Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline the values of our school community and explain the vision, mission and objectives of our school.

Policy

Kerang Technical High School 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 our school and parents and carers 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 programs and teaching at Kerang Technical High School 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
• the values of openness and tolerance.

This policy outlines our school’s vision, mission, objective, values and expectations of our school community. This policy is available on our school website.

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

• display posters and banners that promote our values in our school
• celebrate our values in our school newsletter
• provide recognition for students who actively demonstrate the values
• discuss our values with students in the classroom, meetings and assemblies.

Vision

Kerang Technical High School’s vision is to provide our students with a quality education for the future in an inclusive and supportive environment.

Mission

Kerang Technical High School’s strives to provide educational opportunities, within a caring, supportive and inclusive environment, which permits all students to do their best. We aim to create good citizens who are ready to pursue a productive life in a constantly changing world.

Objective

Our school’s objectives are part of the four yearly strategic planning process and reflected in the goals listed in our current School Strategic Plan (SSP). We also develop an Annual Implementation Plan to operationalise the goals and key improvement strategies contained in our SSP.

Values

Kerang Technical High School’s values are respect, resilience and responsibility.

We respect ourselves, our school and each other, show kindness to one another and understand that our attitudes and behaviours have an impact on the people around us.

We model and demonstrate resilience, through a commitment to taking on challenges, accepting feedback, learning from our mistakes and not giving up.

We demonstrate responsibility by following our school expectations, being ready to learn and trying our best.

Behavioural expectations

Kerang Technical High School acknowledges that the behaviour of staff, parents, carers, and students has an impact on our school community and culture.

Staff have a range of expectations around behaviour and must follow our school and Department policies and the Victorian Public Service Code of Conduct and Values. Teaching staff also adhere to the Victorian Teaching Profession Code of Conduct.

School staff supports students to meet expected standards of behaviour as outlined in our Student Handbook, Kerang Technical High School Behaviour Matrix, Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy, Inclusion and Diversity Policy, Students Driving Cars to School Policy and Digital Learning Policy.

Information about the expectations on parents and carers to ensure schools remain respectful and inclusive places is outlined in the Department’s Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy and our Respect for School Staff Policy.

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 Visitor’s Policy.

Unreasonable behaviour demonstrated by school staff, parents, carers, students or members of our school community is not tolerated at school, or during school activities.

Unreasonable behaviour includes:

• being violent or threatening violence of any kind, including physically intimidating behaviour such as aggressive hand gestures or invading another person’s personal space
• speaking or behaving in a rude, aggressive or threatening way, either in person, via email, social media, or over the telephone
• sending demanding, rude, confronting or threatening letters, emails or text messages
• discriminatroy or derogatory comments
• the use of social media or public forums to make inappropriate or threatening remarks about the school, staff or students.

Harassment, bullying, violence, aggression, threatening behaviour and unlawful discrimination are unacceptable and not tolerated at our school.

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
• exclusion from school grounds or attendance at school activities
• reports to Victoria Police
• legal action.

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

Our Statement of Values and School Philosophy ensures that everyone in our school community will be treated with fairness and respect. In turn, we will strive to create a school that is inclusive and safe, where everyone is empowered to participate and learn.

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
• Included in staff handbook/manual 
• Included as annual reference in school newsletter
• Made available in hard copy from school administration upon request

Related policies and resources

Department of Education and Training policies and resources:

• Work-Related Violence in Schools Policy
• Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy

Kerang Technical High School polices:

• Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy
• Inclusion and Diversity Policy
• Complaints Policy

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Policy last reviewed 22nd April 2024
Approved by The Principal and School Council
Next scheduled review date: 2027