THE LITTLE SCHOOL
Code of Conduct Policy

The aims of the Code of Conduct are:
– to promote the rights and safety of all students, teachers and parents
– to ensure that the students are responsible for their own actions and behaviour
– to prohibit all forms of discrimination and intolerance
– to eliminate disruptive and offensive conduct
This is divided into the School Rules and Disciplinary System. We, at The Little School, refer to Rules as guidelines and principles that govern us, but a legal document is necessary to establish certain fixed laws that govern the conduct of the students at school.

A. School Rules
The school rules are to establish and maintain a disciplined and purposeful environment in which students can flourish and prosper. The aims of these rules are:
-to promote the rights and safety of all students, teachers and parents
-to ensure that the students are responsible for their own actions and behaviour
-to prohibit all forms of discrimination and intolerance
-to eliminate disruptive and offensive conduct

General
1. Students are expected to behave in a courteous and considerate manner towards each other, to all members of staff and to visitors of the School.
2. No student has the right to ever behave in a manner that disrupts other students or causes them any harm.
3. The School will contact parents/guardians when a student’s behaviour becomes a cause for concern.

Attendance
1. All students are to arrive at School before the official starting time.
2. If a student is regularly late or absent, the principal will be informed and will follow this up with the parents.
3. Any absence must be covered by a note or a phone call to the office.
4. No student may leave the School during school hours without notification from the parent and the permission from the principal or head teacher.

Appearance
1. Fingernails must be trimmed and clean at all times.
2. Students must come to school neat and clean.
3. Students must wear their school uniform when they are at school and when they are on a school outing.
4. Boys are to wear their hair short. No dreadlocks.
5. Girls are to wear their hair short and tidy. Girls may have their hair braided provided the braids are short and close to the scalp. No extensions. Beads, decorations or fringes hanging over their faces are not permitted.
6. Only small earrings are allowed as jewellery for the girls. No other jewellery is permitted.
7. Watches may be worn, but these need to be functional and not distracting. If the students are distracted by the watch, the teacher will remove it until home time.

Personal Belongings
1. The school will not be held responsible for theft or damage to personal belongings on the school premises.
2. Students are not allowed to bring toys, cell phones or any other electronic devices to school. If parents need to make or change arrangements with their child, they should do so by phoning the office. (Parents should remember that drug dealers and paedophiles can have access to a child through his/her cell phone.) Cell phones repeatedly having to be confiscated from a student will be kept until the end of the term.
3. Snacks and drinks: Students are only allowed to bring healthy food to school. That means no sweets, crisps, flavoured yoghurts, as well as flavoured and/or carbonated drinks. Purified water is provided at school. No other drinks are allowed at school. Children should have their lunch box, drinking cup and their wearing apparel marked clearly with their name and class.
4. Indoor shoes. All children will be obliged to remove their outdoor shoes before entering classrooms. Therefore, they should bring indoor shoes/slippers/thick socks to be worn in the classroom and these must be left in the classroom.

Rules Governing Public Places
1. No dangerous objects are to be brought on to the school property.
2. No alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes or illegal substances are permitted on to the school property.
3. Skateboards and roller blades are considered by the School to be dangerous and are not allowed anywhere on the school premises.

Transport
1. All parking at the school is done at own risk.
2. Vehicles may only be parked in the designated area. No parking is allowed in the drop-off area; the driver may not be outside the vehicle in this area. Parents are reminded that parking in the reception area is for the teaching and administrative staff only.
3. Parents must make their own arrangements with transport companies. The School does not own a transport company, but they do have a recommended company. Parents should enquire at the School.

Religious and Cultural Rights
1. The Little School is predominantly a Christian school and the prayers and hymns sung at assembly follow the Christian form of worship, but all religions are respected and the beliefs and customs of different religions are taught during Religious Education lessons.
2. The beliefs, cultures, dignity and rights of all students and teachers are to be respected by all students and teachers at all times.

General Rules
Playing in the toilets, the classrooms, the teachers’ staff room, the office block, the parking area, the areas behind the classroom buildings and all other restricted areas is forbidden.
1. All litter must be placed in the appropriate bins.
2. Wilful damage or neglect of any school property is prohibited.
3. Theft of school and private property is prohibited.
4. Any act of cheating is prohibited.
5. Disruptive, unruly, rude behaviour will not be tolerated.
6. Handing in of all reading books, homework, projects and any other work is the responsibility of each student.
7. No racist or discriminatory language or bullying or racist behaviour will be tolerated.
8. Frightening, threatening or intimidating other students is forbidden.

