Student Behaviour Management Policy

1 - Purpose

This policy sets the framework through which Loreto Kirribilli (the School) generally manages student behaviour. The Student Behaviour Management Policy is based on the principles of procedural fairness and does not permit corporal punishment of students.

2 - Student Management

Every student has the right to a learning environment free from bullying and intimidation and feel safe and happy at school. They also have the right to be treated fairly and with dignity.

Behaviour Management is necessary to ensure the safety and welfare of all our students, teachers, and staff and to provide a conducive learning environment.

3 - Strategies to Promote Positive Behaviour

The School seeks to develop a culture of positive behaviour by setting clear expectations for students and encouraging positive behaviour.

Strategies for developing this culture include:

• clearly setting and communicating behaviour expectations for students
• establishing specific pastoral and teaching and learning programs
• communicating expectations with the wider School community
• acknowledging positive behaviours in a range of ways from informal verbal acknowledgement to structured awards
• maintaining records with respect to student behaviour
• tracking and reviewing student behaviour both at an individual and cohort level

4 - Prohibition of Corporal Punishment

It is our policy that:

• we prohibit corporal punishment
• we do not condone the administering of corporal punishment by any student’s parents, including to enforce discipline at the School.

5 - School Rules and Expected Standards of Behaviour

Students are required to abide by School rules and expectations of behaviour which include treating others, (students, staff, and members of the School community) with respect and following the directions of teachers, staff, and others with authority delegated by the School. All students are personally responsible for their learning and behaviour.

Each student at the School is expected to behave in a way that:

• is considerate to other people;
• is not harmful, threatening or dangerous to herself or to others;
• brings credit to herself, her family and to the School; and
• is respectful of others, the values of the School, and the property of the School.

All students are expected to follow School rules and expected standards of behaviour and understand that consequences will be put in place when students do not follow these rules and expectations.

Rules, expectations and consequences are outline in the following documents which are located on the School’s Learning Management System, Kirri, under ‘Policies and Procedures for Students’.

• Student Personal Responsibility Guidelines (Senior School Students)
• Student Personal Responsibility Guidelines (Junior School Students)

6 - Student Responsibilities and Expectations

Student Responsibilities

• To treat others with respect and dignity
• To refrain from harmful behaviours
• To respect another’s right to hold and express an opinion
• To contribute to a positive learning environment
• To do one’s best in all aspects of learning
• To participate actively in school life
• To maintain a clean, safe environment

Inappropriate behaviours include, but are not limited to:

• Class disruption
• Vandalism
• Not completing homework
• Not observing the Uniform Guidelines
• Offensive language
• Arriving late to class
• Rough behaviour in corridors or the playground
• Lack of co-operation and not following instructions
• Lack of courtesy and respect
• Throwing water, food or other objects
• Dishonesty
• Breaches of safety rules
• Bullying, fighting, intimidation
• Truancy from class and school
• Misbehaviour that damages the reputation of the School
• Rudeness to staff and others
• Not following the direction of staff
• Being in possession of, consuming or providing, vapes, alcohol or drugs
• Endangering or threatening the wellbeing or safety of other students or staff
• Not observing the School rules as set out in the document ‘Student School Rules and Consequence Procedures’

7 - Quality Relationships

In order for quality relationships to exist in the School community students have a responsibility to respect the rights of others. Students have the right to work and learn in a safe, secure and clean environment, free from harassment and prejudice, and to be accepted as individuals. These rights inform our responsibilities. It is an expectation that the resulting behaviours demonstrate respect for the sacred, the School, self and family, others and the environment. These behaviours are based on the underlying values of justice, sincerity and freedom.

Respect for the Sacred

Central to the educational vision of Loreto schools is the care and development of faith. As a member of a Catholic community, each student has a responsibility to respect the beliefs, values and traditions of the Catholic Church.

Students must:

• Value the sacred spaces of the Loreto community, including the Chapel and liturgical spaces.
• Be respectful of prayer and times of silence within the school.
• Recognise and appreciate the iconography of the Catholic Tradition within the school.

Respect for the School

As a member of the Loreto community, each student has a responsibility to safeguard the ideals of the School and its good reputation.

Students must:

• Respect the values of Freedom, Justice, Sincerity, Verity, and Felicity.
• Be friendly and helpful to visitors.
• Ensure public behaviour reflects well on the school.
• Participate generously in the life of the school.
• Take seriously any leadership role which may be given within the school community.
• Keep the School drug, alcohol and vape free (with the exception of prescribed medications).
• Not graffiti and/or damage School property, including school facilities and equipment.

Respect for Self

Each student has a responsibility to behave in a way that affirms her dignity as a human being. She must strive to accept responsibility for herself as a person of worth before God and others.

Students must:

• Be honest, fair and respectful in their actions.
• Respond truthfully in all circumstances.
• Work to the best of their ability, meeting deadlines for study and other commitments.
• Take care in their use of language.
• Make a positive contribution in all classes.
• Be punctual to all classes and have appropriate equipment for specific tasks and lessons.
• Be responsible for personal belongings, ensuring bag is kept in their locker and all valuables are labelled and kept securely.
• Ensure their locker is appropriately maintained and secured at all times.
• Adopt a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
• Wear their uniform appropriately in a willing manner.
• Abide by school safety procedures.

