The principles on which we base our Behaviour Management practices at St Bernadette’s School demonstrate procedural fairness. We believe that procedural fairness is a basic right of all children when dealing with school authorities. We apply the ‘hearing rule’ and the ‘right to an unbiased decision.’
Each child has the right to know the nature of an allegation made against them and any information which will be taken into account in considering the matter. The child should know the process by which the matter will be considered and have the right to respond to the allegation. The child should always know how to seek a review of the decision made in response to the allegation. At no time is corporal punishment administered or accepted.
At St Bernadette’s School, members of the staff make every effort to demonstrate an absence of bias in their decision-making. They believe that children have a right to an unbiased decision and the right to impartiality in an investigation.
Procedural fairness at St Bernadette’s School includes making available to students and parents (or caregivers) policies and procedures under which disciplinary action is taken. It also includes providing details of an allegation relating to a specific matter or incident. This will usually involve providing an outline of the allegations made in witness statements. We, at St Bernadette’s School, believe that it is preferable for different people to carry out the investigation and decision-making in the school but we acknowledge that this might not always be possible. Whoever carries out these roles at St Bernadette’s School undertakes to do so in a reasonable and objective manner. We strive for justice to be done and seen to be done.
At St Bernadette’s School, the principles of procedural fairness underpin:
- The procedures for management of behaviour
- In the classroom
- On the playground
- The management of bullying in the school and the support we give to the person(s) hurt.
- The approach to exclusion and suspension of children should we ever have to manage such situation. In these cases, we would involve the Catholic Education Office and follow the guidelines for such serious situations found in the Diocesan Policy.
It is upon these basic principles of procedural fairness that the following procedures have been developed for the management of behaviour
- in the classroom and
- on the playground.
Rationale
At St Bernadette’s Primary we have consultative approach to formulating this set of Agreed practice around student management. These procedures align with the Student Wellbeing and Child Protection Policies.
Aims
- To give uniformity to student management
- To give students skills / values to interact within the school environment
- To ensure all children understand why, where and when behaviour is acceptable/ unacceptable
- To ensure respect between ALL staff and children
- To work towards inclusive practices in regard to all aspects of school life by:
Staff in-servicing focusing on responsibility for student learning / behaviour and self-evaluation.
Implementation
We devised a set of guidelines around our three school rules:
- I am respectful
- I am safe
- I am a learner.
In the Classroom:
At St Bernadette’s we:
- Take turns to speak
- Acknowledge each others successes
- Give the teacher our undivided attention when explicitly asked
- Acknowledge positive behaviour
- Move quickly and quietly during lesson transitions
- Put our hands up to speak
- Stay in our seat when asked
- Stay on task
- Speak respectfully to each other
- Work together cooperatively
- Keep our hands to ourselves
- Have respect for our classroom/ learning environment
- Do our best work at all times.
On the Playground:
At St Bernadette’s we:
- Take turns
- Speak respectfully to each other
- Play together cooperatively
- Keep our hands to ourselves
- Play by the rules of the games
- Are inclusive
- Do our best to resolve our problems fairly.
To support these traits we will:
- Ensure that all matters with behaviour are followed up in a timely manner with students
- Have a clear set of classroom guidelines that align with the agreed practice and behaviour flowcharts
- Follow the Flowcharts devised to ensure consistency of practice.
When a student does not follow the school rules the following procedures will be followed:
In the Classroom:
- A verbal warning is delivered to the student
- A formal warning is given (in line with predetermined classroom practice)
- If a third warning is issued an in class a 5-minute time out is given
- Should the student continue to interrupt the learning then time out with the Stage co-ordinator is given.
The co-ordinator will keep notes on this child’s time out in a Google doc
- If this student continues to, or repeatedly disrupt learning then time out in the Office is given. During this time a behaviour sheet is completed during a reflective discussion. Three (3) of these forms will result in a phone call to parents and a behaviour note being sent home.
On the Playground
- A verbal warning is delivered to the student
- A formal warning is given and a 5-minute time out with the playground teacher is given
- If this student continues to, or repeatedly disrupt playtime then time out in the Office is given. During this time a behaviour sheet is completed during a reflective discussion. Three (3) of these forms will result in a phone call to parents and a behaviour note being sent home.
The only time where time out with the AP is an immediate consequence is where the student or other students are not safe. In this situation the student or other students are removed from the classroom / playground immediately.
Suspension:
If incidents of further negative behaviour continue, then serious thought must be given to both an internal suspension or external suspension of 1 to 3 days. It is understood that parents would be fully informed at all times before such serious consequences are decided upon.
A teacher may use reasonable restraint to protect a child in a situation which is perceived to be harmful or threatening to the safety of the child and / or other children / staff members.
If a suspension is necessary, the Principal is required to notify the Parish Priest and the Director of Performance from the Catholic Education Office.
In line with procedures outlined by DET (6.1.5) and as implemented by the Catholic Education Commission school Principals must suspend immediately and consistently any student who:
- Is physically violent (resulting in pain or injury to others)
- Is in possession of a firearm, prohibited weapon or knife
- Uses or is in possession of a suspected illegal substance or supplies a restricted substance.
At all times St Bernadette’s respects the dignity of each child. We strive to meet the needs of the individual child in a pastoral, Christian environment.
Anti-Bullying Policy
Rationale
St Bernadette’s, Dundas does not tolerate bullying in any form. All members of the school community are committed to ensuring that a safe and caring environment is evident at all times. The St Bernadette’s community supports the premise that self worth and self esteem flourish where the group feels secure.
Aims
- To provide a safe and pleasant environment for all who attend the school
- To provide empathy and strategies for children who encounter any form of bullying
- To provide strategies for children who display bullying tactics in their day to day dealings with other children
- To provide parents with advice if bullying occurs.
Implementation
- Provide parents and staff with an understanding of what constitutes bullying
- Inform and educate parents on the strategies they can adopt in day to day parenting
- Inform children as to what constitutes unacceptable behaviour through class, stage and whole school meetings
- Explain the policy of bullying prevention to children and the parent body
- Utilise the Student Reflection Form when bullying occurs.