11.1 If in Doubt....

If in doubt about any aspect of school organisation that may be covered by regulations or you are in doubt about any Macleod College procedures, practices or requirements, check through this booklet and if you are still unsure, consult with a member of the Principal Team.

11.2 Absences

If you anticipate being absent let the Daily Organiser know as soon as possible via:-

Daily Org. Voice Mail: 9457 0277
Daily Org. Email: dailyorg@macleod.vic.edu.au
Receipt of your absence advice will be provided via email as soon as possible
If absences are known of in advance you are expected to leave work for your class on COMPASS
In the event that no work is left on COMPASS, it is the absentee’s duty to advise their KLA manager that the Lesson Plan is incomplete. The KLA manager can then support and make appropriate arrangements.
Every effort is made to avoid cancelling VCE classes. Classes below VCE are never cancelled

If absence is not anticipated, let the Daily Organiser know as early as possible:-

preferably the night before or before 7.00 a.m. in the morning. This will greatly assist in allowing time to source suitable replacement teachers
Except in exceptional circumstances you should have informed the Daily Organiser by 7.00 a.m.
Compass schedules are synced at approximately 7.45 a.m. and the Day Sheet is emailed to all staff at approximately 8.00 a.m.

Changes sometimes need to occur after this time due to unforeseen absence or clashes, and a new day sheet will be emailed to all staff for clarity
To assist in the reduction of last minute changes, can staff please ensure that all meetings are placed on COMPASS as an event well in advance
Staff may be asked to reschedule internal meetings when there are no other options for class coverage, particularly due to the current difficulties in sourcing CRTs

Note: Medical Certificates are required where sick leave is:

in excess of three consecutive school days (full time employees only, part time staff are pro-rata)
adjacent to a school vacation (before or after)
where a total of 5 days sick leave w/o a medical certificate has been taken in the same calendar year (full time employees only, part time staff are pro-rata). Please note that the five days mentioned here form part of the normal annual credit and are not in addition.
adjacent to days absent as a result of strike action
on either side of a public holiday
when requested by the Principal
Medical certificates must indicate whether the absence is a whole day or a fraction of a day. If you are absent because your child is ill the certificate must indicate this (Carer’s).
A certificate stating you attended a medical appointment is not sufficient to cover a day’s absence unless in writing from the medical practitioner.

11.3 You are Late

Inform the school as soon as it is apparent that you are not going to arrive on time.
Teachers are expected to inform the school if they are running late even if they do not have a class as this could affect the allocation of ‘replacement’ classes and will alleviate concerns for your safety.

11.4 You Become ill at school

Stacey Tsalikidis, Kim Mansfield, Emma Wagner and JoAnne McBain, First Aid attendants, have a reasonable supply of self-medication which are available to staff.

Staff who wish to go home during the day should tell the principal of their intentions immediately so replacement teachers for their classes can be organised. Reception holds a sign out register that must also be updated if a staff member is leaving early.

If you are injured in any way at school, you must fill out an Accident Report online. Stacey Tsalikidis in Reception will advise you of the details. Complete this even if you believe the injuries are inconsequential.

11.5 A Student is ill or Injured

Duty of care places a legal responsibility to look after the student appropriately. In the secondary section an injured or sick student is sent or taken to Reception where qualified first-aiders Stacey Tsalikidis, Kim Mansfield, Emma Wagner and JoAnne McBain are located. They will treat the student and determine if they should return to class or be collected and taken home. In the Early Years building Mrs. Karen Butterworth should be the first person contacted.

An injured student should not be moved, send a student to fetch Stacey, Emma, Kim or JoAnne as quickly as possible. They are in the school from 8.30am – 4pm. Outside of these times, utilise another staff member who has First Aid qualifications. After you have ensured that an injured student is being properly cared for, report the accident to Reception so that it can recorded.

If a student bleeds, avoid touching the blood until you have obtained gloves from Reception. It is better that the student bleeds onto the floor than for anyone to directly touch the blood. Thick rags or towels can be used while waiting for gloves and often the student can staunch the blood himself or herself.

