LEARNERS CODE OF CONDUCT

Section 8 of the South African Schools Act provides that the Governing Body of a public school must adopt a Code of Conduct.
It also empowers the Governing Body of a school to maintain discipline in the school.
This Code of Conduct includes the rules that govern the conduct and relations between learners, educators and parents of the School and the wider community.
It is subject to the Constitution of South Africa, the South African Schools Act and provincial legislation.

Our School strives to promote a professionally maintained educational environment which is founded on non-violence, and that upholds the principles of consensus, co-operation and understanding.
PREAMBLE
Constitutionally, children have the right to education. Recognising that effective, skills based, holistic education depends on a school environment in which there is a culture of learning and teaching, this right to education cannot be separated from the responsibilities of learners towards their own education, and the rights and responsibilities of educators, parents and the wider school community.
INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITION
Section 8 of the South African Schools Act provides that the Governing Body of a public school must adopt a Code of Conduct.
It also empowers the Governing Body of a school to maintain discipline in the school.
This Code of Conduct includes the rules that govern the conduct and relations between learners, educators and parents of the School and the wider community.
It is subject to the Constitution of South Africa, the South African Schools Act and provincial legislation.
AIM
The aim of the Code of Conduct is to maintain a disciplined and purposeful school environment at the School.
It is dedicated to the maintenance and improvement of the quality of the learning process through the refinement of the culture of effective learning and teaching as espoused by our Mission Statement.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to:
* Promote disciplined and responsible behaviour, coupled with an understanding of and respect for the rights of learners and staff members.
* Safeguard the integrity of the School so that it provides a safe and harmonious learning environment.
* Clarify for learners the behaviour and conduct expected of them.
* Ensure that the learners are aware of the possible consequences of not adhering to the Code of Conduct.

PRINCIPLES
It is the duty and responsibility of the staff and learners to promote disciplined and acceptable behaviour at the School.
Disciplinary action will immediately be taken upon any infringement of the Code of Conduct.
Upon the learner’s admission to the School, the parent/guardian and learner are required to sign the Code of Conduct in order to indicate their acceptance of its terms.

OUR CODE
We pledge our loyalty to our beautiful country “South Africa” and our people in their diversity and honor those who fought and died four our freedom, our National Anthem and the Flag as the symbols of our citizenship.
We strive to promote multiculturalism and multilingualism.
We abhor any usage of unclean language in believing that language is the unifying factor in our co-existence.
We endeavour to uphold the basic human rights as contained in the Bill of Rights.
We strive to promote culture of learning and teaching
We undertake to uphold the culture or tolerance in our path to living together as people.
We pledge our unqualified commitment to our schoolwork, school attendance, sports, arts and culture activities.
Punctuality is our guiding principle and submit ourselves to the authority of our Educators.
We strive to promote reconciliation and peace in our school.
We Pledge Norms and values that have sustained the human kind such as honesty, respect, friendliness, trustworthiness and self-control shall be upheld.
We pledge the property of our school calls upon our conscience in using and caring and no one shall destroy or abuse such.
We subject ourselves to discipline and believe that this is the way to accountability and responsibility to ourselves and others.
We accept democratic practices in leadership and further acknowledge the development of leadership qualities through self discipline.
We pledge nothing shall exempt a learner from complying with the Code of Conduct of the School

SCHOOL RULES
The School rules are intended to establish a disciplined and purposeful environment to facilitate teaching and learning at the school. Nothing shall exempt a learner from complying with the school rules. Ignorance of school rules is therefore, not an acceptable excuse.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES
* Learners are expected at all times to behave in a courteous considerate manner towards each other, the Representative Council of Learners (RCL), all members of staff and visitors to the school.
* Learners are expected to abide by the School rules with regard to appearance and behaviour when representing the School both during School hours and after School hours, at School and away from School. Learners may not say or do anything that will discredit themselves or the school.
* No learner has the right at any time to behave in a manner that will disrupt the learning activity of other learners, or will cause another physical or emotional harm.

SCHOOL AND CLASS ATTENDANCE
Parents/guardians, learners, teachers and School Governing Body (SGB) members are jointly responsible for ensuring that all learners attend School.
* If a learner does not attend School regularly, the relevant register teacher will report the absence of the learner to the parent and the Principal in writing, The register teacher must keep accurate register of learner’s attendance and must keep copies of all communication to parent when absence from the classroom is reported.
* Absence from a class, without the permission of the relevant register or subject teacher is prohibited.
* Any absence from School must be covered by an absence note from a parent/ guardian.
* Should the learner be absent from School for a period of three (3) days and longer, this leave of absence must be supported by a letter from a medical doctor/traditional doctor/registered herbalist.
* No learner may leave the School during School hours without a letter from a parent/guardian requesting the release of their child and the permission of the Principal/Deputy Principal/Grade Head from whom an exit note must be obtained.
* Truancy from School is prohibited.
* All learners will attend assembly for the full duration thereof.

