Keurbosch School

Code of Conduct

 

24 January 2024

Signed: Mr. Michiel Coetzee                                                                                                  Principal

 

This School is committed to providing an environment for the delivery of quality teaching and learning by:

• Promoting the rights and safety of all learners and teachers.

• Ensuring learners’ responsibility for their own actions and behaviour.

• Prohibiting all forms of unfair discrimination and intolerance.

• Eliminating disruptive and offensive conduct.

The Code of Conduct spells out the rules regarding learner behaviour at the school and describes the disciplinary system to be implemented by the school concerning transgressions by learners.

The Code of Conduct applies to all learners while they are on the school premises or when they are away from the school representing it or attending a school function.

Section 8(4) of the SA Schools Act provides that all learners attending a school are bound by the Code of Conduct of that school. All learners attending the school are expected to sign a statement of commitment to the Code of Conduct.

Academic:

• Every learner must be afforded the opportunity to achieve his/her maximum academic potential through considering the rights of other learners and the teachers.

Behaviour:

• Our language and gestures are always polite and respectful, and not suggestive of aggression, cynicism, sarcasm, and discrimination or bullying.

• Physical contact between learners and between learners and teachers is forbidden by the Department of Education.

• Weapons of any description may not be brought to school. This includes knives, firearms – or copies of – martial arts weaponry and traditional weapons.

• We respect the property of others and do not deface or damage the property of others. We also do not waste water and electricity, and we have our own stationery.

• Because our teachers are responsible for our well-being during school hours, we cannot leave the school grounds once we have arrived at school. Permission is required from parents and the principal in this regard prior to a student leaving the school premises.

• Dishonesty in any form cannot be tolerated. This includes cheating in examinations, copying tasks from other learners or the internet or reference books.

• Our school is a smoke- and drug-free zone.

• Chewing gum and eating and drinking during lessons cannot be allowed.

• We motivate learners to use diaries on a daily basis so that they always know what is expected of them. This will help prevent assignments and homework being lost or forgotten.

Electronic equipment:

• Cellular phones must be handed in during register period and will be given back at the end of the school day. No iPods or similar electronics music or gaming electronics are allowed during the academic day.

• Laptops and tablets may be used for study purposes as per the allowance and instructions of educators.

Dress Code / School uniform:

Students are at all times required to wear the school uniform as per the school rules. Details of this are available on our school website and from the school office.

https://keurboschschool.com

General:

Code of conduct:

• Learners must attend school for the full academic day. They may not leave the school premises without the permission of the school principal and parent / guardian. If a student is absent, his or her parents must furnish the principal with an acceptable reason for the absence.

• Learners are required to obey the reasonable instructions of the staff.

• A learner may not damage or endanger the physical and/ or emotional welfare of another person.

• No weapons, implements or materials which can cause bodily harm may be in the possession of learners at school, or in their bags, or while under the supervision of the school.

• Learners may not have in their possession, nor use, cigarettes or any tobacco products, other drugs, alcoholic beverages or objectionable printed or recorded matter or objects.

• School property, or the property of others, may not be taken, damaged, defaced, or polluted.

• Learners may not use any facilities or equipment of the school, including those for sport, nor be on the school grounds, outside school hours without the principal’s permission.

• Learners may not bring discredit to the name of their school in any way.

• Learners may not sexually harass, bully, fight with, or tease other students or members of the school community.

• Parents and learners take note of the right of the school to do drug tests and searches in terms of the regulations laid down by the Department of Education.

DISCIPLINARY POLICY AND PROCEDURES:

Keurbosch School is an independent school.

We reserve the right to ask a parent/s to remove his/her child, should he/she display disruptive behaviour and/or repeatedly break the school rules.

We request that parents and learners sign a copy of the School Code of Conduct. This ensures that parents and learners are aware of the content of the School Code of Conduct. Not signing a copy of the School Code of Conduct does not exclude a learner from the content and legality of the School Code of Conduct.

Every teacher is responsible for discipline and has the full authority to apply the disciplinary procedures in a consistent and fair manner, so as not to favour any one learner.

The following list of interventions and corrective measures are aimed at correcting behaviour before formal suspension and expulsion:

1. A verbal warning/reprimand to express disapproval.

2. Written warning/break time detention

3. Final written warning

4. Intervention meeting with parents / guardians

5. Disciplinary enquiry/hearing.

 

 

 

Conduct that may lead to suspension/exclusion/expulsion includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Conduct that violates the rights or safety of others.

• Criminal behaviour of any kind.

• Defacing or destroying school property.

• Disrespectful or objectionable conduct and verbal abuse directed at teachers, other school employees or other learners.

• Outright defiance of lawful requests or instructions issued by persons in authority.

• Indulging in harmful graffiti, racism or “hate speech”.

• Sexual harassment or sexual assault.

• Immoral behaviour or profanity.

• Possessing, using or displaying evidence of use of any nicotine products, narcotics, unauthorised drugs, alcohol or any other intoxicant.

• Possession of dangerous weapons (guns, knives and other objects which may threaten the lives of learners/teachers).

• Examination, tests and/or assessment irregularities.

• Repeated infringements of any one of, or combined infringements of a variety of the school rules as per the School Code of Conduct over a recent 6 month period.

 

The school reserves the right to immediately expel or suspend a learner from school in a case where a serious offence is committed such as:

Sexual harassment.

Having pornographic material in their possession.

Fighting.

Having illegal substances in their possession like vapes, cigarettes or any narcotic products.

Having weapons or dangerous items on them or in their possession.

If positively tested for a narcotic’s illegal substance i.e. Marijuana.

The school strives to provide a space where positive and safe learning can take place and the above serious offences harm the integrity of such an environment.

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