Code of Conduct for students

The personal appearance and dress of students must fit in with the norms
generally accepted by the community served by school, and as set out in the
printed uniform prescriptions.
Students must attend school for the full academic day. They may not leave the
school site without the permission of the principal.
If a student is absent, his or her parents must furnish the principal with an
acceptable reason for the absence.
Students are required to obey the reasonable instructions of the staff.
While under the supervision of the school, a student may not damage or
endanger the physical welfare of another person.
No weapons, implements or materials which can cause bodily harm may be in
the possession of students at school or while under the supervision of the
school.
Students may not have in their possession, nor use, cigarettes or any tobacco
products, other drugs, alcoholic beverages or objectionable printed or recorded
matter or objects, when on the schools premises, when in school uniform or
when under the supervision of the school.
School property, or the property of others, may not be taken, damaged, defaced
or polluted.
Students must participate in the educational programme prescribed by the
education department, unless exemption has been granted by the department.
Students may not use any facilities or equipment of the school, including those
for sport, nor be on the school grounds, outside school hours without the
principals permission.
Students may not bring discredit to the name of their school in any way.
Students may not sexually harass, bully, fight with, or tease other students or
members of the school community.

Classroom Conduct
Every student is expected to:
be punctual:
Arrive at class on time so that you are ready to start the lesson. Lateness is
inconsiderate, because it disrupts the efforts of both your teacher and your fellow
pupils / students.
Take out what you need for your lesson as soon as you get to your desk or
table. Do not wait to be told to do so. This shows that you are mature,
responsible and self motivated.
Be prepared:
Bring what is needed to the lesson, the books, stationery and writing
implements you need, your homework done and, most importantly, be ready
to learn and contribute to the lesson.
Be respectful:
Stand when an adult enters the room. You do this to show respect for the
adult concerned. Wait for either your teacher or the adult concerned to ask you
to sit.
Greet your teacher at the start and of each lesson.
Respect your teacher and your peers by not talking when your teacher is
talking. If you want to contribute, raise your hand and wait for your teacher to
invite you to contribute.
Listen to your peers during classroom discussion, and wait your turn to make
your contribution.
Do not pack away your books until the teacher has indicated that the lesson is
over. This disrupts the lesson and is inconsiderate to your peers and your
teacher
Respect the property of others and of the school. Do not deface desks, steal
drawing pins, mess with chalk, fiddle with the overhead projector or borrow
things without permission.
Keep your classroom neat and clean. Put litter and paper scraps in the litter bin,
not in the desk or on the floor. No one likes to work in a dirty or untidy
environment.
Be responsible:
Take responsibility firstly for yourself and for your own behaviour.
Encourage your peers to do the same.
Be supportive:
Do what you can to make everyone feel happy and accepted in your
class. Always be willing to widen your circle of friends to ensure that no
one is left out.
With the permission of your teacher, help those who may be struggling.



Cell phone Policy
While the school acknowledges that cell phones have become an important and useful
means of
communication, it is also aware of the fact that their use and abuse, particularly by
children, pose social, ethical and safety consequences.
The school would prefer students not to have cell phones in their possession while
they are at school or in school uniform for the following reasons:
Students who carry or use cell phones in public, particularly when travelling to and
from school, have become the targets of criminals who accost them and rob them of
their cell phones and other possessions. These attacks occur most frequently when
students are seen using their cell phones, particularly if they are expensive and/or
latest models of sought after brands.
Theft of cell phones at school from bags and blazers is a persistent problem.
Students are careless with their cell phones and leave them lying around or in blazers
and bags which are left unattended. Lost and mislaid cell phones are frequently
claimed to be stolen when this is not the case.
Cell phones can be used to cheat in examinations and tests. For this reason, no cell
phones are permitted in examination venues or in teaching venues when tests and
examinations are written. This same policy applies to the externally set national
examinations.
Cell phones are increasingly multi-functional, offering an array of features which are
designed to attract and entertain users. The ready availability of these features means
that students with cell phones tend to access and use these features in the classroom,
becoming distracted from their work. Students with low levels of self-discipline, poor
concentration and/ or a poor work ethic are more likely to become distracted by these
features.
Cell phones allow students unlimited access to salacious and age-inappropriate
material.
Cell phones make students vulnerable to approaches by undesirable individuals or
groups including criminals and paedophiles.
Cell phones may carry private and personal material, including photographs, video
clips, voice messages and personal details which may become accessible by
undesirable individuals and groups when cell phones are lost, borrowed or stolen.
The school will not take responsibility for the theft or loss of any cell phone brought
to school, no matter what the circumstances. This includes the loss or theft of cell
phones that may be handed in to teachers and/or coaches for safekeeping, as well as
to cell phones which have been confiscated
from students who use them in defiance of the school rules.
Students who, despite the schools policy, insist on bringing a cell phone to school are
required to ensure that it is:
turned off (not on silent) and is not visible while they are in the school building
is not on their person when they are writing any test and not in the examination
venue when they are writing examinations.
The school will not, in principle, under any circumstances engage parents in
discussions resulting from complaints parents have received from their children by
cell phone during the school day.

