Statement of Values and School Philosophy

Purpose

This policy sets out the values of our school community and explains the vision and mission and objectives of our school, and its philosophy.

Policy

Frankston Special Developmental School (FSDS) is committed to providing a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for all students, staff and members of our community. Our school recognises the importance of the partnership between school, families and the wider school community to support student learning, engagement and wellbeing. We share a commitment to, and a responsibility for, creating an inclusive and safe school environment for our students.

The teaching and learning programs at Frankston SDS support and promote the principles and practice of Australian democracy, including a commitment to:

• elected government
• the rule of law
• equal rights for all before the law
• freedom of religion
• freedom of speech and association
• openness and tolerance

This policy is available on our school website, our staff induction handbook and enrolment/transition packs.

To celebrate and embed our Statement of Values and Philosophy in our school community, we:

• display posters and banners that promote the values in our school
• celebrate our values in our school newsletter
• provide awards and recognition for students who actively demonstrate the values
• reinforce our values through explicit teaching and learning programs
• set high behavioural expectations through our School-wide Positive Behaviour Support Program

Vision

At Frankston SDS students are ‘Learning for Life.’ Central to all teaching and learning programs is the development of skills in communication, independence and social competencies.

Mission

The mission of Frankston SDS is to:

• Enable students to achieve their personal best in an atmosphere of mutual respect, cooperation and celebration.
• Ensure all students feel valued, safe and cared for in all aspects of their school experience
• Develop our students to become respectful members of their community by creating an inclusive, safe and positive learning environment, through the explicit teaching of pro-social behaviours

Values

The following values are central to the life of our school and how all members of the school community should conduct themselves.

            Respect           for yourself and others, being kind and learning our school rules

            Caring             for others in our classroom, school and the wider community

            Sharing           with others, taking turns and working with others

            Individuality   being the best you can and doing the best you can.

Behavioural expectations

Frankston Special Developmental School acknowledges that the behaviour of staff, students, families and community members can play an important part in setting the tone of the school and ensuring the safety of all members of our school community. We acknowledge a shared responsibility to create a positive learning environment for the children and young people at our school.

Our principal and school leaders will:

• uphold the principles of School Wide Positive Behaviour Support
• model positive behaviour and effective leadership
• communicate politely and respectfully and in a timely manner with all members of the school community
• work collaboratively to create a school environment where behavioural expectations are clearly defined and upheld across the school
• behave in a manner consistent with the standards of our profession and meet core responsibilities to provide safe and inclusive environments
• plan, implement and review our work to ensure a high level of care, safety, security and general wellbeing of all students at school
• identify and support students who are or may be at risk as per Child Safe guidelines
• provide individualised learning programs for all students
• work with families to understand their child’s needs
• respond appropriately when safe and inclusive behaviour is not demonstrated and implement appropriate interventions and sanctions when required
• inform families of the school’s communication and complaints procedures
• listen to and act on the concerns of our families in a timely manner

 All school staff will:

• model positive behaviour to students consistent with the School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support Framework

• communicate politely and respectfully with all members of the school community

• proactively engage with families about student outcomes
• work with families to understand the needs of each student and, where necessary, adapt the learning environment accordingly
• work collaboratively with families to improve learning and wellbeing outcomes for all students
• communicate with the principal and school leaders in the event they anticipate or face any tension or challenging behaviours from families
• treat all members of the school community with respect

We will support and encourage our families to:

• model positive behaviour to students

• communicate politely and respectfully with all members of the school community

• ensure our student attends school on time, every day unless they are unwell or unable to attend for another extenuating reason
• take an interest in our child’s school and learning
• work with the school to achieve the best outcomes for our child
• communicate constructively with the school and use expected processes and protocols when raising concerns
• support school staff to maintain a safe learning environment for all students
• follow the school’s processes for communication with staff and making complaints
• treat all members of the school community with respect

We will support and encourage our students to:

• follow school-wide behaviour expectations
• follow their School-wide Positive Behaviour Plan with assistance from teachers
• communicate politely and respectfully with all members of the school community
• comply with and model school values
• behave in a safe and responsible manner
• show respect for themselves, others and the environment
• actively participate in school

We will support and encourage our community members to:

• model positive behaviour to the school community
• treat other members of the school community with respect
• support school staff to maintain a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students
• utilise the school’s processes for communication with staff and submitting complaints

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, families, carers, students or members of our school community will not be tolerated at school, or during school activities.

Unreasonable behaviour includes:

• speaking or behaving in a rude, manipulative, aggressive or threatening way, either in person, via electronic communication or social media, or over the telephone
• compromising our alignment with Child Safe values
• using the threat of violence of any kind, including physically intimidating behaviour such as aggressive hand gestures or invading another’s personal space
• sending demanding, rude, confronting or threatening letters, emails or text messages
• making sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic or derogatory comments
• using social media or public forums to make inappropriate or threatening remarks about the school, staff or students
• demonstrating any behaviours that could be interpreted as bullying (see Bullying Policy)

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
• reports to Victoria Police
• legal action
• exclusion from school grounds and school events, temporarily or permanently

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

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways: 

• Available publicly on our school’s website
• Included in staff induction processes
• Made available in hard copy from the school administration upon request