CODE OF CONDUCT

 

MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS A STUDENT

 

I have a responsibility to:

 

  1. Attend school regularly, to arrive on time and to be prompt to all lessons.
  2. Help make my school a good place by being thoughtful, respectful and courteous towards others.
  3. Observe all safety, playground and classroom rules.
  4. Allow others to work without being distracted.
  5. Take care of the school property and all that it contains, including being respectful of other people’s property.
  6. Be sure I am properly prepared for each day’s work, by bringing all books and equipment needed for each lesson.
  7. Do my best at all classwork, homework, assignments and tests and to hand all work in on time.
  8. Appear at my best, by being clean and appropriately dressed according to the school’s requirements and the community’s expectations.
  9. Take home all school messages and the monthly newsletter.

 

 

MY RIGHTS AS A STUDENT

 

I have a right to:

 

  1. Feel safe and comfortable.
  2. Participate in all activities of the school.
  3. Be treated with respect.
  4. Learn without interruption.
  5. Not be affected by the unacceptable behaviour of others in any student activity, including the classroom, the grounds, travel to and from school, sport and excursions, and all co-curricular activities.

 

 

WELFARE AND DISCIPLINE AT PENNANT HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

 

Welfare assistance for students

 

All teachers and the school executive provide welfare support for students.

 

There are some specific welfare services to provide extra assistance if it is required.

 

  1. Year Adviser (with Assistant Year Advisers):  handles general welfare needs of the students in their year.
  2. Assistant Year Advisers run the anti-bullying program and assist the Year Advisers generally.
  3. Head Teacher, Welfare:  deals with general welfare matters of all students, and co-ordinates welfare services in the school.
  4. School Counsellor: identifies and assists students with special needs;  students can be referred to the Counsellor by other staff, or students can refer themselves to the Counsellor.
  5. Careers Adviser:  provides advice to students about careers and appropriate subject choices.
  6. Home/School Liaison Officer:  works both with students and parents on matters concerning school attendance requirements.
  7. Support Teachers:  assist students and teachers with students who have individual learning difficulties and the development of effective study techniques.
  8. District Staff: District staff are available at Hornsby District Office to provide additional welfare support and advice to the school and parents.

 

Discipline

 

Children are entitled to an education and teachers are entitled to respect and courtesy at all times.  The school will not permit the misbehaviour of any student to interfere with the education of others.  Neither will the school permit the misbehaviour of any student to interfere with the professional environment that teachers have a right to expect.  The Principal will give first consideration to the need to protect the rights of teachers to teach and students to learn.

 

 

Discipline at Pennant Hills High School is based on the following main ideas:

  • All students should develop self-discipline
  • No student has the right to interfere with other students’ education.
  • Caring for others is the basic standard of behaviour in all situations.

 

These can be achieved by:

  • Having respect for yourself and others
  • Having respect for property and the school environment
  • Taking responsibility for your own actions.

 

 

 

Discipline provisions include:

 

  1. Notice of Concern – communication from teacher to parent.
  2. Progress Book – provides information about student behaviour and classwork to parents.
  3. Restitution – to help resolve a problem between students and between a student and the school.
  4. Detention – the student may be detained between 3.20 pm and 4.00 pm.
  5. Level system – the student may be placed on Level 1 (for observation), Level 2 (for more serious or repeated offences) or Level 3 (suspension).
  6. Suspension – for the welfare of the school or to provide time for appropriate intervention to occur.
  7. Expulsion – used in extreme circumstances only.  Note:  The Department of Education and Training provides the guidelines for suspension and expulsion.

 

More details of these provisions are available from Year Advisers.

 

Overview of the levels system

 

LEVEL 0

All students start on this level.  Most students will remain on this level during their time at Pennant Hills High School as they will co-operate with their teachers and fellow students.

 

LEVEL 1

The student is causing problems in class or behaves in an inappropriate way in class or the playground or has breached the Code of Conduct of the school.  The student has not responded to other strategies to improve his/her conduct.

 

LEVEL 2

The student has ignored all efforts to assist him/her or has breached the beliefs of the school.  The student will undertake a program to assist in the development of more appropriate behaviour.  Referral may be made to the Counsellor.  The student will negotiate a contract with the school.  The student will not be permitted to attend out-of-school activities while on Level 2.

 

LEVEL 3

The student either indicates no desire to fit in with others at Pennant Hills, or in what may be a single incident has shown complete disregard for the safety or well being of students or staff.  The student will be suspended for the welfare of the school as a community.

 

The placement of students on levels is reviewed fortnightly;  students are therefore able to work their way back to Level 0 over a period of time.