Rules and Regulations

Rules and Regulations and Middle School Students

Aquinas College as a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition, strives to offer a liberating education, based on a gospel spirituality, within an inclusive community committed to justice and solidarity

In partnership with parents, the College aims through a Christ-centred curriculum, to develop young men of faith, good character, strong intellect and generous spirit, who will be able to move confidently into the world and who will use their talents and gifts to lead and serve others.

Rules and regulations are necessary for a community to flourish and to ensure the standards and expectations of this College We have the highest expectations of all of our students and expect each to demonstrate outstanding levels of attendance, appearance, courtesy, respect and work ethic throughout their time at our school We are committed to providing a Catholic education based on these core values and beliefs:

Faith in action

Character in life

Excellence every day

1. PREFACE

Students are expected to meet the expectations under which they are admitted to the College, follow the Rules and Regulations, show a proper regard at all times for the high standards and reputation of Aquinas College, behave decently and with good sense, and maintain a smart appearance

They are expected to behave in an orderly, civilised and well-mannered way at all times, both in and out of school, showing proper courtesy and respect for others and not to behave in a way that might cause inconvenience or put at risk the health and safety of others, or cause damage to property and take care to keep the College clean, tidy and litter-free.

2. JURISDICTION

Unless otherwise stated, the Rules and Regulations apply to students at any time they are on the College premises, under the jurisdiction of the College, wearing College uniform, whether in College or outside, while taking part in any activity organised by or under the auspices of the College or a member of staff, whether during or outside College terms and times, and representing the College

Behaviour by a student which brings the good name and reputation of Aquinas College into disrepute, prejudices the education or well-being of other students or the good order and discipline of the College, will be regarded as a serious matter which may lead to disciplinary action regardless of when or where the behaviour takes place

3. BREACH OF RULES AND REGULATIONS

StudentswhodonotfollowtheRulesandRegulationsoftheCollegemayfaceconsequences including:thewithdrawalofprivilegesincludingtheparticipationinextraandco-curricular activities;thesettingofwrittenpunishment,exercisesortasks;reportingbeforeduringorafter school;onSaturdayafternoonsoroutsidetermtime;otherappropriatepunishments;orby suspensionorexclusionfromtheCollege

Intheserulesandregulations,repeatedactsofminorbreachor‘asingleseriousbreachof regulations’ismisconductforwhichtheresponsemaybesuspensionorexclusionofthestudent.

4. CONDUCT

General

WhentravellingtoandfromCollegeandmovingabouttheCollegeduringtheday,studentsmust behaveinanorderlywayandnotrunthroughtheschool;respecttheareaaroundtheChapelasa quietarea;andtakecarewhenopeningandgoingthroughdoorsandonthestairwells

Studentsareexpectedtobecourteousatalltimes,includingonthewaytoorfromtheCollege Studentsareexpectedtoaddressothersinacourteousrespectfulmanner Inparticular,theymust notbehaveinawaythatmightcauseinconveniencetoothers’educationorputatriskthehealth andsafetyofothers,orcausedamagetoproperty Failuretoberespectfultoothersorrefuseto cooperatewithastaffmemberisaseriousbreachofregulations

Academic Integrity

StudentsareexpectedtobehonestabouttheirCollegeworkatalltimes;copyingothers’work, plagiarismandcheatingincourseworktestsorexaminations,areseriousoffences

Physical Violence

Studentswhofightandthosewatchingorincitingfightsarebothactsregardedasaseriousbreach ofregulations

5. UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION AND BULLYING

TheCollegeiscommittedtotreatingeveryonewithequalityofesteem,respectanddignity,and aimstoprepareitsstudentstoserveaswitnessestothemoralandspiritualvaluesofthe Gospelsandtorecogniseandvaluetheenrichmentwhichflowsfromdiversityofage,gender, racial,nationalandsocialorigins,abilities,cultureandreligion

TheCollegeiscommittedtorespectfulnessanddiscouragingallformsofunlawful discrimination,bothdirectandindirect,onthegroundsofage,race,colour,nationality,ethnic origin,gender,maritalstatus,sexualorientation,disability,politicalviewsandreligiousorsimilar philosophicalbeliefs

