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SCHOOL RULES
1. General
a) Students must show courtesy to and respect for all members of the staff, visitors to the School and fellow students.
b) Students must complete work assigned by teaching staff. Failure to complete assigned work satisfactorily is a breach of this Code of Behaviour.
c) The Code of Discipline applies to students whether they are on school property and/or engaged in a school activity or not.
2. The School Journal
a) Each student will have a School Journal in which staff members will record details of the student's academic progress, disciplinary record and any other information of which parents/guardians should be made aware.
b) The School Journal is an official rather than a private document and must be in students' possession at all times.
c) Students must use the School Journal to note details of homework assigned, school timetables etc.
d) Parents/guardians should use the School Journal to communicate with the School as regards students' absences, lateness, requests to leave the School during school hours etc. as detailed further in this Code of Behaviour. Parents/guardians should also use the School Journal as a source of information as regards their students' performance in School. We are asking parents/guardians to keep a close check on School Journals in this regard throughout the school year.
e) Parents/guardians must sign their students' School Journal each night. School Journals are checked every morning by Class Tutors.
f) Failure to present the School Journal signed by a parent/guardian each morning is a breach of this Code of Behaviour on the part of the student concerned.
g) Failure to present the School Journal to any staff member when requested to do so is a serious breach of this Code of Behaviour.
h) Under no circumstances should a student remove a page or deface the School Journal. Loss/accidental damage should be reported to the appropriate Class Tutor immediately. Failure to do so is a breach of this Code of Behaviour.
3. Attendance and Punctuality
i. Attendance
(a) The School Timetable is as follows:
09.00-09.05am Assembly with Tutors
09.05-09.50am 1st. Class
09.50-10.25am 2nd. Class
10.25-11.00am 3rd. Class
11.00-11.15am Morning Break
11.15-11.50am 4th. Class
11.50-12.30pm 5th. Class
12.30-01.05pm 6th. Class
01.05-01.40pm Lunch Break
01.40-02.20pm 7th. Class
02.20-02.55pm 8th. Class
02.55-03.35pm 9th. Class
(b) Students are required to be in attendance at the School on every school day. Regular attendance is absolutely essential to academic achievement.
(c) Absenteeism is noted each morning by Class Tutors and recorded in Department of Education Roll Books maintained by the Deputy Principal.
(d) Students returning from an absence must present a written explanation for same in their School Journal signed by a parent/guardian.
(e) Students returning from an absence without a written explanation as described above will be sent to their Year Head and a parent/guardian will be contacted.
(f) The School reserves the right not to permit students returning from absence to attend class until a written explanation is furnished as described above.
(g) Unexplained absence from the School is a serious breach of this Code of Discipline.
ii. Punctuality
(a) Students must be punctual. Late arrival is a breach of this Code of Behaviour.
(b) Students arriving late must sign the Record Book kept for this purpose and have their School Journal stamped in the School Office.
(c) Students arriving late will not be admitted to class unless their School Journal is stamped as described above.
(d) If a student arrives at a class after the time at which that class is scheduled to start, the student will be regarded as late, irrespective of what time the student arrived on the school grounds.
iii. General - Attendance & Punctuality
(a) The School generally opens at 8.15am.
Class finishes at 3.35pm.
The Office staff finish at 5.00pm
The school closes at the end of Evening Study at approx 7.20pm.
(b) The School does not accept liability for students arriving at the School Grounds before the School opens or remaining on the School Grounds after the School closes unless such students are participating in an official school activity.
4. The School grounds
(a) Loitering on the School grounds is a breach of this Code of Behaviour
(b) Students are not permitted on the School Grounds except when attending school or an activity organised by the School. Students otherwise on the School Grounds are trespassers within the meaning of the Occupiers Liability Act 1995 and are in breach of this Code of Behaviour.
(c) Students may not leave the School Grounds during school hours except in accordance with the following procedure :
i. A parent/guardian must sign a written note giving permission for the student to leave and stating the reason for the Student so doing in the Student's School Journal.
AND
ii. A parent/guardian must telephone the School Office and state the period for which the Student is permitted to leave the School and the reason for same.
AND
iii. The Student must sign the Record Book kept for this purpose at the School Office and indicate the time at which the Student leaves the School and his/her destination.
(d) Students returning to the School in accordance with the above procedure must sign the Record Book kept for this purpose at the School Office on their return to the School.
