Ilford Public School
Parent Information
Student Welfare
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Introduction
Ilford Public School is a safe and happy place where everyone strives to reach their potential.
Student Welfare in this school is based on the following beliefs:
- everyone in our school has the right to feel safe
- every member of the school community should have their efforts acknowledged
- everyone is responsible for their own behaviour
- every member of the school community has the right to learn in a supportive atmosphere
Rights and responsibilities of Students
Rights
- To be treated with respect and courtesy
- To be guided when necessary by those in authority
- To be treated equally regardless of differences
- To have a fair hearing in disputes
- To tell my side of the story
- To express myself
- To share ideas
- To ask questions
- To move around the school free from unwanted interference
- To have my property respected and cared for
- Gain maximum learning from my time at school
Responsibilities
- To be respectful and courteous to all
- To obey instructions given by those in authority
- To respect other people regardless of race, religion, gender, values or attitudes
- To make a positive effort to settle disputes
- To allow disputes to be settled peacefully
- To allow others to have their say free of judgment or ridicule
- To allow others to move around the school free from interference
- To care for the properties of others including the school’s
- To ensure I do not cause other’s time to be wasted
- To ensure maximum effort is maintained in school activities at both school and home
Rights and responsibilities of Parents
Rights
- Expect a high quality education for their children in a safe environment
- Information on their children’s progress
- Consultation in relation to welfare and discipline policies
- Provision of DET policy concerning suggestions, complaints and allegations which deal with raising and responding to parental concerns
- Be informed of significant behaviour issues affecting their child
Responsibilites
- Support their children’s school
- Ensure consistent attendance and recognise the importance of education
- Support the application of behaviour policies and systems of reward and sanctions
- Respect staff and other students
- Ensure Principal is notified immediately there is a concern regarding student welfare
Rights and responsibilities of Teachers
Rights
- Be safe at work
- Consultation of all policies operating at the School
- Regular professional development
- Appropriate release time for the planning and evaluation of work
- Effective leadership support
- Promote a safe and healthy working and learning environment
- Respect the children that they teach
- Be committed to and have high expectations of students’ learning
- Encourage consideration and respect of others
- Keep parents informed of their child’s educational and social progress
- Work professionally as part of a team
- Implement Child Protection legislation as required.
Rights and responsibilities of the Principal
Rights
- As per teachers
Responsibilities
- Liaise with P & C re the Student Welfare Policy
- Be the contact person to whom parents/ community contact when issues arise.
Students will develop self
Students Will:
- Develop positive self esteem
- Realize their potential as individuals
- Develop self discipline
Teachers Will
- Deliberately teaching positive attitudes, perceptions (HSIE), Health/ PD)
- Always look for positive in pupil achievement
- Teach fair play & gender equity in games and learning activities
- Establish limits in behaviour
- Use thinking & reflective teaching games
- Set clear goals for children to achieve
- Provide feedback for pupils & parents
- Recognise unique individual achievement
School Practices
- Well planned and prepared lessons
- Implementation of Student Welfare Policy
- School Merit Scheme
- School Friendship Groups
- School Fitness groups
- School Music Program
- Presentation Day Awards
- End of Term Assemblies
Outcomes
- Are playing and working together in harmony
- Are achieving goals and measurable learning
- Are happy at school
- Can use a variety of techniques to learn
- Are succeeding tin tasks without ‘winning’ against the rest of the group
- Are proud of their efforts
- Tell you they have done a set task well
Students will be lifelong learners
Students Will
- Be able to learn cooperatively
- Be able to think critically about social & moral issues
Teachers Will
- Teach independent learning skills
- Teach observation, critical evaluation and cooperative skills
- Use a variety of group activities
- Encourage assistance from the community
- Vary resources for instruction
- Teach computer skills
- Emphasise effective reading, writing, talking and listening
- Excursions
School Practices
- Well resourced classrooms
- Use of computer technology
- Data projectors/ School pads
- Weekly Behind the News television viewing for 3-6 class
Outcomes
- Offer opinions & constructive criticism
- Bring items from home to support class work
- Are computer literate
- Display their use of research
- Read and discuss
- Are numerate & calculate easily
- Converse easily & confidently
- Can use a variety of information sources
