block Capitals)
Signature: _________________________Student.
Name: ____________________________(Block Capitals)
Student’s Date of Birth: _____________________
Today’s date: _________________________
Please return this page, signed by you and your daughter.
Download a Copy of the Code of Behaviour and Appendix I in Word Doc. Format
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