(e) Failure to comply with the above procedure as regards leaving and re-entering the School is a serious breach of this Code of Behaviour.
(f) The School does not accept liability for students who are permitted to leave the School Grounds in accordance with this procedure for the period during which the Student is absent from school, i.e. the period between the time at which the Student signs the appropriate Record Book on leaving the School Grounds and the time at which the Student signs the appropriate Record Book on arriving back to the School.
(g) A clean, litter free environment is attainable with the co-operation of all members of the school community. Our aim should be to attain Green Flag school status.
5. School uniform and dress code
i. Uniform
(a) Students must wear the complete School Uniform at all times during school hours and official school functions and during the holding of in-house examinations and State examinations.
(b) Parents will be notified in advance of 'non-uniform' days or occasions on which students are not required to wear the School Uniform.
(c) The School Uniform is as follows :
Boys :
- Blue shirt
- Blue school jumper with crest
- Grey school trousers and not tracksuits or 'jeans'
- Black coloured shoes and not athletic shoes, 'trainers' or 'runners'
- White T-shirt
Girls :
- Blue blouse
- Blue school jumper with crest
- School skirt or navy school trousers and not tracksuits or 'jeans'
- Black tights/socks
- Black coloured shoes and not athletic shoes, 'trainers' or 'runners'
- White T-shirt (optional)
PE Classes (Boys & Girls)
- appropriate athletic clothing
- athletic shoes, 'trainers' or 'runners' that must be securely fastened.
- all jewellery must be removed from before the start of PE class. Failure to wear the appropriate PE gear is a breach of the Code of Conduct and may incur a sanction.
ii. Appearance
(a) Students must be neat and tidy in appearance. This also applies if students are given permission not to wear school uniform (e.g. non-uniform days, school tours or other extra-curricular activities connected with the school).
(b) The following specific provisions apply to students' appearance :
Boys :
- Hair must be neat and tidy.
- Students must be clean shaven.
- Visible tattoos are not permitted
Girls :
- Hair must be neat and tidy.
- Excessive make-up is not permitted
- Visible piercings except stud earrings are not permitted
- Visible tattoos are not permitted
iii. General - School Uniform & Appearance
(a) Failure to comply with the above rules concerning the School Uniform and students' appearance is in breach of this Code of Behaviour.
(b) The School reserves the right to decide whether any aspect of a student's appearance is in compliance with this Code of Behaviour.
(c) Students' who do not comply with the above rules concerning students' appearance may be suspended until the rules are observed to the School's satisfaction.
6. Property
i. General
(a) Each student is responsible for his or her own property. The students' property should be clearly marked with name and contact details.
(b) Interference of any kind with another person's property including property belonging to the School is a serious breach of this Code of Behaviour. Interference includes but is not limited to theft.
(c) Students should not bring valuable or irreplaceable items or large sums of money to school except where absolutely necessary. Such items or money may be left in the School Office for safekeeping. However the School does not accept liability for property or money lost, stolen or damaged while on the School Grounds.
(d) Accidental damage to property through carelessness should be reported by the students responsible immediately to a member of staff. Parents/guardians of students concerned may be required by the School to pay for the repair or replacement of damaged property as appropriate.
(e) Deliberate damage to property or vandalism is a serious breach of this Code of Behaviour, whether occurring on school grounds and during school hours or not. Parents/guardians of students responsible will be required to pay for the repair or replacement of property damaged deliberately or vandalised as appropriate in addition to other sanctions which may be imposed on students in accordance with this Code of Behaviour.
(f) Stealing is a serious breach of this Code of Behaviour, whether the incident of theft occurs on school grounds and during school hours or not. Parents/guardians of students responsible will be required to pay for the replacement of stolen property in addition to other sanctions which may be imposed on students in accordance with this Code of Behaviour.
(g) Incidents of vandalism and theft may be reported to the Garda Síochána.
(h) Chewing gum is not allowed in the School and will be confiscated if brought to school, in addition to any other sanctions which may be imposed on students concerned in accordance with this Code of Behaviour.
(i) Mobile phones, MP3's, iPods and other electronic music devices must be switched off at all times in the school. If a student is seen with a phone he/she is presumed to be using it and will have it confiscated immediately. The device may be reclaimed from the main office after a period of 30 days.
ii. Lockers
(a) The School provides locker facilities for a limited number of students subject to payment of an annual rent. Lockers remain the property of the School. Where demand for lockers exceeds facilities available priority is given to First, Second and Third Years in that order.
