Citizenship

The new Behaviour Policy was finalised at the end of the academic year 2010/11 and will be approved and published within the first two months of the new school year.

In short, the Behaviour Policy aims to facilitate the attainment of the following Core Objectives:

1. We create a safe and stimulating learning environment in which our students can discover and develop their intellectual, physical, social and creative potential.
   
   
2. We help our students to be happy, well-balanced, ethical individuals who work effectively and willingly with others.

and support the following school Core Values:

1. We uphold the principals of equality of opportunity and fair treatment of all individuals.
   
   
2. We respect ourselves, we respect each other and we respect our environment.
   
   
3. We value honesty, fairness and integrity.

In addition the Policy: 

1. Creates a framework whereby the whole school community supports and gives students credit for positive behaviour.
   
   
2. Recognises that ethical behaviour is an area of human development that matures over time, therefore, a major aim of the Policy is to assist students to develop in this regard.
   
   
3. We acknowledge that students will make mistakes, and ought to be given the opportunity to learn from their mistakes, rather than be punished.
   
   
4. We recognise that some students may be resistant to correction, or act in a very serious manner, and that consequences (not punishment) are required to manage that student’s behaviour.
   
   
5. Some students will have particular behavioural difficulties that will require an individual plan at some stage of their development.

Rights and Responsibilities

The Policy recognises that students have rights and these rights are protected if students act according to the Golden Rules. Student rights are balanced with responsibilities.

Student rights:

• To feel safe at school 
• To learn to the best of their ability
• To be treated with dignity and respect 

Student responsibilities: to act in accordance with the Golden Rules

We are gentle
(We don’t hurt others)

We are kind and helpful
(We don’t hurt anybody’s feelings)

We listen
(We don’t interrupt)

We are honest
(We don’t cover up the truth)

We work hard
(We don’t waste our own or other’s time)

We look after property
(We don’t waste or damage things)

Every Primary classroom has a poster displaying the Golden Rules (developed by Jenny Mosley a leading author and educational consultant in the area of behaviour management). The teachers and children review the rules at regular intervals and they form the basis of our expectations of how we treat each other and the choices we make. 

The Behaviour Policy Committee wishes to acknowledge Bill Rogers’s contribution through his work Classroom Management in the development of the Behaviour Policy.

In order to further promote teamwork and to foster a sense of belonging in our expanding school, LIS primary runs a House System. Each child is allocated to one of four houses (siblings are ‘housed’ together.) House activities and assemblies promote leadership (especially at the Grade 5 level) and develop a sense, not only of good sportsmanship but also good team spirit – being an active and valuable part of a team whether it be in the context of the class, House or sporting team. 

We believe that the House System helps to educate students in the art of taking part, taking risks and having a go. Through this system the children learn;

• that sometimes you can’t win but also that not winning does not always mean losing 
• not only to work for themselves but to work for each other 
• that sometimes, working together can bring about a greater good 
• that success, when achieved in collaboration with others is equally as sweet as that achieved alone
• that taking part and not winning can still bring growth in team spirit and point the way for success in the future.

The children in the primary school are allocated to one of four houses. Siblings are always placed together in the same house. The houses are organised vertically; there are children from every grade level in each house. There are also children from each house in each class. The teachers are also allocated to houses. 

Each house has two Grade 5 House Captains elected by their peers. House Points are awarded for a wide range of things both academic and other, both for individuals and groups. The points are totalled weekly and the winning house announced at weekly assemblies. 

The four houses are named as follows; each House is also associated with a colour as shown.

Mandela (Green)        Curie  (Blue)

de Coubertin (Red) da Vinci (Yellow)

In addition, the following offerings provide breadth to our citizenship programme (please refer to the Parent Handbook for further information):

1. Peer Mediation
2. Playground Buddies
3. Student Council