Expectations of Behaviour

Each student will behave in a way which upholds or enhances the dignity and learning opportunities of others. Respect for self and respect for others are the basic guidelines emphasised within the college.  When wearing school uniform, students are ambassadors of the school and are expected to behave in a way that upholds or enhances the college name.

Respect in Action

“Treat others as you want them to treat you” (Matthew 7:12) 

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Important Information for Students:

ATTENDANCE

At Carmel College, regular attendance plays an important role in helping our students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our Attendance Management Plan explains how we support students in Years 7–13, and their whānau, to stay engaged in learning and develop positive attendance habits.

Guided by our Catholic character, we take a caring and proactive approach to attendance. Through strong teaching, pastoral care, and open communication, we work alongside students, families, and support services to understand and address any barriers to attending school. Our focus is always on encouragement, support, and partnership.

We are committed to improving attendance outcomes across the school. Our goal is for 80% of students to attend more than 90% of the school year, in line with the Government’s 2030 target.

Late Arrivals 

  • Students arriving late to school must sign in at the office using the ipad or by signing the late sheet
  • Whānau are to report known lateness via the SchoolBridge App prior to the start of the school day

Planned Absences

  • Planned absences must be requested in advance via the SchoolBridge App for more information click here
  • Sport/representative leave requires approval and supporting documentation for more information click here
  • Holidays during term time are considered unjustified absences

Unplanned Absences 

  • Report absences promptly and accurately via SchoolBridge App before the start of the school day
  • If a student is injured or becomes unwell during the school day they must visit the first aid attendant at the school office with permission from a teacher or dean
  • Under no circumstance is a student to phone a parent directly to arrange to go home

Our Attendance Management Plan sets out our shared expectations and responsibilities.

Field Trips

Students will not be permitted to attend school trips without permission from parents/caregivers.

LEARNING

YEAR 7-10 LEARNING GUIDELINES   

Amount Of Homework

Students in Year 7 & 8 should expect:

  • 3-4 hours homework per week across all subjects
  • A maximum of 1 hour per night
  • NO homework set Friday for completion by Monday – i.e. over the weekend

Students in Year 9 & 10 should expect:

  • A maximum of 5-6 hours homework per week across all subjects
  • A maximum of 1.5 hours per night
  • Homework over weekends should be kept to a minimum

Homework Calendar/Timetable

Students should expect a negotiated homework calendar/timetable from each teacher that clearly identifies:

  • The days that homework will be set
  • The due date to complete the work (students should be given 2-3 days to complete the work)

Feedback

Students should receive feedback from homework to assist their learning.  This could include auto-marking tools, feedback from their peers or from a teacher.

OPTION CHANGES

Students who wish to make an option change must see their Dean initially with a letter from their parent.  Changes will be considered if class sizes permit.

CARMEL PORTAL

Students have access to the Carmel Portal.  Through the portal you can view your timetable, attendance, learning achievements, reports and much more.

Parents also have access to the Carmel Portal.  If any of your personal details change you can advise the school via the Portal or email admin@carmel.school.nz

How to access the portal: choose the Quicklink on the Carmel website (www.carmel.school.nz), click the drop down menu and select ‘How to use the Carmel Portal’.

SCHOOLBRIDGE – CARMEL APP 

You are able to access the following information from this app – calendar, contacts, newsletter, portal, online shop, sports information, school website and links to other useful information.  You will also receive emergency alerts via this app.

How to get the App

  • Go to the App Store on your Apple or Android device.
  • Search ‘SchoolBridge’ to download the app onto your device.
  • Then search ‘Carmel College’ to find Carmel’s app.

Once you have downloaded the App

  • Go to the menu at top left and click on Notification Subscriptions.
  • Select which notifications you wish to subscribe to. The 4 categories are:
  1. Whole School
  2. Year Levels
  3. House Groups
  4. Atawhai Groups

STATIONERY AND SUBJECT WORKBOOKS

Stationery is not sold at the school (only subject workbooks).  OfficeMax has the Carmel College stationery lists.  To purchase online go to www.myschool.co.nz.  Follow the online instructions.  Subject workbooks can either be purchased on the school online shop or through the school office.