(b) Students will have access to their lockers during the following times :
- Before the first class in the morning
- During morning break
- During lunch break
- After the final class in the afternoon
(c) Students should report damaged lockers immediately. Failure to do so will result in the student concerned being held responsible for the damage.
(d) Students to whom a locker has been assigned will supply their own lock and key. Duplicating a locker key, whether by the person to whom the locker is assigned or any other person, is a serious breach of this Code of Behaviour.
(e) Students are responsible for all items left in their locker whether such items belong to the student or not. Students should report lost locker keys immediately. Failure to do so is a breach of this Code of Behaviour.
(f) In the interests of maintaining safety and discipline in the School, students may be required to open and empty their locker in accordance with the following procedure :
i. The student will be requested to open and empty the locker in the presence of the Principal/Deputy Principal, another adult nominated by the Principal/Deputy Principal and, if the student requests, another member of school staff or a student nominated by the student whose locker is to be opened and emptied.
ii. If the student agrees the locker will be opened by the Student and its contents examined in the presence of the student and the other persons described above.
iii. If the student refuses to permit the locker to be opened parents/guardians of the student concerned will be contacted and asked to come to the School. Pending arrival of a parent/guardian the student's locker key will be confiscated.
iv. On arriving at the School parent(s)/guardians will be requested to consent to the student's locker being opened and emptied in the presence of the Principal/Deputy Principal, another adult nominated by the Principal/Deputy Principal, the parents/guardians and the student.
v. If parents/guardians consent to the procedure described above the locker will be opened and its contents examined in the presence of the parents/guardians and the student concerned.
vi. If parents/guardians refuse to permit the locker to be opened or are unable to attend the School as described above the School may contact the Garda Síochána. The student's locker key will remain confiscated pending a search of the locker by members of the Garda Síochána.
vii. Failure to comply with a request to open a locker and empty its contents in accordance with the procedure described above is a serious breach of this Code of Behaviour by the student concerned.
viii. Where it is not practical to operate this procedure (i.e. where the student concerned is absent from school) the Principal/Deputy Principal accompanied by another member of school staff may open a locker and examine its contents. Prior to doing so the Principal/Deputy Principal will make reasonable efforts to contact the student concerned and his/her parents/guardians in order to enable them to attend the School should they so wish, in which case the normal procedure described above will apply.
iii. Stolen property & dangerous items/substances
(a) A dangerous item/substance is any item/substance which could cause damage to a person or to property; possession of which item/substance is not necessary for a school sanctioned activity.
(b) Where the School has reasonable grounds for believing that a student has in his/her possession stolen property or a dangerous item/substance the procedure described above in relation to lockers will be applied as regards the student's person and property, i.e. the student will first be requested to voluntarily disclose contents of pockets/schoolbags in the presence of witnesses, failing which parents/guardians will be contacted etc.
(c) Under no circumstances will school staff attempt to effect a search of a student's person.
(d) Where an incident to which this provision applies occurs outside the Republic of Ireland i.e. on a school tour the School may contact appropriate police authorities in place of the Garda Síochána.
(e) Possession of a dangerous item/substance is a serious breach of this Code of Behaviour, whether the item/substance is brought onto the School Grounds or not.
7. Bullying
(a) Bullying in any form is a serious breach of this Code of Behaviour.
(b) Where an incident of bullying comes to the School's attention the following measures will be taken :
i. The incident will be reported to the Class Tutor and Year Head of the students concerned. If the Class Tutors and Year Heads considers that bullying may have taken place the Principal/Deputy Principal will be informed.
ii. The parents/guardians of students concerned will be informed of the School's concerns.
iii. Parents/guardians will be requested to attend at the School and meet with the Class Tutor and Year Head of the students concerned and the Principal/Deputy Principal.
iv. If it is established that bullying has taken place, counselling will be provided as appropriate to all students concerned, i.e. victims and bullies.
v. If it is established that bullying has taken place disciplinary action may be taken in accordance with this Code of Behaviour.
(c) The School has a comprehensive Anti-Bullying Policy in place. It is the responsibility of all students and their parents/guardians to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the School's Anti-Bullying Policy.
