NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL RULES AND REGULATIONS

Northwest High School rules and regulations are in accordance with the Education (Disciplinary powers) Regulations of November 1998 and all subsequent policy documents on pupil discipline from the Secretary for Education; Sport; Art; and Culture and the Responsible Authority of NWHS.

AIMS:

We believe that these rules and regulations are designed to:

• Create an atmosphere that is conducive to optimal learning.
• Develop a hardworking disciplined student.
• Prepare pupils to take responsibility for their own learning and behaviour.
• Instil Christian values in all pupils.

Please be reminded that NWHS is a Christian school whose thrust is to develop a God fearing character with a Christ – centred conduct. Furthermore, any alcohol; cannabis; sexual abuse; violence; racial discrimination and obscene language or obscene publications will not be tolerated in the school.

CODE OF CONDUCT:

All learners must:

1. Attend school regularly.
2. Arrive at school and lessons on time.
3. Bring correct kit and equipment at all times.
4. Hand in all school work on time.
5. Keep the whole school premises clean and tidy and use litter bins.
6. Respect the property of others – do not touch it without permission.
7. Be polite; helpful and respectful to all staff; visitors; ancillary staff and members of public, and behave at all times like ladies and/or gentlemen.
8. Wear school uniform with pride. Any misconduct committed while in school uniform may/will result in the loss of the existing place even if such acts are committed outside school premises.
9. Wear correct full school uniform while at school or when representing the school and travelling as a school team.

Good Conduct at Northwest:

• Good manners
• Respect
• Standards of behaviour
• Classroom Discipline
• Manuals and Detention

Good Manners:

1. Greet staff and visitors cheerfully and confidently. If you are sitting, stand up to greet someone. If you are walking, stop to greet.
2. Offer assistance to any adult or visitor to the school in a cheerful and confident manner.
3. Stand up to speak to people, especially staff and visitors.
4. Do not have your hands in the pockets when addressing people or when in number ones.
5. If you are wearing a hat, lift it to greet someone or remove it when talking to a member of staff or a prefect.
6. Causing a disturbance when someone else is trying to concentrate, study or work is a selfish act. Respect other people’s space and right to work.
7. Arriving late for registration, class; meetings; fixtures; games and practices shows a selfish lack of regard for others’ time and effort.
8. Forgetting to keep an appointment, failing to attend a club or society meeting, practice or rehearsal is not becoming of someone who is well mannered.
9. Apologise when you are in the wrong. Sincerity is the mark of good behaviour.
10. Visiting schools are guests of Northwest. They should be afforded every courtesy we can offer them.

Respect:

1. In all cases there should be an ethos of “respect for the individual’ no matter who they may be or where they are.
2. Employees of Northwest are part of the community. They deserve our full respect at all times. They may not be used for any task other than that specified by their supervisor.
3. At all times it is essential to respect other people and their property or belongings, particularly the property of the school.
4. Any adult or visitor, at all times must be accorded the same respect as a staff member. This applies to as fully to any Northwest parent who may, in the course of the year, be offering their services at the school or any of its functions.

Standards of Behaviour:

1. All forms of bullying and intimidation have absolutely no place at Northwest. This includes physical; mental; verbal or sexual harassment/abuse of any kind and extends to and includes slurs made against other learners or staff which is insulting towards their ethnicity; beliefs; values and/or sexual identity.
2. Firearms; knives; catapults or anything else which may be construed as a weapon and may inflict injury on a person, are strictly prohibited.
3. Cigarettes; e-cigarettes; snuff; cigars; drugs; alcohol and incense are strictly forbidden.
4. Dress and haircut regulations, as set out, will at all times be adhered to.
5. During the term the school comes first. All weekend commitments must be met. Last minute illness do arise from time to time, if so please let the school know as soon as possible.
6. Support for some cultural and sporting fixtures are compulsory. Such occasions are usually indicated on the calender which is issued on the first day of term and they must be attended.
7. No medical, dental or drug test appointments etc should be made during school time.
8. Going off campus to visit the surrounding shops is not permitted.
9. No learner is to leave the school campus during school hours without a signed note from the Deputy Head.
10. A note signed by either parent or a medical practitioner must be submitted to your Form teacher to explain each and every absence from school.