ID CARDS

All students must purchase an ID card.  They are needed for entry to NZQA exams, use of the college library and attendance purposes.  A replacement ID card will cost $8.00.

TECHNOLOGY

Connection to the school wireless network implies consent to all that is covered in the Responsible Use Agreement which all students and parents must sign.

Students need to use their school generated Gmail account for all school related work and be aware that all network use is monitored.

The college can take no responsibility for lost or damaged devices as students are expected to take care of their own property.

Any inappropriate use of devices will be investigated.

Mobile phones:

Mobile phone must be switched off between 8:45am to 3:15pm and this includes Atawhai, morning break and lunch break.

Computers:

Personal Wi-Fi devices are mandatory for all students.  Devices are to be used in class at the direction of the classroom teacher.

Privacy:

The recording and uploading of pictures and/or videos of any person must be done with that person’s permission.  Serious breaches of this school procedure will be investigated and may be referred to the Police.

Harmful Digital Communication:

Harmful digital communication contained in emails, texts, pictures, blog posts and social media sites are breaches of the Responsible Use Agreement and will be investigated as a serious breach of school procedures.  The school has LineWize in place which blocks access to specific sites and social media platforms.

Printing:

Every student will need to pay for their printing (5 cents for black and white A4 and 20 cents for colour).  At the beginning of the year printing accounts for new students will be loaded with 20 cents (4 pages).  Students will need to go to the school office to top up their account.  There is a minimum $2 charge for this top up.

PROPERTY AND GROUNDS

PERSONAL PROPERTY

Please ensure that all personal property is clearly and permanently named and that it is left in a secure place at all times such as your locker.  Should a student need to bring a large sum of money to school, they should hand it into the school office for safe keeping.  Students are ultimately responsible for their own property.

If there is an issue related to personal property, see a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

All lost property should be taken to the school office.  Lost property can be viewed at the school office.

STUDENT USE OF SCHOOL PHONE

There is a phone available for emergency student use in the school office. 

VEHICLES AND STUDENT SAFETY

Entry to the school should only be through the pedestrian gate by the traffic lights in Shakespeare Road.  Visitors/parents are not to drive into the school grounds between 8.00-9.00am and between 3.00-3.45pm.

All visitors to the school must report to reception on arrival.

Students who bring cars to school are to park outside the school grounds.  They must adhere to the conditions of their licence.  Written permission from parents is needed if students are to be passengers in a car driven by another student.

BUS PROCEDURES

At 3.15pm students whose buses arrive in the school bus bay wait on the top court until the duty teacher calls the bus.  When called, the students walk to the bus and line up to get on.  Students are reminded that good standards of behaviour are expected on all buses, including buses chartered for school trips.

OUT OF BOUNDS

All students must remain in those areas of the college grounds that are easily supervised by the duty teachers.  The boatshed, behind the gym, the bottom field, fenced off areas and the lake foreshore are out of bounds at all times unless students are being supervised by a member of staff.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION

Instructions and maps showing evacuation procedures and routes are posted throughout the school.  A full school trial evacuation occurs twice a year.

WELLBEING

MASS

Whole school Masses celebrated during the year are the Dedication Mass, Carmel Day Mass, Assumption Day Mass and Thanksgiving Mass.  All students are expected to attend.

Week day Mass is celebrated on Thursday at lunchtime and all students are welcome.  No other meetings/practices are to be scheduled for Thursdays to allow students to attend Mass.