(d) The School's Anti-Bullying Policy applies to any incident of bullying which the School becomes aware of, whether it occurs on school property and/or during a school activity or not.
7. Substance use
(a) Smoking is forbidden on the School Grounds. Smoking on the School Grounds at any time is a serious breach of this Code of Behaviour. If any student is seen smoking on school grounds his/her parents/guardians will be informed of this by letter.
(b) The School has a zero-tolerance approach to incidents of substance abuse. Possession, use or distribution of harmful or illegal substances including alcohol and tobacco will not be tolerated at any time and under any circumstances and may lead to suspension or expulsion. This applies whether students are on school property and/or engaged in a school activity or not.
(c) The School has a comprehensive Substance Use Policy in place. It is the responsibility of all students and their parents/guardians to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the Substance Use Policy.
A. DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE
(a) Where the Code of Behaviour has been breached some or all of the following strategies may be used, as the School considers appropriate :
- Reasoning with the student(s) concerned
- Reprimand
- Notification to parents/guardians
- Removal from class to the study area
- Loss of privileges e.g Retention on school grounds at lunchtime.
- Penalty Points may be imposed.
- Extra work
- Detention
- Evening Detention
(b) Teachers or Year Heads may also refer students to members of the Pastoral Care Team for help and advice.
(c) Written records and/or incident report forms as appropriate will be kept in relation to breaches of the Code and measures taken in response to same.
(d) Where a student's behaviour warrants suspension or expulsion the following procedures will apply :
i. Teacher(s) will notify parents/guardians of their concerns and request that parents/guardians advise the student appropriately.
ii. Parents/guardians will be requested to come to the school to meet with the Discipline Committee comprised of the appropriate Year Head, the Principal and the Deputy Principal. Parents will be given as much notification in advance of this meeting as is reasonably possible. Teaching staff who have had dealings with the student concerned may also be requested to attend this meeting.
iii. The sanctions described above at (a) may be implemented at any stage in this process.
iv. The Principal may suspend a pupil for up to three school days. Parents/guardians have the right to appeal the Principal's decision to the Board of Management. Where such an appeal is taken the suspension will not take effect until after the meeting of the Board of Management at which the appeal is heard.
v. Where a student's conduct justifies a longer period of suspension/expulsion than the Principal may impose parents/guardians will be requested to attend with the student at a meeting of the Board of Management to discuss the student's ongoing participation in the school. Parents/guardians will be given as much notification in advance of this meeting as is reasonably practicable. Teaching staff who have had dealings with the student concerned may also be requested to attend this meeting. If the Board of Management suspends or expels a student parents/guardians and, in the case of a student who is over the age of 18, the student, may appeal this decision to the Department of Education & Science pursuant to s. 29 of the Education Act 1998.
vi. The Principal may also suspend a student immediately in the following circumstances :
- where he or she considers that the student's behaviour is a threat to the safety, welfare and/or property of other members of the school community
- Where the student is guilty of serious misbehaviour as defined below at (e)
- where he or she considers that suspension of the student is necessary to maintain discipline within the school
vii. If a student is suspended in these circumstances parents/guardians will be asked to attend at a meeting of the Board of Management as above at (i). This meeting will be held as soon as is reasonably possible after the suspension is imposed.
(e) Where a student is suspended parents/guardians will be notified in writing of the reason for the suspension. The period of suspension, means that the student will be regarded as in the care of his or her parents/guardians from the end of the school day on which the suspension is imposed.
(f) A notice of suspension will set out the conditions which must be fulfilled before the suspended student is permitted to return to the School. Conditions which may be imposed include one or more of the following :
- written undertakings by the Student to be of good behaviour
- return to School subject to loss of specified privileges
- a successful appeal to the Board of Management (if the suspension is imposed by the Principal) or to the Department of Education & Science (if the suspension is imposed by the Board of Management)
- the elapse of the time for which the suspension is stated to apply
- The above are merely examples of conditions which may be attached to suspensions and are without prejudice to the School's right to impose different conditions as appropriate
(g) Where the Board of Management decides to expel a student parents/guardians will be notified in writing of the expulsion, the reason for same and the fact that the student will be regarded as in the care of the parents from the end of the school day on which the expulsion is imposed.
(h) While suspension or expulsion are generally used only when all other options have been tried, a student may be suspended or expelled for a single serious breach of discipline or for consistent breaches of discipline of a less serious nature.