SCHOOL UNIFORM AND GENERAL APPEARANCE
Learners are expected to wear the official School Uniform and appear neat and tidy at all times.
* No addition to the uniform that are not in accordance with the regulations will be allowed.
* No earrings, jewellery, accessories, coloured contact lenses or visible tattoos are allowed.
* No colouring of hair or wearing of exotic hairstyles allowed.
* Fingernails must be kept trimmed short and clean at all times.
* During events that allow the wearing of casual wear, learners should wear neat, presentable clothes. Beachwear, tight-fitting clothes, clothes that are see-through and / too revealing are not allowed. Hair, shoes and accessories should be neat at all times.
* Only learners that have applied for, submitted relevant supporting documents and received the necessary permission from the School Governing Body, may deviate from the official School Uniform for religious and cultural reasons.

VALUBLES AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS
The School will not be held responsible for theft of or damage to personal belongings on School premises.
* Arrangements should be made with the teacher in charge for safekeeping of valuables, etc. during sport practices.
* Learners must not bring computer games, iPods or similar electronic devices to School.

GENERAL RULES
* Loitering and / or playing in and around the corridors, stairwells and toilets is forbidden.
* All litter must be placed in refuse bins or wastepaper baskets.
* Wilful damaging, vandalizing or neglect of School property and the property of others either by writing or by physical act, is prohibited. Theft of School and private property is also prohibited.
* Any act of cheating in class work, homework, informal and formal test or internal or external examination is prohibited. Furthermore, copying of and borrowing another learner’s work is forbidden.
* Disruptive, unruly, rude and / or offensive behaviour will note be tolerated.
* The timeous handing in of work is the responsibility of each learner.
* Learners who fail to produce a medical certificate on absenteeism during formal examination / test / assessment tasks will obtain a mark of “0” (nought) for the practical examination / test / assessment tasks.
* The learner will respect the belief, culture, dignity and rights of other learners, as well as their right to privacy and confidentiality.
* Language that is seen as pejorative, discriminatory or racist is prohibited.
* Any act that belittles, demeans of humiliates another learner’s culture, race or religion is prohibited.
* All learners have the right to and education free of interference, intimidation and / or physical abuse. The learner will respect the property and safety of other learners. Fighting or threatening of other learners is forbidden.
* The learner will respect those learners in position of authority. A learner whop is in a position of authority will conduct him / herself in manner befitting someone in authority. He/She will respect the rights of other learners and will not abuse such authority bestowed upon him / her through his / her position.
* The carrying, copying and / or reading of offensive material is prohibited.
* Learners must keep clear of areas that are indicated as out of bounds. These include:
The playing field, tennis courts and basketball courts, expected while attending official sport practice and matches or during a lesson while under the supervision of the subject teacher.
Electrical mains distribution boxes, fire extinguisher and hoses.
parking lots.

RULES GOVERNING PUBLIC PLACES
The School is a place of safety where laws pertaining to public spaces are applicable.
* No dangerous objects or illegal drugs as defined in SA Schools Act Safety Regulations will be brought onto and / or used on the School Property unless authorized by the Principal for educational purposes. Dangerous objects include knives, firearms or any item that could harm a person.
* The carrying and / or smoking of cigarettes is prohibited.
* Alcohol is not permitted on School premises or during School activity.
* The carrying of and / or consumption of illegal chemical substances and drugs is prohibited.

SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMME
Involvement in activities making up School Enrichment Program forms a valuable and integral part of the holistic education of every learner. All learners are, therefore, expected to become actively involved in at lest one (1) sport, cultural and / or service activity per term.
* The learner is expected to adopt the correct etiquette pertaining to the specific activity at all times.
* Once a learner is has committed him / herself to an activity, he / she will be bound to meet the rules and obligations related to that activity.
* Involvement in a particular activity will span the entire season / duration in which that activity takes place.
* Attendance of all practices is compulsory. Missing a practice without a valid excuse in writing from the learner’s parent may result in the learner being suspended from participation in one (1) inter-school league fixture.
* Appropriate kit / uniform will be worn to practices.
* The correct match kit / uniform will be worn to inter-school league fixtures.
* Learners travelling to an away fixture will travel in full school uniform, unless other arrangements have been made.
* Sport and other kit must be carried in an appropriate bag.
* Learners playing in home league fixture may arrive at the venue in the appropriate sports kit / uniform with their School blazer.

