ADAMSTOWN St Pius X High School (2012) - Catholic Schools ...

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Values (including Social Justice Initiatives)Student respect and responsibility is promoted as a natural part of the ethos of the school. The School Pastoral Care program,Religious Studies lessons, social justice initiatives, Community Day programs, Retreats and Reflection Days, Assemblies and YearMeetings are all used to promote strong Christian values amongst the students. The school more than meets the requirements ofthe Australian Government’s Values for Schools policy.Social justice is given a high priority at St Pius. Each year, student leaders travel to Sydney to attend the “Just Leadership Day”run by Caritas global education officers. They return inspired to embark on the annual “Project Compassion” appeal on AshWednesday. In 2012 over 40 students attended an immersion experience to Vietnam. These students were actively involved inbuilding projects for parishes & villages in both North & South Vietnam. This was an extremely eye-opening and practical socialjustice experience for all involved.The school celebrates St Pius X Feast Day in August. Each Care Group consisting of students and their teacher organise a stall toraise money for development projects for neighbouring nations in the Majority World living in poverty.Towards the end of the Year 10 teaching programs a variety of speakers were invited to the school and included people with adisability, drug dependency and the police. These activities were designed to raise student awareness of the less fortunate in oursociety and of the importance social justice initiatives.A number of out-of-uniform days have been organised and the money raised was given to local charities.St Pius X has a very active St Vincent de Paul Society which ensures that the school is made aware of and takes responsibility forissues facing the wider community.PoliciesEnrolment PolicySt Pius X High School, Adamstown, follows the guidelines provided by the Catholic Schools Office Policy Enrolment (Amended2008). The Policy has been devised to accommodate, as far as is possible, the needs of families seeking a Catholic education. Insituations where enrolments have to be restricted because of limitations on capacity, preference may need to be given to childrenof Catholic families, as defined in the Policy. Implementation of the Policy is via our local school Enrolment Committee which hasdiscretionary authority in keeping with Diocesan guidelines. Copies of the Policy are available from the school, or from the CatholicSchools Office website (cf end of Report). Parents concerned about school fees should ensure they make contact with the school.Diocesan provisions (including standard discounts for those with a Health Card) exist to help in this area, and the Principal can alsoexercise discretion where genuine need exists.Student WelfareAt St Pius X High School the Pastoral Care (Student Welfare) Policy clearly defines student rights and responsibilities. The full textof the policy can be read in the student planner and student handbook and is available on our school website and on request fromthe school.The school provides an extensive structure to support students. The structure is designed to provide support of all individualswithin the school community.This process is achieved via a House structure with a Student Coordinator in charge of each House and students within each Yearbeing subdivided into Care Groups with a teacher responsible for each group.This structure allows the school to effectively monitor and act rapidly on any student welfare issue.To encourage harmonious relationships within the school, we have developed a range of student based activities such as peersupport programs, anti-bullying programs, “Get Organised” and a range of student centred activities based on the premise of ‘carefor one another within a caring community’.St Pius X High School aims for excellence in all areas, providing opportunities for our students to achieve success. A merit andaward system operates within the school as a way of celebrating academic success and as an incentive to strive for excellence.These include: Blue Slip, acknowledging academic and class performance, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond Certificates eachrepresenting an increasing level of achievement and presented at special assemblies and award days.A N N U A L S C H O O L R E P O R T 2 0 1 2 4
No change was made to the Pastoral Care (Student Welfare) Policy during 2012.DisciplineThe school has developed an extensive policy related to student discipline in compliance with the Catholic Schools Office PastoralCare Policy 2002. The school’s Discipline Policy is implemented in conjunction with the Restorative Justice Policy. The DisciplinePolicy provides clear guidelines for procedural fairness that provide support to students and parents in matters of disciplinaryaction.The Discipline Policy has been designed to provide positive re-enforcement of acceptable practices within the school community. Italso places considerable emphasis on positive reinforcement of appropriate behaviour via the use of the Award scheme. The fulltext of the Discipline Policy can be read in the student planner and student handbook and is available on our school website and onrequest from the school.Discipline procedures are identified for minor and major misbehaviour. These procedures include playground clean up, lunchdetention, after school detention, student review panel and internal or external suspension. No change was made to the DisciplinePolicy in 2012.Complaints and GrievancesSt Pius X High School has as its major premise that the education of the child is a three way process involving a uniquerelationship between the school, parents and the child. To do this effectively the school actively encourages open communicationbetween all stakeholders in the educative process. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to contact the school with anyconcerns related to their child’s education at St Pius X High School.The school has established a policy that encourages stakeholders in the educative process to contact the relevant person -Teachers, Student Coordinators/Studies Coordinators, Assistant Principal (Students), Assistant Principal (Studies) or Principal -when they have any concerns or grievances. The full text of the school’s Complaints & Grievance Policy is available on the schoolwebsite and from the school on request. This policy is in accordance with the Catholic Schools Office Complaints ManagementPolicy 2007. The policy provides clear guidelines for procedural fairness that provide support to students and parents whenmatters of grievance occur. No change has been made to this policy in 2012.The school provides opportunities to parents and caregivers to attend a number of information evenings throughout the year wherethese processes of communication are explained in detail.Issues related to child protection and related matters are dealt with in a confidential manner and passed on to the appropriaterepresentatives at the Catholic Schools Office Child Protection Unit and/or Department of Youth and Community Services.In all interactions with students and parents and especially in disciplinary situations, St Pius X High School ensures that studentsand parents are aware of their rights and that full attention is paid to procedural fairness.To supplement the information given to parents and caregivers, upon enrolment each student is given a copy of the StudentHandbook and each year students receive a planner which has information regarding school procedures and discipline policies.Special Provisions (Secondary Schools O nly)St Pius has in place policy and procedures covering special provisions examinations. The Learning Support Team is responsiblefor managing student access to special provisions and all aspects of special provisions examinations. All students & parents arealerted to the opportunity to apply for special provisions via meetings and written communication.Student AchievementsAcademic AchievementsSt Pius again performed very well in the following:Mock Trial, Debating, University-run Exams – English Writing Competition, Australian Mathematics Competition for the WestpacAwards, Mathematics International Competition and Assessment for Schools, International Competitions and Assessment forSchools Science Competition, Chemistry Quiz and the University of Newcastle Science & Engineering Challenge.A N N U A L S C H O O L R E P O R T 2 0 1 2 5
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ADAMSTOWN St Pius X High School (2012) - Catholic Schools ...

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