B. Disciplinary System
Each teacher is responsible for discipline during school hours and has the full authority and responsibility to correct the behaviour of the students where necessary. No corporal punishment is permitted.
In repeated and/or serious offences the following list of corrective measures (not in order or quantity) used by the school are aimed at correcting behaviour before suspension and expulsion:
-verbal reprimand
-written warning
-final and written warning
-removal from classes
-referral for counselling
-fines to compensate for damages
-temporary suspension from class
-disciplinary hearing
Behaviour Offenses
The following types of behaviour (not conclusive) may result in a discipline referral being submitted to the administration.Repeatedly:
– Breaking classroom guidelines
– Disrupting a class or classroom
– Violation of dress code
– Throwing objects
– Running in classrooms, hallways or sidewalks
– Violation of a student’s personal space and rights with regard to private body parts
– Being in restricted areas during non-designated times.
– Use of or bringing of personal items from home (the item will be held by the teacher)
– Use of or possession of cellular phones or electronic devices (items will be held in the office until collected by the parent)
– Chewing gum
– Failing to return contracts, parent letters, etc. after reasonable reminders and chances have been given
– Using obscene language, gestures or behaviour, or bringing obscene materials to school
– Attendance problems
– Defiant or disrespectful language or behaviour
– Bullying, (threatening or extorting)
– Deceitful behaviour (false accusations, forgery, plagiarism, lying, cheating, etc.)

It is a condition of attendance at the School that you and your child/children sign in the spaces provided. Please read this document to your child/children so that all are aware of the school rules.

Declaration: We, the undersigned, do hereby declare that we have read, understood and accept the terms of this Contract; and we have read and explained these rules to our child/children who are students at The Little School.

Signed at ……………………………… on……………………………..20….

Parent/Guardian…………………………………………………………………..
Parent/Guardian……………………………………………………………………

Student……………………………………………………………………………….
Student…………………………………………………………………………………
Student………………………………………………………………………………

Accepted by the School at
…………………………………………on…………………………………………….
Head of School………………………………………………………………………………….

Parents General Obligations and Policies of the School:
• You will inform the school in writing, prior to admission and enrolment, of any special educational needs of your child known to you.
• The pass mark at the end of the academic year is 60%
• In order to fulfil our obligations, we need your co-operation. We need you to encourage your child in his or her studies, and give appropriate support at home. Keep the School informed of matters which affect your child; maintain a courteous and constructive relationship with School staff; and otherwise keep in touch with the School where your child’s interests require you to do so.
• TRANSPORT: There will be a fine of E50 for every half hour that your child remains at school after 4 p.m.
• SCHOOL FEES: Fees are to be paid in full, at or before the beginning of each term. If not, your child will not be allowed into class.
• Classes are not to be disrupted at any time; therefore anyone wishing to contact the class teacher must report to the Office upon arrival at school. Whenever possible, we encourage parents to make an appointment in advance.

The Head may in his or her discretion require you to remove or may suspend or expel your Child if your behaviour is in the reasonable opinion of the Head so unreasonable as to affect or likely to affect the progress of your Child or another child (or other children) at the School or the well-being of the School staff or to bring the School into disrepute.

The Head may in his or her discretion, require you to remove or may suspend or expel your Child from the School, if he/she considers that your Child’s attendance, progress or behaviour (including behaviour outside the school) is seriously unsatisfactory and in the reasonable opinion of the Head the Child’s removal is in the School’s best interests or those of your Child, other children or the wider School community. In this case, you will be asked to remove your Child either immediately and without notice, or at a specified date that is shorter than a full term, with or without notice in any form, as is reasonable under the circumstances. The School will not be required to give you a full term’s written notice under these circumstances.

The School rules set out examples of offences likely to be punishable by suspension or expulsion. These examples are not a closed list and a child may be expelled or suspended for offences, which are not included in these examples. In particular, the Head may decide that suspension or expulsion for a lesser offence is justified where there has been previous misbehaviour by the child or the circumstances of the case otherwise justify such action.

Declaration: I/We, the undersigned, do hereby declare that I/We have read and understood these Parental Obligations and the Policies of the School.

Signed at __________________________on_______________20..
________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian

Signed at __________________________on_______________20..
________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian