Through its Student Welfare Policy, Upwey Primary School endeavours to
encourage and reinforce appropriate student behaviours and attitudes, and to
promote self-discipline and responsibility.
To achieve these goals, the
school relies on co-operation between staff, students and parents.
The
establishment and publication of a simple set of school rules and the consistent
application of clearly understood consequences for both positive and negative
behaviour provide a sense of security and fairness for all concerned.
Our school rules are:
- Students will treat each other with kindness and respect
- Students will play safely to prevent hurting themselves and others
- Students will take care of our school grounds, buildings and school
property
- Students will respect other people’s property, and use it only with
permission
- Students will follow “Sun-Smart” rules in first and fourth terms
In consultation with the students, each class and specialist teacher may also
establish a set of classroom rules which relate to the manner in which students
are expected to work and behave.
In managing student behaviour, all members of staff will aim to recognise and
acknowledge positive or responsible behaviour on both a collective and
individual basis. This may be done through praising, thanking or congratulating
the individual child or the group. Our “Student Achievement” awards are
particularly useful in this regard. Teachers may also acknowledge positive
behaviour in their classrooms through the use of a “tally” method. By this
means, instances of good behaviour contribute to the achievement of a collective
reward. The reward is given once the pre-determined tally is reached. It is
important to mention that negative behaviour is dealt with but never results in
points being deducted from the tally!
Negative behaviour is dealt with, as much as is possible, on an individual
student basis. Consistent with the “Assertive Discipline” approach to behaviour
management, breaches of school or classroom rules may (depending on their
seriousness) attract warnings. If the negative behaviour is either serious or
persistent, a student may have to attend a lunchtime detention for up to
twenty-five minutes. In this case, the child will be required to complete a
detention slip outlining the reason for the detention being given and the steps
that could (or should) have been taken to avoid it in the first place. This
detention slip needs to be sighted and signed by a parent or guardian before
being returned to the school. By this means, we hope to keep parents informed of
any difficulties which may be experienced at school.
A student who receives three lunchtime detentions in a fortnight may be
required to attend an after-school detention. Parental approval will be sought
before such a detention is instigated.
Formal suspensions or even expulsions are available as options for extremely
serious breaches of rules or protracted behavioural problems. Again, these will
not be applied without extensive consultation with parents and/or specialist
service or support providers.
Please contact the school if you would like to inspect a copy of the Student
Welfare Policy and Program or any other associated documentation.
