Staff Handbook

Macleod College Policies

The college continues to develop policy and implementation statements with which all staff should be familiar. Up-to-date policies that have been ratified by School Council are available on Google Drive/whole school documents or can be accessed via COMPASS in school favourites under College Handbooks or Policies.

 

5.1 Macleod College Occupational Health & Safety Policy Rationale

A healthy and safe working environment is vital to the successful functioning of our school.  Promotion and maintenance of a safe working environment is a responsibility shared by all. For further information please refer to the separate information booklet that has been distributed to all staff.

 

5.2 School Based VCE Rules

These are to be found in 2024 Senior School Course Booklet.

 

5.3 Year 07 -10 Curriculum

All courses relate to the VICVELS Standards, available from individual KLA Leaders. 

 

5.4 P – 06 Curriculum

The primary grades study an integrated course with the theme for each term being decided the previous year. Early Years Literacy & Numeracy programs are implemented in all classes and a staff member has a particular responsibility for this. In general the curriculum follows the Victorian Essential Learning Standards.

 

5.5 Specific Courses

Details of specific courses are available from the appropriate Learning Area (KLA) Manager. All KLA Managers are to provide detailed course descriptions, which include designated topics, resources and assessment tasks that conform to VICVELS, VET or VCE requirements. 

 

5.6 Assessment & Reporting

Continuous assessment through COMPASS provides, staff, students and parents with assessment information regarding students’ skill acquisition, learning and growth.  Staff set and assess learning tasks via the COMPASS portal.

 

End of semester summary reports provide a summary of achievement for each assessment task along with teacher judgement work habits.

 

The Assessment & Reporting Handbook is available on COMPASS in School Favourites under College handbooks.

 

5.7 Homework

The expectation is that all students will be given regular homework in all written subjects.  Students are expected to complete about 6 – 8 hours per week in Years 07 & 08, 10 – 12 hours in Years 09 & 10 and more than 20 in Years 11 & 12. In the primary grades homework will be given in accordance with the student’s age, needs and circumstances. 

 

Homework Club for Year 07 – 12 students takes place on Tuesday after school from 3.15pm - 4.30pm in the IMPACT Centre and homework club for VCE Maths is held every Tuesday & Thursday in D4 from 3.20pm  - 4.30pm.

 

Students who believe that they have too much homework are able to negotiate extension dates with staff provided that they can show, using their computers, the amount of homework due at a specific time is unreasonable. It is an expectation of all staff that they will follow these procedures within their classrooms.

 

5.8 Library

The library is committed to creating a dynamic, inspiring environment centred on improving student learning. Our role is to provide a relevant, high quality & easily accessible resource collection, to actively participate in developing information literate students and to act as a reading & literacy centre where reading is enjoyed and appreciated.

  • The library catalogue can be accessed from school or home via favorites on Compass. Staff can send 4 students at a time on Library passes (see Library for copies).
  • Library Home Page featuring relevant websites, information, news, readers’ advice and tools.https://sites.google.com/a/macleod.vic.edu.au/macleod-college-library/ 
  • Research Classes. We work closely with classroom teachers at all levels to develop and strengthen students’ information skills through team-teaching, mini lessons and resource acquisition. 
  • Reading. We are happy to assist with reading selection during classes or recess times. Our collection is broad and contemporary. We have audio books, magazines, manga, comics and graphic novels, along with the more usual popular novel choices. Suggestions for purchases are welcome.

We explicitly celebrate reading via Book Week and themed day celebrations, competitions, author visits, Scholastic Book Club, book blogs and new book displays. 

 

We co-ordinate the in class Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge for students from Prep - Year 8. 

  • If you wish to find a resource you can check the catalogue from home or school via Favorites in Compass. To locate a DVD use the search term “video” and a couple of key words.
  • If you wish to purchase any KLA items, please clear the purchase with your KLA leader, then see Wendy to create the order. All school print, AV or digital resources, including class sets, should be ordered, catalogued and processed by the library.
  • If you require a program to be recorded from free-to-air TV, please see Wendy and provide her with the details. Keep in mind the appropriate censorship requirements noted elsewhere. 

Book Listed Items

Bulk loans of up to 30 items: for classroom use can be organised given 1 day notice. 

DVDs: are available for overnight borrowing. 

AV equipment: is available for overnight/weekend borrowing – bookings are essential. This includes cameras and projectors. Send a student with a note if you wish them to collect for you. All items must be returned promptly & ready for use (eg photos removed, etc).  

If you want a student to borrow a camera overnight for curriculum purposes, you need to write a note indicating this & they must then collect a form from the Library to be signed by their parents/guardian prior to the night the item is needed.

