Discipline

Student Rules:

The following rules must be outlined to all students

1. You are required to uphold the highest standards of behaviour at all times, both inside and outside the College.

2. Treat all staff and fellow students with respect and courtesy.

3. Carry out the instructions of the Principal and Staff.

4. Wear the complete College uniform. Students must wear black footwear. Runners are not allowed. Jackets and anoraks must not be worn in class or corridors. Cult and shaved hairstyles and cult fashions are strictly prohibited. The wearing of any unconventional jewellery or clothing is strictly prohibited.

5. Be punctual and proceed to your classes in an orderly fashion. Do no loiter in the corridors or in the toilets.

6. Always walk on the left of the corridors and stairs.

7. Have the required texts, materials and equipment for each class. Pupils shall see to it that, all homework, written, oral and practical is completed and neatly presented.

8. College property, the property of staff, fellow students and your own property must be treated with respect; your personal property, including your locker is your responsibility. Students are absolutely forbidden to use, interfere with, or borrow any machinery or equipment in the workshops, except under instruction from the teacher. Malicious damage to school property must be paid for by the student(s) concerned.

9. Report accidental damage immediately to a teacher or to the caretaker.

10. Leave the classroom only with the teacher’s permission.

11. Food should be consumed in designated areas only.

12. Keep our College a litter-free zone.

13. All absences must be explained in writing by parent or guardian, in the student journal. The written consent of a parent / guardian in the college diary and notification of the Deputy Principal is necessary if students wish to leave the college during school hours.

14. Cycling within the College grounds is forbidden.

15. Substance abuse, alcohol use and smoking are strictly prohibited.

16. Congregating in the toilets is strictly forbidden.

17. Do not engage in fighting, bullying or use of offensive language. Any conduct likely to bring the school into disrepute, at any time or place; will be regarded as a matter for the Principal’s attention who may take whatever disciplinary action that is deemed necessary.

18. Students are advised that mobile phones must always be switched off in class and between classes. The sending or receiving of voice calls or text messages at these times will result in disciplinary action including the confiscation of the phone. Mobile phones may be used at break times only. Picture phones are prohibited.

19. The use of computers is a regular feature of student life at Davis College. All students are advised that they must not access inappropriate sites or upload or download material that might be considered offensive to others. Access to all chat sites is strictly forbidden. No student may use a computer without the expressed permission of a teacher.

20. You are required to have the official Davis College Diary in all classes throughout the school year.

Uniform:

All students are required to be well groomed and neatly attired in the College Uniform.

BOYS: Grey slacks, maroon V-neck pullover with College crest, grey shirt and maroon tie.

GIRLS: Grey knee –length skirt/slacks, maroon V-neck pullover with College crest, grey blouse and maroon tie. Black tights or grey socks.

FOOTWEAR: Students must wear black shoes. Coloured runners are not allowed.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION: As designated by the PE teacher, etc.

Co-Curricular Activities:

Ø When outside the school on trips or outings or at matches students are expected to maintain high standards of consideration for others.

Ø They must comply without question with all specific and reasonable requirements laid down by those teachers in charge.

Examination Periods:

The Code of Discipline will continue in operation during the period of State Exams and this is approved and supported by the BOM and Parents Association.

Duties of Year Head

1) To monitor the pastoral and behavioural needs of the students in your year group.

2) To implement good attendance, punctuality and discipline.

3) To liaise with class teachers.

4) To liaise with the Principal and Deputy-Principal.

5) To liaise with parents where necessary.

6) To meet on a regular basis in Discipline Committee.

7) To co-ordinate enrolment procedures in your year group and to assist in the formation of classes.

8) To Advise Principal/Deputy Principal of any curricular changes needed in future planning

Duties of Class Teacher

1) Foster a positive spirit and good work ethic among students.

2) Monitor students’ progress and behaviour.

3) Complete administrative details relating to class.

4) Monitor roll book and attendance record.

5) Conduct a Pastoral Care Class weekly where the student files are checked. Issue rewards or sanctions. Ensure that all communication in relation to students is filed, i.e. notes from parents, letters etc. Check and sign Homework Journal.

6) Liaise with subject teachers.

7) Liaise with Discipline Committee.

8) Liaise with Parents where necessary.

9) Collect registration fee

10)Check and sign End of Term reports.

11)Any other duties which the Principal may request from time to time.

Sanctions and Penalties:

Ø Sanctions may be imposed on any student who offends against the rules of the school. In class misbehavior will be fairly dealt with by the subject teacher as appropriate.

Ø Penalties may include written work, community service, litter duty, detention, probation, suspension, fines.

Fixed Sanctions:

Zero Tolerance: For certain specific misbehaviour the following sanctions have been fixed:

Ø Bullying / Fighting - Suspension.

Ø Chewing Gum/litter and Graffiti - Fine / Probation.

Ø Smoking - Suspension

Probation Cards:

Probation cards may be issued for:

1. Disruptive behaviour in class.
2. Being disrespectful to a teacher / staff member / fellow student.
3. Behaviour likely to cause injury to oneself or to a fellow student or likely to damage College property.
4. Accumulation of notes for contravention of school rules.

