Ballinamore Post-Primary Schools 

Code of Discipline 2007/2008 

Uniform

¨      For boys the uniform consists of a grey jumper, navy blue trousers and a light blue shirt.  For girls the uniform consists of a claret coloured jumper and navy blue skirt or trousers and a white shirt.  Both jumpers have a navy blue stripe in the neckline.  If students wear a T-shirt that is visible, it should be white.  The material in trousers and skirts should be trevira type.  Jeans, cords, track-suit bottoms or combats are not allowed.  Uniforms should be kept in good condition.

¨      All students must wear the prescribed school uniform during the school day and on school outings.  Students without full uniform will not be allowed to go on school outings unless the group is specifically exempted.

¨      If a student comes to school without the full uniform then a letter signed by a parent, is to be given to the Class Tutor, Deputy Principal or Year Head.  Failure to produce a letter will result in detention at lunchtime that day.  Students should not attend school if the full uniform is missing for second day in a row.  If students attend for a second day in a row without a uniform they will have to do detention.  Parents will be contacted. 

¨      Girls are allowed to wear one finger ring and one piece per ear.  No neck jewellery is allowed.  Boys may not wear any jewellery.  

Attendance and Punctuality

¨      Students are expected to attend school every day.

¨      Before the first class on the day of return from an absence a letter from a parent with the dates and reason is to be given to the Deputy Principal or Principal.  This letter will be kept on file.  If a student misses twenty school days in one year the Educational Welfare Officer will be informed.

¨      If a student has to leave school at some stage during the day a letter from the parent is to be given in advance to the Principal or Deputy Principal.

¨      Movement between classrooms should be in an orderly fashion and kept to a minimum.

¨      Travel between schools is to be prompt and with due regard to the rules of the road.  Business premises are not to be entered.

¨      During morning break students are not allowed to leave the school for any reason except to travel from one school to another for class. 

¨      At lunch break students are allowed to go to the town unless a letter has been received from a parent requesting that a student remain on the grounds.

¨      All students are expected to sit Christmas, Pre-Certificate, and summer examinations.  Students who miss examinations may have to sit another examination.  During the Christmas examinations all Third Years and Fifth Years are expected to attend class. 

Conduct in Class

¨      A high standard of behaviour is expected from all students.  Disruptive behaviour is not acceptable.  Each student is expected to comply with the instructions of the teacher.

¨      Students are not to write on or damage school property.   Tippex and Chewing Gum are not allowed.

¨      The classroom door is not to be shut until the teacher is in the classroom. 

¨      On no account are students to leave the classroom between classes unless they are going to another classroom for another subject or to another campus. 

¨      If a student does not have homework done, a note of explanation is to be provided by the parent for the teacher.  This can be written in the journal for junior students.

¨      Students are not allowed into the classrooms of another year group in Meanscoil Fatima. 

Mobile Phones

¨      If mobile phones are used in the school, they will be confiscated and returned to the student at the end of the school day.  Refusal to hand up any mobile phone will result in two days suspension and removal from all extra curricular activities.

¨      Picture phones will be confiscated and handed back only to a parent. The student must, in the presence of a parent and the Principal or teacher show the stored photographs.   Any that were taken in school time or that relate to school personnel or to school activities must be deleted.  If picture content is inappropriate further sanctions will apply. 

Conduct on the Grounds

¨      Students are to follow the directions given by teachers who are supervising the grounds and to return to their classrooms in time.

¨      The grounds should be kept tidy and the refuse bins used for litter.

¨      Smoking or having lighted material is prohibited in the school buildings and on the grounds.  The first offence merits a warning; the second a letter is sent home and the third, a two-day suspension is given.  Smoking in the building will result in an automatic two days suspension.

¨      Students who come to school under the influence of non-prescription drugs or alcohol or have them in their possession will be liable to suspension or expulsion.

¨      Proper conduct is to be observed while waiting for the buses. 