Unlawfuldiscriminationandbullying,physical,cyberorotherwise,ortheencouragingor supportingofbullying,willnotbetoleratedandwillberegardedasaseriousbreachof regulations Bullyingincludesmakingfunofothers;callingothersormembersoftheirfamilies names;otherformsofabusiveorsillybehaviourtowardsoraboutothers;deliberatelyisolating others;andbehaviourwhichgenerallymakeslifeunpleasantforothers

Anystudentwhobelievesthatheisbeingbullied(whichincludesbeingexcludedorisolated), threatenedorintimidated,shouldreportthematterimmediately,eitherdirectlytoamemberof stafforthroughaparentoranotherstudent Anyonewhoknows,orhasgoodreasontosuspect, thatastudentisbeingorhasbeenbullied,threatenedorintimidated,hasaresponsibilityto reportthematterimmediately Anystudentwhoisthevictimofbullying,oranyonereportingan incident,canbeassuredthatthematterwillbedealtwithsensitivelybutfirmly

6. TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL

Thepossession,distributionorsmokingoftobaccoorelectroniccigarettesandthepossession, distributionorconsumptionofalcoholbystudentsisaseriousbreachofregulationsforwhicha studentwillnormallybesuspendedfromCollegeandmaybepermanentlyexcluded

7. ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES

Thepossessionoruseofdrugs(otherthanthoseprescribedbyamedicalpractitionerornonprescriptiondrugsbeingusedforpropermedicalpurposes)orotherillegalsubstancesbyastudent willberegardedasaseriousbreachofregulations,forwhichastudentwillnormallybeexcluded permanentlyfromtheCollege Drugsincludeanyaddictive,harmfulormind/moodaltering substance

Inallinstances,thepenaltyforselling,buyingordistributingdrugsorotherillegalsubstanceswillbe permanentexclusion

8. FORBIDDEN ITEMS AND ACTIVITIES

Weapons

Possessionofknives,firearms(includingairguns)andammunition,whetherrealorsimulated,or otherweaponswillberegardedasaseriousbreachofregulations.

Valuables

ValuableitemsmustnotbebroughtintoCollegeunlessthepermissionhasbeensoughtand grantedbyamemberofstaff Inthesecircumstancestheitemshouldbelodgedwiththeteacher concernedonarrivalattheCollege

9. MOBILE TELEPHONES

Mobilephonesinschoolsoften: impedesocialinteractionandplay,whichareimportantsocialisingopportunities disruptteachingandlearning presentopportunitiesforboystousethephoneinamannerwhichcancausedistresstoothers beasafetyrisktostudentsinrelationtoimagelaws

WhilsttheCollegeacknowledgesthatboysmayneedtousemobilephonespriortoorafterschool, theCollegerestrictstheiruseduringtheschoolday Mobiletelephonesmustremaininthestudent lockerthroughouttheCollegeday(830am–315pm)orinthecaseofboardersremainintheir boardinghouse Mobileusewhileatschool(fromthecommencementofperiodonethroughoutthe dayuntiltheendoftheSchoolday),isstrictly not permitted,unlessinveryexceptional circumstancespermittedbyandunderthesupervisionofastaffmember.Purchaseoffoodatthe canteenmustbemadebycash,bankorcreditcardorsmartridernotwithamobilephone. Ifastudentiscaughtusingtheirmobilephoneduringtheday,hewillreceiveaafterschool detention

Inemergencies,studentsmayrefertotheirHeadofHouseandSchoolOfficetomakeoutgoingcalls oruseamobilephoneunderthesupervisionofastaffmember Unlessinanemergency,the StudentOfficeisunabletoforwardmessagestostudents Studentsshouldbeawarethattheybring personalmobiledevicestotheCollegeattheirownriskandmustberesponsiblefortheircareand security TheCollegedoesnottakeresponsibilityforstolenitemsandtheCollege’sInsurancedoes notcoverStudent’spersonalitems

10. TRANSACTIONS

Studentsmaynotengageintrading,buying,sellingorswappinganygoods,money,servicesor favours

