At the May School Council meeting the school's Statement of Values and School Philosophy was approved. This policy and many more, are available on our school website.

Purpose:

The purpose of this policy is to outline the values of our school community and explain the vision, philosophy and objectives of our school.

Policy:

Ballarat High School is committed to providing a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for all students, staff and members of our community. Our school recognises the importance of the partnership between our school and parents and carers to support student learning, engagement and wellbeing. We share a commitment to, and a responsibility for, creating an inclusive and safe school environment for our students.

The programs and teaching at Ballarat High School support and promote the principles and practice of Australian democracy, including a commitment to:

elected government
the rule of law
equal rights for all before the law
freedom of religion
freedom of speech and association
the values of openness and tolerance.

This policy outlines our school’s vision, philosophy, objective, values and expectations of our school community. This policy is available on our school website, our staff induction handbook and enrolment/transition packs.

To celebrate and embed our Statement of Values and Philosophy in our school community, we:

display posters and banners that promote our values in our school
celebrate our values in our school communications
provide awards and recognition for students who actively demonstrate the values
discuss our values with students in the classroom, meetings and assemblies.

School Vision:

Ballarat High School is a learning community where every person is valued, respected and challenged as a learner.

SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY:

Ballarat High School is a learning community. We believe in all learners. Our learning framework guides our instructional practice and learning within our community. Personal growth, innovation and creativity are actively encouraged for all members of the school community.

Our values of Pride, Respect and Responsibility ensure we build and maintain strong and positive relationships. Through personalised learning, we focus on teaching and learning strategies that will raise standards and outcomes for individuals. Through personalised learning and development, incorporating individual learning goals, we tailor education to ensure all students and staff achieve in a positive learning culture of high expectations and support.

STUDENT WELLBEING VISION:

At Ballarat High School we endeavour to provide an inclusive, positive, respectful learning environment for all students. We believe in educating the whole person and acknowledge the correlation between student wellbeing and connectedness and academic achievement. Our mission is to provide the right supports, to the right students at the right time.

Our school’s objectives are considered as part of the 4 yearly strategic planning process and reflected in the goals listed in our current School Strategic Plan (SSP). We also develop an Annual Implementation Plan to operationalise the goals and key improvement strategies contained in our SSP.

Values:

Ballarat High School has a tradition of pursuing and recognising excellence under the motto of “Duty Always”. Our ethos is supported by the core values of Pride, Respect and Responsibility.

Pride is demonstrated by:

representing our school community in a positive way at every opportunity
achievement to the best of our ability
celebrating and observing our traditions and achievements
our appearance and attitudes

Respect is demonstrated by:

speech, actions and manners
appreciation of our environment (grounds, classrooms, resources, community)
honesty, teamwork and acceptance of others (opinions and rights)
care, support and safety of all members of our school community
positive communication and connected relationships

Responsibility is demonstrated by:

personal learning and growth
organisation, management, goal setting and achievement
modelling and encouragement of positive behaviours
forward thinking, innovation, creativity and flexibility
informed decision making

Behavioural expectations:

Ballarat High School acknowledges that the behaviour of staff, parents, carers and students has an impact on our school community and culture. Staff have a range of expectations around behaviour and must follow our school and Department policies and the Victorian Public Service Code of Conduct and Values. Teaching staff also adhere to the Victorian Teaching Profession Code of Conduct.

Students are supported by school staff to meet expected standards of behaviour as outlined in our Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy, Inclusion and Diversity Policy and Bullying Prevention Policy. Information about the expectations on parents and carers to ensure schools remain respectful and inclusive places is outlined in the Department’s Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy and our Promoting a Healthy, Safe and Respectful School Community Policy.

Unreasonable behaviours:

Schools are not public places and the Principal has the right to permit or deny entry to school grounds (for more information, see our Visitors Policy).

Unreasonable behaviour that is demonstrated by school staff, parents, carers, students or members of our school community, will not be tolerated at school, or during school activities.

Our Statement of Values and School Philosophy ensures that everyone in our school community will be treated with fairness and respect. In turn, we will strive to create a school that is inclusive and safe, where everyone is empowered to participate and learn.

COMMUNICATION:

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

available publicly on our school’s website
included in staff induction processes
included in staff handbook/manual
included in transition and enrolment packs
included as annual reference in school newsletter

Related Policies and Resources:

Department of Education and Training policies and resources:

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