STATEMENT OF VALUES AND SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY

OUR VISION AND MISSION

Reservoir East Primary School’s vision is to provide a world class, stimulating, positive and inclusive learning environment, in which every student strives towards their personal best; academically, socially, emotionally and physically. Our mission is to provide a safe and caring learning environment for our students to ensure they are motivated,  resilient and actively engaged in their  academic, social and emotional growth. 

We strive to build a community of learners where students develop resilient life skills which allow them to learn, grow, and become active community participants. The School mottos, "Learning for Life" and “Together We’re Better”, underpin a dedication to continuous improvement and an emphasis on the provision of quality education. Central to the delivery of this quality education is the underlying belief that "everyone has the right to learn and be safe at school". Principles of equity and fairness are at the core of the school's practice. Supporting this belief is an investment in relationships as evidenced by the use of restorative practices.

OBJECTIVE

Reservoir East Primary School’s objective is to ensure all students receive the best opportunity to achieve maximum growth as measured by the Victorian Curriculum. To achieve this, it is our objective to provide the following service standards.

• The school commits to work collaboratively with students and families to improve students’ learning by a minimum of 12 months in a 1-year period 

• All students will have a strengths based individual education plan that will be reviewed with student and parent input each term 

• Students will be treated in a fair and restorative manner 

• Families will be treated in a respectful and welcoming manner 

• The school aims to foster close links with parents, carers, and the broader school community through its commitment to open and regular communications using a variety of means 

• The school will provide families with opportunities to be active participants in their child’s learning 

• The school provides a safe and stimulating learning environment to ensure all students can achieve their full potential

VALUES

We at Reservoir East Primary School value rights, responsibility, respect, choice, high expectations and safety.

We respect ourselves, our school and each another, and understand we each have a personal and communal responsibility to ensure that everybody’s rights to learn and be safe are respected in the personal choices we make. 

We model and demonstrate high expectations for learning and relationships, and the need to seek clarity when expectations are not known or explicit.

Our school enrolment is 230 students, from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. The school community values this diversity and supports students by offering a broad curriculum with a strong emphasis on interpersonal learning. The school is justifiably proud of its ability to cater for a wide range of abilities and backgrounds giving rise to an ethos of tolerance, harmony, and inclusion. As many children are from a variety of non-English speaking backgrounds, all students have an opportunity to develop an understanding of other cultures. Our authentic approach to inclusive education is reflected in our ability to cater for all students regardless of their needs.

BEHAVIOURAL EXPECTATIONS

Reservoir East Primary School acknowledges that the behaviour of staff, parents, carers and students has an impact on our school community and culture. We acknowledge a shared responsibility to create a positive learning environment for the children at our school. 

As principals and school leaders, we will: 

• model positive behaviour and effective leadership

• communicate politely and respectfully with all members of the school community

• work collaboratively to create a school environment where respectful and safe behaviour is expected of everyone

• behave in a manner consistent with the standards of our profession and meet core responsibilities to provide safe and inclusive environments

• plan, implement and review our work to ensure the care, safety, security and general wellbeing of all students at school

• identify and support students who are or may be at risk

• do our best to ensure every child achieves their personal and learning potential

• work with parents to understand their child’s needs and, where necessary, adapt the learning environment accordingly

• respond appropriately when safe and inclusive behaviour is not demonstrated and implement appropriate interventions and sanctions when required

• inform parents of the school’s communication and complaints procedures

• ask any person who is acting in an offensive, intimidating or otherwise inappropriate way to leave the school grounds.  

As teachers and non-teaching school staff, we will:

• model positive behaviour to students consistent with the standards of our profession

• communicate politely and respectfully with all members of the school community

• proactively engage with parents about student outcomes

• work with parents to understand the needs of each student and, where necessary, adapt the learning environment accordingly

• work collaboratively with parents to improve learning and wellbeing outcomes for students with additional needs

• communicate with the principal and school leaders in the event we anticipate or face any tension or challenging behaviours from parents

• treat all members of the school community with respect.

As parents and carers, we will:

• model positive behaviour to our child

• communicate politely and respectfully with all members of the school community

• ensure our child attends school on time, every day the school is open for instruction

• take an interest in our child’s school and learning

• work with the school to achieve the best outcomes for our child

• communicate constructively with the school and use expected processes and protocols when raising concerns

• support school staff to maintain a safe learning environment for all students

• follow the school’s processes for communication with staff and making complaints

• treat all school leaders, staff, students, and other members of the school community with respect.

As students, we will:

• model positive behaviour to other students

• communicate politely and respectfully with all members of the school community. 

• comply with and model school values

• behave in a safe and responsible manner

• respect ourselves, other members of the school community and the school environment.

• actively participate in school working towards improvement and achieving goals

• not disrupt the learning of others and make the most of our educational opportunities.  

As community members, we will:

• model positive behaviour to the school community

• treat other members of the school community with respect

• support school staff to maintain a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students

• utilise the school’s processes for communication with staff and submitting complaints.

UNREASONABLE BEHAVIOURS

Schools are not public places, and the Principal has the right to permit or deny entry to school grounds (for more information, see our Visitors Policy).

Unreasonable behaviour that is demonstrated by school staff, parents, carers, students or members of our school community will not be tolerated at school, or during school activities. 

Unreasonable behaviour includes:

• speaking or behaving in a rude, manipulative, aggressive or threatening way, either in person, via electronic communication or social media, or over the telephone

• the use or threat of violence of any kind, including physically intimidating behaviour such as aggressive hand gestures or invading another person’s personal space

• sending demanding, rude, confronting or threatening letters, emails or text messages

• sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic or derogatory comments

• the use of social media or public forums to make inappropriate or threatening remarks about the school, staff or students.

Harassment, bullying, violence, aggression, threatening behaviour and unlawful discrimination are unacceptable and will not be tolerated at our school.

Unreasonable behaviour and/or failure to uphold the principles of this Statement of Values and School Philosophy may lead to further investigation and the implementation of appropriate consequences by the school Principal. 

At the Principal’s discretion, unreasonable behaviour may be managed by:

• requesting that the parties attend a mediation or counselling sessions

• implementing specific communication protocols

• written warnings

• conditions of entry to school grounds or school activities

• exclusion from school grounds or attendance at school activities

• reports to Victoria Police

• legal action

Inappropriate student behaviour will be managed in according with our school’s Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy and Bullying Prevention Policy.

Our Statement of Values and School Philosophy ensures that everyone in our school community will be treated with fairness and respect. In turn, we will strive to create a school that is inclusive and safe, where everyone is empowered to participate and learn.