11. PUBLICITY

Nostudentmaygiveinformationorcontributephotographs,articles,lettersetc concerning AquinasCollegetoanyjournalistorpublication,otherthananofficialCollegepublication,ortoany personwhodoesnothavealegitimaterighttotheinformationoritems,withoutthespecific permissionofthePrincipal

UnofficialsocialmediasiteslinkedtotheCollegearenotpermitted Studentscreatingorusingsuch sitesputstheCollegeintodisreputeandthiswillbeseenasaseriousbreachofregulations

12. BEHAVIOUR ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Whilstonpublictransportstudentsareexpectedtobehaviourinamannerthatupholdsthegood nameandreputationofAquinasCollege Courtesy,respectandgoodmannersaretobedisplayedat alltimeswithstudentsofferingtheirseattoadultswhennecessary Studentsareexpectedtosit properly,facingforwardatalltimeswithbagsandbelongingsundertheirseat,keepingtheaisle clearatalltimes

Studentsaretoconversequietlyandrefrainfromusingobscenelanguagealwaysbeingmindfulof theimpacttheirconversationmayhaveonthedriver’sconcentrationaswellasthecomfortofother passengers;studentsaretorefrainfromhavingconversationsontheirmobilephoneandwhen necessarykeepthetimetoaminimum

Forthesafetyofthemselvesandotherpassengers,studentsarenottoputanypartoftheirbody outsidethevehicleswindowsatanytimeandthrowingitemsinsideoroutsideofthevehicleis prohibited.Studentsaretorefrainfromeatinganddrinking(thisincludeschewinggum)onpublic transport,thisprotectsstudents,passengersordriversthatmayhavefoodallergiesandanaphylaxis, plushelpsmaintaincleanlinessofthevehicle.

BehaviourbyastudentonpublictransportwhichbringsthegoodnameandreputationofAquinas Collegeintodisrepute,prejudicesthecomfortorwell-beingofotherpassengers,studentsorthe driverwillberegardedasaseriousbreachofregulations

13. UNIFORM

Studentsareexpectedtoensuretheyweartheiruniformandhaveanappearancethatupholdsthe goodnameandreputationofAquinasCollege TheCollegehasaformalschooluniform(thewinter uniform),aseparatesummeruniform,aswellasauniformforsportandPhysicalEducation Atother timesboysareexpectedtoweartheappropriateschooluniformwhilsttravellingtoandfromschool andforallschoolfunctionsunlessinformedtothecontrary WhenevertheCollegeuniformisworn, itmustbecompleteandnotmixedwithnon-uniformclothesorsportsuniformandshirtsmustbe tuckedintoshorts/trousersatalltimes.

Summer Uniform

StudentsareexpectedtowearthesummeruniformduringTerms1and4 Thisismadeupof:The Collegegreyshorts,Aquinasgreyshirtwithcrestedpocket,shortgreyCollegesocksandblacklaceupschoolshoes

OncoolerdaysstudentsarepermittedtoweartheCollegegreypullover(blackforYear12) All StudentsarerequiredtoweartheCollegehatduringBreakAandBreakB

Winter (Formal) Uniform

StudentsareexpectedtowearthewinteruniformduringTerms2and3 Thisismadeupof:Long greymelangetrouserswithblackleatherbelt,Aquinasgreyshirtwithcrestedpocket,Collegered andblacktie,Collegeblackblazer,greyorblackcolouredsocksandblacklace-upschoolshoes If studentsweartheCollegepullovertheyMUSTstillweartheCollegeblazer

Boysarerequiredtoweartheirblazerstoandfromschoolandwhenevertheformalschooluniform isworn

Sport Uniform

StudentsareexpectedtowearthesportuniformforPhysicalEducationandPSAsporttrainingand matches Thisconsistsof:Collegeredpolosportshirt,Collegetracksuit,Aquinassportshorts,white socksandappropriatesportshoes Thehousepoloshirtmaybeworninsteadoftheredsportspolo forPhysicalEducationclassesorsporttrainingandmustbewornforHouseevents

Matchuniformswillvaryaccordingtothetypeandnatureofthesportconcernedsuchasjerseysor footballsocks,ifthisisthecase,studentsmustchangeintotheseatthegamevenue

