EAST HILLS BOYS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HANDBOOK Years 7 – 12 2021 Organisation and Procedures INFORMATION BOOKLET 2021 FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS This booklet provides information for parents and students on the following: * how the school is organised; * the range of courses offered to students; * the administrative arrangements followed by the school; * the nature and provision of educational facilities, and * the parent and community support services which are available at the school. CONTENTS Page School Terms – 2019 3 Principal’s Message 4 Message from P & C President and Committee 5 Bullying is not tolerated 6 School Behaviour Code – “A Fair Go” 6 School Merit Levels 7 Positive Behaviour for Learning 8 Student Welfare/Discipline Policy 9-11 Absences 12 Attendance – Year 7 to Year 10 12 Banned Item, Bell times 13 Care of Personal Property 13 Curriculum, Curriculum Pattern 14-15 Equipment List – all students 16-20 Early Leave 21 Eating 21 Home Study 21 Information Bulletins & Reports 21 Keep Your School Clean 21 Lost Property 21 Map of School 22 Movement 23 Out of Class 23 Parent & Citizens Association 23 Parent/Teacher Nights 23 Permission to Leave School Grounds 23 Personal Development, Health and Physical Education 24 Punctuality, Queries 24 Roll Call 25 Rubbish 25 School App 25 School Canteen 25-27 School Contributions 28 School Counsellor 28 School Diary 29 School Library 29 School Uniform 29-32 Sick or Injured 33 Special Duties of Staff 33 Sport 34 Band, Choir and Instrument Tuition 34 Staff Information 35 Student Enrolment Form 36 Student Representative Council 36 Text Books 36 Electronic Devices 36 Opal Cards & Bus Timetable 36-38 Vehicles, Visiting the School 39 School Website 39 End of Year Party Criteria 40 School Contributions Fee Listing 41-42 Making learning our number one priority Page 2 School Terms – 2021 *(all dates inclusive) The School Office will be closed from Wednesday 16 December 2020 at 3.00pm until 8.30am Thursday 28 January 2021. Years 7, 11 and 12 will commence the academic year on Friday 29 January 2021. Years 8, 9, and 10 will commence their academic year on Monday 1 February 2021. Term dates for 2021 are as follows: TERM 1 Commences: Wednesday 27 January 2021 (Pupil Free Day) Thursday 28 January 2021 (Pupil Free Day) Friday 29 January 2021 for Years 7, 11 and 12 Monday 1 February 2021 for Years 8, 9 and 10 Concludes: Thursday 1 April 2021 TERM 2 Commences: Monday 19 April 2021 (Pupil Free Day) Tuesday 20 April 2021 (Staff & Students) Concludes: Friday 25 June 2021 TERM 3 Commences: Monday 12 July 2021 (Pupil Free Day) Tuesday 13 July 2021 (Staff & Students) Concludes: Friday 17 September 2021 TERM 4 Commences: Tuesday 5 October 2021 (Staff & Students) Concludes: Friday 17 December 2021 (Pupil Free Day) *(www.schools.nsw.edu.au) Making learning our number one priority Page 3 Principal’s Message At East Hills Boys High School, we commit ourselves to providing every student with the opportunity to engage with their education so they can fulfil their optimum potential. We provide a diverse range of subjects that meet student needs and interests. This enrichment of curriculum choices provides opportunities for achievement in all areas of study at East Hills Boys High School. The curriculum at East Hills Boys High School not only develops the boys’ competencies in powers of judgement, physical and mental health and use of imagination, but it also connects its programs to develop future focus learning skills of cooperation, communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking. The development of every student into becoming a positive member of our community is a challenge we thrive on and through our pillars of Respect, Responsibility and Learning our students are explicitly taught what it means to be a responsible, global citizen of our world. P Abboud Principal Making learning our number one priority Page 4 A MESSAGE FROM THE P & C PRESIDENT AND COMMITTEE Congratulations on your decision to send your son to East Hills Boys High School (EHBHS). On behalf of the EHBHS P&C, we would like to give a special welcome to the Year 7 Students for 2021; and to all the parents and guardians enrolling a child into our High School for the first time. EHBHS P&C prides itself on the wonderful school community of students, parents/guardians and staff who work together to create an environment where students are supported and well equipped to successfully pursue further learning or a career path of their choice upon completing High School. We hope the transition from your previous school will be a smooth and joyous journey. We trust that your son will have a great first year as they make new friends and embrace different experiences. The Parents & Citizens (P&C) Committee are parent representatives for our