- Love learning
Students will interact positively with others
Students Will
- Behave positively towards parents, staff, each other and opposite sex
- Talk out differences rather than resorting to aggression
- Display good manners
- Follow school rules
Teachers Will
- Refer often to School Rules
- Acknowledge good and pleasant speech
- Activities that elicit cooperation e.g. moral dilemmas
- Provide a role model
- Use corrective measures as per the Fair Discipline Code
School Practices
- Implementation of Student Welfare Policy
- School Merit Scheme
- School Friendship Groups
- School Fitness groups
- School Music Program
Outcomes
- Display knowledge of right & wrong
- Praise each other
- Employ variety of techniques to solve conflicts
- Know if they are outside behaviour limits
- Understand the democratic process
Students will be positive contributors to their communities
Students Will
- Develop positive & informed attitudes about sexism, racism, aboriginality and multiculturalism
- Contribute to school life through Ilfordettes
Teachers Will
- Displays that parents support schools & schools support communities
- Support pupil participation in Rylstone/Kandos Show Presentation Night, Education Week, fund raising activities
- Enlist parents as tutors
- Be involved with other small schools sport & cultural activities
- Daily raising of the flag
- National Anthem sung at assembly
School Practices
- Implementation of Student Welfare Policy
- School Merit Scheme
- School Friendship Groups
- School Fitness groups
- School Music Program
Outcomes
- Eagerly support community activities
- Interact with community members
- Take pride in their school
- Take part in local, district & regional activities
- Socialise enjoyably
- Play together well
School Discipline Policy
Statement of Purpose
The School Discipline Policy is designed to enable each student at Ilford PS to enjoy learning each day in a supportive, safe and friendly environment.
For this to be achieved all students, parents and staff need to be aware of the School Discipline Policy
This Discipline Policy incorporates the ‘Core Rules in NSW Government Schools
THE CORE RULES
All students in NSW government schools are expected to:
- Attend every school day, unless they are legally excused, and be in class on time and prepared to learn.
- Maintain a neat appearance, including adhering to the requirements of the school’s uniform or dress code policy.
- Behave safely, considerately and responsibly, including when travelling to and from school.
- Show respect at all times for teachers, other school staff and helpers, including following class rules, speaking courteously and cooperating with instructions and learning activities.
- Treat one another with dignity and respect.
- Care for property belonging to themselves, the school and others.
- Behaviour that infringes on the safety of others, such as harassment, bullying and illegal or anti-social behaviour of any kind, will not be tolerated.
Our School Rules
- Be polite
- Be considerate
- Be tolerant
- Tell the truth
- Be fair
- Raise my hand in class
- Be patient
- Be co-operative
- Look after people’s property
- Try my best
- Allow others to work and learn
- Clean up and put away
- Use resources wisely
- Complete homework tasks
Strategies and Practices to Promote Positive Student Behaviour
- Positive verbal recognition and praise
- Teacher reward schemes to promote good behaviour. Eg points schemes
- Class prize draws to reward good behaviour
- Demonstrating positive behaviour in the School environment
- Constant review and explanation of class rules
- Citizen of the Week Awards
- School Merit Awards
- Privileges for those that display positive behaviour
Strategies and Practices to Recognise and Reinforce Student Achievement
- Worker of the Week Award
- Feedback to students recognising quality work.
- Stickers to recognise high quality work
- Use of student work as an example of high quality work.
- End of Year awards to each student plus book voucher
- Class rewards – First to lunch etc
Strategies and Practices to Manage Inappropriate Student Behaviour
- Verbal warnings
- Explanation of what constitutes inappropriate behaviour and why.
- Classroom management systems – name on board/ seating arrangements
- Use of behaviour log in conjunction with parents
- Note to parents if problem persists
- Referral to Principal / Counsellor
- Time Out in playground
Student merit scheme
A new Student Merit Scheme has been introduced at Ilford Public School. Each student has been issued with a Merit Record Card to keep in their Learning Journal Folder. During the week, students receive Merit Awards [star stickers] that can be placed on their Record Card. Once ten awards are received, these are recognised with a certificate.
The award certificates in order are:
Merit- 10 Merits
Merit Plus- next 10 Merits
Bronze- next 10 Merits
Silver- next 10 Merits
Gold- next 10 Merits
Once a student has reached the level of Gold Merit Certificate, they then recommence for their second round of awards. A Gold Medal will be awarded to a student who reaches the Gold Award for the second time. Students will also receive a $20.00 book voucher to recognise their achievement on reaching the Gold Award.
