Policies

The care of each and every individual person is paramount at Hawker Park Primary. Our school aims to provide support and guidance for the development of the whole child.

We have an established Student Support team consisting of the Principal, the Students at Educational Risk Co-ordinator, the school Psychologist and the Chaplain. This team meets weekly to discuss any needs that may have become apparent to the class teacher who then provides this information to the support team.

The support team then provides guidance to the class teacher and parents for the benefit of the student.

School Chaplain

The role of the School Chaplain is to:

• Support children and families who might be dealing with crisis, grief or loss in their lives.
• Support students with the Zones of Regulations.
• Organise emergency relief such as food hampers.
• Facilitate the Christmas Good Samaritans collection.

This program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education under the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program. 

Disclaimer: The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Government Department of Education.

The school is a caring community with everyone having responsibilities towards each other. Each person has a right to an education in a school where they feel cared for, valued and safe. Bullying is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

DEFINITION

• A person is bullied when exposed regularly, and over a period of time, to negative actions by one or more persons.
• The term is not applied to one-off incidents of nastiness or targeting—one of the defining features of bullying is its persistence and that it involves misery-making over a period of time.
  
  

It may be exhibited as:
Social
Physical
Verbal
Cyber

• We need to be aware that not all aggression is bullying, nor all name calling. It becomes bullying when exercised through the use of perceived power rather than exchange between equals.

PREVENTATIVE STRATEGIES

The school aims to:

• Acknowledge that bullying and harassment exist in all communities
• Develop a process of education about bullying for teaching and non-teaching staff, students and parents. This may involve strategies such as class discussions, a list of consequences and methods of recording.
• Create an environment in which students, parents and staff understand their responsibilities and rights.

GUIDELINES FOR RESPONDING TO INCIDENT

1. Victims of bullying and harassment will be supported.

2. Address the cause of the bully’s actions.

3. Parents will be informed of details pertaining to particular incidents as they arise and have access to all relevant information.

4. The Counselling Approach procedure will be used when interviewing both victim and bully. In dealing with incidents as they arise the principle of changing student behaviour is always more important than punishing behaviour.

5. Outside agencies such as School Psychologists, Chaplain etc can be called in to assist.

6. If bullying continues, measures such as Suspension and Exclusion will be considered and used. (see guidelines for Suspension & Exclusion)

BULLYING POLICY
COUNSELLING APPROACH

Step One – Interview with the victim
When the teacher finds out that bullying has happened he/she starts by talking to the victim about the incident. He/she needs to know who was involved.

Step Two – Convene a meeting with the people involved
The teacher arranges to meet with the student group who have been involved, excluding the victim. This will include those who joined in but did not initiate any bullying.

Step Three – Explain the problem
Tell students how the victim may be feeling i.e. the consequences of their actions for the victim. Do not discuss details of the incidents as this can deteriorate into an argument.

Step Four – Share responsibility
The teacher does not attribute blame but states that he/she knows that the group is responsible and can do something about it.

Step Five – Ask the group for their ideas
Each member of the group is encouraged to help solve the problem by suggesting ways in which the victim could be helped to feel happier.

Step Six – Changing behaviour
The teacher ends the meeting by stressing to the group their responsibility to change their behaviour. He/she arranges to meet with them again to see how things are going.

Step Seven – Meet the people involved again
About a week later the teacher individually discusses with each student, including the victim, how things have been going. This allows the teacher to monitor the bullying and keeps the students involved in the process.
(Based on the seven step plan “The No Blame Approach”…. Maines & Robinson

RATIONALE

• School identity
• Pride
• Team spirit
• Equality
• Reduces fashion concerns
• Cost considerations
• Health and safety

GUIDELINES

• Appropriateness for ages of students
• Relevant for both male and female students
• Health and safety
• Meets expected standards
• Includes some choice
• Reasonable cost to parents by offering new and used
• New students can wear previous uniform or Hawker Park Primary School colours in the interim

REQUIREMENTS

• Navy blue and gold polo-neck t-shirt with school logo on left breast
• Faction shirt with faction name printed under logo
• School or navy blue shorts, skirts, skorts, track pants or trousers.  No jeans.
• Hawker Park Primary School blue-check dress (as shown in display book)
• School windcheater with school logo on left breast.
• Closed flat shoes and suitable flat sandals with ankle support
• School hat
• School Jacket

PURCHASING UNIFORMS

• School uniforms are available from the uniform shop, through the P&C Uniform Co-ordinator, located in TA10 on Fridays 8:00am-8:30am and afternoons between 2.30 and 3.00. Since COVID-19, by appointment.
• New and used uniforms are available

School and sports/faction uniform

• are expected always
• must be worn daily, except on special days

Kindergarten

• have the option to wear the Kindergarten T shirt and Kindergarten Hat

School Hats          

• are compulsory all year

Footwear

• for non-sports days wear appropriate covered shoes or sandals
• no fashion shoes and no thongs, except for swimming

Hair

• if long, must be tied back or up
• must be neat, free of artificial colour, practical and conservative

Jewellery/Makeup

• only stud earrings, sleepers and watches
• nail polish and other make up must not be worn

Free Dress Days/Crazy Hair Days

• once a term as a fundraiser or other reason
• must be appropriate to students’ age

Special Dress Days

• limit to as appropriate to school life, e.g. bush dance

Sports Days

• wear sports/faction uniform, including hat, sunscreen, sneakers
  
  

