Ambrit International School

Behavior Policy

 

 

 

INDEX

 

The Aim of Our Behavior Policy

Our Code of Conduct

Disciplinary Action and Levels of Behavior

 

 

 

THE AIM OF OUR BEHAVIOR POLICY      

 

Our aim is to provide a safe, caring and consistent environment based on the concepts of the three R's RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITY AND RESPECT. Our behavior policy highlights the stepped procedure of discipline providing students with chances to reflect on behavior.

 

In Ambrit we endeavor to teach the three R's at an age appropriate level. We believe that every student has the right to feel safe, to learn to the best of their ability and to be treated with dignity and respect. Children are taught to take responsibility for their own actions and understand the consequences of acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Children are encouraged to respect themselves, others and their environment. Throughout the school praise, positive reinforcement and often rewards are used to highlight outstanding behavior.

 

In Middle School roles of responsibility such as class representatives and student council encourage participation in the process of creating a well behaved school.  There is a conduct system where teachers award points for behavior and participation in every lesson taught. These points are recorded and there are rewards for consistent good behavior.

 

Our policy reflects the fact that most students behave appropriately and are rewarded accordingly. Our aim is to focus on what students do well minimizing attention given to 'inappropriate' behavior.

 

For 'inappropriate' behavior there is a clear behavior route with a defined structure for staff, parents and students. The route starts with the classroom/homeroom teacher through to principal's intervention and ending with the director's decision. Parents are informed at all stages through emails, phone calls and in person.

 

  

OUR CODE OF CONDUCT

 

EVERY MEMBER OF THE AMBRIT COMMUNITY HAS THE RIGHT:

 

·      To feel safe

·      To learn to the best of their ability

·      To be treated with dignity and respect

 

In order to preserve these rights we have as a school created the following rules based on concepts of REPECT and RESPONSIBILITY

 

GENERAL RULES

WE treat ourselves, others, and our space with respect.

WE are all  responsible for our own actions.

 

MOVEMENT/SAFETY 

WE move calmly, quietly and safely

WE use up and down stairs

WE walk on the right

WE give way to smaller students

 

BATHROOM

WE act safely in the bathroom

WE respect privacy

WE keep the bathrooms clean at all times

 

RECESS

WE play safe

WE include others

WE keep food off the pitch

 

LUNCH

WE come and leave quietly

WE stay seated and use good manners

WE clean up after ourselves

 

SPECIAL OCCASIONS / ASSEMBLIES

WE enter and exit the area quietly

WE clap when appropriate

WE stay seated and quiet

 

CLASROOM RULES

Each class can decide on their own rules that should be displayed and respected by all.

 

BAR RULES

The bar is out of bounds for all students until the end of the school day when they can enter ONLY when escorted by an adult.

 

FORBIDDEN IN SCHOOL

 Gum is not allowed in school.

 Cell phones, iPods and personal stereos are not allowed in school. If needed for after school arrangements they can be brought in and left with Paola in Reception.

Vandalism is not tolerated. The responsible student must pay for the cost of any damage to school property or other student's property including books and equipment.

 

 STRICTLY PROHIBITED

-       To leave the school grounds without permission.

-       Any form of violence or behavior that endangers self or others.

-       Smoking, consumption of alcohol or drugs on campus or on school trips.

 

Infringement of the above strictly prohibited rules could lead to suspension or expulsion. These rules apply to all school trips.

 

 

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

 

In Early Childhood
In Early Childhood co-operative behavior, respect of others and of school  materials and politeness in school and play are an integral part of the educational programme.  Teachers emphasize positive behavior and help each child  understand their emotions, actions and consequences of acceptable  and unacceptable behavior.

 

When discipline is needed, teachers talk with the child about  what has happened and what is expected. The child is asked to sit  away from others in the class or group for a short period of time.  Before returning to play or work again, the child and teacher(s)  talk about what has happened and will happen as a consequence.

 

Parents, children and teachers work together whenever possible  in solving behavior problems. Teachers talk to parents and/or  send letters noting particular achievements or difficulties. This  communication clarifies any in or out of school changes that may  be occurring. When a child exhibits continued aggressive behavior the Early Childhood Principal or Director will speak to the child and his/her parents.

 

 

In Primary (presently in the process)

 

 

In Middle School

In Middle School all inappropriate behavior (please see levels below) is recorded in an incident book by the middle school administrator. The homeroom teacher is responsible for keeping track of this information and regularly meeting with students who are having difficulties staying within the boundaries.

