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School Rules
All school rules at St Francis Catholic School, Ayr are developed in consultation with students, stated in the positive and are linked to the values, principles and practices outlined in this Guide to Living as Community. To ensure students understand and follow school rules, all teachers are expected to reinforce the rules through appropriate strategies that teach the necessary skills and processes.
Communication (how students speak and listen)
- We use “I” Statements.
- We listen to others and try to empathise with them.
- We talk and discuss instead of yelling and arguing.
- We make our words and body language match in an assertive way.
Settling Conflicts (how conflicts are to be resolved)
- We try to solve our problems so that everyone wins.
- We let people know how we feel about something.
- We apologise if we hurt someone’s feelings.
- We can make the rules up for a game before we start, to make it fair for everyone.
Movement (how movement occurs within the classroom and around the school)
- We walk in the classroom and around the school buildings.
- We respect people’s personal space when we are moving around the school.
- We respect others right to learn by moving quietly around the school.
Safety and Security (as set out in school rules)
- We stay inside the school boundaries during school hours.
- We are careful when we play on the play equipment.
- We know and practise playground rules.
Learning (how students are actively involved in their learning)
- We help each other in the classroom and in the playground.
- We stay on task and concentrate on our own work.
- We work to achieve our personal best.
Treatment (how all community members will be treated)
- We make people feel welcome.
- We stay calm and rational when resolving problems.
- We co-operate when we play and we are caring of each other.
- We respect each other and each other’s property.
- We have responsibilities that are linked to our rights.
Logical Consequences
A key component of this school’s positive discipline program is teaching about and using logical consequences to address behavioural problems. A logical consequence is based on goodwill and not retaliation. It is concerned with present and future behaviour and differs from punishment in that logical consequences are:
- Related to the behaviour.
- Respectful of all parties.
- Reasonable expectations.
- Relationship-building.
Ongoing behaviour of a more serious nature will involve the use of a range of strategies, as set out in the school’s program.
These may include
- Discussing the behaviour problems with the student and reaching an agreement for
- Future behaviour.
- Monitoring and providing feedback to students on their behaviour.
- Allowing the student for a “cooling off” period using a non-judgemental approach.
- Providing counseling and training sessions for individuals to modify inappropriate behaviour.
- Involving parents/caregivers to assist with modifying behaviour.
- Seeking support and guidance from relevant departments and agencies.
- Implementing procedures set out in the TCEO’s School Administrative Handbook, Section 211.4
- Suspension and Expulsion.
For more severe cases the following sequence of actions will be implemented
- Referral to Assistant Principal or Principal involving parent contact and interview.
- Counselling including assistance from support agencies.
- Suspension and/or expulsion in accordance with TCEO Guidelines (see School’s Administrative Handbook, 211.4).