Staff Handbook

Teaching Staff

7.1 Conditions

The teaching staff's local conditions are based on the Agreement between the Department of Education and the Australian Education Union. Copies of the agreement are available from the union executive or the Principal.

 

Staff are expected to be on duty for a minimum of seven and a half hours each day. All staff are entitled to at least half lunchtime free of any duties.   

 

7.2 2024 Local Agreement

A copy of the 2024 Local agreement is available in whole school documents. The agreement addresses issues such as teaching allotments; replacement classes; class sizes; yard duty; extras and meetings including out of hours commitments.

 

7.3 Additional Staff Qualifications

A number of staff are qualified as Merit & Equity, Endorsed Driver's Licence and First aid Officers.

 

7.4 Long Service Leave

A full and detailed copy of the current College Long Service Leave Policy can be downloaded from google drive.

Key points are summarised below:

  • Leave applications must be submitted on Edupay at least 2 terms prior to the requested commencement date, with the exception of leave for compassionate reasons or pressing necessity which will be considered on an individual basis.
  • Any leave request without 2 terms notice will be submitted to the Principal for consideration taking into effect the following factors: length of service, last period of leave, length of leave sought, applicants’ leave history, reasons for leave in context to individual circumstances 
  • Staff scheduled for Year 12 classes would generally not be granted leave for more than one month. Any exceptions would only occur where such an absence is deemed not to be detrimental to the students’ learning program.
  • Staff who wish to withdraw or change leave must give at least one term’s notice however if a replacement has already been secured then variations or cancellations of the original leave application will not be possible.
  • The College Principal has the final decision as to whether leave is granted.
  • The applicant will be notified via Edupay of the outcome of the leave application and all correspondence regarding this matter will be placed in the teacher’s personal file.
  • An appeal arising from an unsuccessful leave application can be made to an appropriate “Leave Review Committee” for teaching staff and to the College Council for non-teaching staff.
  • Where disputes are unresolved an appeal will be referred to the “Merit and Equity Board”.       

7.5 Meetings

The meeting schedule is shown on the 2024 Calendar as posted on Google Drive and COMPASS Calendar and is updated on a daily basis. Calendar meetings and events are also available on the COMPASS calendar. 

It is expected that teachers will attend scheduled meetings each week; if you are unable to attend a scheduled meeting you must inform the Principal or Assistant Principal. 

 

7.6 School Diary

The Daily Organiser, who only works daily from 7am – 9am keeps the College Diary that is an up-to-date record of all events scheduled to occur in the school.

 

All variations from the timetabled routine must be recorded in this diary.  Any event that is not recorded in the diary will probably not be allowed to go ahead.

 

7.7 Occupational Health & Safety

The school's Occupational Health and Safety Officers (Simone Hale and Principal) manage all issues regarding the health and safety of staff. If teachers become aware of conditions that impinge on their health and safety they are asked, in the first instance, to advise either Simone Hale or the Principal. 

 

If they have cause for further concern they should then make a member of the OHS Committee aware of the issue (Nina Nigro & Jaeden McKenzie). 

 

The college Occupational Health & Safety Policy is contained in goggle drive. OH&S Regulations and other useful information may be located on the DOE website. 

 

7.8 Responsibility for Safety of Students

At all times and in the performance of all duties the safety of the students is paramount. All teachers must bear this in mind and organise excursions, general supervision, classroom practice and resources appropriately. Teachers must make the appropriate faculty, level or member of administration aware of any situation endangering safety that they cannot deal with themselves.

 

The following is an excerpt from the DET direction regarding ‘Duty of Care’.

 Care and supervision of students - Duty of care

Whenever a student teacher relationship exists, the teacher has a special duty of care. 

 

This is defined as follows:

'A teacher is to take such measures as are reasonable in the circumstances to protect a student under the teacher's charge from,’ risk of injury that the teacher should reasonably have foreseen, and against which preventative measures could be taken.’ (Richards V State of Victoria (J 969) VR 136 at p.141)

 

As part of that duty teachers are required to supervise students adequately School authorities in breach of the duty may be liable for injuries inflicted by one student on another as well as for injuries sustained by a student.

 

Schools normally satisfy the duty of care by allocating responsibilities to different staff. For example, the Principal is responsible for making and administering such arrangements for supervision as may be necessary according to the circumstances in each school.