 

There are various viewing options available throughout the school OR book one of the library's 4 portable data projectors/speaker sets & show in basically any room. See Compass for a list of what viewing options are available in which rooms. Usually, staff will need to use their personal laptop in conjunction with either a TV or a projector. The library has a laptop for staff to borrow in an emergency, but it is strictly for presentation use and must be returned at the end of the period.

 

When selecting a program, the school’s censorship & viewing policy must be followed. All programs need to be curriculum based. Any variation to this requires a letter home:

                             G         Years Prep - 06        PG       Years 07 - 09

                             M         Year 10                      MA       VCE

R- rated material may not be shown.  It is not permissible to edit out ‘rude bits’ in order to show films  which do not meet the above guidelines.

 

Currently you can show DVDs in (those in bold also have a VCR):

Lib Theatre is used for large school/community events & its use is restricted in order to minimize wear.  It has a data-projector, VCR/DVD & can be booked via Compass. Priority is given to large groups and “film as text".  

However, Year level assemblies take precedence over all other bookings. 

Please supervise students carefully to ensure minimal damage and cleaning.  No food or drink is permitted and students should fill the front and centre seats first. Please remove all rubbish when finished.

 

5.9 Part Time Staff

The College follows DOE policy regarding the conditions of employment of part–time teachers as per 6.3.8 and 6.6.4.10 in the SOTF Reference Guide. The college also follows a Flexible Workforce Plan which is available from reception.

 

5.10 Staff Computers

Staff are welcome to use computers designed primarily for student use. Nearly all staff have a laptops and staff work- stations are provided with computer network cabling. All staff are expected to use their laptop on a daily basis.

 

5.11 Camps

A copy of the camps & excursions policy and procedures is available on Google drive/whole school documents.

 

5.12 Excursions/Incursion – Creating Events

All events – Incursions/Excursions are completed by the staff member on COMPASS. The document to assist in this process can be found in google drive under COMPASS – creating events. Business Manager, Nina Nigro oversees this process.

 

5.13 Student Management

The Student Management Roles and Responsibilities Handbook outlines the layered approach to dealing with classroom behavior.  The resource has behavioural management as the following documents: detention letters, uniform passes and exit slips.  The handbook outlines roles and responsibilities of all staff: Teachers, Student Managers, Assistant Principal and Principal.

 

5.14 Wellbeing

The Wellbeing Team includes Wellbeing & Inclusion Coordinator (Kasi Bird), Wellbeing Counsellor (Claudia Nicolin),  (Integration & Learning Support Manager), School Nurse (Kylie Stanley), P - 6 Leader (Karen Butterworth) Assistant Principal (Michelle Wallis – Year 7 to 12), and the Year Level Student Managers. 

 

5.15 Bullying and Harassment

The College has a policy to combat all forms of bullying and harassment. In the first instance the students are asked to report any instances to a teacher with whom they feel comfortable. Any staff member who receives such a complaint should discuss the matter with the appropriate Student Manager to decide the appropriate action. 

 

5.16 Uniform

Macleod College is a school at which all students are expected to wear the College uniform. Copies of the College Dress code are available from Reception or the Assistant Principal. All staff are expected to be familiar with its details as they have a role in implementing it. 

 

No student (out of uniform) should be permitted to enter a class unless they have a uniform pass, signed by the appropriate Year Level Student Manager.

 

The college uniform supplier operates a uniform shop at the college on Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:15 – 5pm and volunteers run a second-hand uniform shop which is open on Thursdays from 3.00 – 4pm.

 

5.17 Equal Opportunity

The policy regarding equal opportunity is outlined in the Department of Merit and Equity legislation. Within the college a number of staff including the principal have received Merit and Equity training. 

 

A trained staff member participates in all promotion panels. In teaching, staff are expected to always adhere to the principles of Equal Opportunity. Copies of the Macleod College Equal Opportunity Policy are obtainable on google drive. 

 

5.18 Emergency Management Plan

All staff must be familiar with the requirements of the Emergency Management Plan and with their particular responsibilities within it. In the case of an evacuation, all members of the school community are to evacuate the buildings via the routes identified in the plan and are to assemble on the top oval.

 

 At all times the safety of people has precedence over any other issue and all staff must immediately obey and cause those in their charge to obey any PA instructions relating to an emergency. 

 

Evacuation procedures are posted in each classroom and students are not to interfere with these notices. Several practice evacuations are held each year. Staff should have their own copy of the Emergency Management Plan. 

 

The Plan also includes detailed instructions regarding what to do in other emergencies such as lockdowns and evacuations in (evacuating the grounds during recess or lunchtime).  The current Emergency Management Plan can be found in google drive or on COMPASS in school favourites.

 

5.19 Finance

The College Council has a policy concerning the way budgets are developed and approved and the way it will effectively monitor the expenditure of the college. This policy is available from Nina Nigro (Business Manager). The Finance & Facilities Committee meets twice a term and is a committee of the college council.