Code of Good Behaviour

Please see below our new Code of Good Behaviour (up-dated 2019)

At the beginning of every school year, parents and guardians will be asked to consent that they will encourage their child to abide by the Code. This will be done digitally. First and Second Class children will all sign a contract which will be kept in class

Introduction

The Board of Management, Principal and Staff of Scoil Bhríde would like to thank parents and guardians of our pupils for their on-going co-operation and support. As a result of your positive attitude most of our pupils are very well behaved. We have a policy of encouragement and recognition of good behavior, but we also have expectations of how we wish our pupils to behave.

Our School Mission

Scoil Bhríde cherishes the individuality of every pupil and every staff member.

Scoil Bhríde strives to develop the spiritual, intellectual, artistic, physical, emotional and social potential of each individual pupil while helping him or her to lead a full life as a child.

Scoil Bhríde endeavours to provide all pupils with many and varied educational, social and cultural experiences in order to equip them to develop as mature, well-rounded, caring citizens.

Scoil Bhríde strives to create a happy, friendly, caring atmosphere where all pupils and staff are valued equally, regardless of gender, civil status, family status, age, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or membership of the traveller community.

Scoil Bhríde encourages respect, honesty, understanding and courtesy towards others among pupils, staff and the wider school community.

Scoil Bhríde recognises parents as the primary educators of their children and encourages communication and involvement in a spirit of mutual trust and understanding.

Scoil Bhríde endeavours to provide a safe and healthy school environment for all pupils, staff and the wider school community

 

Expectations of Good Behaviour

The children are expected to:

  • Show respect for themselves, for others and for property in the school
  • Listen to their teacher and to others
  • Take turns in class and in other activities
  • Include others in activities
  • Share with others
  • Be kind to others
  • Be honest
  • Accept responsibility for their actions
  • Complete work assigned to them (school work and homework)
  • Obey rules
  • Accept sanctions

 

Strategies to Encourage Good Behaviour

The following strategies are used to encourage good behaviour:

  • Teacher example
  • Devise and discuss Class Rules with children
  • Assemblies to discuss behaviour and rules and to present awards
  • Circle Time (in classroom)
  • Reward Systems (school, class, individual)
  • Religious Education (R.E.) and Social, Personal and Health Education (S.P.H.E.)
  • Informal discussion in reaction to a situation
  • Encouraging children to own up to misdemeanours
  • Encouraging children to include lone children in their games
  • Encouraging children to welcome new children

 

Rewards for Good Behaviour

  • Oral praise
  • Individual stars / stickers / stamps
  • Group stars / stickers / stamps
  • Certificates
  • Golden Time (time when child can choose own activity)
  • “Showing Off” (visiting other classes / Principal’s office with award)

 

Classroom Rules

  • Listen to the teacher
  • Listen when other children are speaking
  • Follow the teachers instructions / obey the teacher

 

Yard Rules

  • Remain in the yard during break-time
  • Play gently (no kicking, no spitting, no lifting, no jumping on one another, even in fun). We are a “Hands Off School”!
  • Keep off railings, walls, benches, gates and grass
  • Freeze at the first bell, line up and walk quietly to line at second bell
  • Obey the teachers and SNAs on Yard Duty

 

General Rules and Procedures

  • Use the correct entry and exit doors
  • Walk quietly on the corridors
  • Show respect for all children, staff and property
  • Wear school uniform or school tracksuit
  • In the interest of health and safety children should not wear long earrings or necklaces, chains and rings to schools
  • Electronic devices such as mobile phones, iPods, Fitbits or anything that records images/sounds are not allowed.

 

Dealing with minor conflicts / misdemeanours

Scoil Bhríde encourages a culture where children take responsibility for their own actions and attempt to deal with situations of conflict without always having to refer to adults.

The following are the strategies we use to develop these skills in the children (See Appendix 3)

  1. Highscope Strategy for Dealing with Conflict (at Junior and Senior Infants)
  2. Restorative Practice Questioning (1st and 2nd Classes)

 

Scoil Bhríde’s response to more serious misbehaviour

The school’s response to misbehaviour closely follows the Guidelines for Developing School Codes of Behaviour by the National Education Welfare Board. We use a problem solving approach, following these steps:

  1. Gathering information about the misdemeanour
  2. Examine possible solutions
  3. Decide a strategy
  4. Implement the strategy
  5. Review progress

During the process the relationship with the pupil is kept as positive as possible and parents are involved if necessary.