If a student vomits inside, vacate the area and seek a replacement room. Send to Reception for sawdust and disinfectant to sprinkle onto the mess. Let Nina Nigro know so that she can arrange for the area to be cleaned as soon as possible.

11.6 You need yo leave early...

All staff are expected to be on duty until 3:50 or later. In exceptional circumstances staff who do not have a scheduled class or meeting may be given permission by the administration to leave early.

Please seek out the Principal or an Assistant Principal for this purpose. Such permission will only be given provided the Daily Organiser does not have need to schedule your classes.

11.7 You want to Organise an Excursion

All excursions must be approved by the Assistant Principal & Business Manager

When organising an excursion please consider:

Remember that all expenses incurred on the school’s behalf, such as bus hire, CRT costs must be arranged using an order form.
Payments by students can only be made at Reception before school or at recess. Teachers should not collect money themselves. Alternative arrangements will apply to the younger primary students who will take any money directly to their class teacher.
Parents pay and consent for excursion via COMPASS.
Alternative arrangements must be made for any student not participating in the excursion
If this excursion is overnight, involves adventure activities, is hazardous, involves air or water travel or is on a non-school attendance day note that the College Council give permission for the activity. Use the `Notification of School Activity” pro forma. The College Council meets on the third Wednesday of the month.
Complete the “Work Left for Extra Periods” form if you are leaving scheduled classes to be covered as ‘extras’.

11.8 You want to attend Professional Development Day

Professional Development via Compass

This module is designed for you to apply for and track all your Professional Development. These events then appear in the Compass Calendar under Professional Development

It is available from the Compass – Organisation Menu.

STEPS:

Create a New PD Activity
Choose the PD Template that applies (Some require approval)
Once finished and/or approval has been granted it will appear in your dashboard

For more information please look at the Compass Guide

Organisation Menu/Professional Development Compass Calendar Layers

PD Template Options

PD application – with cost. If there is a cost associated that will also require a Purchase Order once it has been approved.
PD application – no cost – Requires Cover. Daily Organiser will arrange cover for the periods required. If you require someone in particular, please email dailyorg@macleod.vic.edu.au
PD – Personal record. This allows you to keep a track of your own PD.
Request cover for Meeting. Daily Organiser will be required to cover the period/s, as required.
PD application – no cost – No Cover. PD requires approval but no cost or cover required.

11.9 You wand to find a Student

Individual student timetables are found via COMPASS

To find a student in the primary grades Karen Butterworth should be consulted.

11.10 Newsletter Articles

Newsletter articles are to be given or emailed to Joan Cave or Emma Wagner in Reception by close of business, 3 days prior to the issue of the newsletter. Staff will be advised of newsletter issue dates.

11.11 Special Points to note re Practical Lessons

Students are not permitted to have breaks outside the classroom or to leave classrooms during practical classes. In particular they are not to be allowed to have drinks or go to their lockers unless directly supervised by their teacher.

Students may be given permission to go to the toilet at the teacher’s discretion. It is strongly advised that no more than one student at a time is sent to the toilet. Also be aware that in the past students have arranged mid-class meetings at the toilets with students from other classes.

Students are not permitted to go to their lockers or bags during classes unless you can directly supervise them. Returning from PE may be an exception.

11.12 You want to use Detention

Refer to Student Management Roles and Responsibilities Handbook.

11.13 A student does not turn up at your Detention

Report this to the appropriate Year Student Manager who will follow this up.

11.14 A Student is Out of Uniform

Students who are out of uniform must have an explanatory note from a parent or guardian. They will be issued with a uniform pass by their Student Manager that they must carry with them for the duration of the pass. Repeat offenders will be managed by the relevant Student Manager.

Teachers should always check that any out of uniform students in their class has a pass. If they do not have a uniform pass, they should have their name recorded which should then be passed onto the appropriate Student Manager.

11.15 You want help with Class Management

In the first instance discuss classroom practices (staged management approach) and courses with relevant KLA Manager or teachers teaching the same subject. If you are having difficulty with an individual student check the Student Manager or his/her other teachers for coping strategies, including co-operative learning techniques and differential ability teaching.

