Code of Behaviour

Introductory Statement

This Code of Behaviour policy was formulated following a number of meetings involving Principal, Middle-management and Staff and parents in 2006 and reviewed in 2011.

Rationale

St. Paul’s B.N.S. deemed it necessary to devise a Code of Behaviour for the following reasons:

• Following the amalgamation of the Junior & Senior schools in St. Paul’s in September 2005, it was necessary to draft a new Code of Behaviour policy suitable for the new school.
• This policy will help to promote positive behaviour and to allow the school to function in an orderly and harmonious way. It will enhance the learning environment where children can make progress in all aspects of their development.
• It is a requirement under DES Circular 20/90 on School Discipline.

Aims

• To allow the school to function in an orderly and harmonious environment.
• To promote positive behaviour and self discipline recognising the differences between pupils and the need to accommodate these differences.
• To enhance the learning environment where pupils can make progress in all aspects of their development.
• To ensure the safety and well being of all members of the school community by encouraging an atmosphere of respect, tolerance and consideration for others.
• To enable parents and pupils to understand the systems and procedures that form our Code of Behaviour and to ensure their co-operation and support in the application of these procedures.
• To ensure that the system of rules, rewards and sanctions are implemented in a fair and consistent manner.

Guidelines (content of policy)

We believe that good behaviour is very important in our school. It enables the children to learn, be self-confident and to enjoy their time in school. It also enables the teachers to teach effectively and to try and cater for all the needs of our pupils. It is very important that all of our pupils have the best opportunity to learn. A successful policy on good behaviour will not only make for a happy school environment but parents can also be confident that their children are developing to their full potential, and that all of the education partners will work collectively to deal with any difficulties which arise.

Expectations for pupils, staff and parents and how they will treat each other.

Pupils can expect to

• Be treated fairly, consistently and with respect
• Have their individual differences and beliefs recognised and respected
• To feel safe, respected and secure
• Have positive behaviour reaffirmed
• Have misbehaviour dealt with appropriately
• Receive support to achieve their academic potential

Pupils are expected to:

• show respect for all members of the school community
• attend school regularly and punctually( 8.50 – 1.30 for infants, 8.50 – 2.30 for 1st – 6th Classes)
• wear a neat school uniform and tracksuit on the appropriate days. The wearing of jewellery (apart from watches) is forbidden for safety reasons
• work quietly and safely to the best of their ability at all times
• respect the right of other pupils to learn
• respect school property, the property of others and their own belongings take responsibility for their own possessions (please label everything!) Pupils are not allowed to bring mobile phones to school - communication can be arranged through the school secretary
• keep the school environment clean, tidy and litter-free, defacing school property is a serious misbehaviour. Damage caused by pupils to such shall be replaced / paid for by their parents
• have the correct books and materials in school
• follow class rules
• move quietly and carefully around the school
• line up in an orderly manner before and after break and at other times when classes are on the move
• stay with the class group when engaging in activities outside of the school e.g. swimming, school tours, matches etc. They are also expected to abide by the school rules on these occasions
• stay on the premises and within designated areas during school times including lunch time
• do their homework to the best of their ability
• seek help from staff member when they have a problem; fighting back causes more problems and will not be tolerated

Staff can expect to:

• be treated with respect
• teach in a well-maintained physical environment relatively free from disruption
• get support and co-operation from colleagues and parents in order to achieve the school’s aims and objectives
• be listened to and participate in decision-making which affects their own work and that of the school in general
• work in an atmosphere that encourages professional development
• get support and professional advice from the Board of Management, Department of Education and Skills, the National Education Welfare Board, the National Council for Special Education and the National Educational Psychological Services to help to cater for the psychological, emotional and physical needs of their pupils
• have grievances dealt with according to agreed procedures as set out in the CPSMA handbook (see appendix 1)

Staff are expected to:

• be treated with respect
• teach in a well-maintained physical environment relatively free from disruption
• get support and co-operation from colleagues and parents in order to achieve the school’s aims and objectives
• be listened to and participate in decision-making which affects their own work and that of the school in general
• work in an atmosphere that encourages professional development
• get support and professional advice from the Board of Management, Department of Education and Skills, the National Education Welfare Board, the National Council for Special Education and the National Educational Psychological Services to help to cater for the psychological, emotional and physical needs of their pupils
• have grievances dealt with according to agreed procedures as set out in the CPSMA handbook (see appendix 1)

Parents can expect to:

• be treated with respect
• have a safe and welcoming environment for their child
• that their child’s differences and beliefs will be recognized and respected
• have fair and consistent procedures applied, in the school’s dealings with pupils
• receive progress reports in accordance with agreed school policy (P.T. meetings and end of year reports)
• access information on school’s policies and procedures.