Drug Policy
aim of this policy is to encourage all students to abstain from using any drugs (other
than those which are medically prescribed), including alcohol and tobacco. This
document sets out the schools policy on drugs, alcohol and tobacco use. Every
student and his/her parents or guardians are required to sign it as acknowledgement
that they have read and understood it, and that they
have agreed to abide by this policy.
1. Position. The school does not tolerate
the use or possession of any illegal or prohibited substances
the possession of drug-related equipment such as cigarette papers, pipes, etc.
the use of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing substances
the inappropriate use of solvents, inhalants and similar agents
the consumption of alcohol and the smoking of tobacco.
2. Procedure. Anybody found in possession of, or using, any of these substances
either on school property, or when in school uniform, or when under the supervision
of the school, or attending school-related functions, including sports outings and
social events, will be subject to the following procedure:
The student will first be interviewed by the school counsellor or senior member of
staff to determine the nature and extent of the students involvement with drugs
(casual experimentation, habitual use, drug dependence, dealing, etc.) and to
determine the appropriate response.
The students parents will be informed of the students involvement, and they will be
required to attend a meeting at school to discuss the matter.
If, on the basis of the interview, the school considers it necessary to refer the
student to an agency for professional drug counselling or other treatment, the parents
will be informed of this. The cost of such treatment shall be paid for by the students
family. In instances where parents are unable to afford treatment, the student will be
referred to appropriate state health facilities or agencies.
Disciplinary action against the student may follow if, in the opinion of the school,
this is warranted by the nature of the students involvement with drugs. The results of
such disciplinary action may include the provision of support, including professional
drug counselling, to a range of punishments which may include expulsion. In the case
of illegal substances, the matter will be reported to the Ghana Police Service. Dealing
in drugs or involving others in their use will normally result in a recommendation that
the student be expelled from the school.
3. Addiction, treatment and help. The school understands that addiction is a medical
problem, and that certain drug use may need support and treatment rather than
punishment. Any student who asks for, or is identified as needing, assistance in
coping with drug use, will not be punished, but will be expected to attend appropriate
counselling.
4. Confidentiality. All approaches by any student to any of the schools staff will be
treated with the utmost confidentiality.


Teacher Code of Good Practice
Dress
As it is the policy of this school to treat teachers as professionals, it is believed that
teachers will maintain a standard of dress and grooming which is appropriate to their
standing as professionals.
However, because expectations may differ from school to school, this school provides
the following guidelines to assist staff in determining what constitutes appropriate
dress.
Dress as a professional. This means that your appearance is neat and you are
well groomed, your dress is more conservative than avant-garde, and more
formal than casual.
On formal occasions, including assemblies, male members of staff are expected
to wear a jacket. Male members of staff need to wear ties ( the official school
colour is red tie and male members are to wear white shirts on Mondays and
Wednesdays, blue shirts on Tuesdays and Thursdays and purple on Fridays).
Golf shirt style collars are not permitted. Female members of staff should not
have bare shoulders or a bare midriff.
Teachers are not permitted to teach in jeans, T-shirts or slip-slops.
Sports coaches, and teachers who are responsible for coaching school sport
and physical activities as part of Life orientation, should wear the appropriate
sports kit for the sport concerned, or a tracksuit and track shoes.


Punctuality
Teachers need to arrive at school 10 minutes before the start of the formal
school day and to remain at school until 10 minutes after the end of the formal
school day. If a teacher needs to leave the school site he/she needs to obtain
the permission of the principal or a senior member of staff. When a teacher
leaves the school site he/she must inform the office before he/she leaves and
again when he/she returns. This done in the interests of school safety and
security, in case of emergencies.
Teachers need to arrive at their classes so that the lesson can start punctually at
its scheduled start time.

Working hours
Teachers need to be at school for the full school working day. In addition,
teachers are expected to coach or manage a minimum of three hours of co-
curricular activity each week on the days and times determined by the school.

Attendance at school functions
All teachers are expected to attend specified school functions during the course
of the year. These functions are normally set at the start of the year. If changes
are made, a minimum of one months notice will be given of these changes.
Teachers are strongly encouraged to support their colleagues and their students
by attending other school functions and activities, including sporting and
cultural events held at school in the afternoons and evenings.


