Policies

Muirden Senior College is a co-educational, multi-cultural school committed to fostering academic and personal growth.

This is promoted by:

• modelling respect
• developing sound study habits
• inspiring students to express their intelligence and creativity
• individual learning and achievement

Values

We value the characteristics of:

• integrity
• respect
• honesty and truthfulness

We value an environment which:

• is positive
• focuses on learning
• is safe friendly and caring
• provides quality educational opportunities
• encourages co-operative learning
• encourages risk taking
• celebrates personal success

Vision

Our vision is to develop independent life learning skills and the courage and self-belief to succeed in an ever-changing and fast-paced world. Our school culture continues to empower and equip students to aspire to a positive and bright future for themselves, their families and for the wider community.

Rights and Expectations

• Everyone has the right to feel safe and happy while at the college, travelling to and from the college, or attending a college organised activity.
• Students have the right to learn in a safe, enjoyable environment.
• No student should feel at risk from any kind of physical, emotional, psychological, sexual or any other form of harassment such as bullying,
• Teachers have the right to enjoy their teaching, and to be given every opportunity to teach in a calm, safe, pleasant and purposeful learning environment. No teacher or other adult should feel at risk from any kind of physical, emotional, psychological, sexual or any other form of harassment.

Definition

Harassment, bullying and violence is deliberate, persistent physical or mental intimidation of a person by another person or group with the intent of causing hurt or discomfort.

Forms of Harassment, Bullying and Violence

Physical
e.g. hitting, punching, pushing or any kind of sexual interference; threatening to harm people or their property; hiding, damaging or destroying the property of others.

Verbal
e.g. name-calling, putting others down, “paying out”, using offensive names, ridiculing someone’s name; making derogatory comments about a person’s culture, background, customs, gender, sexuality or beliefs; spreading rumours about people or their families and friends; mocking or denigrating another person’s abilities and talents (including via e-mail and sms).

Gesture
e.g. looks, shrugs or other gestures which are associated with threats or which are offensive.

Sexual
Sexual harassment in this context, refers to ” deliberate sexual comments and gestures, or any other conduct of a sexual nature which is perceived to be embarrassing, demeaning or compromising”

Cyber Bullying
This is harassment and bullying which uses e-technology to harass or victimise others. It can take the form of text messaging, using social networking sites (such as Facebook, Internet chat-rooms, email and web-sites with the intention of harming another person.

How can harassment, bullying and violence be prevented?

Muirden Senior College policies are proactive and orientated towards prevention and intervention. Managing incidents of abuse/victimisation includes:

• Being friendly and respectful to everyone
• Creating opportunities for students to share concerns
• Developing procedures encouraging early identification of incidents
• Refusing to join in if your friends encourage you to harass others
• Helping your friends to stop harassing others if they are doing so
• Encouraging students to seek immediate help when bullying is witnessed or experienced
  Reporting incidents of harassment
• Explicitly encouraging all members of the college community to take a proactive stand against bullying and violence
• Listening and helping when victims of harassment confide in you

If you are being harassed, bullied or victimised

You can:

• Ask the person to stop harassing you and explain why you don’t like what they are doing
• Tell someone you can trust
• Tell a teacher or the principal

Harassment, Bullying and Violence Procedure

Muirden Senior College will actively intervene following all incidents of harassment, bullying and violence. The following steps may be taken:

• Every complaint will be taken seriously and will be investigated by the principal
• The person accused of harassing will be interviewed. At the interview the offending behaviour will be described and an explanation given of how this behaviour is harassing the other student
• An agreement to discontinue this behaviour will be sought
• Any retaliation towards the person who made the formal complaint will cause progression to the next step
• Counselling with students involved
• Suspension from college
• Expulsion from college

Muirden Senior College uses and applies the SACE Board of South Australia policies on assessment, and to promote valid, reliable assessment of syllabus objectives.

There Are Two Types Of Assessment

Summative Assessment

Summative assessment is used to provide information to the SACE board.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment gives feedback on a student’s progress in a subject. It is built into the learning process and does not constitute marks submitted for SACE or to the SACE board.

Subject Assessment Plans

Each subject has an assessment plan, outlining the nature, date and weighting of each summative assessment item. Students should ensure they have a copy of each plan for their reference.

Deadlines

The deadlines set by teachers for summative assessment items must be adhered to by the students.

Teachers will give at least 7 days notice of deadlines.

Non-attendance at summative tasks without medical certificate/prior negotiation will result in ‘0’ (zero) score awarded.

Procedures In Cases Of Illness

If the student is ill, or there exists some other extenuating circumstances, a phone call by the student or close relative should be made to the school as soon as possible.

Medical certificates are to be given to the Principal on arrival back at school. Extended illness does not mean failure. A number of mechanisms exist to cope with this. Early consultation with the Principal is essential so the most appropriate solution can be decided.

