Our rights as Students, Teachers and Members of the GSC Community
Every workplace requires a common agreement about the best way to get as much done as possible while creating and maintaining an atmosphere that is welcoming, enriching, and enjoyable. At GSC we do this by upholding each other’s rights and acknowledging the responsibilities that go with them.
The two governing rights at GSC:
Students and Teachers have the right to do as much work as possible, and
Students and Teachers have the right to feel safe and comfortable at all times.
The right to do as much work as possible – What this means for students:
Students prepare and come to sessions committed to getting as much work done as possible. Students recognise the need to respect the rights of other members of the GSC community to promote positive communication and collaboration.
The right to feel safe and comfortable at all times – What this means for students:
Students work collaboratively and respectfully and are mindful of the impact of their words as they communicate with teachers and each other in person, in the community and electronically. Students are committed to upholding the rights of everyone in the GSC community and work to promote this individually and communally. This also means that students are required to follow directions from teachers and complete work to the best of their ability.
Managing Choices
At GSC, if students make choices that impact on the rights of other students and teachers, there is a system that is consistently applied. The aim of this system is to help people understand the results of their actions and allow people to take responsibility for themselves. Class groups collaborate to determine the best way to support each other’s rights to productivity and safety.
When students make choices that prevent other students and teachers from being productive and feeling safe and comfortable, the actions detailed in this resource are followed.
It is important to note that this system is about supporting students to continue to make the most of their own rights and support the rights of others, and to build strong relationships between all members of the GSC community based on empathy, understanding and respect.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
All members of our school community have a right to experience a safe and supportive school environment. We expect that all students, staff, parents, and carers treat each other with respect and dignity.
Students
Students have a right to:
- Be treated fairly and with respect.
- Be valued as individuals and have their unique learning styles recognised and catered for so that they can learn and maximise their potential.
- Expect a learning program that meets their individual needs.
- Participate fully in the school’s educational program.
- Have a safe, secure environment that is free from intimidation, bullying and harassment.
- Be provided with exemplary role models by all staff of the College.
- Be regularly informed of their progress.
- Be involved in the decision-making process of the College.
- Access the college network services with written parental permission.
Students have a responsibility to:
- Respect the rights of fellow students, staff, and members of the College.
- Behave in a positive manner that contributes to the learning of fellow students, does not disrupt the learning of students, and enables teachers to teach in an atmosphere of cooperation.
- Take responsibility for their learning and use the resources and teachers at the College to facilitate and support their learning.
- Respect and not interfere with the Computer hardware, software, systems, and networks provided by the College in any manner including the introduction of viruses.
- Observe copyright laws and license agreements; the loading of computer games is not permitted.
- Use the computer network to only transmit material which is not in violation of any state, federal or international law (including anything pornographic, obscene, threatening or harassing).
- Maintain and use their network file storage area responsibly and not interfere with or trespass in others’ folders work or files.
Teachers
Teachers have a right to:
- Expect student to follow reasonable instructions given by teachers in the performance of their duties.
- Expect that they will be able to teach in an orderly and cooperative environment.
- Expect students to be punctual and regular in attendance to school and classes and take all the required equipment to participate.
- Use discretion in the application of rules and consequences and be fair and consistent in their application.
- Be informed, within Privacy requirements, about matters relating to students that will affect the teaching and learning program for that student
- Receive respect and support from the school community
- Expect that students observe all classroom and College rules and expectations as documented in the Student Code of Conduct.
Teachers have a responsibility to:
- Fairly, reasonably, and consistently, implement the engagement policy.
- Use positive reinforcement and encouragement to build self-esteem.
- Build positive relationships with students.
- Know how students learn and how to teach them effectively.
- Know the content they teach.
- Know their students.
- Plan and assess for effective learning.
- Create and maintain safe and challenging learning environments.
- Implement the anti-bullying and harassment policy
- Access specialist welfare and referral services when required
- Use a range of teaching strategies and resources to engage students in effective learning.
- Regularly monitor student progress, attendance, participation, and welfare
- Treat all members of the college community with respect, fairness, and dignity
- Keep parents and guardians informed on student progress and learning.
Parents & Guardians
Parents / Guardians have a right to:
- Expect that their children will be educated in a secure environment in which care, courtesy, and respect for the rights of others are encouraged.
- Expect communication and participation in their child’s education and learning.
- Expect a positive and supportive approach to their child’s learning.
Parents / Guardians have a responsibility to:
- Promote positive educational outcomes for their children by taking an active interest in their child’s educational progress and by modelling positive behaviours.
- Ensure their child’s regular attendance.
- Engage in regular and constructive communication with school staff regarding their child’s learning.
- Support the school in maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment for all students.
- Build positive relationships with members of the school community.
- Ensure students have the appropriate learning materials and uniform.
- Promote respectful relationships.
Bullying Prevention
Bullying prevention at Greenvale Secondary College is proactive and is supported by research that indicates that a whole school, multifaceted approach is the most effect way to prevent and address bullying. At our school:
- We have a positive school environment that provides safety, security and support for students and promotes positive relationships and wellbeing.
- We strive to build strong partnerships between the school, families and the broader community that means all members work together to ensure the safety of students.
- Teachers are encouraged to incorporate classroom management strategies that discourage bullying and promote positive behaviour.
- A range of year level incursions and programs are planned for each year to raise awareness about bullying and its impacts.
- In the classroom, our social and emotional learning curriculum teaches students what constitutes bullying and how to respond to bullying behaviour assertively. This promotes resilience, assertiveness, conflict resolution and problem solving.
- The Peer Support Program and the Peer Mediation program encourage positive relationships between students in different year levels. We seek to empower students to be confident communicators and to resolve conflict in a non-aggressive and constructive way.
- Students are encouraged to look out for each other and to talk to teachers and older peers about any bullying they have experienced or witnessed.
- We participate in the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence.
Incident Response
Bullying complaints will be taken seriously and responded to sensitively at our school.
Students who may be experiencing bullying behaviour, or students who have witnessed bullying behaviour, are encouraged to report their concerns to school staff as soon as possible.
Our ability to effectively reduce and eliminate bullying behaviour is greatly affected by students and/or parents and carers reporting concerning behaviour as soon as possible, so that the responses implemented by GSC are timely and appropriate in the circumstances.
In most circumstances, we encourage students to speak to the teacher first, or the Level Leader. However, students are welcome to discuss their concerns with any trusted member of staff including Wellbeing Staff.
Parents or carers who develop concerns that their child is involved in or has witnessed bullying behaviour at GSC should contact the relevant Level Leader or the Student Services Manager.