Choir

• wear uniform for performances as required
• windcheater and t-shirt uniforms provided by school

Excursions

• expect all students to wear full school uniform and adhere to School Dress Code unless otherwise specified by classroom teacher
  
  

MODIFICATIONS

Health

• As discussed with Principal
• Medic-Alert bracelets are encouraged
  
  

Religious/Tradition

• Specific religious clothing (e.g. headgear, signet ring) may be worn for special reasons after discussion with the Principal

SEQUENCE OF CONSEQUENCES

• Families have information at enrolment through the Family Information Booklet and Newsletters
• For older children seek support from them to adhere to School Dress Code
• Parent letter seeking support for adherence to School Dress Code
• Parents have option to talk to Principal and to have a ‘period of grace’
• Students excluded from activities where child represents school, such as excursions, photos, public performances

CODE OF CONDUCT

At Hawker Park Primary School it is desired that a Code of Conduct is created where the school community learn to conduct themselves in a manner that displays respect, kindness, manners and care and consideration for the rights of others, complying with rules that are formulated for the well-being of our whole school community.

Such a Code of Conduct is based on the following assumptions: 

1. Students demonstrate respect, kindness and manners.
2. Students adhere to our Playground, Safety and Health Rules.
3. No tackling games without adult supervision.
4. Students display conduct that is conducive to the growth and development of others.
5. School grounds, buildings and equipment are used respectfully.
6. Illegal and/or dangerous items are not permitted on school grounds.
7. Toys/other valuable items are only to be brought to school with teacher permission.
8. Students consider their own safety and the safety of others in the classroom and playground.          
9. Follow directions from staff at all times.
10. Wearing of school uniform is compulsory. Only watches and stud or sleeper ear-rings may be worn. Refer to School Uniform Policy.
11. Mobile phones are handed in to the office.  Students found using mobiles will have them confiscated and stored for parent pick up.
12. At Hawker Park we have a “good standing” requirement. Good standing needs to be included in classroom agreements. If a child is 1. violent towards another child or is 2 disrespectful towards a staff member, he/she loses “good standing” hence would also lose the privilege of going on an excursion, camp, or any other extra-curricular or school social activity (severe clause, Admin level).  Importantly, though, a child can re-gain the status of “good standing” by making amends and behaving appropriately.

• Stay within the play areas                 
• Use toilets for their intended use
• Keep the school neat and tidy                               
• Wear a school hat or play in the undercover area                   
• Only enter buildings with an adult       
• Arrive at school 10-15 minutes before school commences        
• Run on grassed areas, walk on all other surfaces
• Kicking games in allocated areas                             
• Trade toys/cards at home not school
• Use the adventure play equipment sensibly 
• Sit in designated areas when eating
• Walk bicycles on the school grounds
• Wear bike helmets when cycling—no skate boards or scooters
• Uneaten food and packaging to go home

SUPPORTING PRO-SOCIAL STUDENT BEHAVIOUR POLICY

AIM

The HPPS school community will be made aware of this policy document at the beginning of their association with the school and available on the school website.

Hawker Park Primary School aims to:

• Create a positive, safe environment within the school and classroom so that the teachers and students can work together in harmony.
• Create a caring school environment where the rights and responsibilities of the individual are recognised and respected
• Recognise those members of the school community whose exemplary behaviour promotes a positive and caring school environment.
• Establish a set of agreements within each class that protect the rights of all individuals.
• Establish a clear set of consequences for individuals who do not accept their responsibilities and break Code of Conduct, so that they are encouraged to recognise and respect the rights of others.
• Establish a procedure so that conflicts and unacceptable behaviour can be resolved in a positive manner.
• Encourage pro-social behaviours through ongoing programmes such as whole school values programme, aspects of “You Can Do It”, Zones of Regulation, SDERA Resilience and other classroom based social skills programme.

Introduction

The purpose of this document is to place all ‘communication with parents’ information in one place to be called the Hawker Park Primary School Communication Policy.

Definition

For this policy, communication is defined as a process of consultation and imparting information from one party to another, for the purpose of greater participation and collaboration between home and school to benefit students.

Procedures

At Hawker Park PS we have numerous ways to consult and communicate with parents at both the classroom level and whole school level.

At the classroom level, teachers use Class Dojo, websites, emails, face-to-face communication and end of semester reports. 

At the school level, administrators use the fortnightly Hawker Headlines, Skoolbag, the school website, surveys, emails, provisional term planner, the noticeboard, class representatives, the School Board and the P&C.

General Principles

• At the end of term one, a parent/teacher reporting half day will be organised. Students do not attend school on this half day.
• Parents are asked to make an appointment to speak to the classroom teacher if they wish to discuss their child’s progress or have concerns.
• Teachers will communicate with parents prior to the end of a semester if they believe a child will achieve a ‘D’ grade in the end of semester report.
• Parents have been asked to approach the teacher first if they have queries or concerns and then administration should the issue not be resolved.
• A Parent Information Evening week 2 term 1 will coincide with the welcome picnic.
• For students of substantial Educational Needs, parents will be communicated with on a needs basis.
• Parents to advise teachers of adjustments to their child’s health and well-being which may affect their child at school.
• Teachers are not expected to check Dojo during the school day while teaching.
• For any urgent/important messages or changes to daily routine eg pick up, parents are to contact the school via telephone and the teacher via Dojo.
• Consultation with parents will take place, where possible, for decisions impacting parents.
• Review this policy on a needs basis or 2023.