Behaviour Management


Overview

Rossmoyne Senior High School is strongly committed to enabling students to fulfil their potential by providing an environment which;

• fosters self-worth
• encourages the pursuit of high personal standards
• supports academic excellence
• promotes social and civic responsibility
• maintains cultural harmony
• develops self reliance, initiative and personal responsibility.

Behaviour Management Policy includes strategies to;

• maintain a positive school environment.
• promote effort.
• encourage positive behaviours and personal best.
• students take personal responsibility for their actions.
• respond in a timely manner to negative behaviours.  

The Policy complies with the Education Act (1999) and relevant Department of Education Regulations and Policies.  It is subject to review.  Any changes are endorsed by staff and the School Council.


Maintaining a Positive Learning Environment

Behaviour management begins in positive affirmative action and encompasses the following elements:

• The physical environment.
• School ethos & culture which focuses on mutually respecting, aspiring and excelling.

Maintaining and Improving the Physical Environment of the School

The school’s buildings and grounds are elements in fostering a positive learning environment.  This is reflected in school planning.


Maintaining and Improving School Ethos and Culture

Rossmoyne SHS has a long and proud tradition of recognising and promoting pride in achievement and endeavour.  This is reflected in school planning in a number of areas:
Facilitating teaching and learning.
Enhancing personal development of students.
Valuing and supporting staff.
Strengthening community partnerships in education.
Cultural harmony.

Rights and Responsibilities Underpinning the Behaviour Management Policy

RIGHTS	RESPONSIBILITIES
Be treated with courtesy and respect	Show respect and courtesy to others
Work in a and enjoy a safe, secure and clean environment	Keep the environment safe, secure and clean
A learning environment that is free from disruption	Ensure that there is no disruption to another person’s learning
Achieve their potential	Develop their potential and to assist others in doing the same
Have personal property respected	Respect student, staff and school property
Be proud of their achievements	Ensure their actions do not discredit the school community.

Code of Behaviour

Rossmoyne Senior High School’s Code of Behaviour is:

• respect for all by all.
• self responsibility.
• right of all to pursue personal excellence.

The principles of the code are:

• Courtesy and consideration are extended to all by all members of the school community.
• All students have the right to learn and teachers the right to teach and develop a positive learning environment without hindrance.
• Respect for the rights and property of every member of the school community.
• Sound health and safety practices.
• Members of the school community comply with required standards of behaviour and dress.
• The school has the right to discipline students as needed.

STAFF ROLES

Teamwork.  Staff have responsibility in ensuring that behaviour management at Rossmoyne Senior High School occurs in a mutually supportive and cooperative manner.

Classroom Teachers.  Have responsibility for managing student behaviour in their classroom and during designated duty and other supervision times.  They may be called upon to assist other staff members in managing student behaviour, consult with their Head of Learning Area or Teacher In Charge concerning students who are exhibiting persistent, low-level disruptive behaviour and to discuss appropriate management strategies.

Heads of Learning Area.  Have the responsibility for the overall management of student behaviour in their Learning Area, assisting their staff in managing student behaviour and liaising with the school administration in situations which require school consequences and responses.

Student Services.  The Student Services Team aims to create a supportive learning environment by attending to students’ individual and collective emotional and social needs.  The Student Services team is responsible for providing teaching staff with information about students which may affect or influence learning outcomes and behaviour.  Year Coordinators are responsible for providing teachers with written and verbal feedback about students arising from progress reports.

Deputy Principals.  The role of the Deputy Principal is to assist the Principal in the leadership, management and administration of the Behaviour Management Policy.  Each Deputy Principal has overall responsibility for coordinating and implementing the behaviour management of students in particular year groups.

Principal.  The Principal is required to organize the school to ensure that the Behaviour Management Policy operates within the requirements of the Education Act and the Regulations and Policies of the Department of Education and Training.  The Principal makes final decisions regarding suspensions and exclusion of students.


CLASSROOM POLICY

Classroom policy is consistent with whole school policy, with variations that arise out of the individual circumstances of particular rooms and learning areas.

All students are expected to comply with the following behaviour expectations in class:

• Follow all instructions given by the teacher.
• Complete set work to the best of their ability.
• Treat others in the classroom with respect and courtesy.
• Observe all special safety and behaviour rules that apply in a particular classroom, workshop, studio, laboratory, gymnasium, swimming pool or any other area of the school where instruction occurs.
• Comply with punctuality requirements.
• Be prepared for class by bringing appropriate stationery, books, equipment and clothing.
• Act in a manner which does not disrupt the teaching and learning of others.
• Act in a manner which does not endanger the health and safety of others.
• Treat school property and the property of others with care and respect.

Consequences

Students who are in breach of this policy may face the following consequences:

• School community service.
• Yard duty
• Class withdrawal.
• Lunch or recess detention subject to the teacher making reasonable alternative arrangements for the student’s lunch, drink, toilet and locker needs.
• After school detention for a maximum of one hour.
• Serious or repeated acts may result in referral to a Head of Learning Area or Teacher in Charge where other consequences may apply.
• Gross or repeated acts may result in referral to a Deputy Principal where other consequences may apply.

CAMPUS POLICY

This section of policy relates to behaviour issues that apply at the whole school level. To maintain a safe and supportive school environment the following rules must be observed.


Code of Conduct

• Students will follow all instructions given by teachers.
• Students will walk in the school corridors.
• Students will at break times remain in their own designated area of the grounds.
• Food and drink can only be consumed in classrooms on designated wet weather days.  On these days rooms are allocated to each year group.
• Students will not loiter in toilet areas.
• Chewing gum is not permitted on the campus.
• Liquid paper and elastic bands may only be used in the classroom under the supervision of a teacher.
• Bags are to be carried in a considerate manner, not on one shoulder.  All members of the school community are expected to keep to the left in corridors and walkways.
• Laser pointers, mobile phones, skateboards and similar, radios, walkmans and cassette or CD players or similar are not to be brought to school.
• All types of aerosol cans, including deodorants, paints, enamels, etc, are not permitted at school.
• All students are expected to dispose of litter in bins and comply when asked by staff to pick up rubbish.
• Students are not to engage in inappropriate intimate physical contact with other members of the school community.

Students who breach these rules may face detention or yard duty.  Gross or repeated acts may result in referral to a Deputy Principal where other consequences may apply.  Banned items will be removed from the student and returned subject to parental contact or at the discretion of a Deputy Principal.


Theft/Damage to Property

Students who steal or damage or attempt to steal or damage school property at any time, including weekends, school holidays and before and after school or the property of others in the school community face suspension from school.    Police and court intervention may also be sought.  


Fighting or Inciting Others to Commit Acts of Violence

Students who are involved in a fight or incite others to fight will be suspended.  Subsequent incidents of fighting, or inciting others to fight, may result in suspension for a maximum of ten days.  

In cases of serious unprovoked assault the student concerned may face suspension for a maximum of ten days.  Police intervention may also be requested.  Exclusion proceedings may also be initiated against students who are involved in subsequent serious and unprovoked assaults.


Dangerous Acts

Any student who knowingly and wilfully acts in a manner which places the health and safety of others in the school community at risk may face suspension for up to ten days.  This includes the use or possession of any weapon or chemical device.  It may also include damaging or modifying any property or equipment in a manner which renders it dangerous.  Student car use is covered by this policy.