Code of Behaviour Policy

Philosophy

The Code of Behaviour is a response to the St Clare’s College vision of a safe school environment and is an expression of the pastoral dimension of the College. The Code of Behaviour endeavours to provide a framework upon which high quality interpersonal relations of care and support are experienced by all members of the College community.

The promotion of respect, honesty, forgiveness and reconciliation underpins the implementation of the College Code of Behaviour.

The Code of Behaviour:

1. Expresses the rights and responsibilities of staff, students and parents
2. Is expressed in positive terms
3. Is able to be understood by all members of the College community
4. Contains appropriate levels of sanctions and consequences which are understood by all members of the College community
5. Is structured in such a way that sanctions and consequences are fairly and consistently applied
6. Is based upon the engagement of students and on the provision of appropriate intervention strategies to develop appropriate behaviours.

In keeping with the ACT Education Act 2004 and the CEO Child Protection guidelines any form of corporal punishment is banned. There is a clearly articulated ‘hands off’ policy for students.

Policy Goals

The Code of Behaviour Policy goals express the beliefs and values of staff, students and parents and highlights relevant sections of our College Vision Statement.

The Code of Behaviour seeks to:

1. Support the creation of an environment where staff and students work in harmony, respecting the right of each to teach and learn;
    
   St Clare’s is spirited, valuing consultative, co-operative processes.
    
2. Promote students to make responsible choices;
    
   St Clare’s is a Catholic community, developing young women to reach their potential.
    
3. Underpin the development of a consistent approach to the management of positive relationships for all members of the school community;
    
   St Clare’s is spirited, committed to justice
    
4. Underpin the development of a climate of mediation within which students, teachers and parents can work positively and collaboratively to resolve issues;
    
   St Clare’s is a Catholic community, which affirms, nurtures and empowers all members.
    
5. Establish a learning environment in which community members experience:
    
   

   Belonging Empowerment Freedom Choice Reconciliation

The learning program at St Clare’s values the uniqueness of each individual and strives for the spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual, aesthetic development of all students.

Safe School Policy

Preamble

The National Safe Schools Framework which is to be implemented in all schools by 1 January 2006 is an Australian Government initiative and provides a nationally consistent approach to the development of policies and protocols in schools to counter all forms of bullying, harassment, violence, abuse and neglect, and to ensure all schools provide safe and supportive learning environments.

The eleven Guiding Principles of the National Safe School Framework are based upon the premise that all Australian schools:

1. Affirm the right of all school community members to feel safe at school
2. Promote care, respect and cooperation, and value diversity
3. Implement policies, programs and processes to nurture a safe and supportive school environment
4. Recognise that quality leadership is an essential element that underpins the creation of a safe and supportive school environment
5. Develop and implement policies and programs through processes that engage the whole school community
6. Ensure that the roles and responsibilities of all members of the school community in promoting a safe and supportive environment are explicit, clearly understood and disseminated
7. Recognise the critical importance of pre-service and ongoing professional development in creating a safe and supportive school environment
8. Have a responsibility to provide opportunities for students to learn through the formal curriculum the knowledge, skills and dispositions needed for positive relationships
9. Focus on policies that are proactive and orientated towards prevention and intervention
10. Regularly monitor and evaluate their policies and programmes so that evidenced based practice supports decisions and improvements
11. Take action to protect children from all forms of child abuse and neglect

In response to the implementation of the National Safe School Framework and as an adjunct to the Code of Behaviour, St Clare’s College has developed a Safe School Policy which relates specifically to harassment and bullying. The Safe School Policy is designed to ensure processes and procedures and preventative strategies exist so that all members of the College are safe and are treated with respect and dignity in keeping with the College vision and mission.

The College is committed to the development and implementation of early intervention strategies to prevent harassment and to strengthen student coping mechanisms and wellbeing. In general this includes:

1. Ensuring that policies, programs and strategies are implemented which aim to build a sense of belonging and which promote the wellbeing of all students.
2. The use of a range of resources to develop preventative programs which include skills based learning for all community members.
3. The identification of harassment behaviour as detrimental to the welfare and wellbeing of students, staff and the wider community.
4. Programmes to assist students to improve their anger management, conflict resolution and communication skills.
5. Strategies to deal with students who harass or are harassed by others.
6. A clear statement of the responsibilities of students who witness incidents of harassment.
7. The provision of counselling and mediation services to support students at risk of being harassed or who are harassing others.
8. Clear referral protocols and communication processes.
9. Clearly stated procedures in the context of the College Code of Behaviour to address harassment as it arises.
10. Regular evaluation and refinement of College protocols dealing with harassment

The Code of Behaviour

The Code of Behaviour states that all students have the right to:

1. enjoy a safe school environment
2. be treated with courtesy and respect
   understand school rules and the consequences of breaking them
3. expect that personal and school property is secure and treated with respect
4. learn to the best of their ability in an inclusive school setting
5. participate in a school community which promotes Christian values

In the Event of Harassment

If a student experiences harassment or witnesses the harassment of another person, she is encouraged to contact one of the following:

1. Their Pastoral Leader
2. The School Counsellor
3. Their Year Coordinator
4. One of the Assistant Principals or the Principal
5. Any member of staff with whom they feel comfortable
6. A senior student
7. A parent