Expectations of Behaviour
Each student will behave in a way which upholds or enhances the dignity and learning opportunities of others. Respect for self and respect for others are the basic guidelines emphasised within the college. When wearing school uniform, students are ambassadors of the school and are expected to behave in a way that upholds or enhances the college name.
Respect in Action
“Treat others as you want them to treat you” (Matthew 7:12)
| Respect for Self and Relationships | Respect for Learning | Respect for Environment | |
| Classrooms and everywhere all the time | Be polite to all and treat others fairly Be thoughtful of others, their space and property Communicate in a positive way using kind words Value the mana (dignity) of each person and their uniqueness Help each other learn Be an active listener Celebrate success | Work together and share ideas and resources Take responsibility for your own learning Value everyone’s contribution and help others reach their potential Include others Allow others to learn Contribute positively Use your own words in written work and cite sources | Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Be responsible for the environment If you see rubbish, pick it up and place in the appropriate bin Leave spaces ready for the next learners |
| Online and Mobile | Respect my own and other people’s privacy Share with care THINK. Is it… T = Is it True? H = Is it Helpful? I = Is it Inspiring? N = Is it Necessary? K = Is it Kind? | Come prepared with a charged device for learning Follow the digital traffic light instructions Use your own images or those labelled for reuse | Communicate in positive and meaningful ways Only print if you really need to Be considerate of school Wi-Fi usage |
Important Information for Students:
ATTENDANCE
Attendance At School
The parent or guardian should use the Kamar app/Carmel portal or email (absences@carmel.school.nz) by 8.30am if a student is to be absent that day. Parents/guardians will be notified if a student’s absence has not been explained by 11.00am. A response will be required to this notification.
Attendance at Classes
Students are expected to attend all timetabled classes and to be engaged in their learning. Attendance is visible on the Carmel Portal.
Punctuality
Students are expected to be at school at 8.35am and in class for the start of each period. If a student is late for any reason they need to report to the school office. Caregivers are expected to explain lateness in line with Ministry of Education requirements.
If You Need to Leave School During The Day
Students are not allowed to leave the college grounds during the school day without signing out at the school office. The student must either bring a signed note from home explaining why they need to leave the college grounds or have their parents email the school with the details. The only exception is for Year 13 students. They may be off-site during lunchtime. If they have a study during the day they can leave the school grounds after signing out at the school office. On their return they must sign back in. All Year 13 students must be at school for Atawhai time, Whole School and House assemblies. All students must sign in and out at the office when leaving or returning to the school grounds. Students who are unwell go to the sick bay. If you are Year 7-10 your parent/guardian must sign you out at the office if they collect you from the sick bay.
Self-interest Leave
Parents/guardians must complete the application through Schoolbridge well ahead of time when there is to be a planned absence for a student’s self-interest trip (holiday) or any other reason. Students in Years 11 to 13 need to also complete a Self Interest Form available in their Google classroom which confirms the arrangements for any assessments they may be missing during that time. Please refer to Managing National Assessment – Student Extracts which is available on the college website.
Field Trips
Students will not be permitted to attend school trips without permission from parents/caregivers.
LEARNING
YEAR 7-10 LEARNING GUIDELINES
Amount Of Homework
Students in Year 7 & 8 should expect:
- 3-4 hours homework per week across all subjects
- A maximum of 1 hour per night
- NO homework set Friday for completion by Monday – i.e. over the weekend
Students in Year 9 & 10 should expect:
- A maximum of 5-6 hours homework per week across all subjects
- A maximum of 1.5 hours per night
- Homework over weekends should be kept to a minimum
Homework Calendar/Timetable
Students should expect a negotiated homework calendar/timetable from each teacher that clearly identifies:
- The days that homework will be set
- The due date to complete the work (students should be given 2-3 days to complete the work)
Feedback
Students should receive feedback from homework to assist their learning. This could include auto-marking tools, feedback from their peers or from a teacher.
OPTION CHANGES
Students who wish to make an option change must see their Dean initially with a letter from their parent. Changes will be considered if class sizes permit.
CARMEL PORTAL
Students have access to the Carmel Portal. Through the portal you can view your timetable, attendance, learning achievements, reports and much more.
Parents also have access to the Carmel Portal. If any of your personal details change you can advise the school via the Portal or email admin@carmel.school.nz
How to access the portal: choose the Quicklink on the Carmel website (www.carmel.school.nz), click the drop down menu and select ‘How to use the Carmel Portal’.
