iServi News | 29 October 2021 | Term 4, Week 3
Student Code of Conduct
You may have noticed on page 8 of your child’s College Handbook and SEQTA Documents, the Student Code of Conduct. This document was developed by a broad cross-section of Student Representatives at the College. It sets out the behaviours and attributes expected of each student so that all may benefit from the positive environment that is created at the College.
This document works in partnership with Student Positive Behaviour Expectations and College Uniform and Presentation Expectations Documents, as well as College Charisms and Values. All of these documents closely interact with each other and go hand in hand.
Managing the Student Code of Conduct is a shared responsibility between students, parents, caregivers and the College. We are all responsible for ensuring that Servite is a safe and thriving Community.
When the students developed the Code of Conduct, they started with question:
‘How do we want to feel at Servite?’
From here they decided upon the following which are the key points of the Code of Conduct:
Over next few weeks we will look at what each of these mean. This week, the focus is on feeling SAFE.
Servite College is committed to child safety and ensuring a safe, engaging and supportive learning environment. Child safety is everybody’s responsibility. The Student Code of Conduct says:
To feel safe we will:
- Create a comfortable and safe environment
- Build strong and friendly relationships
- Build these relationships through teachers and friend
When someone isn’t feeling this way, we will:
- Ensure Student Councillors are available and easy to approach
- Express our concerns to the College Counsellor or Psychologist
- Have peers ready to listen
- Use Servite Concern when needed
- Build our trust in our teachers
There are many ways that we can create safety at Servite, and there are a multitude outlined in our Positive Behaviour Expectations (page 6 and 7 of the Student Handbook). I encourage you and your children to look over and talk about these together. Some that may be a good starting place are:
- Use respectful and inclusive language
- Respect college property, equipment and resources
- Conduct ourselves in such a way (physically and verbally) to demonstrate respect for others (staff and students) and ourselves
- Promote dignity and respect by avoiding behaviour which is or might be perceived as harassing, bullying and intimidating
- Remind our peers to follow College expectations and guidelines to stay safe; behave sensibly and safely
- Be mindful of risks and safety hazards
- listen to each other
- treat all people respectfully
- be kind and polite; support others to model positive behaviour
- be considerate of others in the Community by being friendly and inclusive
- build positive relationships through conversations and play
- work cooperatively in teams
- listen to College staff respectfully
We are working closely with our students on the Code of Conduct this term through our Homeroom and Pastoral Care Period lessons. Everyone has the right to feel safe, valued and respected as we are all created in image and likeness of God and therefore have inherent dignity.
Mrs Monica Maxwell
Acting Deputy Principal – Community