In Dominican College we expect a high level of support and involvement from the parents of our pupils.
By accepting a place in this school, parents and children implicitly agree to support the ethos and spirit of Dominican College.
It is our belief that parents and teachers must work together if pupils are to enjoy school and maximise their full potential.
This Home/School agreement has been drawn up to elicit your co-operation and support in the implementation of the Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Process. These along with further Notes for Parents are also outlined in the Homework Diary.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Good behaviour is expected at all times and extends to travelling to and from school and representing the school on all occasions.
Common courtesy promotes good relationships within the school. Pupils should therefore:
• Address all members of staff in a courteous way.
• Greet visitors politely and direct them to Reception.
• Show respect for staff and visitors by standing aside and holding open doors.
• Arrive on time for class and have all books/equipment required for the lesson.
• Offer an explanation for late arrival to class.
• Stand at the end of class, thank the teacher and leave the room in an orderly manner.
• Raise hands to attract the teacher’s attention.
• Access lockers up to 8.55 am, as directed at lunchtime or after 3.30 pm.
• Move promptly and quietly around the school in single file, keeping to the left hand side of corridors. In the interest of safety pupils are reminded that they must not run at any time.
• Behave is such a way that the learning and well being of others is not compromised.
It is the responsibility of every pupil to contribute to the good order of the school and the environment by treating all property with care and respect.
• Textbooks should be kept in good condition and returned to the Subject Teacher at the end of the school year; failure to do so will incur a charge.
• All school property, homework notebooks, textbooks and school bags must be free of inscription and graffiti.
Pupils are advised not to carry large sums of money to school. The school cannot accept responsibility for the loss of money or personal property.
The following items are not permitted on the College premises:
• Cigarettes, matches, lighters and aerosols
• All illegal substances
• Chewing gum
• MP3 players or iPods
• Camera
NOTES FOR PARENTS
General
• The Year Head is the person with whom all contact should be made regarding your daughter’s academic or pastoral welfare.
• Confidential or personal matters should be addressed in writing to the Year Head.
• General enquiries should be directed to the school reception.
• Requests to leave school early must be forwarded to the Year Head using the ‘Permission to Leave School’ section in your daughter’s school diary.
• Only in exceptional circumstances should medical or dental appointments be made within the school day.
• Parents should check their daughter’s homework diary every day.
• Parents may use the space provided in the diary to comment briefly on any matter relating to school or to write a short note to subject teachers.
• Parents are requested to sign and return to the school any detention notice which your daughter may bring home in her school diary.
• Attendance at your daughter’s annual Parent Teacher meeting to discuss progress is essential.
Mobile Phones
For the purpose of Child Protection:
• Pupils are not permitted to use a mobile phone in school between 8.30 am and 3.30 pm.
• Any pupil who brings a mobile phone to school must ensure that it is switched off and kept out of sight throughout the school day.
• Any pupil who does not adhere to the above will have her phone placed at reception for safe keeping until it is collected by a parent or guardian.
• Should a parent/guardian wish to contact a pupil or vice versa, this must be done via reception.
Lunch Arrangements
• Requests for a ‘lunchtime pass’ for a pupil should be made in writing to her Year Head.
• Only pupils who have obtained a lunch pass may leave the premises at lunchtime.
• All other pupils must take their lunch in the designated area.
In the event that a pupil persistently breaks the above regulations parents/guardians will be contacted and she may be subject to suspension.
Cameras
For the purpose of Child Protection:
• Pupils are not permitted to take photographs in school unless given express permission to do so by a teacher and only then using equipment provided by the school.
• Any pupil found in possession of a camera will have it placed at reception for safe keeping until it is collected by a parent or guardian.
• Pupils found to have taken photographs in school for any reason without permission will be subject to an automatic suspension.
• Any images taken on the school premises will have to be deleted in the presence of a senior member of staff.
Reason for Absence
The Department of Education require a written ‘Reason for Absence’ following a period of non-attendance at school. This should be in the form of a note placed in a sealed envelope. If this in not provided, the school is obliged to record the absence as ‘unauthorised’ and this will appear on your daughter’s attendance record. Parents may continue to phone the school in the event of a pupil’s absence but this must be followed-up with a written explanation.
Absence Calls
In order to monitor the attendance of all pupils we currently operate an automated call system. If a pupil is absent without explanation, a phone call will be made to alert parents. The call will be repeated until a response is received. While this may cause some inconvenience we would ask for your co-operation in this matter.
Access to School Grounds
In the interests of Health and Safety pupils who travel to school by car or taxi should be dropped off outside the school gates or on the driveway at the Sports Hall. Parents/guardians are asked not to use either the Main Entrance or the driveway on Somerton Road when leaving pupils to school. Pupils who travel home by car or taxi should be picked up outside the school gates. Access to the driveway at the Sports Hall is restricted to ‘special’ buses only in the afternoon.
Visitors
All visitors to the school are required to enter the building via the Atrium and report to Reception; parents/guardians may not access classrooms directly. If you wish to speak with a member of staff you must contact your daughter’s Year Head to arrange an appointment.
Please note: Parents/Guardians cannot be seen without an appointment.
Attendance and Punctuality
It is very important for your daughter to attend school regularly. Any absence should be for a very good reason. You must ensure that a written reason for absence is presented to your daughter’s Class Tutor on the first day back at school. The total days absent are recorded on your daughter’s end of term/year reports. Where the rate of absenteeism is deemed to have a detrimental effect on academic progress, it may be considered necessary for your daughter to repeat the academic year.
The following routine should be adhered to:
• Students should be present in the College between 8.55 am and 3.30pm.
• Pupils who arrive in school before 8.55 am must not leave the school premises prior to registration.