school. We are partners in the education process, who enjoy the privilege and responsibility to play an active and important role in the education of our children. Our main focus is to find ways to support our school so we can build a stronger and enjoyable learning environment and experience for all of our young men at EHBHS. We know it can be overwhelming in the first year in a new school and the EHBHS P&C is a great opportunity for you to stay informed, share your ideas, discuss concerns, and build positive relationships with other parents/caregivers and staff. Our Principal, Mr Paul Abboud, and the Deputy Principals regularly attend our P&C meetings and share the latest news about our school. Our meetings are held on the 4th Monday of every month at 6:00pm in the School Cafe. Please join our Facebook Group, ‘East Hills Boys High School P&C’ (@EHBHSpnc) for the latest meeting times and information. Our meetings are informal and everyone is welcome . Every year, together with your EHBHS P&C contribution, the P&C committee actively seeks and successfully obtains multiple grants which are used for the benefit of our boys’ education and positively enhances their high school experience. In 2019, the P&C were successful in winning a $193,500 grant to install air conditioning in our school hall which is regularly used for examinations, events and assemblies all year round. In 2020, the P&C purchased Student Injury Insurance which covers every student for injury related expenses at EHBHS, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our hope is to help ease the unexpected financial burden from those unfortunate extra medical expenses that may occur and support the health and wellbeing of your son. In addition to the above, at the end of each year the EHBHS P&C presents an award and gift to one student from each year who has shown and demonstrated their contribution to Community Service. We look forward to meeting you and working together to ensure a successful High School journey for all of our boys. If you have any questions or would like to have a chat we would love to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected] . Kind regards, President - Tracey Evans Vice Presidents - Arleen Thickett & Michael Dunn Secretary - Susan Boxall Treasurer - Julie Dunn Making learning our number one priority Page 5 BULLYING IS NOT TOLERATED AT EAST HILLS BOYS HIGH SCHOOL There is no place for bullies at East Hills Boys High School. Bullying behaviours will not be tolerated and they include: 1. Verbal and Visual Bullying: Teasing, name calling, offensive language, notes, graffiti, email, text messages, phone calls. 2. Physical Bullying: Pushing, tripping, punching, hitting, slapping. 3. Exclusion: Ignoring, isolating a person 4. Victimisation: Ganging up, threats, spreading rumours, whispering. 5. Emotional Abuse: Personal or family insults, threatening to withdraw friendship, isolation. 6. Extortion: Stand-over tactics, demanding money or goods, damaging or stealing other’s possessions. 7. Racial or Sexual Abuse: Attacks or discrimination because of their race or gender. No one has to tolerate this – you don’t have to! If you feel that you are being bullied, if you feel that you are experiencing any of the behaviours listed above, or if you see them occurring, see a staff member immediately. Every instance of bullying is followed up. What to do if YOU are being bullied by any person at school: 1. If you can, walk away, ignore the bully and try not to show how upset you are. 2. If you can, state quite clearly that you don’t like the behaviour, that it is unwelcome and offensive. 3. If the behaviour continues or you can’t do either of the above, talk to someone with whom you feel comfortable. Your Year Adviser, a teacher, School Counsellor and Deputy are always there to help. 4. Complete a bullying referral form. What to do if you WITNESS bullying: 1. Stay with the victim, comfort and support them. 2. If you can, calmly tell the bully that they are wrong in their behaviour. 3. Persuade the victim to tell someone, perhaps the teacher on playground duty, a teacher you feel comfortable with, the Year Adviser, School Counsellor or Deputy. 4. If the victim is unwilling to report the incident, offer to report it yourself. 5. If you are in a group where bullying is occurring, show you disapprove. By doing nothing, you are supporting the bully! Making learning our number one priority Page 6 POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR FOR LEARNING (PBL) LEARNING RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY Making learning our number one priority Page 7 SCHOOL MERIT LEVELS School Medal •Students qualify for a Platinum School Medal when they receive two Platinum Award Principal's Awards (120 merits) •Platinum award presented at Annual School Presentation Day •No time frame for this award