Student safety in the yard

In the last few weeks we have had some instances where students have not been looking after themselves or others in the yard and on the park.

As part of our school values we strive to show Humanity by being generous and striving for justice in the world. We strive to show Fairness by being open and honest and treating each other with respect.

We discuss safety with students, and ask for support from families in reinforcing these points:

• Any direct “physical impact” games (such as British Bulldogs or Scarecrow) where the aim of the game is to tackle someone (usually head on) are prohibited at all times;
• Teachers are on yard duty for the safety of all students. They are doing their job by making sure all students are safe. Any request from a teacher in the yard must be treated the same way as it would in the classroom;
• If a student sees something potentially dangerous happening they should inform the teacher on duty immediately.

In some situations students may feel as though the game or behaviour in the yard is “ok” but it is the teacher’s responsibility to determine if the behaviour is appropriate, just as they do in a classroom.  It is important that students respect their decisions.