• They should attend class punctually as set out in the timetable.
• Late arrival to school must be explained in writing and presented to the Year Head.
• Pupils who have been given permission to leave school early must report to reception and sign the appropriate book before leaving.
• It is the responsibility of all students who arrive in school after morning registration to sign the appropriate Late Book; otherwise they may be marked absent for that day.
Lunchtime detention will be applied once a student has been late on 3 occasions.
Temporary Absence from Class
• All appointments should, as far as possible, be made outside school hours.
• In case of sickness, students may, with their Class Teacher’s permission, leave class and report to reception. If the sickness is such that a student must return home, parents will be contacted by the School Office.
• If a student needs to be excused for any reason during school hours, a written request should be made by parents and presented to the Year Head who will authorise the leave of absence.
• No student may ever leave the school without the consent of the Year Head. Only students who have been issued with a lunch pass may leave the school premises at lunchtime.
Homework/Coursework
Homework is crucial to academic progress, therefore details of all homework should be consistently and neatly recorded by your daughter in her homework diary.
Below are some guidelines with regard to approximate time to be spent on homework:
Year 8/9 pupils approximately 8-10 hours per week
Year 10 pupils approximately 10-12 hours per week
Year 11/12 pupils a minimum of 12 hours per week
Uniform
Good grooming and appearance enhances self-esteem as well as promoting a good image of the school, therefore the wearing of make-up is not permitted with school uniform at any time. Pupils should take a pride in wearing their uniform by complying fully with the guidelines detailed.
All pupils from Year 8 – Year 14 inclusive are expected to attend school in the College Regulation Uniform as stipulated below. All uniforms should be clearly labelled. The school is not responsible for items lost.
College Regulation Uniform P.E. Uniform
Green regulation blazer Green skirt & matching shorts.
Green school tunic Aertex white shirt
Green sweater with school crest White trainers
Regulation tie White regulation sports socks
White blouse *White sweatshirt with crest
Black tights (socks and sweatshirt available in school)
Black shoes *Regulation green tracksuit bottoms
Black Waterproof Jacket
* These will be worn not only in P.E. but on school field trips or outings which require casual wear. They may not be worn for the normal school day.
• All pupils must wear the full school uniform, including a regulation blazer, to and from school every day.
• School shoes must be black and flat. (stockists will have samples of acceptable shoes)
• Pupils may wear one pair of plain stud earrings in earlobes only and a watch. No other jewellery should be worn. Other body piercing is not permitted in school.
• Hair should be neat, tidy and tied back, a black or green band should be used. Braiding, beading and other exaggerated styles or colouring are not permitted in school.
• Pupils may wear the regulation school scarf or a plain black fleece scarf and black gloves;
• Non-regulation scarves and jewellery will be placed at reception for safe keeping until collected by a parent or guardian.
• Pupils are not permitted to wear makeup.
• The following badges are approved for wearing with the uniform: the Pioneer Badge, An Fainne and the Pro Life Emblem.
Sixth Form Only
• Black regulation sweater with crest.
• Regulation skirt (optional).
Schoolbags
Schoolbags should be black and free of logos. The bags should be sufficiently large to carry books and items required for the school day.
Behaviour
As we see the school as an extension of the home we seek your full co-operation in helping us implement our standards of courtesy and behaviour, as outlined in the Code of Conduct.
It is the school’s practice to involve parents if and when behaviour problems become evident. This is to enable you to fulfil your obligation and to accept responsibility for the behaviour of your daughter at school.
The Disciplinary Process
Parental support is essential at all times in implementing the Disciplinary Process. Each pupil is provided with a Homework Diary which includes a Detention Record and Merit Record to help monitor all aspects of behaviour and commitment to study.
Step 1 In the first instance unacceptable behaviour/failure to comply with school rules will merit a verbal reprimand from the subject teacher. He/she will explain that there will be consequences if the behaviour/lack of discipline persists.
Step 2 If the pupil is still behaving in an unacceptable manner, the subject teacher may move the pupil to a different seat and will record the incident, using the agreed code on the Detention Record.
Step 3 Extra work may be set by the subject teacher and a brief note to the parent will be written in the homework diary. When a pupil has broken a school rule, a code will be entered on the Detention Record.
Step 4 A lunchtime detention may be imposed by the Class Tutor when a pupil has received 5 codes on her Detention Record.
Step 5 Once a pupil has had 3 lunchtime detentions imposed, the Year Head will inform parents by letter.
Step 6 In the event of 3 further detentions parents and pupil will be asked to attend an interview with the Year Head and Senior Teacher.
Step 7 In the event of 3 further detentions the matter will be referred to the Principal/School Discipline Committee and parents will be required to attend a further meeting.
The Board of Governors reserves the right of Suspension in the event of a serious breach of school rules.
Offences (in line with BELB guidelines) which will incur suspension include:
• Abuse of alcohol or substances
• Bullying
• Use of physical violence
• Verbal abuse of another pupil
• Disruptive behaviour in class
• Persistent infringement of minor school rules
• Significant damages to property
• Stealing
• Verbal abuse staff
• Use of a camera
Where the school authorities deem that a student lacks serious application to study, has an unacceptable attendance/behaviour pattern, a series of sanctions will be imposed varying from
• Detention
• Suspension
• Repetition of academic year and ultimately loss of place in Dominican College.
Merit System
Good behaviour and attitude to work is encouraged at all times. A Merit System which rewards positive efforts runs parallel to the Disciplinary Process. Students are encouraged both individually and collectively as e.g. a Class Group, to strive for the rewards offered by this system. Certificates will be awarded for the categories Bronze, Silver and Gold.