Scoil Naomh Sheosaimh

Code of Behaviour & Discipline

This policy is intended not only to highlight our school rules but also to be considered a blueprint for effective partnership in school. We, the school community, strive to encourage positive behaviour through good example. We hope that children will learn intrinsically to respect each other. We wish to foster an atmosphere of friendship and co operation in school.

Principles

• This code of discipline is for the whole school community. Therefore it covers interaction between teachers, parents, children and visitors.

• We place a high value on developing self confidence in all our children.

• Scoil Naomh Sheosaimh is a centre of learning. When teaching and learning are emphasised misbehaviour is reduced.

• Co operation between home and school is a pre requisite of good behaviour.

• Individuality of each child is always taken into account.

• Discipline is based on positive reinforcement.

Behaviour in School
Respect and sensitivity to others are the basic rules. Children are expected to be polite and well mannered towards teachers, parents and visitors to the school.

Children will be expected to show respect for school property, pupils' property, teachers' property, the school itself and its surroundings.

• Bad language is not allowed.
• Children are required to comply with the classroom rules and guidelines.
• Running is strictly forbidden in the corridor and in the classrooms.
• Scoil Naomh Sheosaimh is a Green School and pupils are asked to keep the school and its surroundings litter free.
• If a child is collected early from school they must be collected at the classroom.
• If a child is absent the parent shall notify the school using the official absence note of the reason for the child's absence. (Education Act 2000 Section 18).
• When children are coming to and leaving the school they must behave appropriately
• Dangerous equipment e.g. penknives are not permitted.
• Children must wear the full school uniform on appropriate school days i.e. Monday to Wednesday. Full tracksuit to be worn on Thursday and Friday. Failure to do so should be accompanied by a note

Behaviour in Class
Pupils must respect the rights of other pupils to learn. Any behaviour that interferes with that right e.g. constant disruption of the class or persistent distraction of others is considered unacceptable behaviour.

• Children should work hard and do their best as they attend to their work.
• Parents should ensure that homework is completed neatly.
• Children are not allowed to use the internet without teacher permission and supervision.
• Our Social, Personal and Health Education Policy promotes healthy eating. Therefore we recommend that children bring a healthy lunch to school. Sweets, chocolate, crisps and soft drinks are not allowed.

Behaviour in the playground

• Pupils should treat others, as they would like to be treated themselves. Any behaviour which endangers others is not permitted e.g. fighting, kicking, spitting etc.
• Games or activities considered to be dangerous are forbidden.
• Children are not allowed to climb on the roof, trees or leave the school to retrieve a ball without the supervision of a teacher.
• Pupils may not leave the playground for any reason during breaks without the permission of the teacher on supervision.
• On wet days pupils will remain in the classroom during break times and will play games e.g. cards, draughts, dominoes, snakes and ladders, do jigsaws or use the computers. Children must remain seated in the classroom.

Sanctions and examples of misbehaviour
The code of behaviour and discipline is being implemented under the direction of the board of Management and it is the Principal's duty to ensure the code is being implemented. Each teacher is responsible for good behaviour within their own classroom and for the good behaviour of each child in the school whom they are responsible for. To ensure the successful implementation and understanding of our code it will be necessary to have complete co-operation from the parents and the children. The success of our code will be based on good communication, goodwill and parents loyalty to the school. As previously stated each child is unique individual. From time to time external or internal influences can affect a child. If a particular problem is affecting a child's self-discipline and the child's classroom discipline and the safety of other children and teachers, it will be a cause of huge concern for the school. Each child has his/her right to a safe and healthy school environment and this must be promoted as much as possible. If a child displays behavioural problems to the extent that other children and the teacher's safety are at risk, the teachers/principal will advise parents to assess their child professionally. They will further advise to seek help from the support services to the community e.g. Special Needs Organisers, Community Care System, Western Health Board, Ballard House, St. Anne's etc. The code of discipline and behaviour must be followed for every child registered in the school. In order to ensure good behaviour so that every child can work and play in a happy and safe environment the following strategies of appraisal will be implemented.

Strategies of Appraisal
Praise may be given by means of any of the following:

• A quiet word or gesture to show approval.

• A comment in a pupil's exercise book

• A visit to another member of staff or to the Principal for commendation.

• A word of praise in front of a group or class.

• A system of merit marks

• Delegating some special responsibilities or privileges

• A mention to parent, written or verbal communication.

Encouraging high standards of behaviour among pupils and creating and maintaining an orderly atmosphere for learning in the school will involve the use of praise and reward for good behaviour, sound relationships between teachers and pupils and effective teaching and learning. It will also involve the application of sanctions or punishments to register disapproval of unacceptable behaviour. When sanctions are invoked, pupils should understand that what they have done is not acceptable and that it is the misbehaviour that is rejected.

The following steps will be taken in the case of misbehaviour
1. Reasoning with the pupil.
2. Reprimand (including advice on how to improve). Record incidents and details in the behaviour book.
3. If steps 1 and 2 fail the child will be punished in one of the following ways depending on the misbehaviour.

