Numurkah Primary School - Statement of Values

We are learners, responsible, respectful and caring.

Numurkah Primary School is committed to providing a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for all students, staff and members of our Community. Numurkah Primary 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 environments for our students.

This Statement of Values sets out our behavioural expectations of all members in this school community, including the principal, all school staff, parents, students and visitors. It respects the diversity of individuals in our school community and addresses the shared responsibilities of all members in building safe and respectful school communities.

The programs and teaching at Numurkah Primary 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

Discrimination, sexual and other forms of harassment, bullying, violence, aggression and threatening behaviour are unacceptable and will not be tolerated in this school.

Our Statement of Values acknowledges that parents and school staff are strongly motivated to do their best for every child. Everyone has the right to differing opinions and views and to raise concerns, as long as we do this respectfully as a community working together. To help us achieve our values, we promote and practice the following school wide positive behaviours of learning, caring, being responsible and respectful.

Responsibilities

As principals and school leaders, we will:

Model positive behavior and effective leadership.
Communicate politely and respectfully with all members of the school community.
Work collaboratively to create a school environment where respectful and safe conduct is expected of everyone.
Behave in a manner consistent with the standards of our profession and meet core responsibilities to provide inclusive, safe and orderly environments.
Plan, implement and monitor arrangements to ensure the care, safety, security and general wellbeing of all students in attendance at the school is protected.
Identify and support students who are or may be at risk.
Do our best to ensure every child achieves their personal and learning potential.
Work with parents to understand their child’s needs and, where necessary, adapt the learning environment accordingly.
Respond appropriately when inclusive, safe or orderly behaviour is not demonstrated and implement appropriate interventions and sanctions when required.
Make known to parents the school’s communication and complaints procedures.
Ask any person who is acting in an offensive or disorderly way to leave the school grounds.

As Teachers and all non-teaching staff, we will:

Model positive behaviour to students consistent with the standards of our profession.
Communicate politely and respectfully with all members of the school community.
Proactively engage with parents about student outcomes.
Work with parents to understand the needs of each student and, where necessary, adapt the learning environment accordingly.
Work collaboratively with parents to improve learning and wellbeing outcomes for students with additional needs.
Communicate with the principal and school leaders in the event we anticipate or face any tension or challenging behaviours from parents.
Treat all members of the school community with respect.

As Parents, we will:

Model positive behaviour to our child.
Communicate politely and respectfully with all members of the school community.
Ensure our child attends school on time, every day the school is open for instruction.
Take an interest in our child’s school and learning.
Work with the school to achieve the best outcomes for our child.
Communicate constructively with the school and use expected processes and protocols when raising concerns.
Support school staff to maintain a safe learning environment for all students.
Follow the school’s complaints processes if there are complaints.
Treat all school leaders, staff, students, and other members of the school community with respect.

As students, we will:

Model positive behavior to other students
Communicate politely and respectfully with all members of the school community
Comply with and model school values
Behave in a safe and responsible manner
Respect ourselves, other members of the school community and the school environment
Actively participate in school
Not disrupt the learning of others and make the most of our educational opportunities.

As Community MEMBERS, We will:

Model positive behaviour to the school community.
Treat other members of the school community with respect.
Support school staff to maintain a safe and orderly learning environment for all students.
Utilise the school’s communications policy to communicate with the school.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT WILL:

Provide support and advice to principals to equip them to manage and respond to challenging behaviour of students, parents and staff.
Provide practical guidance and resources to support schools to manage and respond to challenging behaviour of students, parents and staff.
Provide practical guidance and resources to support schools respond to and prevent bullying and promote cyber-safety and wellbeing.
Provide access to evidence based resources and strategies to increase student safety, wellbeing and engagement.
Provide schools with practical and legal support as required.
Provide parents with practical guidance and resources to resolve conflicts with the school.

Consequences for failing to uphold the statement of values

Unreasonable behaviours

Behaviours that are considered inappropriate on and adjacent to school grounds or in relation to school business and that do not uphold the principles of this Statement of Values include when a person:

Speaking or behaving in a rude, manipulative, aggressive or threatening way, either in person, via electronic communication or social media, or over the telephone
sending demanding rude, confronting or threatening letters, emails or text messages
speaks in an aggressive tone, either in person or over the telephone
makes sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic or derogatory comments
the use of social media or public forums to make inappropriate or threatening remarks about the school, staff or students
the use of threat of violence of any kind, including physically intimidating behaviour such as aggressive hand gestures or invading another person’s personal space.

Harassment, bullying, violence, aggression, threatening behaviour and unlawful discrimination are unacceptable and will not be tolerated at our school.

Consequences

Principals are responsible for determining what constitutes reasonable and unreasonable behaviour.

Unreasonable behaviour and/or failure to uphold the principles of this Statement of Values may lead to further investigation and the implementation of appropriate consequences by the school Principal. This may include:

requesting that the parties attend a mediation or counselling sessions
implementing specific communication protocols
written warnings
conditions of entry to school grounds or school activities
exclusion from school grounds or attendance at school activities
reports to Victoria Police
legal action

Inappropriate student behaviour will be managed in according with or school’s Student Wellbeing and engagement Policy and Bullying Prevention Policy.

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

This policy was last updated on 22nd June, 2020 and approved at School Council on 22nd June, 2020. Policy is scheduled for review in June 2023.

Numurkah Primary School

Creating the future together

Issue 9 · 26 Jun 2020

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