BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT

Behaviour

Woodbridge Primary’s Behaviour Management system is based on Restorative Practices which is a framework for building community and for responding to challenging behaviour through authentic dialogue, coming to understanding, and making things right.

All learners are expected to abide by the following rules which are prominently displayed in all classrooms, corridors and venues in our school.

CONSEQUENCES

These are the actions that will be taken by the class teacher if the learner breaks any of the FIVE STAR WOODIE rules. A record of these actions will be kept in the Class Behaviour Management file.

  • ORANGE Verbal Warning
  • YELLOW Visual Warning
  • BLUE referral for CARE Circle

If the learner’s disruptive behaviour continues after the class teacher has followed all of the above steps, the learner will be referred to the Departmental Head or Deputy Principal for a CARE Circle. Parents will receive notification of this.

If behaviour escalates, a Learner Support Team (LST) meeting with learner, parent and our school counsellor will be held. This intervention is aimed at teaching learners to think about their behaviour, how it affects others and to work with the parents to help the learner change their attitude and behaviour.

More on Restorative Practices

Restorative practices in schools are based on restorative justice principles instead of punishment. They aim first to build classroom communities that are supported by clear agreements, authentic communication, and specific tools to bring issues and conflicts forward in a helpful way. They provide specific pathways to repair harms by bringing together those who are affected by misbehavior in a dialogue to address concerns, achieve understanding, and come to agreement about setting things right. In addition to serving the cause of fairness and justice, restorative approaches make safer schools and contribute to social and emotional learning.

Restorative practices cultivate a culture in which everyone feels like they belong. They build a particular sense of community in which every member–learner, teacher, parent volunteers, assistants–feel that they are seen, heard, and respected.

SERIOUS MISCONDUCT

Section 8 of the South African Schools Act provides that a governing body of a public school must adopt a Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct must aim at establishing a disciplined and purposeful environment to facilitate effective education and learning in schools. The Code of Conduct must be subject to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, the South African Schools Act, 1996 and provincial legislation. It must reflect the constitutional democracy, human rights and transparent communication which underpin South African society.

CATEGORY: 3 Offences that may lead to suspension  

Provincial regulations must be consulted in the compilation of a list of offences which may lead to suspension of a learner.

Offences that may lead to such suspension include, but are not limited to the following: 

(a) Conduct which endangers the safety and violates the rights of others; 

(b) Possession, threat or use of a dangerous weapon; 

(c) Possession, use, transmission or visible evidence of narcotic or unauthorised drugs, alcohol or intoxicants of any kind; 

(d) Fighting, assault or battery; 

(e) Immoral behaviour or profanity; 

(f) Falsely identifying oneself 

(g) Harmful graffiti, hate speech, sexism, racism; 

(h) Theft or possession of stolen property including test or examination papers prior to the writing of tests or examinations; 

(i) Unlawful action, vandalism, or destroying or defacing school property, 

(j) Disrespect, objectionable behaviour and verbal abuse directed at educators or other school employees or learners; 

(k) Repeated violations of school rules or the Code of Conduct; 

(l) Criminal and oppressive behaviour such as rape and gender based harassment; 

(m) Victimisation, bullying and intimidation of other learners; 

(n) Infringement of examination rules; and 

(o) Knowingly and wilfully supplying false information or falsifying documentation to gain an unfair advantage at school.

SANCTIONS – The Principal and / or Deputy Principal has the authority to impose any one or more of the sanctions listed below:

  • Immediate TIME OUT from class in a supervised venue
  • Brief period of suspension (in-school or out-of-school).
  • Formal intervention meetings with parents (LST – Learner Support Team)
  • Written Warning and Final Written Warning.
  • Apology to those affected; restorative process follows
  • Behavioural contract between the learner and school.
  • Withdrawal of Leadership privileges.
  • School Community Service such as giving back service in the library, computer room, science lab, art room, etc.
  • Referral for counselling. If needed, an Individual Learner Intervention Programme may be implemented.
  • Payments to compensate for damages, to cover the cost of repair or replacement of the lost or damaged items, such as uniform, stationery, bags, library books, textbooks, any other personal belongings.
  • Exclusion from School activities and functions, e.g. academic award ceremony
  • A formal Disciplinary Hearing, with the SGB – School Governing Body

Woodies act with KINDNESS, show RESPECT, display COURAGE, are HONEST and embrace RESPONSIBILITY.

Follow Us