Respect for Others

While students are individuals, they are also members of a community. In order for each student to have the opportunity she deserves; mutual respect and consideration of others are necessary.

Students must:

• Be accepting of other people.
• Acknowledge the dignity of others by acting honestly and with due care and consideration.
• Contribute to a positive learning environment by not denying the rights of others to learn.
• Use pleasant and polite language (verbal and non-verbal) to communicate with teachers and other students.
• Recognise and celebrate the success and achievements of others.
• Take care to safeguard the reputation of others.
• Respond positively to the directions of teachers, staff, and student leaders.
• Move aside to allow others to pass freely in corridors, doorways, on stairways and footpaths when at School and when travelling to and from School.
• Be conscious of how noise may have an adverse effect on others and conduct conversations quietly when between classes and in public.
• Care for the property of others.

Respect for the Environment

The environment in which we live and work is precious.

Students must:

• Appreciate the beauty of the School site and care for it as a natural resource.
• Take responsibility for their own rubbish and actively ensure that their rubbish is appropriately disposed of in the correct bin.
• Conserve resources such as paper, water and electricity.
• Take personal responsibility for the tidiness and cleanliness of the school, including the playground, classrooms, corridors and locker areas.

8 - Consequences

Where a student breaches the School's expectations, disregards School rules, disobeys instructions or otherwise engages in conduct which causes or may cause harm, inconvenience or embarrassment to the School, staff members or other students, or damage to their own reputation or the reputation of the School, staff members or other students, the student may be subject to disciplinary consequences.

The consequences imposed on students who have engaged in inappropriate behaviours will vary according to the seriousness of the behaviour, the prior record of the student, her level of remorse and the restorative action taken to make amends and repair the damaged relationships.

There are a range of consequences that students will face if they breach School rules or are disobedient. These include:

• warnings or reprimands (verbal or written)
• time outs
• cancellation of privileges
• withdrawal from School activities
• lunch time detentions
• after school detentions
• suspension
• expulsion
• exclusion.

Consequences are outlined in the following documents:

• Student School Rules and Consequence Procedures (Senior School Students)
• Student School Rules and Consequence Procedures (Junior School Students)

This is not an exhaustive list, and other consequences may be appropriate depending on the circumstances of the case.

The School will make decisions around such consequences in its absolute discretion.

9 - Individual Behaviour Management Plans

Where the level of misbehaviour breaches the Student School Rules and Consequences Procedure (Senior School Students) and Student School Rules and Consequence Procedure (Junior School Students), individual behaviour management plans may be made.

Plans will generally be developed in collaboration with School staff, students and parents, and will consider the student’s:

• age
• developmental needs
• behavioural context

The desired behaviour of the student will be clearly described. The plan will generally outline changes required to the learning environment to support the student to modify their behaviour.

The School will refer the student to other support available and review, assess, change and modify the plan as needed.

10 - Suspension, Expulsion and Exclusion

Any decision regarding suspension or expulsion will be made by the Principal or her delegate.

Suspension is a temporary removal of a student from all of the classes that a student would normally attend at a school for a set period of time.

Expulsion is the permanent removal of a student from one particular school.

The School may also use a period of Principal's leave to allow the School a proper opportunity to investigate and consider a situation and manage any risks arising.

The disciplinary procedures adopted and consequences imposed by the School will vary according to the seriousness of the alleged behaviour and the School will determine on a case by case basis the appropriate steps to be taken.

The School's approach will be informed by principles of procedural fairness and restorative practice.

Where the alleged behaviour, if proved, may result in disciplinary suspension or expulsion, the student and parents will generally be informed of the allegations and procedural steps to be followed in dealing with the matter.

In the case of disciplinary suspension or expulsion, where the Principal has formed a preliminary view that the appropriate penalty is disciplinary suspension or expulsion, they will generally provide the student (and parent/s) with an opportunity to respond to their preliminary view and consider any response provided before making a final decision. The Principal's decision is not subject to any further review or appeal.

In the case of expulsion, it is the School’s policy to seek to support the student and parents in transitioning to new school where the student can experience a new start.

11 - Implementation

This policy is implemented through:

• staff training and professional development opportunities in behaviour management
• communicating this policy to the School community
• monitoring the effectiveness of the policy
• reviewing and evaluating the policy.

This Policy is not intended to extend responsibilities of the School beyond the law.

The School reserves the right to change or modify this policy at any time by notice on the School website and in correspondence to parents.

12 - Related Policy Documents

• Student Bullying Prevention and Intervention Policy
• Student Behaviour Management Procedures (Senior School Teachers)
• Student Behaviour Management Procedures (Junior School Teachers)
• Student Personal Responsibility Guidelines (Senior School Students)
• Student Personal Responsibility Guidelines (Junior School Students)

13 - Version History

Version: 2
Date: 15 January 2025