• Temporary separation from peers, friends and others.
• Loss of privileges
• Detention during break-time.
• Prescribing additional work.

Record whichever punishment in the behaviour book. A note will also be sent home in the diary to inform parents and they are asked to sign the note to ensure they've read it and are informed of matters.

4. If the situation has not improved after steps 1, 2, and 3 the pupil will be sent to the Principal. The Principal will keep a record of each child sent to him/her and will note any improvements that follow. The child should understand that this is happening.

5. If the difficulties continue parents will be invited to come to the school and discuss the situation with the class teacher. The situation will be explained to them and their co-operation will be sought to improve their child's behaviour. Reference will be made to the schools behaviour and discipline code and the next step to be followed if the situation doesn't improve.
6. Daily/weekly reports on the child's behaviour.
7. If difficulties continue further the parents will meet with the Principal and the class teacher. The next step will be explained.
8. If the misbehaviour still continues the Board of Management will be informed.
9. The parents will be invited to come to the school to discuss the situation with the Board of Management and teachers. The parents will be informed of the next step to be taken -Suspension 3 days.
10. Suspension - 3 days (In accordance with Rule 130(5) of the Rules for National Schools under Department of Education and Science.
11. The Board of Management may authorise a further period of suspension up to a maximum of ten school days to allow for consultation with the pupils or the pupil's parents. The schools Board is obliged to report suspensions that cumulate over 6 days to the Education Welfare Board.
12. A longer period of suspension with written permission from the Board of Management.
13. In very difficult circumstances where the staff and Board of Management feel that all the avenues have been explored to improve the situation but to no avail the Board of Management will consider expulsion from the school.
14. Where the Board of management is of the opinion that a student should be expelled from the school it shall, before expelling the student, notify the Educational Welfare Board in writing.
15. The decision to expel a student shall not take effect until 20 days have elapsed after the National Educational Welfare Board has received notification in writing. A new notice of decision to expel form should be used for this purpose.
16. A child, having been expelled is excluded from any school-organised activity.

Grounds for removing a Suspension
a) Communication to parents regarding the suspension of a pupil or the possibility of suspension will be in writing.
b) A written statement of the terms and date of the termination of a suspension should be given to the parents. When a period of suspension ends the pupil should be re-admitted formally to the class by the Principal.
c) Where a satisfactory resolution of a problem is achieved a pupil may be re-admitted to school within a suspension period at the discretion of the Chairperson of the Board and the Principal.
Parents have a right of appeal to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science in relation to expulsions and long suspensions. (Section 29 of Education Act).

Procedures
The degree of misdemeanours i.e. minor, serious or gross will be judged by the teachers and/or Principal based on a common sense approach with regard to the gravity/frequency of such misdemeanours, as follows:

Examples of minor misdemeanours
Interrupting class work / arriving late for school / Running in school building / Talking in class line / leaving seat without permission at lunch time / Placing unfinished / food/drink cartons in class bin / Leaving litter around school / not wearing correct uniform / Being discourteous / unmannerly / Not completing homework without good reason / Not having homework signed by a parent / not working to full potential.

Examples of steps to be taken by teachers when dealing with minor misdemeanours
Reasoning with pupil/Verbal reprimand/Noting instance of yard behaviour in yard book.
If regular occurrences of minor misdemeanours continue the code of discipline must be followed. A note should be sent home in the school diaries to be signed by Parents. Children who have their names in the yard book 3 times must receive a warning.

Examples of serious misdemeanours
Constantly disruptive in class / telling lies / stealing / Damaging other pupil's property / Persistent bullying / Back answering a teacher / Frequenting school premises after school hours without appropriate permission / Leaving school premises during school day without appropriate permission / Continuation of not working to full potential / using unacceptable language / Bringing weapons to school / Deliberately injuring a fellow pupil, endangering self / fellow pupils in the school yard at break times.

Examples of steps to be taken when dealing with serious misdemeanours
1. Send the child to the Principal.
2. The Principal sends a note to parents in the school diary.
3. The Principal meets parents with the class teacher.
4. The Chairperson of the Board of Management is informed and the parents are asked to come and speak with the Chairperson, Principal and teacher.

Examples of gross misdemeanours
Setting fire to schools property / Deliberately leaving taps / fire hose turned on, aggressive, threatening or violent behaviour towards a teacher / pupil. Malicious damage to school property. Having alcohol, drugs or tobacco on the school campus or at a school event.

Examples of steps to be taken when dealing with gross misdemeanours:

1. Chairperson /Principal to sanction immediate suspension pending discussion with parents
2. Expulsion will be considered in an extreme case in accordance with Rule 130(5)
(It should be noted that these lists consist of examples only. It is not meant to be a totally comprehensive list of misdemeanours and procedured steps)

Parents seeking enrolment in the school will be given a copy of the code of behaviour before enrolment (Section 23 (4). As a pre-condition of enrolment parents are asked to read the code and to sign a declaration that they accept the code and that they will make all reasonable efforts to see that their child bides by it. We are in full compliance with section 23(5) of the Education act that copies of the code are available from the school at all times on demand from a pupil or parent. The code will be reviewed from time to time.