School Policies
Introduction
The Board of Trustees of Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Hamilton, is focused on the ongoing improvement of student progress and achievement. To ensure effective school performance, the board is committed to maintaining a strong and effective governance framework that incorporates legislative requirements and good practice.
The following are the Board’s agreed governance and management definitions which form the basis upon which both the working relationship and the Board’s policies are developed.
Governance
The Board acts in a stewardship role and is entrusted to work on behalf of all stakeholders. It is accountable for the school’s performance, emphasizes strategic leadership, sets the vision for the school and ensures compliance with legal and policy requirements.
Board policies are at a governance level and outline clear delegations to the principal. The Board and Principal form the leadership team with the role of each documented and understood. The Principal reports to the Board as a whole with committees used sparingly and only when a need is identified in order to contribute to Board work.
The Board is proactive rather than reactive in its operations and decision making and does not involve itself in the administrative details of the day to day running of the school. The ongoing improvement of student progress and achievement is the Board’s focus.
Management
The Board delegates all authority and accountability for the day-to-day operational organisation of the school to the Principal who must ensure compliance with both the Board’s policy framework and the law of New Zealand. [For detail see Operational Policies]
In developing the above definitions for Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Hamilton, the Board was mindful of the following excerpts from the Education Act 1989:
Education Act 1989, Section 75 and 76, and Section 65
The legal responsibility of Boards of Trustees is determined by Section 75 of the Education Act 1989:
s.75 Boards to control management of schools –
Except to the extent that any enactment or the general law of New Zealand provides otherwise, a school’s board has complete discretion to control the management of the school as it thinks fit.
s.76 Principals –
- A school’s principal is the board’s chief executive in relation to the school’s control and management.
- Except to the extent that any enactment or the general law of New Zealand provides otherwise, the principal –
- Shall comply with the board’s general policy directions; and
- Subject to paragraph (a), has complete discretion to manage as the principal thinks fit the school’s day to day administration.
s.65 A board may from time to time, in accordance with the State Sector Act 1988, appoint, suspend, or dismiss staff.
Attendance Supports Engagement
We value your daughter’s attendance at school each day. Educational research shows us that when attendance is high, the chances of success (at school) are also high. In the case of an absence, the school appreciates being in-formed.
All student absences are to be explained by parents, preferably in advance, and immediately upon a student’s return to school. Students must take responsibility for getting the explanation notes to their CCM Companions. Failure to do this will mean that the absence is classified as “Truant” by the Ministry.
Parents/caregivers need to call the Student Centre (856 7874 extn 2852) or email (absences@shgcham.school.nz) with details of your daughter’s absence, including their full name, the length of absence and reason.
On your daughter’s return to school, a note must be produced from the parents/caregivers to her CCM Companion.
Electronic Devices Procedure
Students are not permitted to use their electronic devices (i.e. cell phone, IPod etc.) on school premises without permission between the hours of:
8.30am to 3.05pm – Monday – Friday
During the above hours, devices are to be used for learning only and are only permitted to be used in class with a teacher or staff member’s permission. Otherwise, devices should be switched off and put away. Electronic devices are brought to school at the students own risk.
Students who do not meet the behaviour expectation risk having the device confiscated by any staff member for the day. Students are responsible for collecting their confiscated device from the staff member concerned. Students who repeat this behaviour will be referred to the Dean. Deans may contact parents and arrange for the device to be removed daily and returned to the student at the end of the school day for a duration of time determined by the Dean.
Should parents need to contact their daughter during these hours please do so via the school office: 07 856 7874.