Code of Behaviour and Discipline

This Code of Behaviour and Discipline is drawn up to ensure that Scoil Réalt na Mara can operate efficiently as a school to serve the needs of pupils, teachers and the wider school community. It acknowledges that the Board of Management, the Principal, Class Teachers, other school personnel, pupils and parents/guardians all have rights and responsibilities.

The Code has been drawn up by the Board of Management, having consulted with the staff, Parents Council and older pupils in the school.

The School Mission Statement is: Working happily together we achieve our goals.

The School Vision Statement is: Through teamwork, respect, caring concern and inclusion of each person, we in Scoil Réalt na Mara learn, discover and grow.

General Discipline Aims of the School
1. The school aims to:

• Foster in the children the Christian virtues of honesty, truth, charity, purity, patience, politeness, temperance and obedience to lawful authority acting in a responsible manner.
• Provide sufficient discipline and order within the school to enable children to develop their talents to their full potential.
• Create a situation where teachers and children can work together in harmony so that children can learn and teachers can teach in a caring and sharing atmosphere.

2. Teachers should aim to treat each child fairly, firmly but with kindness.

3. Children should be led to see that self-discipline is an essential part of growing up.

4. Parents and teachers should seek each other’s full support to achieve and maintain good discipline.

5. Each person in the school should be conscious of the needs and rights of other.

6. Each person in the school should be treated fairly and with respect.

GOLDEN RULE: TRY YOUR BEST TO DO YOUR BEST

The following are School Regulations for good behaviour and discipline:

• Be on time in the morning and at breaktimes. School opens at 8.50amam for reception of pupils. All pupils are to be seated by 9.20.
• Respect all other persons in the school as you would wish to be respected.
• Obey instructions from teachers and other school personnel promptly and in good spirit, in class and at play, and show respect for the needs and rights of others.
• Respect and show care for your own property, school property and the property of others.
• Remain on school premises during school time, except when given specific permission to leave by a teacher. This permission can also be given on receipt of a written request in the appropriate section of the homework diary from parents.
• Observe Safety Rules in classrooms, hallways and playground.
• Adhere strictly to Fire Drill instructions.
• Undertake class and wider school responsibilities as appointed by teachers, e.g. litter control, tidying up etc.
• Partake of games in a sporting manner being mindful of the needs and safety of others.
• Complete homework assignments on time.
• Provide a signed note in the appropriate section of the homework diary to explain any absences from school.
• Observe the Rules of the Road going to and from school, and especially on entering and leaving the school premises.

Class teachers will go over these Regulations with pupils on a regular basis.

Where School Regulations have been broken by the child, the teacher should first ascertain if the child realises that he/she has broken a School Regulation.

The child should be asked to describe his/her own behaviour.

The teacher should explain to the child which regulation he/she has broken.

The child should apologise for the behaviour and be asked to give a commitment that it will not re-occur.

Truthfulness and honesty should be actively encouraged in all situations and genuine sorrow taken into account. The teacher should give the child a fair hearing before considering what, if any, sanctions are to be applied.

If the teacher considers that a sanction is warranted, one or more of the following may be applied:

1. Child writes out or states the Regulation that has been broken in their homework diary.
2. The child writes out an explanation.
3. The child writes out an apology or makes a verbal apology.
4. Temporary separation from peers, friends and others.

The following may be used to show disapproval of unacceptable behaviour:

1. Reprimand
2. Reasoning with the pupil
3. Warning card system
4. Temporary separation from peers
5. Extra work either in school or for homework
6. Detention at breaks
7. Time out in another class
8. Communication with parents/guardians
9. Referral to principal
10. Detention after school

The following are serious breaches of discipline and may lead to suspension under Rule 130 section (5) of Rules for National Schools:

1. Assaulting another person in the school
2. Abusive or foul language, aggressive, threatening or bullying behaviour towards other pupils or school personnel
3. Theft or deliberate and serious damage to school property or personal property.
4. Leaving school premises without teachers’ permission
5. Continuous deliberate disruptive behaviour in class
6. Deliberate and gross disobedience of a teacher on a disciplinary matter

In the event of a serious breach of discipline and when other sanctions have failed the child may be suspended from school under the terms of Rule 130 (6) Rules for National Schools.

The normal procedure will be as follows:

• The parents will be informed by letter or verbally when a child has first been deemed to have committed a serious breach of discipline. The parents will be invited to come to the school to discuss their child’s case. Their co-operation should be sought to ensure that such a serious breach of discipline will not re-occur.
• If the child commits a second serious breach of discipline the parents will be notified by letter and informed that a third serious breach will automatically entail a period of suspension. Their co-operation should again be sought to prevent a re-occurrence.
• If the child commits a third serious breach of discipline, the Principal or Chairperson, acting on behalf of the Board of Management, may automatically suspend the child for a period of up to 3 days. The parents will be informed by letter of the suspension and the details of the suspension period.
• After the initial suspension period the Board of Management may impose further periods of suspension as it deems necessary under Rule 130, Rules for National Schools, to enable the matter to be reviewed.
• In the case of a single incidence of gross misbehaviour, the child may be immediately suspended.
• Expulsion may be considered in an extreme case, in accordance with Rule 130 (6).

When a suspension ends, the child may be formally readmitted to the school by the Principal. If the issue which leads to a suspension is resolved to the satisfaction of the school, a child may be readmitted before the completion of a period of suspension.

The Education (Welfare) Act obliges schools to notify in writing the Education Welfare Board of instances where students have been suspended for six or more days (cumulatively) and proscribes schools from expelling students until 20 days have elapsed following the notification to the Education Welfare Board of this course of action. According to the Education (Welfare) Act the Board of Management has a right to take reasonable measures to “ensure that good order and discipline are maintained in the school concerned and that the safety of students is secured”.

Parents should be aware of their right to appeal a suspension under Section 29 of the Education Act and Section 26 of the Education (Welfare) Act where the cumulative period of suspension in any school year exceeds 20 school days.

The Code is drawn up with reference to DES Circulars 20/97 (Discipline) and 40/97 (Assaults on Teachers/School Employees).

The Boardof Management shall review the Code of Behaviour annually or more often as may be determined by the Board.