CARMEL APP
You are able to access the following information from this app – calendar, contacts, newsletter, portal, online shop, sports information, school website and links to other useful information. You will also receive emergency alerts via this app.
How to get the App
- Go to the App Store on your Apple or Android device.
- Search ‘SchoolAppsNz’ to download the app onto your device.
- Then search ‘Carmel College’ to find Carmel’s app.
Once you have downloaded the App
- Go to the menu at top left and click on Notification Subscriptions.
- Select which notifications you wish to subscribe to. The 4 categories are:
- Whole School
- Year Levels
- House Groups
- Atawhai Groups
STATIONERY AND SUBJECT WORKBOOKS
Stationery is not sold at the school (only subject workbooks). OfficeMax has the Carmel College stationery lists. To purchase online go to www.myschool.co.nz. Follow the online instructions. Subject workbooks can either be purchased on the school online shop or through the school office.
ID CARDS
All students must purchase an ID card. They are needed for entry to NZQA exams, use of the college library and attendance purposes. A replacement ID card will cost $8.00.
TECHNOLOGY
Connection to the school wireless network implies consent to all that is covered in the Responsible Use Agreement which all students and parents must sign.
Students need to use their school generated Gmail account for all school related work and be aware that all network use is monitored.
The college can take no responsibility for lost or damaged devices as students are expected to take care of their own property.
Any inappropriate use of devices will be investigated.
Mobile phones:
Students are permitted to have mobile phones at school. They must remain on silent mode and are only to be used in class if the classroom teacher gives specific permission. The screen size of mobile phones means that they are not suitable for general classroom use.
Computers:
Personal Wi-Fi devices are mandatory for all students. Devices are to be used in class at the direction of the classroom teacher.
Privacy:
The recording and uploading of pictures and/or videos of any person must be done with that person’s permission. Serious breaches of this school procedure will be investigated and may be referred to the Police.
Harmful Digital Communication:
Harmful digital communication contained in emails, texts, pictures, blog posts and social media sites are breaches of the Responsible Use Agreement and will be investigated as a serious breach of school procedures. The school has LineWize in place which blocks access to specific sites and social media platforms.
Printing:
Every student will need to pay for their printing (5 cents for black and white A4 and 20 cents for colour). At the beginning of the year printing accounts for new students will be loaded with 20 cents (4 pages). Students will need to go to the school office to top up their account. There is a minimum $2 charge for this top up.
PROPERTY AND GROUNDS
PERSONAL PROPERTY
Please ensure that all personal property is clearly and permanently named and that it is left in a secure place at all times such as your locker. Should a student need to bring a large sum of money to school, they should hand it into the school office for safe keeping. Students are ultimately responsible for their own property.
If there is an issue related to personal property, see a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
All lost property should be taken to the school office. Lost property can be viewed at the school office.
STUDENT USE OF SCHOOL PHONE
There is a phone available for emergency student use in the school office.
VEHICLES AND STUDENT SAFETY
Entry to the school should only be through the pedestrian gate by the traffic lights in Shakespeare Road. Visitors/parents are not to drive into the school grounds between 8.00-9.00am and between 3.00-3.45pm.
All visitors to the school must report to reception on arrival.
Students who bring cars to school are to park outside the school grounds. They must adhere to the conditions of their licence. Written permission from parents is needed if students are to be passengers in a car driven by another student.
BUS PROCEDURES
At 3.15pm students whose buses arrive in the school bus bay wait on the top court until the duty teacher calls the bus. When called, the students walk to the bus and line up to get on. Students are reminded that good standards of behaviour are expected on all buses, including buses chartered for school trips.
OUT OF BOUNDS
All students must remain in those areas of the college grounds that are easily supervised by the duty teachers. The boatshed, behind the gym, the bottom field, fenced off areas and the lake foreshore are out of bounds at all times unless students are being supervised by a member of staff.
EMERGENCY EVACUATION
Instructions and maps showing evacuation procedures and routes are posted throughout the school. A full school trial evacuation occurs twice a year.
WELLBEING
MASS
Whole school Masses celebrated during the year are the Dedication Mass, Carmel Day Mass, Assumption Day Mass and Thanksgiving Mass. All students are expected to attend.