 

Teachers are responsible for carrying out their assigned supervisory duties in such a way that students are, as far as can be reasonably expected, protected from injury. This duty extends to intervention in single-sex areas if need be by a teacher of the other gender. 

 

7.9 Comunication

All college documentation, policies and other relevant information are posted on the Macleod College Google Drive. Announcements are posted to the COMPASS newsfeed. All staff should check this and their email each day. 

 

New staff will need to make contact with Simone Hale (Information Technology) who will set up access to the college network, and email and issue individual staff their own password.

 

Staff have direct access to the Timetable via COMPASS. This enables printing of staff and student timetables, the 10-day timetable and a quick and efficient way of tracking both staff and students if contact is needed during class time.

 

The timetable is runs on a 10-day cycle. Please make sure you are aware of when the cycle starts.

 

A monthly College Newsletter (which incorporates secondary and primary) is published and a link sent to all staff.

 

Staff are expected to use their laptop computer.

 

Staff meetings are held regularly and attendance is required. If you are unable to attend, please give your apologies to the Principal, Assistant Principal and chairperson.

 

The ‘Daily Organisation Sheet’ is emailed to all staff daily. Staff must ensure that they check the Daily Organisation Sheet for any classes they have been assigned in lieu or under-allotted sessions.

 

The new Public Address system allows reception to isolate where the announcements are made, so that other classes are not disturbed. Students can be called up to the office at these times to receive messages. Students can also be communicated with via COMPASS newsfeed or their Macleod gmail address. 

 

7.10 Supervision Duty Responsibilities

Yard Duty - General Instructions: 

Supervision of students during school hours (including to and from school) is a legal DET requirement. This supervision also includes “Yard duty” which is an important task that all teachers are expected to perform. Yard duty takes precedence over all other tasks and failure to attend yard duty can place yourself and colleagues at risk of litigation.

 

All staff are allocated yard duty supervision and are made aware of the sessions they have been allocated through listing on the College timetable, individual teacher timetables and on the daily “Teacher Absence” sheet.

 

Furthermore, staff who are given an additional duty to replace teachers who are absent on any given day are informed via the daily “Teacher Absence” sheet. Staff who are unable to undertake Yard Duty must see the Daily Organiser in time to arrange coverage. It is permissible to arrange a swap with another staff member as long as the allocated staff member ensures that the duty is undertaken. 

 

The lunchtime change over time is 1.50 pm and on Early Finish Days the changeover is 1.05.  Arrive to Yard Duty promptly - Staff must be in the allocated area by this time.

 

Yard Duty involves a duty of care, which means that students must be supervised. Do not ignore dangerous or destructive behaviour.

 

Staff must watch carefully for any acts of bullying or harassment. Students are told to approach the Yard Duty teacher if they are being harassed or if they feel threatened in any way. Staff must take such claims seriously and ensure that the student is escorted to a safe location and that the incident is reported to the relevant team. 

 

Do not ignore dropped rubbish, misbehaviour or students out of bounds. For example, a student seen dropping rubbish should be required to clean an area or pick up an allocated number of pieces of paper. There is no need to send students to student managers offices or an assistant Principal unless the offence is more serious such as smoking, fighting, damage, bullying, etc. Please report any required maintenance such as a broken window to the Business Manager. 

 

Duty includes the supervision of all P -12 students. 

If you see ‘outsiders’ please direct them to reception. It is best, if possible, to speak to such visitors with a colleague. Ask the visitor(s) to go to reception if they wish to speak to a student/ staff member. Ask them to leave the school grounds if they have no legitimate reason for being at the school. Avoid any confrontation or arguments and inform reception,  a student manager or the Assistant Principal immediately. 

 

It is recommended that a mobile phone be taken on yard duty and wear the high visual vests provided.  Report any students speaking with or encouraging outsiders within the school grounds. Do not place yourself in a position in which you feel uncomfortable or threatened. 

 

Students are not allowed within 2 metres of any boundary fences, the far oval nor behind the meditation garden along Somers Avenue. 