The social and emotional wellbeing of young people in schools has been linked to the academic outcomes of their schooling. Muirden Senior College will provide students with a supportive and nurturing environment as a foundation for intellectual physical, moral and spiritual and aesthetic development.

Classroom management will be effective, sensitive and appropriate for the education programme. Muirden Senior College has embraced and promotes ‘values based education’ and education for responsibility so we have a policy and a framework for appropriate behaviours in the classroom, school and in the community.

Muirden Senior College will foster values of tolerance, respect for one another, courage and compassion.

Student Responsibilities and Requirements

Students are required to:

• Attend all scheduled lessons
  • Be punctual
  • Be prepared for lessons
  • Hand up work by the due date
  • Co-operate with staff and students
• Show respect for:
  • Staff and students
  • Personal and school property
  • Local community and businesses
  • Behave responsibly when unsupervised
• Notify the school of absences by either:
  • Prior communication
  • Phone
  • Email
• Explain absences:
  • To the principal on return
  • Or show a medical certificate to the front office on return
• Legal and Safety Requirements:
  • Fire exits are to be used only in an emergency
  • Visitors are to report to the front office
  • Staff need to be notified when students leave the classroom
  • Students receiving Centerlink payments are reported for unexplained absences of five days or more
• Muirden Senior College campus is a:
  • smoke free zone
  • alcohol free zone
  • drug free zone
  • Eating and drinking are not permitted in the laboratory
• Response and Resolution

In the event of a breach of the Behaviour Management Policy (Student Code of Conduct) the following may occur (some steps may be dispensed with depending on the severity of the breach)

• The student will be contacted to discuss the breach and to remedy the situation
• The parents/caregiver will be contacted to discuss the breach and to remedy the situation
• The student may be suspended from the college
• The student’s enrolment may be terminated

All children have a right to be safe and protected from harm.

This college’s objective is to provide a safe and caring environment at the college and at places where college activities are undertaken to assist students to develop and reach their full potential.

Muirden Senior College will comply with legislative requirements on student protection, including the Children’s Protection Act 1993 which governs children under the age of 18. This includes requiring teachers, the principal and other mandatory notifiers to promptly report to Families SA via the Child Abuse Report Line (131478) any suspicion on reasonable grounds that a student has been or is being abused or neglected.

Definition

Inappropriate behaviour includes, but is not limited to:

• Sexual abuse
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Neglect
• Any behaviours that threaten a person’s wellbeing

Prevention and Preparedness

In support of the college’s commitment to child protection we have developed a range of support and monitoring strategies both immediate and long term.

All staff in accordance with the Child Protection Act are trained and aware of their obligation by law to notify the Families SA via the Child Abuse Report Line (131478) if they suspect on reasonable grounds that a child has been or is being abused or neglected.

Action

In the case of suspected abuse it is the personal responsibility of a mandated notifier to report suspected abuse – it is not the responsibility of their supervisor, principal or employer.

Grounds for notifying suspected abuse or neglect may include the following:

• When a child/young person tells you he/she has been abused
• When someone else tells you (perhaps a relative, friend, neighbour or sibling of the child/young person);
• A child/young person tells you he/she knows someone who has been abused (a child/young person could possibly be referring to himself/herself)
• And importantly, when your own observation of a particular child/young person’s behaviour and/or injuries, or your knowledge of children/young people generally leads you to suspect that abuse is occurring.

Actions to be made by notifier:

• Advise that the college is legally obliged to act on certain information even if the person disclosing the information that makes an allegation says they don’t want it to go any further.
• Notify Families SA via the Child Abuse Report Line (131478) of the reported abuse at the earliest possible moment
• Carefully document the conversations as soon as possible
• Advise principal (as appropriate) of the disclosure or observation, however it is not a requirement to inform the principal as to whether a mandatory notification has been made
• Should otherwise keep the matter confidential.

Muirden Senior College promotes an environment of friendliness, genuine concern for students, staff and community safety. We aim to ensure the safety of staff, students, visitors and the wider community in the event of an emergency/critical incident occurring.

Definition

An Emergency/Critical Incident is an unforseen occurrence which requires sudden and urgent action. This may include, but not limited to, events such as:

• Threatened/actual assault, injury or fatality
• Vehicle accident
• Siege/hostage/disappearance or removal of a student
• Firearm/bomb threat
• Damage to buildings or equipment
• Fire in college building/bushfire
• Fume/spill/leak/contamination by hazardous material/s
• Earthquake/building collapse/storm damage

Prevention and Preparedness

• Establish and communicate procedures
• Have designated OHS&W rep
• Have access to panic button system
• Know who is in building – all non-college members are to report to the front office
• Remain vigilant and inform police in regards to threats to worksite or specific staff/students
• Maintain close liaison with local Emergency services and community
• Alert staff to potential medical or emergency situations

Action and Responses During Critical Incidents

Assess danger identify immediate risks and threats to life – aggressor, medical, environmental hazards, fire

Raise the alarm – inform critical incident management team:

• A teacher/principal
• First aid officer
• H & S representative
• DO NOT CONFRONT AGGRESSOR OR IMMEDIATE RISK refer to Principal or nominated delegate to refer to Critical Incident Management Plan
• Restrict danger area (if possible) – remove yourself and others from immediate danger

The critical incident management team will convene. When safe to do so, evacuate and remain in designated area, account for and supervise students.

