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School Guide > School Policies
1. Introduction
East Glendalough School endeavours to operate a positive discipline policy. Students are encouraged and rewarded for attainment, effort and participation in class and extra-curricular activities.
The school publicly acknowledges academic endeavour, good behaviour and positive contribution to school life in Class, at Morning Assembly, at Prize Distributions, in Liaison and in the Yearbook.
It is hoped that such a positive and constructive approach will not only reward students but minimise the need for the implementation of disciplinary procedures.
East Glendalough School Disciplinary Procedures compliment the School’s Code of Conduct, acceptance of which is a condition of admission to the school (see Note 1 below)
2. Monitoring and Reporting
Minor incidents of student misbehaviour may be dealt with by the class teacher or school supervisor. Contact with parents will not usually occur at this point.
Repeated minor misbehaviour and/or failure to produce work in class may be referred to the Form Teacher or School Head. These incidents should also be documented in the students’ logbook in the staffroom.
Serious or continuous misbehaviour or continuous failure to produce work will be referred to the Form Teacher and also possibly to the Year Head and will be documented as mentioned above. A student may be asked to produce a written account of an incident should this be thought necessary by a teacher.
3. Sanctions
Sanctions in cases of misbehaviour may include:
4. Daily Report
The Form Teacher and School Head will liaise with Subject Teachers in the event of continued misbehaviour. The Form Teacher, in conjunction with the School Head, may put a student on daily report to monitor his/her behaviour/work. Parents/Guardians will be asked to acknowledge receipt of Daily Reports.
Being put on Daily Report is considered a serious sanction by the school. Only such students who are of concern will be monitored in this way.
While on Daily Report teachers will encourage a student, and acknowledge all effort made where possible. It is expected that a student who is put on Daily Report will make a particular effort to improve behaviour and work. The period a student remains on Daily Report will normally be two weeks or longer, if appropriate.
Students put on Daily Report will meet with the Form Teacher on a daily basis in the first instance. Should a student be put on Daily Report on a further occasion within a year they will present to the School Head, Deputy Principal or Principal as deemed appropriate. If on report for a second time, a student will be asked to report to the Year Head every day at morning and/or lunchtime break times.
It may be necessary to contact parents/guardians about continuous misbehaviour or failure to produce work.
5. Communication with Parents/Guardians
Parents/Guardians will receive full written reports following examinations in the first and last term in each academic year. These reports will contain exam results and comments on the progress and effort of each student. Behaviour and attendance will be commented upon as necessary. Students in forms 3 and 6 will receive monthly progress reports and students in form 5 will receive half-term reports.
Parents are invited to discuss issues of concern at Parent-Teacher meetings. Parents are encouraged to keep in more regular contact with the Form Teacher of their son/daughter should there be issues of concern. (see Note 2 below) The Guidance Counsellor/Chaplain is available to all students and may be recommended in some situations.
Subject Teachers or a student’s Form Teacher may wish to contact parents/guardians by telephone or in writing should the need arise.
It should be noted that it may not always be considered necessary for the school to contact parents/guardians, in particular in its dealings with senior students. It is school policy to encourage a sense of individual responsibility on the part of students, wherever this is possible.
6. Continuous Misbehaviour
Continuous misbehaviour will be dealt with by the School Head, Deputy Principal or Principal as deemed appropriate. Parents/Guardians will be informed of continued misbehaviour and will be invited into the school to discuss the situation.
The Principal has the authority to withdraw a student from class pending a meeting with parents/guardians and/or a written commitment from the student that any continuous misbehaviour will cease.
Persistent offenders may be referred to the Board of Management.
7. Serious Incidents of Misbehaviour
Serious incidents of misbehaviour include the following (see Note 3)
Action which puts the health or safety of others at riskor language which is intimidating, threatening or offensiveharassment whether verbal or otherwiseof any kindunauthorized involvement with, or possession of, dangerous objects, tobacco, alcohol, harmful substances or illegal drugs
Serious incidents of misbehaviour will be investigated by the Deputy Principal or Principal. The Principal or Deputy Principal has the authority to conduct such investigations prior to contacting parents/guardians. Parents/Guardians will be contacted as soon as possible following such investigations.
The Principal or Deputy Principal has the authority to withdraw students from class pending enquiries which may be made and while such enquiries may be going on. Students may be asked to produce written accounts of events.
Students involved in serious misbehaviour may be kept out of class or suspended by the Principal pending any or all of the following:
a meeting with parents/guardians to discuss the situation commitment from the student that all school rules will be adhered toof the matter by the Board of Management.
The school reserves the right to request the assistance of the Gardai should this be deemed appropriate.
8. Suspension and Expulsion
Suspension or expulsion will occur as deemed appropriate by the Principal following investigation into any incident or series of incidents. A parent/guardian may appeal this decision to the Board of Management. In all cases parents/guardians are notified in writing of their right to appeal and are informed of the time of the next meeting of the Board.
The Board of Management reserves the right to remove from the school register any student who puts the health and welfare of other students or staff at risk, or any student who engages in persistent or serious misbehaviour which undermines the ethos of the school, undermines the education of other students or the work of the school staff (see Note 4).
A separate policy document gives details of Pupil Exclusion Procedures.
Approved by:
Teaching Staff 25 February 2008
Student Council 22 February 2008
Parents’ Association 18 February 2008
Board of Management 11 March 2008
Notes:
1. Reference should also be made to the Code of Conduct and Admissions Policy.
2. Reference should also be made to the Code of Conduct, Section 5.
3. Reference should also be made to the School’s Health and Safety Policy, Anti-Bullying Policy, Sexual Harassment Policy and Substance Abuse Policy
4. Reference should also be made to the School’s Ethos Statement, Admissions Policy, Health and Safety Policy and the Code of Conduct, Section 8.5.
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