OnFriday,Year7,8and9,boysarepermittedtoweartheCollegesportuniformtoschoolin preparationfortheirPSAsportingfixtureintheafternoon

ACCEPTABLE HAIR

UNACCEPTABLE HAIR

14. HAIR AND GROOMING

Allstudents’hairmustbeclean,neatandwell-groomedandretainitsnaturalcolouratalltimes Cutsorstyleswhich,intheopinionoftheschool,arepeculiar,ostentatious,bizarreorextremein styleareunacceptable

Hairmustnotextendbelowthetopofthecollar,hangdownoverthefaceorbecloselyshaven (noshorterthananelectriccombsettingofnumber2)

Gelandsimilarproductsarenotallowed Allstudents’facesmustbeclean-shavenwithsideburns notextendingbelowthemiddleoftheear

IfindoubtconsulttheCollegebeforemakingradicalchangestohair Theschoolremainsthefinal arbitratorofwhatconstitutesanacceptablehaircut Studentswhosehairstylesareunacceptable willnotbeallowedtoattendtheCollegeuntiltheirhairstyleisrectifiedtomeettheexpected standardoftheCollege.

15. BODY ADORNMENTS

Studentsarenotpermittedtowearanyformofjewellerywhileinschooluniformoratschool functionsoractivities Thisincludestattoosandbodypiercingsofanytypeincludingclearplastic retainersusedtokeeppiercingsopen

16. PERSONAL PROPERTY

Allpersonalproperty,includinguniformandsportskit,mustbeclearlymarkedwiththeowner’s name StudentsmustnotbringexpensiveequipmenttoCollegeunlesswiththepriorapprovalof thePrincipal TheCollegewillnotacceptresponsibilityforlossof,ordamageto,privateproperty broughtintoorleftintheCollegebystudents TheCollegeacceptsnoliabilityforthepersonal propertyofanyusersofthepremises,includingstudents Parentswhoareconcernedabouttheloss ofanyparticularitemarestronglyadvisedtoarrangetheirowninsurancetocoveranypossibleloss.

StudentstakingpartinSportorPEshouldhavevaluables(watches,money,jewelleryetc.)locked securelyintheirlockerforsafekeeping Teacherswillnotbeexpectedtoinvestigatethelossof itemswhichhavenotbeensecured

17. CARE OF COLLEGE PROPERTY

StudentsareexpectedtotakegoodcareofallCollegepropertyandparentswillbeaskedtopayfor anynon-accidentalorcarelessdamagetoCollegeproperty

Books, materials and equipment

Allexerciseandtextbooksmustbeproperlylabelledandmustnotbedefacedordamagedorhave pagesremoved.Studentsareexpectedtotakepropercareofallbooks,materialsandequipment lenttothembytheCollege.Paymentmayberequiredforlossofordamagetoanyitemswhichare thepropertyoftheCollege Studentswhodonottakecareofexercisebooksmustbuya replacementandcopyallworkintothenewbook

Desks and Lockers

Desksmustbekepttidyandingoodorder Studentsareresponsiblefortheplacewheretheysitin lessonsandtutorperiodsandmustreportanydamageordefacementtoateacherimmediately

18. COLLEGE BAGS

BooksandequipmentmustbecarriedinaCollegebackpack Studentsmusthavewrittentheir nameonthebagwithanacceptablemarkerpen Theremustbenootherwriting,designs,marksor stickersonbags.

19. VEHICLES

TheuseofavehicleforstudentstodriveandparkattheCollegeisprohibitedtoallstudents,with theexceptionofalimitednumberofYear12studentswhohavepermissionfromtheHeadofSenior School(ortheirdelegate)toparkonCollegegrounds TheParkingPermitapplicationprocess includesdemonstratedcompletion(Service)andcommitment(Co-curricular)criteria

Skateboardsandlongboardsarenotpermittedtobeusedintheschoolgrounds Allboardsmust bestoredappropriately Approvedprotectivehelmetsarerequiredtobewornbyboyscyclingto andfromschool Bicyclerackstoaccommodatebikesareprovided Bikesandhelmetsmustbe lockedduringtheday