All follow instructions given by principal, and or, the critical incident management team.

Response After Critical Incidents

• Inform incident to relevant family/carers or organisations.
• Counselling and/or debriefing for all persons affected.
• Make people aware or services and support available.
• Continued monitoring of all persons affected by critical incident.

A student who drives a motor vehicle unsupervised, must, at minimum, be the holder of a P1 Drivers Licence.

A student must not

Drive a vehicle or attempt to put a vehicle in motion while so much under the influence of intoxicating liquor, as specified in the Road Traffic Act 1961 , or prohibited drugs, as to be incapable of exercising effective control of the vehicle.

If the student is under 18 years of age, approval from the parent/caregive must be obtained if the student wishes to travel as a passenger in another student’s motor vehicle or motorcycle, to and from the school.

The school does not provide parking facilities on the premises.

Both short and long term parking facilities are available in locations adjacent to the school.

Definition

Muirden Senior College allows students access to its computer network and online facilities such as Internet and email. Muirden Senior College also allow students use of electronic devices such as digital cameras, mobile phones or walkmans/diskmans/ipods. Students have unrestricted access to the college facilities and other electronic devices on the basis that the use is only for acceptable and ethical purposes.

What students should do

Students using the computer network and other electronic devices will comply with the following acceptable and ethical purposes.

Acceptable Uses

• Computer network and facilities
• Use in connection with subject curriculum
• Carry out school work
• Research projects or assignments
• Send and receive email
• Explore the Internet in connection to school work and along guidelines set out by the subject teacher
• Use the network storage space for curriculum related files and delete files when no longer needed

Other electronic devices

Arrange with subject teacher for mobile phone to be on during lesson time
use walkmans in a manner that does not disturb others or as requested by the subject teacher.

Ethical Uses

Ethical purposes means that students are not allowed to breach standards of common decency, or manners, and must not break any laws. Ethical behaviours may include but are not limited to the following:

• Be polite, courteous and respectful toward anybody else
• Use appropriate language
• Comply with the standards of public decency
• Respect the rights of other computer users
• Observe the copyright that exists on other people’s work on the computer network and Internet
• Obey the law
• Refrain from downloading or uploading any software without approval
• Be respectful of others when using digital cameras and mobile phones such as only take or use anybody’s photo with their permission
• Comply with this Policy

What the college will do

If in the College’s opinion a student has used the computer network and other electronic devices:

• For an unacceptable purpose
• Unethically; or
• Otherwise inappropriately including violation of this Policy
• Any of the following may occur:
  • That student’s privilege of access may be temporarily removed or restricted
  • Any inappropriate files may be deleted without warning
    a meeting with the principal concerning the breach of Policy
  • Students should be aware that breaches of the criminal law using the computer network may be a matter for the police.

Students should also be aware that Muirden Senior College will cooperate with the police, and other authorities, in any investigation relating to the illegal uses of the computer network or other electronic devices.

Network Privacy and Security Issues

Students should be aware that their electronic communication and work created via the college’s network is not private, and that Muirden Senior College may access their work.

This extends to:

• Files in connection with their curriculum
• Incoming and outgoing email communications
• Sites assessed on the Internet

So that Muirden Senior College can comply with its obligations under law, Muirden Senior College reserves the right to screen student’s files and work to ensure that the computer network is being used for acceptable purposes and in accordance with this Policy.

In addition, student’s files may be assessed by Muirden Senior College’s system administrators as part of normal maintenance procedures. “Normal maintenance” includes spot checks to ensure that inappropriate materials, or words subject to another person’s copyright, are not being kept in private folders and inappropriate Internet sites have not been visited.

Safety

Students should not do anything via Muirden Senior College’s computer network which may possibly jeopardise their personal safety either at college or outside college.

In particular, students:

• MUST NOT give out any identifying details such as their home address or telephone number, college name in a public chat or bulletin board.
• Students should only disclose those details to people personally known to them, and those they trust.
• MUST NOT give out personal information such as age, marital status or financial position.
• MUST NOT arrange a meeting in person with another person they have “met” on only communicated with by computer, without prior parental approval. If a meeting is arranged, it should be in a public place in the presence of a parent or responsible adult.
• MUST NOT respond to messages or bulletin board items that are indecent, suggestive, belligerent, discriminatory, threatening, or which make the student feel uncomfortable or unsafe in any way.