(e) The following constitute serious misbehaviour:
i. behaviour which disrupts the learning of other students,
ii. acts of violence towards any person, whether occurring on school property and/or during a school activity or not,
iii. behaviour which is threatening towards any person, whether occurring on school property and/or during a school activity or not,
iv. interference with another person's property including property belonging to the School,
v. interference with emergency equipment, i.e. fire alarms, fire extinguishers etc.,
vi. breaches of the School's zero-tolerance policy regarding substance abuse, whether occurring on school property and/or during a school activity or not,
vii. bullying,
viii. bringing a dangerous item/substance onto the School Grounds,
ix. behaviour described as a serious breach of this Code of Behaviour elsewhere in the Code.
(i) The definition of serious breach of discipline includes but is not limited to the examples given above.
(f) It is not possible to cover every eventuality in a Code of Behaviour. The important thing is that the spirit of the law is upheld. Ultimately each individual case must be taken on its own merits and judged accordingly.
(g) Where a student has a grievance against a member of school staff the student or his/her parents/guardians may complain directly to the Principal/Deputy Principal.
(h) Appeals to the Board of Management must be made in writing.
B. COMMUNICATION
a) Parents/guardians are encouraged to communicate with the School.
b) Parents/guardians who wish to meet with staff members outside of formal parent/guardian & teacher meetings should telephone the School Office in order to make an appointment.
c) Parents/guardians should not generally visit the School and expect to meet with staff members without prior appointment.
THE SCHOOL WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP AND CO-OPERATION IN ENSURING THAT THE ABOVE RULES ARE RESPECTED AND UPHELD.
I/We have read and are familiar with the provisions of this Code of Behaviour. I/We understand that my/our child's participation in the School is subject to him/her complying with the Code of Behaviour and I/We will support the School in implementing same.
Parents/guardians signature :
Name of Student and date enrolled in the School
I have read and am familiar with the provisions of this Code of Behaviour. I understand that my participation in the School is subject to me complying with the Code of Behaviour and I will obey its rules.
Student's signature
Points system/sanctions
In general where incidents and/or breaches of discipline happen a teacher should always assess the gravity of the incident, talk to the offending student and apply common sense to the situation. Once again if the incident is of such nature as merits a points sanction then it must be recorded in the students Journal and by the teacher/Year head for his/her record.
A Penalty Points system is to be introduced with students receiving a clearly defined sanction once a specific number of points are reached.
Broadly speaking the Points System will work as follows:
On reaching 10 points - Penalty - Lunchtime Detention
On reaching 20 points - Penalty - Evening Detention - Parents
Contacted by phone or letter.
On reaching 25 points - Penalty - Report for 2 weeks - Letter to
Parents - Discipline Committee
On reaching 30 points - Penalty - Suspension for 3 days - Parents
brought in and informed
Once a student returns to school from either their 1st or 2nd suspension then that student will automatically carry a 10 point penalty.
In the event of a student being suspended for a third time in a school year the merits of their case will be considered and dealt with by the Board of Management.
At the end of a school year a students record will not be carried forward into the next academic year.
We are suggesting the following points for these offences:
Chewing gum is a zero points sanction but it still carries an automatic one day suspension.
1 Point
¢ Late for school (without note from Parent(s)/Guardian(s))
¢ Uniform (without note from Parent(s)/Guardian(s))
¢ No Journal
¢ Rudeness
¢ Use of Bad Language
¢ Late for class
¢ Eating/Drinking in class
¢ No Homework
¢ No Books
5 Points
¢ Disruption
¢ Writing on Desks/Walls
¢ Disobedience
¢ Chewing Gum
10 Points
¢ Disrespect to Teachers
¢ Scheming or being absent without permission from class
¢ Stink Bombs
¢ All deliberate breaches of Health and Safety regulations
¢ Forging Journals
20 Points
¢ Theft
¢ Bad Language to Teachers
¢ Vandalism (plus a fine)
¢ Fire Alarm (plus €150.00 fine)
¢ Bullying/fighting
¢ Deliberate taking or damage to fellow students work pieces
¢ Interfering with CCTV
20 Points plus alerting Gardaí
¢ Substance Abuse
¢ Drinking
This list is not exhaustive and changes may be made as deemed appropriate.