 

 

REFERRAL STAGE

This could be a build up of comments in the incident book or behavior meriting more serious intervention (repeated level one or two behaviors).The student is met by the homeroom teacher the incident is discussed and  the student is asked to sign the referral form (a yellow slip). Parents receive an email from the school informing them of the incident.

  

DETENTION WARNING

This could be a build up of two or more referrals (left to the discretion of the homeroom teacher) or behavior meriting more serious intervention (level 2).The student has a meeting with the homeroom teacher and other members of staff or students involved A detention warning (pink form) is completed, signed and sent home for a parent's perusal and signature. The form is returned to the school the following day. An email is also sent home to inform parents.

 

DETENTION

This could be a step up  after a detention warning (left to the discretion of the homeroom teacher) or behavior meriting more serious intervention (level 3). At this stage the principal is involved.  The detention (red form) is completed, signed by both the homeroom teacher and the principal and sent home. The form is returned the following day.

A date for the detention is set and the time is from 3:45 - 4:45. During this time the student write a 250 word reflection of the incident which is later read by both parents and the principal. Parents are informed to pick up their child after the detention.

 

THREE DETENTIONS CAN LEAD TO THE LOSS OF THE  SCHOOL TRIP.

 

SUSPENSION

In the case of any serious violation of school regulations (level 3 behaviors) a student can be suspended from between one to five days. The decision is made by the Principal and the Director.

 

Procedure: The Student is taken out of class/ break and asked to sit in the atrium outside the Director's Office. The homeroom teacher is informed and meets with the principal and other parties involved with incident. The student  receives a written suspension notice. The parents are called and the child is escorted straight home.

 

Both the parents and student are invited in for a conference with the Director and the Homeroom teacher before the student is allowed back into school. The suspension notice return slip is placed in the behavior book under the child's name

 

A SUSPENSION CAN LEAD TO THE LOSS OF THE SCHOOL TRIP.

 

EXPULSION

The school reserves the right at any time to expel the student who does not meet the expectations within the school community. IF the school believes that a student's conduct, on or away from campus, indicates that the student is unable or unwilling to conform to the ideals and objectives of the School, parents will be requested to withdraw the student immediately, even though there may have been no breach of any specific school rule. This decision is only made by the Director himself. Parents will be kept informed throughout this procedure.

 

LEVELS OF BEHAVIOR°

These levels of behavior serve as a guideline for staff, students and parents.

BEHAVIOURS	LEVEL 1	LEVEL 2	LEVEL 3
Chewing gum	These are behaviors that are dealt with by the teacher through the use of 'minimal' interactions aimed at refocusing the pupil back on task. This stage is about keeping the level of interaction to a minimum, focusing on the 'primary' behavior and immediate resolution. Strategies would include: diversions, rule reminders, positive directions, refocusing student, a quiet reminder to the student.
Eating in class
Eating on the big pitch
Light teasing
Pushing
Being noisy
Running in the school building
Using swear words by accident
Being late		These behaviors are considered to be moderately serious behavior concerns or repeated minor misbehavior. These behaviors have immediate consequences and are recorded in the incident book. These behaviors are often the ones that lead to referrals.
Fighting/squabbles
Talking back to the teacher
Disrupting class work
Inappropriate dress code
Picking on other students
Kicking
Swearing at peers
Going to the bar unaccompanied
Copying
Lying
Refusing to follow instructions			This level of misbehavior requires the involvement of the homeroom teacher, the principal and the administration. A clear description of the incident is forwarded to parents and students. These behaviors are taken very seriously and will often take more than one day to process. The director is always involved in decisions made for this levels of  behavior and requires meetings with students and parents.
Vandalism
Graffiti
Verbal harassment
Physical harassment
Inappropriate bus behavior
Dangerous bus behavior
Swearing at staff
Vicious kicking
Vicious fighting
Cheating during exam/test
Cyber bullying
Bullying
Racial harassment

* These behaviors are used as a guideline.

SUMMARY OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION

 

Repeated level one or level two could lead to a referral

 

Referral (R)

Yellow means  having stepped over the line. Two can lead to a detention warning (DW)

 

Detention warning (DW)

Pink warns that continued misbehavior can lead to a detention.

 

Detention (D)

Red unfortunately means  that  a behavior/s have not been within the expected boundaries and therefore one will have to remain after school to  reflect on the choices that are being made.

Three detention could lead to the loss of the school trip.

 

Suspension

Light blue is a suspension. This means being sent home and spending time away from school reflecting on behavior within school.

 

Expulsion - IF your choice of behavior goes against school values and rules you may be asked to leave the school .

 

 

 

° This information has been taken from Clarke, D. and Murray, A. (1996) Developing and Implementing a Whole-School Behavior Policy: A Practical Approach.

 

 

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