In addition, students;

• MUST tell the principal, the system administrator or their parents if an indecent, suggestive, belligerent or threatening message is encountered.
• The principal will then make a copy of that message and refer it to the appropriate authorities, including the police if necessary.
• SHOULD be aware that people they “meet” or communicate with online may pretend to be someone else.
• SHOULD remember that everything they read online may not be accurate.
• SHOULD avoid offers which involve either financial transactions or personal meetings.

Limitations of Liability

Students will be allowed access to the computer network as part of curriculum work. It is not practical that every student will be supervised individually when using the computer network and Muirden Senior College expects students to act responsibly and sensibly when using the computer network.

Muirden Senior College does not accept any liability which may result from any student’s unacceptable or unethical uses of the computer network.

Excursions are a valuable part of the learning experience. Teachers are encouraged to make use of these, especially where these can be undertaken within the city precincts.

Definition

For the purposes of this policy an excursion is defined as any activity undertaken outside of college premises for a specific educational purpose.

Excursions undertaken within ordinary lessons – on foot and in the local area.

• Students do not need parental approval to leave the college.
• A teacher will be present with the students during the formal part of the excursion, but may arrange to meet students at the site. They may also be dismissed from the site.

Excursions undertaken within ordinary lessons – transport other than by foot.

• Excursions requiring travelling a distance from the college for a part or full day trip may require the permission of a parent/guardian, if the student is under 18 years of age.
• A teacher will be present with the students during the formal part of the excursion, but may arrange to meet students at the site. They may also be dismissed from the site.
• Students must have signed permission from their parent/guardian if travelling in another student’s vehicle.

Excursions requiring students to miss other classes.

• Parents/caregivers must be informed and approval may be required if other lessons are missed as a result of the excursion.
• Staff members whose lessons will be affected by the absence of students on an excursion must be informed.

Excursions out of college hours.

If the student is under 18 years of age, parents/caregivers must be informed and approval may be required if an excursion will be undertaken during out of college hours.

Excursions necessitating overnight accommodation

If the student is under 18 years of age, parents/caregivers must be informed and approval will be required if an excursion is held over a period where overnight accommodation is needed.

Medical forms must be completed and returned to the office before a student is given final approval by the Principal to attend the excursion.

Note

• All excursions must be recorded at the front office.
• There is to be a minimum requirement of 2 students for an excursion to take place unless approval has been granted under special circumstances.
• There may be some costs involved to the student.
• Staff are encouraged not to transport students to or from sites unless in special circumstances.

The grievance procedures included here are designed to provide students and parents with an opportunity to raise matters of concern about their interaction with the students and staff in an environment which facilitates due consideration of these concerns.

Muirden Senior College is committed to maintaining an effective, timely, fair and equitable complaints handling policy which is easily accessible.

The following principles apply to our complaints handling:

• All our students, parents and caregivers have the right to raise any complaints or grievances without fear of retribution.
• All complaints will be given due consideration with the primary objective of the complaints process being to find an immediate solution which is agreed by all parties.
• Complaints handling and resolution processes are student focused and are designed to prevent similar complaints from reoccurring.
• The views of both the complainant and the respondent are respected and are free from discrimination and victimisation.
• Written records are kept of all complaints.
• Where appropriate we respect the right of the complainant to seek the assistance of an external organisation to resolve the complaint.
• Neither the Minister for Education nor the Department for Education has any power to directly intervene in any complaints relating to the operations of a non-government school.

Grievances are characterised by conflict and/or a breakdown of communication and respect between two or more persons resulting in unhappiness, friction or stress.

For a grievance with another student

Step 1: Try to reach a resolution with the other party using discussion.

Step 2: If a satisfactory resolution cannot be achieved, report the grievance to a teacher who will:

• Rrecord the grievance if verbal
• Listen to both parties without judgement
• Mediate to reach a mutually satisfactory solution

If the teacher is unable to reach a satisfactory outcome:

Step 3: Report the grievance to the principal who will:

• Listen to both parties without judgement
• Commit to find a resolution

For a grievance with a teacher

Step1: Try to reach a resolution with the teacher concerned using discussion.

Step 2: If a satisfactory resolution cannot be achieved, report the grievance to the principal, not another teacher , who will:

• Record the grievance if verbal
• Arrange a meeting with the student and staff member
• Listen to both parties without judgement
• Mediate to reach a mutually satisfactory solution

For a grievance with the principal

Step 1: Try to reach a resolution with the principal using discussion.

Step 2: If a satisfactory resolution cannot be achieved, report the grievance to a member of the Board of Directors who will:

• Record the grievance if verbal
• Arrange a meeting with the student and principal
• Listen to both parties without judgement
• Mediate to reach a mutually satisfactory solution