Expectations & Regulations 

John Therry Catholic College operates under the management of the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong as a Systemic Secondary Catholic High School. The school operates under all sytem policies and guidelines that can be found at this link. 

POSITIVE BEHAVIOURS FOR LEARNING (PB4L)

Behaviour management practices at John Therry are underpinned by the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) approach. 

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) is a whole-school framework that promotes positive behaviour across a school and helps schools develop safe and supportive learning environments.

The PB4L framework aims to make sure all students are explicitly taught the expected behaviours and establish clear and consistent boundaries. Staff take a proactive, preventative approach to ensure all students receive the appropriate level of support to help them to be successful at school. Student outcomes are monitored so identified students can receive additional support when needed, and a minority of students can access intensive support to enable them to engage successfully at school. 

ANTI-BULLYING

When instances of bullying are reported, they are investigated thoroughly and dealt with in conjunction with our John Therry Catholic College "Maintaining Right Relationships Policy".

Students involved in bullying type behaviour may be required to sign and adhere to an "anti-bullying agreement". 

We encourage all students in the community to take responsibility in ensuring that ‘bullying’ type behaviours are not accepted. We acknowledge that that power of the ‘bystander’ is just as detrimental as the person ‘bullying’ another person. Therefore, bystanders may also be called to account for the role they play in perpetuating the situation.

There are many avenues for students to report bullying to a staff member. Students can speak to a teacher in person. They can speak to anyone with whom they feel comfortable, but the first person should be the student’s Learning Group Mentor or Pastoral Coordinator.

In this digital age, the importance of developing CyberSafe practices is extremely important. Students are explicitly taught appropriate ways to use technology and appropriate ways to interact via social networks. As part of our safe practices, all students and parents are expected to sign the "Appropriate Use of Internet Agreement". 

At all times, John Therry Catholic College follows policy provided by the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong. A copy of the full CEDoW Student Anti Bullying Procedure document can be found here.

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES

Relationships, Responsibilities and Reactions:  “It’s not the falling down, it’s the getting up that counts” 

RESTORATIVE PRACTICES AT JOHN THERRY CATHOLIC COLLEGE

For teachers, principals and College support staff, restorative practices provides a proactive approach for building a College community based on cooperation, mutual understanding and respect. Restorative practices provides processes for holding students accountable for their actions and behaviour while at the same time building a nurturing College environment. 

KEY PRINCIPLES 

  • Focuses on repairing the harm done to people and relationships 
  • Provides a continuum of strategies for social and emotional learning 
  • Primarily concerned with building and maintaining relationships 
  • Through dialogue, wrongdoers are encouraged to be accountable for their behaviour and take responsibility for their actions by making amends to those affected. 

EFFECTIVE QUESTIONS: Focus on the specific behaviours or incident without blaming. Use ‘relational’ questions to draw out who was affected and how they were affected. Direct questions towards problem solving: “What needs to be done to make things right?”

  • What happened? 
  • Describe what you saw and heard 
  • Describe how things happened 
  • How has this affected you or others/
  • How were you affected?
  • How were they affected?
  • What do you need to do now to make things right?
  • What do you need to do differently in the future?

AFFECTIVE STATEMENTS: Reflect on the impact that the behaviour or incident has had on you and the other. Consider the effect on other students, the class, the cohort, other teachers, parents or the College community as a whole.

SUSPENSION PROCEDURE

Consistent failure to adhere to the John Therry Catholic College rules or unsafe conduct may result in a student being excluded from the College community for a period of time. This is to allow the student to reflect on their conduct and make a conscious choice to reconnect with the community with a genuine willingness and intention to conform to the College’s code of conduct.

At all times, John Therry Catholic College follow policy provided by the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong. A copy of the full CEDoW Suspension, Expulsion and Exclusion of Students document can be found here.