Week day Mass is celebrated on Thursday at lunchtime and all students are welcome. No other meetings/practices are to be scheduled for Thursdays to allow students to attend Mass.
SICK AT SCHOOL
Students who feel unwell must get a sick bay slip from their teacher before reporting to the sick bay. If a student requires any medication, this will be attended to by the health care worker. Under no circumstances may students help themselves to any medication or take medication offered by other students. When a student is unwell and needs to go home, the health care worker will contact parents or guardians. Students are not to contact parents directly. If you are Year 7-10 your parent/guardian must sign you out at the office if they collect you from the sick bay. It is advisable for students to remain at home if they are unwell. Any medication that a student requires during the day is to be given to the health care worker at the sick bay at the beginning of the day. Students return to the sick bay to have their medication administered.
SCHOOL COUNSELLORS
Students have access to school counsellors. Bookings can be made by emailing
ADVICE TO STUDENTS
Problems are always best dealt with quickly and directly. Talk to the teacher concerned, explain your concern reasonably and try to resolve it.
Here are some guidelines if you feel an issue is not being resolved:
| Attendance concerns, personal relationships, general school support | Atawhai Teacher | |
| Curriculum, subject concerns | Subject Teacher or Head of Department | |
| Curriculum, subject concerns or changes, personal relationships, bullying, assessment concerns, academic tracking and monitoring, attendance concerns | Deans:
Alexandra – Ms Kathy Giles Cecilia Maher – Ms Sarah Menzies Justine – Ms Kelly-Marie Watts Kelly – Mrs Liz Walker McAuley – Mrs Fiona Blank-Sahinkaya Pompallier – Mrs Katie Pidgeon |
|
| Assessment, curriculum, subjects | Head of Department | |
| Personal issues, relationships, bullying, harassment, family or other general concerns
All counselling aims to help students resolve their own problems. |
Guidance Counsellors:
tbc |
|
| Struggling with your learning | Learning Support Coordinator:
Mrs Rosemary Shanks |
|
| Career information, work experience opportunities, preparation for job interviews and CVs, link into short polytechnic courses | Careers Advisor:
Mrs Lois Bruce |
|
| School organisation and other issues | Principal, Senior Leadership Team |
BULLYING
Definitions – http://www.kidspot.co.nz/schoolzone/article+4064+286+Definitions-of-bullying.htm
Bullying is when a person or a group repeatedly and intentionally uses or abuses their power to intimidate, hurt, oppress or damage someone else. It can be covert or cyber-based (happening online through social networks or through mobile phones). Bullying can be physical or emotional.
According to the National Centre Against Bullying, there are six different kinds of bullying behaviour. They are:
- Physical bullying: when physical actions such as hitting, poking, tripping or pushing, are used to hurt and intimidate. Repeatedly and intentionally damaging someone’s belongings is also physical bullying, says the centre.
- Verbal bullying: involves the use of negative words, like name calling, insults, homophobic or racist slurs, or words used to intentionally upset someone.
- Social bullying: when lies, the spreading of rumours or nasty pranks are used. This includes repeated mimicking and deliberate exclusion.
- Psychological bullying: involves the repeated and intentional use of words or actions which can cause psychological harm. Examples include intimidation, manipulation and stalking.
- Cyber bullying: is when technology is used to verbally, socially or psychologically bully. It can occur in chat rooms, on social networking sites, through emails or text messages on mobile phones.
- Sexual or racial harassment is any unwanted or offensive attention, action or remarks of a sexual or racial nature, especially when repeated after a request to stop.
Bullying isn’t:
- mutual arguments and disagreements
- single episodes of social rejection or dislike
- single-episode acts of nastiness or spite
- random acts of aggression or intimidation.
How to make the complaint: If you wish to make a complaint, you can choose someone who you trust such as your parents, a staff member, Dean, Guidance Counsellor. You will need to give as much detail as possible for an investigation to be carried out and, if it is a serious concern, it must be in writing.
If you are not happy with the resolution of the complaint, make a written formal complaint addressed to the Principal. She will discuss it with you and anyone else concerned, taking details in writing before resolving the complaint with you.
A very serious complaint about anyone in the school can be addressed in writing to the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and given to the school office. The Board will then investigate it, in consultation with the school’s Senior Leadership Team. After the investigation, the Board will send you a written response.
This can be done by completing the online form which can be found on the Carmel portal.