2. A period of suspension will be imposed for unsatisfactory completion of Probation 2.
3. To put a student on Probation means that for a specified period (depending on the gravity of the offence) the student concerned shall be under strict observation by the staff.
4. The student will be detained at lunchtime (1.10 – 1.35) for the period of probation.
5. It is the duty of the student on Probation to obtain the initials of the teacher at the end of each class period. Parents are requested to monitor the probation period and sign the card each day.
6. Failure to obtain these signatures may result in the period of probation being extended or in the issue of a further card.
7. The period of Probation is monitored by the students’ class teacher and at the end of the period, the Card must be returned to the Year Head for checking.

Probation 1:

1. A student is placed on Probation 1 if he/she has a persistent record of lateness, breach of uniform code, failure to complete homework, etc, or if the student is responsible for a blatant breach of school discipline.
2. While a student is on Probation 1 he/she will be detained in the Probation Room at lunchtime from 1.10 to 1.35 and supervised by the teacher in charge.
3. A student is normally placed on Probation 1 for a period of one week.

Probation 2:

1. A student is placed on Probation 2 for a period of normally one week. If he/she does not successfully complete Probation 1 or if he/she is responsible for a very serious breach of school discipline.
2. While a student is on Probation 2 he/she will be detained in the Probation Room at lunchtime and supervised by the teacher in charge.

3. Students on Probation 2 are also be required to attend After School Detention on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 3.45 – 5.00.
4. Lists of students on Probation 1 and 2 are kept on record in the staffroom.

After school Detention:

1. A minimum of 3 days notice in writing or otherwise of this sanction shall be given. As this will involve an extension of the school day, parents are advised that it shall be necessary for them to ensure appropriate alternative transport arrangements.
2. This policy shall be implemented in the best interests of all of our students and in order to preserve the ethos of the school.
3. The student will be expected to give an undertaking of improved behaviour when the period of suspension ends. The undertaking must be signed by a parent/guardian. A period of Post Suspension Probation will then apply.
4. If the student persists with misbehaviour in the period after the first suspension of 5 days then a second longer period of suspension may be imposed either immediately or following a further probation period at the discretion of the Principal and the Discipline Committee.

5. If after 2 periods of suspension a student persists with breach of school discipline she/he may be suspended indefinitely or excluded according to the discretion of the Discipline Committee.

SUSPENSION:

Should a student be issued with two Probation cards, the Year Head will, on the student’s completion of the second card notify parents that a further card i.e. a third card will mean suspension.

If a student is subsequently issued with a third card, on the advice of the Discipline Committee, the Principal/ Deputy Principal/Year Head will inform the parents or guardian of the time and duration of the suspension. The period of suspension will be served in school.

Parents or Guardian will be given an opportunity to meet the Principal and/or Deputy Principal or Year Head and the decision of the Discipline Committee will be final.

1. In the case of the student being issued with 3 Probation cards, the procedure as outlined above will apply.
2. In the case of a single misbehaviour, the Discipline Committee may, having ascertained the full facts suspend a student for not more than 5 school days.
3. In the case of a more serious breach of discipline the Principal may exclude a student on a permanent basis from attendance at the College.
4. Where a student's behaviour warrants suspension or exclusion, the Principal/Deputy Principal/Year Head shall inform the parent or guardian before the period of suspension/exclusion commences.
5. Parents or Guardians shall have the right to appeal to the Board of Management when a student has been excluded on a permanent basis.

6. It will be the duty of the Principal to inform the Department of Education if a student is suspended or excluded for any period exceeding five school days. This is to be processed through the Principal’s Report to the BOM and subsequently sent to the VEC.

ROLE OF STAFF:

1. It is the duty of each member of staff to implement class Discipline and Pastoral Care. This discipline should be fair and consistent having due regard to the students ability and needs. Good discipline requires managing the classroom so that opportunities for disruption are minimized and that it is easy for the students to engage in learning activities. The key to good discipline is preventing inappropriate behaviour and dealing promptly and unobtrusively with it when it occurs.

Staff are requested to:

- Be well prepared for class

- Be punctual

- Set and correct homework regularly

- Be consistent in approach

- Be fair and consistent

2. Under no circumstances should corporal punishment be used.

3. Students should not be sent to stand outside the classroom door where they are unsupervised.

4. Report forms should normally only be issued where the subject teacher has issued two warnings for an offence and where reasonable punishment imposed by the teacher is ignored by the student.

5. The teacher should not engage in name-calling or ridicule of students.

6. All staff are required to contribute to overall school discipline. The maintenance of order in the classrooms, corridors, play areas, etc, is the responsibility of each teacher, but in particular of those who carry out supervisory duties during break times. All staff are requested to be vigilant re uniform / hairstyles / punctuality / attendance, etc.

7. Staff may be requested by the Principal to act as class teachers, year heads, etc.

8. Staff may be requested to carry out supervision duties during break time.

9. Class Discipline: The subject teacher is responsible for the maintenance of order and discipline in his/her own class.

STUDENT FILES

Ø On enrolment at Davis College each student is allocated a file.

Ø This file is confidential and is the property of the school.

Ø The contents may be discussed with students or parents but should not be photocopied.

Ø All inserts should be treated by staff in a sensitive and professional manner.

Ø This code is subject to regular review and updating and the views of parents, staff and students as to how the code can be improved and made more relevant are always welcome.