Discipline System

Although the School demands high standards of behaviour, the discipline system is not intended to repress but rather ensure that each and every individual within the School is given an equal opportunity to flourish and to develop his talents and skills. It is based on the underlying principles of self-discipline and self-respect which, when responsibly exercised, promote a genuine concern for the person and property of others and contribute substantially to the development of a responsible and co-operative community. This system is built on Christian values and the rights and responsibilities outlined below.

Students and staff have ‘rights’ which all members of the Trinity community should respect. Equally, all students and staff have the ‘responsibility’ to respect the rights of others.

Rights

I have the right to be

I have the responsibility to learn self-discipline and respect the rights of others.

I have the responsibility to treat others with respect and politeness. I have the responsibility to respect the authority of teachers.

I have a responsibility to express my opinion in an appropriate manner, time and place.

I have a responsibility to contribute to School safety by not threatening, hitting or hurting anyone.

I have the responsibility not to steal, damage or destroy the property of others, and to take good care of my own property.

I have the responsibility to allow teachers to teach and students to learn without disruption and to keep up to date with required work. I have the responsibility to be punctual, to attend School and to participate in required activities.

I have a responsibility to care for the School environment - to keep it neat and be prepared to remove litter

I have the responsibility to report defective equipment and damage in the School environment. I have the responsibility not to destroy School equipment.

I have the responsibility to behave in such a way that the community will respect the School.

Responsibilities

I have the responsibility to treat others with understanding.

I have the responsibility to learn self-discipline and respect the rights of others.

I have the responsibility to treat others with respect and politeness. I have the responsibility to respect the authority of teachers.

I have a responsibility to express my opinion in an appropriate manner, time and place.

I have a responsibility to contribute to School safety by not threatening, hitting or hurting anyone.

I have the responsibility not to steal, damage or destroy the property of others, and to take good care of my own property.

I have the responsibility to allow teachers to teach and students to learn without disruption and to keep up to date with required work. I have the responsibility to be punctual, to attend School and to participate in required activities.

I have a responsibility to care for the School environment - to keep it neat and be prepared to remove litter

I have the responsibility to report defective equipment and damage in the School environment. I have the responsibility not to destroy School equipment.

I have the responsibility to behave in such a way that the community will respect the School.

The School, founded on Christian principles, recognises the prerequisite need for the existence of a secure and disciplined environment to enable boys to be effectively educated. The School accepts that ‘stages of discipline’ are a necessary step to the eventual aim of seeing students graduate from School as self-disciplined young men.

Level One (white) is where students are involved in minor infractions in the classroom and around the School. Students can expect these issues to be dealt with by the classroom teacher in addition to the Marshals and School Prefects. A possible punishment would be a Record Book Comment, a Lunchtime Detention, Demerit for Years 7-9 or a Dress Parade for uniform/ appearance offences. This is a warning level and students will come to the attention of Middle School House Co-ordinators, Housemasters, Heads of Department or Masters in Charge at this time so that their actions can be closely monitored and students can be counselled.

Level Two (green) is where students continue with examples of Level One behaviour or for particular incidents where the consequences for their actions increase. Detentions and Demerits (Years 7-9) are likely to be issued by Middle School House Co- ordinators, Housemasters, Heads of Department or Masters in Charge. Students on this level will be monitored closely by Middle School House Co-ordinators, Housemasters to ensure that inappropriate behaviours do not continue.

Level Three (amber) is where students continue with Level One and Two behaviours or for particularly serious incidents. At this Level the student will be counselled by at least one of the following: Second Master of the Senior School, Second Master of the Middle School, Sportsmaster or Director of Activities. A Demerit or Detention is likely to be issued and the Middle School House Co-ordinator or Housemaster will further monitor the student’s progress. The School Psychologist may be asked to counsel the boy also.

Level Four (red) is where students continue with Level One, Two or Three behaviours or for particular serious incidents. At this level the Master of the Senior School or the Master of the Middle School become directly involved. A Detention, Student Contract, Suspension and Probation are likely consequences for actions at this level. The boy may be referred to the School Psychologist.

Level Five (black) is where students continue with Level One, Two, Three and Four behaviours or for serious incidents involving Bullying, Legal and Illegal Drugs, Smoking, Extreme Insubordination and Theft. At this level the Senior Master and Head Master will become involved and the student’s position in the School is likely to be reviewed.

Discipline Measures

Record book comments: These can be either positive or negative about student attitudes and actions, class work or particular problems the student is facing.

Merits: Merits are formal recognition of good classwork or actions by students in Years 7-9. When a Merit is given, a slip is placed in the boy’s Record Book and details the reasons for the Merit being issued are placed in the boy’s file. The boy’s Middle School House Co-ordinator and Housemaster are also informed.

Demerits: Demerits are issued to students in Years 7-9 for failure to reform their behaviour, complete required work, fulfil a minor imposition or take heed of warnings given. A slip is placed in the boy’s Record Book and details of the reason for the Demerit are placed in the boy’s file. The boy’s Middle School House Co-ordinator is also informed.

Detentions: Detentions are issued to boys in Years 7-12 for failing to modify standards of behaviour, complete required work or for specific breaches of student responsibilities. They may be a One-Hour Detention to be served on a week day afternoon, or a Three-Hour Detention to be served on a Saturday morning for more serious matters. (Two Demerits in a five-week period will result in a Year 7-9 student receiving a Detention). For very serious misdemeanours a boy may be given a Suspension from School. During the Suspension the boy is not permitted to attend classes, train or play with his team or attend other School activities. Suspensions are not given lightly and are meant to convey to the boy that his behaviour is not satisfactory and, if it continues, he is likely to be asked to leave the School.

Stages of Discipline

Sport Code of Conduct

Behaviour on Buses & Trains

All School Rules in terms of Uniform and Behaviour apply as per Handbook.
Board and leave the bus or train in an orderly manner.
Behave appropriately and safely at all times.
Accept that the driver or train guard is in charge and obey his or her instructions.
Sit properly on a seat.
Respect bus and train property and the property of others by not marking or damaging it.
Do not carry bags on your back when entering and exiting the bus or train.
Place bags under the seat, near your feet or in the storage areas provided.
Do not put bags on the seats as this stops other people from using the seats.

Show the appropriate pass/Student ID Card to the driver, ticket inspector or ticket collector when required.
Have the ticket ready to dip into the automatic ticket checking machines on buses and railway stations.
Line up in order when waiting for buses from the person who first arrives to the person who arrives last.
Stand on the footpath away from the kerb while waiting for the bus or behind the yellow line while waiting for a train.
Treat other travellers and bus and railway employees with respect.
Show constraint, keep the noise level down and do not move around the bus

or train while it is in motion.
Keep all parts of your body within the train or bus.
Only attract the attention of the driver in the case of an emergency.