 

Railway Station: - Bus & Station

 

Staff must exercise the same level of care & responsibility as one would when supervising students anywhere within the college grounds or during official activities outside the college grounds. Further to this, staff should expect the same level of response and respect from the students as one would anytime during college hours. However, this may not be the most appropriate time to pursue disciplinary issues, which may be more successfully dealt with at a later time. 

 

Before School

As the students arrive over a period of an hour or so this is not a crowded duty. Supervising teachers can stand on the park side of the railway lines where they can see both the gates and the seat. The main task is to ensure that students do not congregate around the station and in particular at the ‘donut seat’ where smokers and other miscreants often hang out. Also make sure that students do not cross the railway line after the bells ring and the gates close. Remind out-of-uniform students that they need to get a uniform pass. This duty commences at 8.44am and concludes at 8.54am.

 

After School 

Is much busier and it is important that staff allocated to this duty get to the station as soon as possible. Two staff are on duty and one person should position themselves near the railway crossing gates, especially to ensure that students do not cross the railway tracks after the gates have closed and the bells are ringing. (This is particularly urgent for the 3:22 Greensborough train, which many students rush to catch.) The other supervising teacher should cross the railway tracks and move to the bus stop where they should supervise the students into an orderly line. (Some senior students have been asked to assist with this) 

 

The North-West bus can be extremely crowded, so it is important that students line up and get on the bus in an orderly manner. If there are any members of the public, you can lead them to the front of the line. From both the bus stop and the railway crossing area it is possible to see both sides of the station and check on any unacceptable behaviour. Staff on both Before & After School station duties are encouraged to have their mobile phone with them. This duty begins at 3.10pm and concludes after the 3.35pm city train departs Macleod station.

 

Other issues:

Dealing with the Public: The guidelines here are the same for any yard duty: do not put yourself in a position of conflict or discomfort. It is preferable to deal with any difficult situation later in a more secure school environment. 

 

Shops: Students are allowed to use the local shops both before and after school, and Year 12 students may go to the shops once they have finished timetabled classes. However, students must not congregate or loiter around the shops or in the park. They must make any required purchase and move on. 

 

There are many elderly and not so elderly local residents who feel threatened or intimidated by groups of young people hanging around the local area, especially if they are blocking up the footpath. It is expected that students are considerate and cooperative towards other members of the Macleod community. 

 

7.11 Responsibility for Rooms & Prevention of Vandalism

All staff are expected share the responsibility for the care of college buildings, furniture and equipment. Staff must ensure that they leave rooms graffiti free and the floors clear of rubbish. Cleaners, gloves and wipes are available from Reception.

 

There has been a pleasing decrease in the levels of vandalism within the school in both classrooms and around the college grounds since the instillation of security cameras. However, damage still occurs. In addition to costing the college thousands of dollars that could be better spent elsewhere, vandalism is creating an unattractive and even unsafe work environment. 

 

To help improve the college environment please ensure that the following are adhered to:

  • Lock all rooms as you leave the classroom, teachers on corridor duty should check that classrooms are locked. Report broken locks to the Business Manager Nina Nigro. 
  • Students are not permitted in rooms without a teacher being present.
  • Students are not permitted to have whiteout or thick markers - these should be confiscated.
  • Students are not to use or play with the blinds, light switches or the fans.
  • Students are not allowed to chew gum, eat or drink inside. Students breaking this rule should pick up some litter.
  • Teachers are expected to supervise their classes whether it is a regular class or an extra. Teachers should not sit at the teachers’ desk for entire lesson. The emphasis on positive relationships and student engagement largely relies on developing personal contacts with the students. Accordingly, teachers should wander around their classrooms assisting and speaking to individual students for a part of most lessons. This also increases opportunities to check on furniture writers and other damage.
  • Discourage students from going to the toilet during class time, although you must use your discretion here especially with junior students. Some designated students must be permitted to go to the toilets. Do not permit more than one student at a time to go to the toilet and do not accept lengthy absences. All students out of class require a teacher note that includes the time of departure.
  • Classes, including VCE, are not to be cancelled except through the Daily Organiser, nor should any classes be dismissed before the bell.
  • Please check the sex appropriate toilets as you pass and teachers on Central yard duty must check the toilets regularly.
  • Picking up rubbish, cleaning furniture and other beautification tasks are most suitable sanctions for misbehaving students. Cleansers and gloves are available from the general office.