Statement of Values and School Philosophy

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline the values of our school community and explain the vision, mission and objectives of our school.

Policy

Our school’s objectives are considered as part of the 4 yearly strategic planning process and reflected in the goals listed in our current School Strategic Plan (SSP). We also develop an Annual Implementation Plan to operationalise the goals and key improvement strategies contained in our SSP.

VALUES

Leongatha Secondary College’s values are:

• Respect – We treat people, property and learning with care.
We listen, include others and show kindness in everything we do.

• Community – We help everyone feel they belong.
We support each other and build positive relationships.

• Responsibility – We own our actions and our learning.
We come prepared, try our best and do what we say we will do.

• Growth – We challenge ourselves to improve.
We learn from mistakes, accept feedback and keep trying.

BEHAVIOURAL EXPECTATIONS

Leongatha Secondary College acknowledges that the behaviour of staff, parents, carers and students has an impact on our school community and culture.

We acknowledge a shared responsibility to create a positive learning environment for the children and young people at our school.

Shared expectations of staff, parents, carers and students to support positive student behaviour are set out in the Respectful, safe, engaged: shared expectations to support student behaviour statement.

Students are also supported by school staff to meet expected standards of behaviour as outlined in our Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy, Inclusion and Diversity Policy, Bullying Prevention Policy.

Staff must follow our school and department policies and the Victorian Public Service Code of Conduct and Values. Teaching staff also adhere to the Victorian Teaching Profession’s Code of Conduct.

Parents and carers play a vital role in helping their child understand and meet shared behaviour expectations. Additionally, information about the expectations of parents and carers to ensure schools remain respectful and inclusive places is outlined in the department’s Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy, and our Respect for School Staff Policy. Schools can share these expectations through use of posters available in over 30 translated languages.

UNREASONABLE BEHAVIOURS

Schools are not public places, and the Principal has the right to permit or deny entry to school grounds (for more information, see our Visitors Policy).

Unreasonable behaviour that is demonstrated by school staff, parents, carers, students or members of our school community will not be tolerated at school, or during school activities.

Unreasonable behaviour includes:

being violent or threatening violence of any kind, including physically intimidating behaviour such as aggressive hand gestures or invading another person’s personal space
speaking or behaving in a rude, aggressive or threatening way, either in person, via email, social media, or over the telephone
sending demanding, rude, confronting or threatening letters, emails or text messages
discriminatory or derogatory comments
the use of social media or public forums to make inappropriate or threatening remarks about the school, staff or students.

Harassment, bullying, violence, aggression, threatening behaviour and unlawful discrimination are unacceptable and will not be tolerated at our school.

Unreasonable behaviour and/or failure to uphold the principles of this Statement of Values and School Philosophy may lead to further investigation and the implementation of appropriate consequences by the Principal.

At the Principal’s discretion, unreasonable behaviour may be managed by:

requesting that the parties attend a mediation or counselling sessions
implementing specific communication protocols
written warnings
conditions of entry to school grounds or school activities
exclusion from school grounds or attendance at school activities
reports to Victoria Police
legal action.

Inappropriate student behaviour will be managed in accordance with our school’s Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy and Bullying Prevention Policy.

Our Statement of Values and School Philosophy ensures that everyone in our school community will be treated with fairness and respect. In turn, we will strive to create a school that is inclusive and safe, where everyone is empowered to participate and learn.