20. COLLEGE CAMPS, JOURNEYS AND VISITS

Studentsareexpectedtoshowaproperregardatalltimesforthehighstandardsandreputationof theCollege,tomaintainasmartappearanceandingeneraltobehavedecentlyandwithgood sense Theyareexpectedtobehaveinanorderly,civilisedandwell-manneredwayatalltimes, showingpropercourtesyandrespectforothers,andhaveproperregardforthoseinauthority

AnystudentwhobreakstherulesorregulationsoftheCollege,behavesbadly,prejudicesthegood ofothersorisdisobedient,maybesenthome.Whereitisnecessaryforastudenttobesenthome fordisciplinaryreasons,parentswillbeexpectedtomeetthefullcostandtoco-operatewiththe Collegeinmakingwhateverarrangementsmaybenecessaryforthesafeconductofthestudent

Studentswillbesenthomeimmediatelyforseriousorgrossmisconduct,whichincludespersistent disobedienceandmisconductfollowingafinalwarning

Smoking,vapinganddrinkingonschooljourneysandvisitsarestrictlyforbidden Studentsmaynot bringtobacco,vapesoralcoholwiththem,orpurchasetobaccooralcohol,whiletakingpartina Collegejourney Anystudentfoundwithtobacco,vapesoralcohol,oranysubstanceoritemwhichis illegalunderAustralianlaworthelawofthehostcountry,willbesenthome Likewise,anystudent knowinglyassociatedwiththepurchase,carryingorconsumptionoftobaccooralcohol,orany substancewhichisillegalunderAustralianlaworthelawofthehostcountry,willbesenthome immediately Studentsmaynotpurchasetobaccooralcoholfromthedutyfreeshops,evenasgifts

21. HEALTH CENTRE:

TheHealthCentreisafacilityprovidedfortheBoardingCommunityandforemergencymedical care Thefollowingguidelinesapplytodaystudents:

TheHealthCentrestaffarenotavailableforsportsstrapping StudentsmayonlyvisittheHealthCentrewithamedicalissuethatoccurredwhilstatschool,not withapre-existingcondition

22. USE OF THE COLLEGE COMPUTING FACILITIES AND INTERNET

StudentsinYear10to12areexpectedtobringtheirowndevicethatwillworkofftheCollege networksystem

StudentsarerequiredtobringtheirdevicetotheCollegefullychargedandrecentlybacked-up eachday Whennotinuseduringtheday,atbreaktimesandduringsportstrainingorPSAfixtures, studentsarerequiredtostoretheirdeviceintheirlocker Insuranceprovisionsmaynotcoverthe lossordamageofadevicefromaschoolbagleftatthesideofanovalduringsportingmatches

Studentsmusttaketheirdevicehomeeachnightandundernocircumstancesaredevicesto remaininlockersovernight

Studentidentificationmustremainpermanentlypresentonbothastudent’sdevice,andtheir protectivebag Studentsmusttravelwiththeirdevicesintheirprotectivecaseatalltimes Unlessteacherpermissionisgranted,studentsarenottousetheirdeviceduringeitherBreakAorB toensurestudentsactivelyinvolvethemselvessociallywithothers

Whilstatschool,studentsmustusetheCollege’sInternetServiceProvider(ISP)only Studentsmay notuseanyothermethodordevicetoaccesstheInternetwhileatschool Whilesignificantfilters havebeenputinplaceattheCollege,itistheresponsibilityofthestudenttoensurethatsites accessedviatheinternetabidebytheCollegeinternetguidelinesandallworkconductedonthe deviceiseducationalandappropriate

Duetothesoftwareembeddedinthedevicethereisthecapacitytotakedigitalimages,bothstill andvideo.Unlessappropriatepermissionsaresought,thetakingofdigitalimagesisaninvasionof personalrights Undernocircumstancescancomputersbeusedtotakeordistributedigitalimages withoutboththeexpressedpermissionofthepersonwhoseimageisbeingtakenandthe supervisingteacher Studentsandparentsareresponsibleforalldownloadedmaterialpresentona student’sdeviceandmustensurethatcopyrightlawsareadheredto