SICK AT SCHOOL

Students who feel unwell must get a sick bay slip from their teacher before reporting to the sick bay.  If a student requires any medication, this will be attended to by the health care worker.  Under no circumstances may students help themselves to any medication or take medication offered by other students.  When a student is unwell and needs to go home, the health care worker will contact parents or guardians.  Students are not to contact parents directly.  If you are Year 7-10 your parent/guardian must sign you out at the office if they collect you from the sick bay. It is advisable for students to remain at home if they are unwell.  Any medication that a student requires during the day is to be given to the health care worker at the sick bay at the beginning of the day.  Students return to the sick bay to have their medication administered.

SCHOOL COUNSELLORS

Students have access to school counsellors.  Bookings can be made by emailing

ADVICE TO STUDENTS

Problems are always best dealt with quickly and directly.  Talk to the teacher concerned, explain your concern reasonably and try to resolve it.

Here are some guidelines if you feel an issue is not being resolved:

Attendance concerns, personal relationships, general school support Atawhai Teacher
Curriculum, subject concerns Subject Teacher or Head of Department
Curriculum, subject concerns or changes, personal relationships, bullying, assessment concerns, academic tracking and monitoring, attendance concerns Deans:

Alexandra – Ms Elizabeth van Geffen

Cecilia Maher – Ms Anna Perkins

Justine – Ms Kelly-Marie Watts

Kelly – Lucy Anderson

McAuley – Mrs Fiona Blank-Sahinkaya

Pompallier – Miss Rosie Banfield
Assessment, curriculum, subjects Head of Department
Personal issues, relationships, bullying, harassment, family or other general concerns

All counselling aims to help students resolve their own problems. 

Guidance Counsellors:

tbc
Struggling with your learning Learning Support Coordinator:

Mrs Rosemary Shanks
Career information, work experience opportunities, preparation for job interviews and CVs, link into short polytechnic courses Careers Advisor:

Mrs Lois Bruce
­­School organisation and other issues Principal, Senior Leadership Team

BULLYING

Definitions – http://www.kidspot.co.nz/schoolzone/article+4064+286+Definitions-of-bullying.htm

Bullying is when a person or a group repeatedly and intentionally uses or abuses their power to intimidate, hurt, oppress or damage someone else.  It can be covert or cyber-based (happening online through social networks or through mobile phones).  Bullying can be physical or emotional.

According to the National Centre Against Bullying, there are six different kinds of bullying behaviour. They are:

  1. Physical bullying: when physical actions such as hitting, poking, tripping or pushing, are used to hurt and intimidate. Repeatedly and intentionally damaging someone’s belongings is also physical bullying, says the centre.
  2. Verbal bullying: involves the use of negative words, like name calling, insults, homophobic or racist slurs, or words used to intentionally upset someone.
  3. Social bullying: when lies, the spreading of rumours or nasty pranks are used. This includes repeated mimicking and deliberate exclusion.
  4. Psychological bullying: involves the repeated and intentional use of words or actions which can cause psychological harm. Examples include intimidation, manipulation and stalking.
  5. Cyber bullying: is when technology is used to verbally, socially or psychologically bully. It can occur in chat rooms, on social networking sites, through emails or text messages on mobile phones.
  6. Sexual or racial harassment is any unwanted or offensive attention, action or remarks of a sexual or racial nature, especially when repeated after a request to stop.

Bullying isn’t:

  • mutual arguments and disagreements
  • single episodes of social rejection or dislike
  • single-episode acts of nastiness or spite
  • random acts of aggression or intimidation.

How to make the complaint: If you wish to make a complaint, you can choose someone who you trust such as your parents, a staff member, Dean, Guidance Counsellor.  You will need to give as much detail as possible for an investigation to be carried out and, if it is a serious concern, it must be in writing.

If you are not happy with the resolution of the complaint, make a written formal complaint addressed to the Principal. She will discuss it with you and anyone else concerned, taking details in writing before resolving the complaint with you.

A very serious complaint about anyone in the school can be addressed in writing to the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and given to the school office.  The Board will then investigate it, in consultation with the school’s Senior Leadership Team.  After the investigation, the Board will send you a written response.

This can be done by completing the online form which can be found on the Carmel portal.