At the end of the year, the Class Teacher can use their discretion if a student is very close to an award. Awards carry on from one year to the next.
Students in the 3-6 Class will receive a Merit Award for:
- Each week their home reading is completed satisfactorily and their record book handed in on time.*.
- Completing and handing in on time homework for four consecutive weeks.
- Getting all spelling words correct for 4 consecutive weeks.
Students in the K-2 Class will receive a Merit Award for:
- Each week their home reading is completed satisfactorily and their record book handed in on time.*
- Completing and handing in on time homework for four consecutive weeks.
- Getting all spelling words correct for 4 consecutive weeks.
Merit awards can be given at the class teacher’s discretion to recognise any academic, social, behavioural or sporting achievement.
* The Home Reading Scheme is checked each Monday in K-2 and 3-6 class. To receive a ‘Merit’ students using the home readers need to read aloud to an adult or older sibling for at least 30 minutes in the week. [Best done in 3 ten minute sessions.]
Students who are independent readers are required to read for at least one hour. Parents must verify their child’s reading by signing the Home Reader and the School reserves the right to withhold awards if there is doubt about the authenticity of details provided.
Anit-bullying plan
Introduction
Ilford Public School is an inclusive educational environment where a quality education is delivered for students to meet their learning need in a secure, ordered and supportive environment. The School in partnership with the community aims to ensure all students spend their school day free from the fear of bullying, harassment and intimidation.
What is bullying ?
Bullying can be defined as intentional, repeated behaviour by an individual or group of individuals that causes distress, hurt or undue pressure. Bullying involves the abuse of power in relationships. Bullying can involve all forms of harassment (including sex, race, disability, homosexuality or transgender), humiliation, domination and intimidation of others.
Bullying behaviour can be
- verbal eg name calling, teasing, abuse, putdowns, sarcasm, insults, threats
- physical eg hitting, punching, kicking, scratching, tripping, spitting
- social eg ignoring, excluding, ostracising, alienating, making inappropriate gestures
- psychological eg spreading rumours, dirty looks, hiding or damaging possessions, malicious SMS and email messages, inappropriate use of camera phones.
How do students know if they are being bullied ?
As part of the Personal Development curriculum students are to be informed as to what constitutes bullying. Lessons may be general in nature and aimed at explaining to students the negative effects bullying can have as well as providing some initial strategies should students feel they are being bullied.
These lessons will be aimed at identifying bullying so that should students encounter bullying in the future, they will possess the confidence to take the appropriate course of action.
As part of this education process, parents will also be informed as to what constitutes bullying behaviour.
What to do if you suspect bullying behaviour
Dealing with bullying behaviour is the responsibility of the School staff, students, parents and the wider community. The following steps are seen as a course of action to prevent bullying at the School.
Identification
If a student [or parent on behalf of a student] feels they are being bullied in any way, they are required to report this to the nearest teacher on duty. Once reported, the teacher is required to pass on their report to the Principal.
The Principal will then meet with the student and or parent concerned to substantiate the claims of bullying. Where bullying is not identified, other student welfare measures may occur to resolve the complaint. Where bullying is identified, the following steps will be implemented to address the issue.
Managing Bullying
Once bullying has been identified the perpetrator will meet with the principal to discuss the reasons for such behaviour. Where incidences are of an initial nature, the perpetrator will be counselled, their bullying behaviour identified and verbal and written assurances given to ensure no further bullying behaviour occurs. Parents of all parties will be contacted and the nature of the bullying explained.
Where bullying is of a repeated nature, despite initial counselling by the Principal the perpetrator may face, depending upon the exact situation:
- Removal from the school playground at all break times, before, during and after school
- Intervention by the attached School Counsellor
- A formal parent interview
- Referral to the Itinerate Behaviour Teacher based in Mudgee
- A course of action planned by the above referrals with follow up of all parties to sustain the remediation of the bullying behaviour.
Where there are acts or threats of violence, immediate suspension of the perpetrator can occur.
Evaluation
To ensure the success of this anti-bullying plan a monitoring of reported cases will occur in the school. At all times parents will be encouraged to report bullying or any other behaviour they perceive to be detrimental to the education of their children at Ilford Public school.
Further steps to counter bullying will be dependent on the number of identified cases of bullying reported.
A once yearly review of this plan will occur in line with other policies of the School.