23. PSA SPORT

Itisaconditionofenrolmentwhenastudenthasgainedselectioninaparticularteamthis commitmentmusttakepriorityoveroutsidesportinginvolvement.Shouldastudentrequirean exemptiontotheabovesituation,thenthatrequestneedstobeputinwritingtotheHeadofSport priortothecommencementoftheseason.Therequestwillbediscussedwiththerelevant stakeholders,priortoadecisionbeingmade Eachrequestismadeonacasebycasebasis

24. LOCKER GUIDELINES

Allstudentshavemadethecommitmenttorespectothersandtheirownproperty Theprovisionof studentlockershopestopromoteandsupportstudentsinlearningandactivelytaking responsibilityforthesafekeepingoftheirvaluables,reducingtheburdenofcarryingexcessive weighttoandfromschoolintheirschoolbags,andpromoteorganisationalskills

HeadofHousearetoassignlockernumberandrecord Sparekeysorlockercodesmustbegiven totheTutor

Lockersecurityisthestudent’sresponsibilityinthefirstinstance

Thecarryingofbagstoclassesisnotpermitted

LockercheckswillbeconductedthroughoutthetermduringTutortime

25. ATTENDANCE PROCEDURE

Absences, late arrivals or early departures

StudentsareprohibitedfromleavingCollegegroundsduringtheschooldaywithoutpermission Absencesfromsportorfromfunctionsarrangedbytheschoolisregardedasabsencefromschool Whenastudentarriveslateforclassordepartsbeforetheendoftheschooldayhemustreportto theAttendanceOfficerattheVeritasCentretorecordhisarrival/departuretime

Guardiansshouldcalltheattendanceofficerbefore9:15amonthatdayon9450 0599oremail attendance@aquinas.wa.edu.auconfirmingthereasonforthelatearrival/earlydepartureorthat thestudentcannotattendschool (Theschoolportalalsohascontactdetailsunder‘Attendance’)

Sport Attendance

Ifastudentisatschoolbutisunabletoparticipateinsportpleaseemailyourson’scoach(details canbefoundinSEQTA/Courses/PSASport/CoachContactDetails)

Absentee System

TeachersenterattendancesdirectlyintoSEQTAforPeriods1–6includingTutorgroup StudentabsencesadvisedbyparentsviaphoneandemailareenteredintoSEQTA SMSsaresenttoparentsofstudentsmarkedabsentinPeriod1&2andTutorGroup(11:00amat thelatest)

IfnoreplytoSMS,aphonecallismadetoparents,followedbyanemail TheAttendanceOfficeramendsstudents’absencesonreceiptofnotedexplanationfromparents AttendanceOfficerfollowsuponunexplainedabsences HeadsofHousefollowuponattendanceirregularities

Extended absences and permanent departures

AllnotificationwithregardtotemporarydeparturesfromtheCollegeshouldbesentinwritingto theHeadofSchool AletterwillbereturnedfromtheCollegeoutliningyourson’sobligationsbefore heleavesandwhileheisabsent

IfthedepartureisofapermanentnatureaformallettermustbewrittentothePrincipalandall Collegeequipmentmustbereturned.Thisiscoordinatedthroughthestudent’sTutor.ForBoarders thiswillbecoordinatedthroughtheHeadofBoarding

Monitoring of Attendance

Allteachingstaffhavearesponsibilitytorecordattendance

TheAttendanceOfficermonitors,identifiesandreportsfrequentnonattenderstotheHeadsof House

Ifastudent’sattendanceratefallsbelow90%overaten-weekperiod,theCollegewillfurther investigatethereasonswhythestudentisnotattendingschool Alettermaybesenthometo parentsrequestingameeting

Ifastudentisidentifiedasbeingaregularorchronicnon-attender,andtheintervention strategiesimplementedbytheschoolhavenotbeensuccessfulinrestoringthestudent’s attendance,theCollegeistoinformtheCatholicEducationOfficeandconsultwiththeir expertiseandotheroutsideagenciesasneededtohelprestoreattendance StudentsfoundtobetruantfromclasswillbemanagedinaccordancewiththePastoralCare Systemandappropriatestrategiesandconsequenceswillbeactioned HeadofSchoolorHeads ofHousecommunicatewithparents/guardiansandifnecessarysetupameeting.