Participation in co-curricular activities
All teachers are expected to assist on a weekly basis with at least one sporting
activity each term.
All teachers are expected to assist with at least one school society or cultural
activity. School societies or cultural activities should meet or hold events or
functions at least once every two weeks.
Meeting schedules and deadlines
Teachers are expected to attend all scheduled meetings listed on the school
timetable: these include staff meetings, subject meetings and meetings for
professional development.


School Tour Policy
Purpose and value
Touring and hosting tours have educational value, and are considered to be an
important feature in the schools wider extra-curricular programme. Sports tours
motivate players and stimulate improvement in our sport. Cultural tours enrich the
curricular programme. Both types of tours have valuable social benefits and promote
school spirit.

Staff leadership of a tour is of the utmost importance. A tour can be considered only
if experience and competent staff are available to lead it. A proposal about the staff to
lead a tour should first be discussed with the principal. As a rule, two members of
staff should accompany a tour. For large groups, a minimum of one teacher per 30
students, excluding the tour leader, is desirable.
Staff leaders are required to be familiar with the policy document Guidelines for staff
in charge of a tour.
Sport tours are undertaken by first teams. Under-age teams are, generally speaking,
not permitted to go on tour. Invitations to tournaments will be considered on an ad
hoc basis by the senior management team.

Funding of tours
A basic principle is that parents of tour members are responsible for meeting the costs
of their child.
Staff supervising the tour are not required to meet any costs. Their expenses must be
provided for in the tour budget.
Provision will be made to assist students whose families are unable to contribute their
full cost.
Mini tours (weekend or overnight) relatively close to the school, and recreational
expeditions such as river trips, hikes, etc., should be self supporting, and are not
subsidised from the tour bursary fund.
Expenses in hosting tours are met from the tour bursary fund.


Fund-raising
A major school fund raising effort may be held from time to time to provide
revenue for the tour bursary fund.
Part of PTA levies goes to the tour bursary fund.
A particular tour group may embark on fund raising projects, subject to the
approval of the principal.
The following shall apply:
Tickets may be sold to raise funds for the particular tour only with the express
permission of the principal.


School Sport Policy
Why do we play sport?
We play sport for healthy recreation and enjoyment. Sport also has great educational
value in that it not only promotes physical fitness, but also encourages teamwork and
the development of self control, co-operation, loyalty, unselfishness, determination
and leadership. Sometimes pupils who begin their school careers as rather selfish and
self-centred individuals gradually develop into far more balanced personalities as a
result of participation in team games.
On the principle that sport is good for the individual and good for the school, every
able-bodied pupil should play sport at school. It is also very much in the pupils
interest to play for his or her school rather than for an outside club.
The students of our school thoroughly enjoy taking part in inter-school matches.
Competition is an important part of sport, and there is nothing wrong with this - as
long as such competition produces enjoyment and not ill-feeling. Inter-school
matches are not worthwhile if they cause hostility and strained feelings between
players or between schools.

Maintaining standards
Standards of sporting behaviour have been declining generally. Poor sportsmanship
invariably spoils the game and creates bad feelings among players as well as spectators.
We must try to ensure that the general lowering of standards of sportsmanship does
not filter into the various sports offered at our school.
When we play our games, we play to win. However, sport is being spoilt today by the
tendency to play to win at all costs. Thus dishonesty, over-robustness, displays of
temper, intimidating and ridiculing the umpire, disputing the referees decision,
fighting, gamesmanship and uncalled-for behaviour on the part of team supporters
have all become an unfortunate part of the sporting scene. Some of our international
and local sportsmen set a very poor example for young players by indulging in these
practices.
This kind of bad sportsmanship must not be allowed to creep into our games. A sport
disciplinary committee run by the sport council executive deals with misconduct
incidents reported to them via the head of sport. There is a formal hearing, and
punishment suitable to the offence is given.

Principles and practices to be adhered to when playing matches
Keep a sense of proportion. It is only a game not a major confrontation. It is not
the end of the world if the match ends in defeat for us. We should try to play a good
game and to enjoy it, but we should certainly not adopt the attitude that we must win
at all costs.
Give of your very best. Practise hard and play hard. Do not give in if the tide turns
against you in a match rather accept it as a challenge to come back.
Make yourself familiar with the rules and stick to them. Do not try to gain unfair
advantage by breaking rules deliberately in the hope that you will get away with it
this is downright dishonest.
Accept the referees decision without question or hesitation. Do not show
disagreements, irritation or disgust. Even the best referees make mistakes or are
sometimes unsighted. The referee is really doing you and the school a favour by
controlling the match.