Conduct on School Outings

¨      Only students who are in full school uniform will be allowed to go on school outings: games, competitions or educational visits. (Unless a specific exemption is given by the Principal)

¨      No student has an absolute right to attend extracurricular activities.  Past behaviour will be taken into account.

¨      Students whose behaviour indicates that they have difficulty in following the instructions of teachers will not be allowed to go on school tours.  Guidelines and rules for tours are issued when the tour is being organized.   

Respect for Teachers

¨      A high standard of respect for teachers is expected.  Disrespectful conduct includes the following: failure to carry out the instructions of a teacher; verbal abuse of a teacher by making any personal remarks about the teacher; written abusive comments; public defiance; calling a teacher names directly or within earshot of a teacher, throwing objects at or towards a teacher.  Such behavior is very serious and will result in suspension. 

Respect for Students

¨      Students have a right to be educated in an atmosphere free from any fear based on the attitudes or actions of their fellow students.  Bullying, which may take the form of physical, verbal or non-verbal abuse, or racist comments, makes a student’s time in school miserable.

¨      The school authorities are anxious to eliminate any form of bullying.  Once bullying is detected the appropriate action will be taken which may include suspension.   CF:  The school’s anti-bullying policy.

¨      Students who fight in public, in the school or outside the school, are liable to be suspended. 

Respect for Property

¨      Students may not interfere with, damage or remove without permission the property of the school or of others.  Where accidental damage occurs it is expected that the person involved will report the incident and that the cost of repairs be met. 

Disciplinary Structures

¨      Individual Subject Teachers will deal with minor misdemeanors in class. 

¨      The Class Tutor advises the student on school related matters and assists the students with any problems.  The Class Tutor will be made aware, by the subject teacher, of problems that have arisen.  His / her role is primarily pastoral and advisory.

¨      The Year Head is in charge of disciplinary matters in a Year Group.  The Year Head will meet with any pupil referred to him/her. 

¨      The Deputy Principal will meet a student who has failed to follow the directions of the Year Head.

¨      The Principal may suspend the student for a definite period of time.  Parents will be contacted before the suspension takes place. 

Disciplinary Measures

1. Advice from the teacher
2. Warning from the teacher
3. Extra written work
4. Detention at break or lunch time (or after school by arrangement with parents)
5. Referral to the Class Tutor and Year Head
6. Referral to the Deputy Principal and or Principal
7. Parents informed by telephone or Letter
8. On report and the results communicated to parents
9. Parents asked to come to the school to discuss the problem
10. Suspension for a given number of days
11. Expulsion

Summary of Disciplinary Procedures 

SUBJECT TEACHER DEALS WITH MINOR DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS 

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Suspension Policy

The Principal of the school has the right to suspend students.  Some breaches of discipline will result in suspension.  These include, cheek to teachers, bullying of a student, smoking or having lighted material in a school building, persistent bad behaviour after several warnings, stealing, being in possession of or under the influence of illegal drugs or of alcohol at school or on school outings.  Possession or use of fireworks will also result in suspension. All serious breaches of discipline will be recorded in writing.  Parents will be contacted before any suspension.  If it is necessary to remove a student from the school immediately, because of a serious breach or threat to the safety of the student or others, then the parents will be contacted and met as soon as possible thereafter. 

Appeals         

Parents have a right to appeal the suspension of a student to the Board of Management.  If they wish to do so they should inform the Principal as soon as possible.  The Board will meet as soon as is practicable.  Parents can then appeal to the Board.  The Board will decide on the suspension.  If the suspension has already been imposed then the Board may decide to remove it from the school record of the student.  Parents and the student, if 18, may appeal a suspension that is 20 days or more or any suspension that results in an accumulation of 20 days in one school year, to the Department of Education and Science. 

Expulsion

The Board of Management has the right to expel a student from the school.  This is carried out only for serious breaches of discipline, when, in the opinion of the Board it would be better for the student and for the school that he/she be excluded permanently from the school.  The student, if 18, or his/her parents may appeal this decision to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science.