Parents are expected to:

• ensure their children attend school regularly and on time and that they are collected from school on time
• encourage their children to follow the school’s Code of Behaviour
• ensure their children wear the school uniform/tracksuit
• ensure their children have the correct books and materials
• have their children’s belongings labelled
• read written communication received from the school and respond appropriately
• report to the office if calling to the school during the day for any reason
• make an appointment before hand if they need to see a member of staff
• to treat all members of the school community with respect
• provide a note to inform all explaining all absences
• inform class teacher of any change to collection procedure for their children
• help their children to learn and practise good behaviour and to have a positive attitude towards themselves, other people and towards the school
• co-operate with teachers in instances where their child’s behaviour is causing difficulty to others
• communicate to the school problems which may affect their child’s behaviour
• attend meetings at the school if requested
• help their children with their homework and ensure it is completed
• communicate (to the class teacher) difficulties that their child may be having with homework
• Illness - Any infectious illness should be notified to the school immediately

Every effort will be made by all members of staff to adopt a positive approach to the question of behaviour in our school. The code offers a framework within which positive techniques of motivation and encouragement are utilised by the teachers. The school places greater emphasis on rewards than on sanctions, in the belief that this will, in the long run, give the best results.

Sanctions

Breaches of School Rules may be categorised under the following three headings:

• Misbehaviour
• Misdemeanour
• Gross Misdemeanour

The following are examples of misbehaviour. It is not meant to be an exhaustive list.

Examples of Misbehaviour:

• Class disruption
• Disobedience
• Failure to engage in lessons as required
• Failure to obey classroom and playground safety procedures, etc.
• Not lining up in an orderly manner

Examples of Misdemeanour:

• Repeated instances of misbehaviour
• Deliberate physical aggression
• Rough play, play fighting
• Fighting
• Intentional hurting of feelings
• Leaving yard without permission
• Intentional ignoring of staff instructions
• Name calling
• Use of bad language
• Theft of minor items
• Insolence, cheekiness, back answering
• Temper tantrums
• Fighting
• Bullying (first offence only)

Examples of Gross Misdemeanour:

• Bullying (singling another pupil out for repeated mistreatment)
• Inappropriate language to school staff
• Questioning authority
• Theft
• Refusal to work
• Serious disrespect
• Serious insolence
• Deliberate damage
• Deliberate injury
• Threat to teacher
• Serious violence, etc.

Strategies for Dealing with Unacceptable Behaviour

Misbehaviour

If misbehaviour is occasional/seldom the following strategies (steps) may be applied:

• Reasoning with the pupil
• Reprimand (including advice on how to improve)
• Extra Homework/ Classwork
• Withdrawal of Privileges / Separation from peers

Misdemeanour

• Teacher will fill out a misdemeanour slip in triplicate, one copy to be maintained by class teacher in a behaviour file, one copy to be sent to the principal to be filed and one to be stapled into the homework diary of the pupil to be signed by the parent and shown to the teacher the following day.
• If a pupil receives 5 slips in a four school week period parents will be called in to speak to the class teacher with a view to finding suitable strategies to improve the pupil’s behaviour (the principal or a representative may sit in on this meeting)
• If this cycle is repeated pupil will be put “On Report” (a behaviour diary which is filled in by all teachers working with the child, signed by the principal (or a representative) and parents daily.
• If a pupil continues to get misdeanour slips while “On Report”, this becomes known as Gross Misbehaviour, possibly leading to DECISION TO SUSPEND.

Gross Misbehaviour

• Principal informs Chairperson (of BOM) of situation. Principal contacts parents inviting them into a meeting
• At this stage, if parents and pupil come in and give a serious under-taking, the decision to suspend may be deferred. If, however parents do not come in, or do not give an undertaking of good behaviour suspension applies
• If serious/gross misbehaviour continues suspension applies
• Suspension will be notified by letter
• The decision to suspend from the school will be considered as a last resort when other possibilities have been tried or immediately after incidences of Gross Misbehaviour.
• Once a pupil has been suspended other suspensions may follow should the misbehaviour continue.
• In the case of gross misbehaviour, the Board shall authorise the Chairperson or Principal to sanction an immediate suspension, pending a discussion of the matter with the parents.
• Expulsion may be considered in an extreme case, in accordance with Rule 130(6).
• We will take the individual circumstances of children into account as much as possible and at all times aim to be fair, consistent, understanding and compassionate.
• We will note improvements in behaviour and praise it to encourage further development.
• We will make use of outside agencies and other professions such as psychologists, in order to assist children who are having serious difficulty.