The school believes in the “whole school” approach to student management with teachers, as much as possible, being responsible for directly managing the behaviour of their students.

If the incident is of a sufficiently serious nature to be inappropriate to be handled by a classroom teacher, in your judgment, it should be referred to the Student Manager. Other behaviour which should be referred is when the student repeatedly behaves in a way which interferes with his/her or others learning or when they are repeatedly late or absent and the steps you have taken to remedy the situation have not worked.

Bullying is something that does occur from time to time and staff should be alert, to prevent it. If a student reports an incident of bullying to you, you must advise the Student Manager or Karen Butterworth (P – 6). You can agree together how to handle the incident. This is also so the level teams can build up a full picture of both bullies and victims and put into place preventative strategies. Cases of bullying whether observed or reported to staff must not be ignored.

The College policy on bullying is available on google drive/whole school documents/policies

11.16 You want an Area Cleaned

If you are concerned that an area is inadequately cleaned see the Business Manager who is in charge of the cleaning contract

11.17 You want to Display Student Work

To arrange a display in a classroom, see the Student Manager to find out which rooms are available or use the room for which you have responsibility.

The library has facilities to display student work. Negotiate this with Karen Egan (Library Coordinator).

Corridor displays are usually the responsibility of the Arts KLA Coordinator and the appropriate wing leader.

11.18 You want to make a Phone Call

Teachers are NOT charged for phone calls but are requested to limit personal phone calls to essential calls only. There is a phone in each staff room for this purpose. Staff extension numbers are listed next to the phones, any queries contact Reception.

To obtain an external line - Dial ‘0’ wait for dial tone then make your call.

Internal lines - Don’t access a line. Use number pad to call up appropriate station

11.19 You want to use the Photocopier

There are two photocopiers available for staff use in the staff workroom. Your staff ID card will work the photocopiers or use your PIN given by Simone Hale. Photocopiers are also situated in the Library, Early Years, G Block, S Block and the Senior School Office. The Reception photocopier is only available to office staff and the principal group.

11.20 You want Access the School Out of Hours

Although your key will open some doors it does not lock external doors or access the school’s Security System. If the building is locked do not go inside unless you are certain the system is off because otherwise security guards from DOE security and the police will arrive very promptly.

Only the Principal, Assistant Principal, Business Manager, maintenance and head cleaner have security keys for the whole school. (You must contact them for access out of hours). The school is charged every time the system is accidentally triggered and security attends.

11.21 You want to Order Resources

Before any purchase is made on behalf of the school a purchase order number must be obtained. Authorisation is by the Business Manager

11.22 If you are asked to write a Reference

Personal references may be written at the teacher’s discretion; however official school references, on letterhead may only be written by Student Managers, Expert Teachers or Principall Class.

11.23 You Want to Borrow Equipment

It is possible to borrow most school equipment for short periods of time provided it is not required by the school. To borrow it, sign it out in the “Insurance Book” found in the Business Manager’s office.

11.24 You have a Visitor

As a matter of courtesy, please let the Principal know if you have invited visitors to the school and introduce them to the most senior Principal class person available when they arrive. Visiting adults not accompanied by staff are expected to wear a visitor tag obtainable by signing in at Reception.

11.25 Room Changes

Room changes can be made in COMPASS by selecting the class to open up the ‘Class’ page. Choose ‘change’ below the location name on the Class page.

Staff are reminded that it is crucial that students can be located if an emergency occurs, and room changes MUST be recorded.

11.26 You want to Help a Student

Do NOT invite them into the staffroom but use an empty classroom. Alternatively see them in the VCE Centre, the library or the corridor. Do not see students alone in a room with a closed door.

11.27 You find Dangerous/Offensive Material in the Grounds

Unfortunately used syringes and other dangerous objects are sometimes, but rarely found in the grounds. Ensure that someone stands guard so that a student will not be injured and go to Reception to collect a Sharps container and protective clothing so that you can safely pick up the offensive object.

As a teacher you have an obligation to ensure that the environment is safe.

Staff Handbook

Staff Handbook · 07 Feb 2024

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