Classroom Discipline:

1. There must be quick movement between classes.
2. There must be orderly arrival and departure from classrooms. Line up quietly outside the classroom and wait to be called in.
3. If your teacher has not arrived within five minutes of the start of the lesson the class monitor must inform the Deputy Head.
4. Stand quietly behind the desk until you are given permission by the teacher to sit.
5. Sit up straight and pay attention. Messing about in class; fighting and any form of general disruption will not be tolerated.
6. During class discussions put your hand up and wait for your teacher to invite you to speak. Do not shout out questions/answers or speak out of turn, particularly when your teacher is talking.
7. All learners should have homework diaries where all home works/assignments given should be recorded.
8. Neatness and accuracy as well as high levels of presentation must be aimed for. Take pride in your work by ensuring correct dates and headings are used, accurate numbering is followed, orderly correction is undertaken and neat diagrams and illustrations are drawn.
9. Bring the correct books and material to lessons. This requires forward planning and attention to your time table before the day starts.
10. If a member of staff; a visitor walks into the classroom, you must stand up and greet this person.
11. The classrooms must be left in a tidy state. Pick up all rubbish; straighten desks and push the chairs in behind the desks. Do not leave any graffiti on the desks or walls.
12. Remember that the bell sound is a signal for the teacher and not you. Wait to be dismissed before packing up and leaving.
13. Thank your teacher politely for the lesson.

Manuals and Detention:

It must be noted that manual labour, detentions and any other form of punishment for example dress parade, takes precedence over any other activity in general:

• Manuals are deployed as punishment for a general disciplinary infringement.
• Detentions are deployed as punishment for poor academic performance; including not doing work or assignments on deadline.

Acceptable Hairstyle:

This should be befitting of school boys and girls.

Boys: short all sides, well combed (no hair gel or peaked/spiked hairstyles).

Girls: well combed, plaited or tied at the back; short braids, colouring in hair extensions and weaves and nail vanish are NOT allowed.

DON’TS

1. Pupils must not steal; lie; bully; threaten or intimidate others.
2. Pupils must not use unacceptable language; swear; make racist/sexist/anti-religious comments. Verbal/written/gestures are not allowed.
3. Pupils must not smoke/bring cigarettes; drink/bring alcohol and/or narcotic drugs; consume such substances. These are serious offences and may/will result in loss of school places/expulsion.
4. Pupils must not damage school; staff or other people’s property.
5. Pupils must not chew gum anywhere in the school premises.
6. Pupils must not wear make-up or jewellery (necklaces; bracelets; fancy or multiple earrings; broaches etc).
7. Pupils must not make noise, run along the corridors (careless environmentally unfriendly behaviour is not allowed).
8. Pupils must not bring valuable items, mobile phones; large sums of money and electronic equipment to school not needed in school. If such items are brought to school and found, they will be confiscated.
9. Pupils must not engage in any form of physical contact, such as embracing; hugging etc with other pupils of opposite sex.
10. Graffiti is a serious offence.

All pupils must look after their personal belongings and respect school property at all times.

SANCTIONS:

1. Verbal reprimand.
2. Discussion of negative behaviour with form teacher /form counsellor.
3. Detention (academic)
4. Detention (manual) :  Girls – cleaning floors/collecting
    Boys – manual labour may include digging and weeding.

Use of Emergency Support Systems:

Any of the following measures can be used to deal with disciplinary cases:

1. Removal of pupil from class and put under Senior Admin supervision for the day.
2. Letter to the parents.
3. Discussion with parents on the school policy and targets/ contracts.
4. Fixed term exclusion for ten school days.
5. Suspension from school for fourteen days.

Compiled by 

Headmaster’s office NWHS 2022.