The following are the strategies that we use depending on the seriousness of the misdemeanour:

  • Separation: The pupil may be placed temporarily in a different class. For misbehaviour in the yard the child may be asked to stand out by the wall for a short period
  • Loss of privilege: A child may be withdrawn from, for example, “Golden Time” or yard time and given extra work to do during this period.
  • Referral to Principal: A pupil may be referred to the Principal for continuous breaches of the rules or for a single incident of serious misbehaviour. The Principal will record all such referrals.
  • Referral to Parents/Guardians: All serious or continuous breaches of school rules will be referred to parents/guardians. This will be done through entry into the child’s Homework Journal or a phone call from the teacher or Principal.
  • Detention: A pupil may be kept in during lunch break for serious breach of conduct (particularly in the school yard).
  • Suspension / Expulsion: in extreme circumstances, and when all other options have been explored, a child may be suspended from class or expelled.

 

The role of teachers and parents in promoting our Code of Good Behaviour

  • Teachers endeavour to care for the health and safety of the pupils. They do this by making themselves familiar with the Code of Good Behaviour and the strategies used in the school to encourage management of conflict. In addition they are required to comply with school routines and by being consistent in their implementation of the school rules.

Parents:

  • familiarise themselves with the Code of Good Behaviour
  • sign the Code of Good Behaviour
  • discuss with their children how they should behave in school
  • discuss the fact that Scoil Bhríde is a “Hands Off School” with their child
  • If their child is absent from school, communicate the reason by sending a note to the class teacher

 

Parents’ concerns:

If a parent has concerns about their child’s behaviour or the behaviour of any other child in the class, an appointment with the class teacher should be made to discuss the issue. If the issue remains unresolved, despite the intervention of the class teacher, an appointment with the Principal should be made.

______________________________________________________________________

Our Code of Good Behaviour was developed by the teaching Staff of Scoil Bhríde and with the cooperation of the Parents’ Association and the Board of Management. We referred to the Guidelines for Developing School Codes of Behaviour (National Education Welfare Board, 2007)

Our Code will be reviewed and updated regularly or when necessary.

Policy ratified by the Board of Management

 

Appendix 1

Strategies for use in the Classroom

Classroom Rules and Contracts: All classes will discuss and compile Classroom Rules at the beginning of the school year. Children in 1st and 2nd Classes will sign a Behavioural Contract (see Appendix 2). This contract will be countersigned by parents and kept by the classroom teacher.

Stars: Children are given a star for particularly good behaviour. This can be done spontaneously by the teacher or any member of the teaching/SNA staff in collaboration with the class teacher. The star will be placed on the Caterpillar (Infant Corridor) or Jig-Saw notice board (senior corridor). Teachers may also like to use these stars for “Pupil / Star of the Week”. The child’s name and a brief message is placed on the star before it is put on the noticeboard.

A “Roll of Honour” of the children whose names are on the noticeboards will be read at assembly every month and children will receive a sticker/prize from the Principal.

Traffic Lights System: Each class will receive a “Traffic Light”. All children’s names will be at green at the beginning of the day. If a child misbehaves they are given a warning and their name is placed on the black area near amber. If the behaviour doesn’t improve their name is placed on amber. For more serious misdemeanours they go to the warning before red. If a child’s name is placed on red it is considered very serious and the Principal will be informed.

Black Book When the Principal is informed of a serious breach of the Code of Good Behaviour the child/children in question will be entered into her “Black Book”. As well as being a deterrent for misbehaviour is will also serve as a record of behavioural incidents.

 

Appendix 2

Example of Contract which will be completed in class and signed by the child and countersigned by the parent.

 

                                                Sample Contract

My name is ______________________________.

I am in __________ class. I am in Room _______

Today’s date is __________________

 

  1. I will look after myself and my property
  2. I will listen
  3. I will try my best at my work
  4. I will walk quietly in the corridors
  5. I will show respect to everyone in the school
  6. I understand that Scoil Bhríde is a “Hands-Off” school and I will not hurt anyone.
  7. I will not say nasty or unkind things
  8. I will not use bad language

I understand the “Traffic Lights” system and I promise to follow the rules above.

Signed: __________________________

Signature of parent(s): _____________________________

 

Appendix 3

Highscope Conflict Resolution (Infants)

Steps to encourage children to deal with their own minor disagreements

  1. Remove the distraction (e.g. toy that the children are arguing over)
  2. Teacher listens to both sides
  3. Teacher asks: “Can we come up with a solution?”
  4. Agree on the solution

 

Restorative Questions (1st and 2nd Classes)

  1. What happened?
  2. What should you have done?
  3. What should you do now?