Ballyboy N.S.

School Discipline

Each child coming to school has a right to expect an atmosphere where she/he can learn, play and feel safe. Our Code of Discipline, which was drawn up by the Principal and teaching staff in consultation with parents, approved and ratified by the B.OM. , sets out to ensure this.

The children are all aware of the rules of the school and the type of behaviour which is acceptable and unacceptable. In general, most children respond well to these rules. They feel more secure and confident in a situation where they know what is expected of them.

Discipline encompasses every aspect of school life. Correct attitudes towards homework, punctuality, wearing of uniform, litter and respect for property are all important. Misbehaviour in the classroom or playground, bad language or bad manners will not be tolerated. It is important to stress that school is a place where work is done and children are educated.

At all times, respect for authority is expected. In the classroom situation it is unacceptable that any pupil should disrupt the working of the class. Where continual disruption is caused, the disruptive child will be isolated or removed from the class so as other children are not denied the other children the right to learn.

Some parents may not be aware of the disruptive effect their child may have on a class. However, when made aware of this fact they should take steps to ensure that their child behaves in future, and monitor his/her progress by supervising his/her homework for notes and visiting the school frequently.


Aims of Our Code of Discipline

1. To help create a positive, stimulating, learning environment in which every pupil can benefit from school.
2. To help pupils become more self- disciplined, and to encourage good standards of behaviour at home, at school and locally based on consideration, respect and tolerance for others.
3. The maintenance of good order throughout the school and respect of the school environment.


Scoil Bhríde Ballyboy School Rules

· Pupils must have respect for teachers and fellow pupils at all times.
· Pupils must have respect for school and fellow pupil's property. Interfering with or damaging school property i.e writing on school walls, tables etc. will be regarded as a serious offence. Parents will be held accountable for the cleaning, repair or replacement of any school property or equipment wilfully damaged or vandalised by their children.
· Pupils are subject, at school, to the authority of each staff member of staff.
· Pupils are expected to co-operate in keeping classroom and grounds litter free. Each child must ensure his/her own desk is neat and tidy. No wrappers are allowed in the school yard and all rubbish must be taken home unless recyclable.
· Children are expected to wear their school uniform each day except on designated days.
· Appropriate indoor slippers or shoes must be worn at all times while the child is in class.
· Children should have their names marked clearly on their coats, slippers, uniforms and personal belongings such as books and lunch boxes.
· Children must enter and leave the school the exit door appointed to their classes.
· Cyclists must dismount when entering the school grounds.
· Children must stay clear of the parking area at all times.
· Children must obey the rules made by the teacher on duty regarding the use of the playing field, especially during the Winter and during wet periods.
· During inclement weather, pupils must stay in the classroom.
· Children must never run within the school.
· A reasonable attempt must be made to do all homework, both written and oral, to the best of each pupil's ability.
· All absences shall be explained by written notification. In accordance with the Education Welfare Act of 2000, absences of 20 or more are reported to the National Education Welfare Board.
· A note is also necessary from parent/ guardian when a child has been late; a pupil has to leave during school hours and when a pupil has not completed their homework.
· The school should be informed if any child is suffering from an infectious illness. Children should return to school only when such infectious illnesses have cleared up.
· Punctuality is encouraged at all times. Children should arrive in school at 9.20 am.
· While your child is in school he/she will be known by the name(s) that is on his her Birth and Baptismal Certificate. The school will only change the name if evidence of changing name by deed poll is made available to the Principal of the school. Slang name calling, surnames or nicknames is discouraged, as we would like all children to be treated with respect.
· The following are not permitted on the school premises;
o Eating during class time
o Dangerous articles, i.e knives, sharp objects, aerosols, matches, lighters or any other object that could be considered a danger to any pupils or others.
o Fizzy drinks, crisps, sweets, bars, chewing gum (never allowed) or any other 'junk' food, except on Wednesdays which are 'Treat Day'. Parents are encouraged to limit treats to one i.e a bar or a bag of crisps, and some healthy food must always be eaten first.
o Tipp- Ex
o A most serious view will be taken by the Board of Management of the introduction of any abusive substances to the school.
o Mobile phones- any mobile phone found on a child will be confiscated until 3.00 pm.



Unacceptable Behaviour

· Disobedience- continually talking, cheeky behaviour, speaking out of turn, distracting others, untidy work.
· Running indoors, pushing, jostling or any sort of rough play.
· Continuous disruption of the class, the behaviour of the student is persistently having a serious detrimental effect on the education of the other students.
· The students continuing presence in the school poses a real threat to the safety of the students or of others.
· Aggressive, threatening or violent behaviour towards a teacher or student will be regarded as a serious or gross misbehaviour, depending on circumstances. Behaviour seen as detrimental , disruptive, threatening and aggressive includes: shouting, screaming, kicking, head butting, spitting, slapping, hitting, pinching, throwing, stamping, turning over furniture, climbing on furniture and failure to co- operate. This list is not exhaustive.
· Abuse language
· Bullying or rough play
· Damage to school or other pupil's property
· Leaving school grounds or repeatedly leaving the classroom without permission
· Repeated instances of serious misbehaviours including behaviour that interferes substantially with the constitutional rights of other pupils to an education.


Procedures to Deal with Misbehaviour

· The class teacher deals with it an may impose a sanction on the child.
· If the problem persists the teacher shall consult the Principal or parents, in the hope of solving the problem and helping the child.
· In the case of serious misbehaviour the Principal, the teacher and the parents may need to have ongoing discussions to monitor the situation.

Responses to Misbehaviours- Sanctions

· Reasoning with pupil
· Verbal reprimand, including advice on how to improve
· Loss of privilege
· Detention at break time
· (Children misbehaving on yard are sent to stand at the staff room window for between 3-5 minutes, depending on their age. Teacher on yard duty must be informed in all cases. )
· Removal of pupil to another teacher for a period of time
· Prescribed additional work signed by parents
· Note written to parent in the child's homework journal
· Child writes out a detailed account of misbehaviour to be signed by his/her parents. The report is then filed in the pupil's personal folder.
· Complaint sent to parents re: Misbehaviour- logging of misdemeanors where misbehaving is ongoing.
· Meeting with parents, by appointment, during school hours to discuss misbehaviour.
· Appropriate solutions agreed upon where possible e.g. parents will be requested to temporarily remove child from the school if deemed necessary by a member of the teaching staff, in consultation with the school principal.
· Contract drawn up between parent and school regarding such an agreement where deemed appropriate or necessary by school management.
· Suspension by Principal/ B.O.M - up to three days (c.f. serious breach of discipline code).
· Suspension by B.O.M.


Response to Misbehaviours:

· Loss of privilege
· Detention at break-time
· Removal of pupil to another teacher for short period
· Complaint sent to parents re: Misbehaviour
· Meeting with parents, by appointment, during school hours to discuss misbehaviour
· Suspension by Principal/B.O.M. - up to three days
· Suspension by B.O.M. -up to ten days
· Expulsion
· All parents will be requested for their written agreement to this school policy.


Pupils who misbehave, and who have no remorse for their actions will not be allowed to participate in school outings for their own safety and that of others. Although incidents of misbehaviour are recorded, the emphasis is on encouraging children to behave well and praise is given form commendable behaviour. Parents will be informed at an early stage if problems occur and not simply at the point where a crisis has arisen. At times, it has been suggested by some parents that the matters to which their attention is drawn are of a trivial nature, and that there was no necessity to have informed them that their child had misbehaved. The response to this is that while the misbehaviour may appear to be of a trivial nature, it is the cumulative affect of such breaches of the rules, which is important as it undermines the ethos of the school.