ACCOMMODATION OF RELIGIOUS OR CULTURAL RIGHT
Religious practices, conduct or obligations that relate to the core values and beliefs of a recognized religion that are in conflict with any rule contained in this Code of Conduct will be accommodated by a deviation from this Code of Conduct by the Governing Body under the following conditions:
* The learner, assisted by the parent, must apply for deviation from the standard School rules if such rules are in conflict with or infringe on any religious right of the learner.
* This application must be in writing and must identify the specific rule/s that is / are offensive to the learner’s religious right/s as contained in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
* The application include a reasonable interpretation of the religious rights that the learner feels are offended and suggestion on how the rules may be supplemented by the Governing Body to accommodate such religious rights.
* The learner must provide proof that he / she belongs to that specific religion and that religious practices, rules and obligations that are in conflict with the School’s Code of Conduct are his / her true beliefs and commitments.
* The religious conduct or practice must be lawful.
* The Governing Body must consider the application and, if it is satisfied that the application is justified in terms of Constitutional principles, the application will be grated in writing,
* When the Governing Body alow3s for deviations from the standard rules, such deviations must be based on core religious beliefs inherent to the religion, and it must clearly identity of the conduct that will be allowed – e.g. the wearing of a head scarf including colours and details of design; the growing of a beard; or wearing of a specific hairstyle or jewellery – and the conditions under which such deviation will be applicable.
* Cultural rights will be considered in the event that they do not relate to a religion, if such cultural rights manifest in conduct of a permanent nature that is compulsory for the cultural group. This refers to cases where the removal of a cultural jewellery or mark will cause considerable pain to the learner. Normally, cultural rights are exercised through marks and expression of a temporary nature that are justified for specific cultural gathering. The learner must convince the Governing Body that his / her cultural rights can be exercised only through a permanent intervention.
* Any request for a deviation from the Code of Conduct based on cultural rights must be in writing.
General
* Smoking, drinking alcohol or the use of drugs, including being under the influence of these substances, on the way to or from school, on the school premises or in school uniform, or on school tours/excursions is strictly forbidden. No learner may bring matches, lighters, tobacco, alcoholic drinks or drugs of any kind onto the school premises or have them in his/her possession whilst in school uniform outside the school grounds. Learners contravening this rule will face immediate suspension.
* Physical contact between learners is not permitted.
* The possession of fireworks, inflammable materials, knives, firearms and any other potentially dangerous items is not permitted on the way to or from school, on the school premises or in school uniform. Learners contravening this rule will face immediate suspension and disciplinary action.
* Material of a sexually explicit nature is banned from school. Learners found in possession of such material will face immediate suspension and disciplinary action.
* Learners may not bring any pets or captive animals to school without the prior, written permission of the Biology Department.
* Learners shall not litter, deface or damage the school premises/buildings in any way. Learners guilty of these offences will face immediate disciplinary action.
* Racism, sexual harassment and bullying will not be tolerated under any circumstances and learners guilty of these offences will be severely dealt with.

Any learner alleged to have violated any rule that may require suspension or expulsion, must be brought to the Principal. The Principal shall hear the evidence and then decide on the action to be taken. Such action must include that the Principal must inform the parents in writing of the proposed action and arrange for a fair hearing by a small disciplinary committee (tribunal) consisting of members designated by the Governing Body.

This tribunal must not be intimidating to the learner. In the case of very young learners special arrangements must be made for the hearing and the parents or guardians could represent the learners. The disciplinary committee so appointed will conduct the hearing in accordance with the provincial regulations laid down by the Member of the Executive Council. For the hearing the learner will:

The Jurisdiction and Scope of the Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct is in force:
* on school property prior to, during and following regular school hours
* at all official school events, both within and outside the regular school hours, where such school events are held under the auspices of the school management structures
* at all official school events which are held off the school property
* at all times when the learner is dressed in the school uniform and is recognizable as such both on the school property and in the public view outside the school.
This Code of Conduct has been formulated by the School Governing Body, Educators and parents of the school.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT
This policy is immediately applicable, at the appointment of anew staff member her or she should be made aware of the policy and be provided with a copy of the policy. The policy applies to all the relevant people at the school.

The Code of Conduct can only be effective if the learner recognizes that he/she has not honored the Code of Conduct and that the subsequent punishment or sanction is a fair and legitimate response to his/her breach.

Responsibility for Implementing the Code of Conduct.
* All learners, teachers, and the School Management Team are responsible for
implementing the Code of Conduct.
* Teachers will use their own procedures and their own judgement to ensure that their classroom environments are effective learning spaces.
* Likewise, the Grade 7 Leaders will also use their own procedures for addressing minor infractions of the rules outlined in the Code of Conduct.
* The School may also use sanctions such as detention, suspension of privileges, exclusion from some school activities, etc. to ensure compliance with the Code of Conduct.
Where appropriate, parents/guardians will be informed in writing about any infringement of the Code of Conduct.

EVALUATION INSTRUMENT
The affectivity of the policy should be monitored annually by means of a survey involving a questionnaire sent to all those involved to determine their attitudes and implementation of the policy, all educators should comply with the policy until annual changes are implemented.