1. Home College Partnership
At St Mary’s Coptic Orthodox College, we appreciate that parents and carers are the primary educators of their children. We know that family involvement in the College community, including supporting and upholding the College values and policies has a positive effect on student learning and behaviour. Therefore, we recognise that operating in a partnership between home and the College is in the best interests of the student. Parents/carers’ communication and continued support for their child’s learning and the College will assist in better catering for the child’s learning and developmental needs.
2. Expectations
a. Members of the St Mary’s Coptic Orthodox College community will respect diversity in people, their ideas and opinions, their legal and moral rights and treat others fairly, with dignity and respect at all times regardless of race, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability.
b. St Mary’s Coptic Orthodox College is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all students in its care. Parents and carers are expected to adhere to the parents/carers Code of Conduct and support the College in maintaining a child safe environment where all children are protected and feel safe, by bringing to staff attention any issues related to child safety.
c. St Mary’s Coptic Orthodox College is an independent school; it relies on the payment of school fees to function. Parents and carers who have chosen to send their children to St Mary’s, they have a moral obligation to pay their school fees to ensure the best education and care for their child/ren. For detailed information about the College’s fees, refer to the Fee Structure and Tuition Fee Collection Policy.
d. Parents and carers are expected to provide their child’s Immunisation Certificate or Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) and complete and return the attached Medical Information Form at the time of enrolment. To assist the College in managing medical emergencies, catering for the student’s needs and communicating with parents and carers in a timely manner, parents and carers are to provide accurate information about their child’s needs and contact details and keep the College informed of any changes to the child’s medical condition/s, their address or contact numbers. The Medical Information Form will be completed on annual basis.
e. School attendance is compulsory, therefore students need to be encouraged by their parents or carers to attend school regularly when the school is open for instruction, and parents or carers are expected to provide a reason for their child’s absence from school, whether for part of the day or for the whole day.
f. Students are expected to be at school from 8:30am to 3:15pm. Students should not be removed from school except for important appointments that could not be made outside of school hours, due to illness or injury. Picking students up announced from 2:45 pm or picking students early to avoid traffic is not acceptable. A note in writing explaining the reason for a student’s late arrival or early departure is expected of the child’s parents or carers.
g. Parents and carers are expected to be supportive in attending parent/teacher information evenings and parent/teacher interviews.
h. Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the College grounds or at College functions, nor will it be tolerated for community members to be under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs, or provide others with illegal drugs.
3. Communication
a. Written and spoken language, whether in person, via telephone or online, will be courteous. Parents and carers are most welcome to provide feedback for improvement. However, disparaging, harassing, or offensive language in the College environment will not be tolerated. The College reserves the right to take appropriate action, if this occurs. b. Parents and carers should find an appropriate time to approach staff regarding feedback. Appointments with staff need to be made through reception or via email. Arriving at the College and insisting on speaking with a staff member without an appointment, is highly discouraged.
c. Parents and carers must update their address and contact details (phone numbers, emails etc as soon as possible. d. Communication is vitally important between parents/carers and the College. Involving other parents or carers in incidents involving your child, or ringing other parents or carers with a complaint against their child is inappropriate and unacceptable, due to breach of confidentiality.
e. Addressing a student regarding an issue or incident involving your child is unacceptable. Any issues of concern regarding a student other than your child should be discussed with College staff only.
f. If there is a concern about a bus driver or other students on a College bus, then the parentsor carers should contact the College. Under no circumstances are parents and carers permitted to get on the bus and complain to students or the driver. The College reserves the right to withdraw bus services for a student, if this occurs.
g. Parents and carers are to refrain from using social media to badmouth the College, staff member/s, another parent, carer or student/s. Any concerns should be addressed to the Principal or Assistant Principal. The College will deal with issues professionally, respecting the privacy of all involved.
4. School Activities
a. Parents and carers are asked to support whole College events and activities such as liturgies, chapel, and sports days. Students learn by example. As Christians, chapel and liturgies are the cornerstone of St Mary’s Coptic Orthodox College. Parents and carers must ensure that their children attend all the school events and activities on time.
b. Insist that your child attends, and is on time for, liturgies, chapel, sports days and whole College events.
5. Breaches of this Code of Conduct
The consequences for breaching this agreement will be determined at the discretion of the Principal or Assistant Principal and may result in the following:
a. Directed to restrict communication with members of staff through a nominated College representative.
b. Mediation sessions organised by the College
c. Banned from attending any College activity
d. Banned from being on the College grounds
e. In the case of an extreme or prolonged breach of the Code of Conduct by a parent or carer, the College may terminate the enrolment of the child/ren of that parent or carer.
6. Complaints and Grievances
Parents and carers with a complaint or grievance are advised to address it by following the process outlined in the Complaint and Grievances Policy.