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For policies and information regarding complaints including issues related to students, CEDWW employees and safeguarding (child protection) please use this link.

ENROLMENT POLICY

At Marian Catholic College, Griffith we value a faith centered approach to life, offering to people in our diverse community a Catholic Education which reflects our belief and trust in God.

Our College spirit emphasizes the development of the whole person based on their uniqueness, integrity and dignity.

We prize a caring environment where there is equity and justice, and where talents, responsibilities and resources are shared. We believe that everyone should reach their full potential.

The College recognizes the Church’s particular mission to those in greatest need.

No Catholic student will be denied a place at the school because of the inability of their parents to pay fees.

In accordance with the general principles set by the Wagga Wagga Diocesan Catholic Education Commission Enrolment Policy: the following criteria for the acceptance of students into the College have been determined:

PRIORITIES:

  1. Catholic children of new families:
    • With regards to Year 7 enrolments, priority will be usually given to students who attend Catholic Primary
    • Parents of these children should indicate that they support the Catholic ethos and practices of the
  2. Enrolment of siblings of students already attending Marian Catholic
  3. Children of other religious traditions:
    • Parents of theses children should indicate that they support the involvement of their children in their own faith communities, and accept the Catholic ethos and practices of the

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

  1. In relation to No.3 above, enrolments of non-Catholic students will be accepted as long as the proportion of non-Catholic pupils does not become so large as to affect the Catholic ethos of the College.
  2. Where an application is made for a student who is currently attending another Catholic or local high school or for a student entering Year 7 who has access to another Catholic Secondary School, the application will only be considered where it is judged that the student can be helped by attending Marian Catholic College in a way that is not possible at the student’s present, or other available
  3. Integration students will be enrolled on the same basis as other students except in the case where the student, if admitted, ‘would require services or facilities that are not required by students who do not have a disability and the provision of which would impose unjustifiable hardship on the College’. (Disability Discrimination Act 1992). The hardship must be determined prior to enrolment
  4. In accepting an officer of enrolment parents assume responsibility for all fees and charges as set out in the College prospectus. The College has a policy of fee remission depending on arrangements being made with the Business

Rationale

Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Wagga Wagga are committed to “providing a safe, secure and stimulating environment conducive to learning”.1 This is characterised by endorsing the gospel values of justice, inclusion, reconciliation, respect, truth and honesty.

http://schoolsweb.csoww.catholic.edu.au/portals/1/Documents/CSOHandbook/Well being/Pastoral_Care_Policy.pdf

 Policy Statement

Pastoral care is central to the ethos of Marian Catholic College and integrates with the intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual dimensions of learning. The goal of pastoral care within the College community is to create and maintain an atmosphere where members feel they are known, safe, valued, respected and happy and have a sense of belonging and empowerment.

Pastoral Care encompasses all relationships and activities of the College. Pastoral Care is the overt expression of the worth and value of each individual.

At Marian, Pastoral Care is the active and ongoing concern for each individual which embodies the Catholic ethos of the College in the tradition of the Mercy Sisters and Marist Brothers.

Definition

Pastoral Care is expressed through:

  • the building of positive and harmonious
  • teaching and    learning    experiences   based   on    mutual    respect    and acknowledgement of individual
  • co-operation between all members of the College
  • fostering and development of a philosophy of self-discipline.
  • reflection of Gospel values of love, service and justice in all aspects of College
  • recognition and acceptance of the cultural diversity within the

 

Implementation

Pastoral Care at Marian will:

  • promote the vision and mission of the College and should be seen in conjunction with all other policies, procedures and guidelines operating within the College;
  • have the individual as the focus;
  • permeate all aspects of College life;
  • be seen as a mutual responsibility of all members of the learning community; and
  • acknowledge the rights and responsibilities of each

The College has four Houses and all staff and students are aligned to an individual House. The staff and students start the day in their Homeroom. It is where they receive support, encouragement and guidance.

Marian Catholic College will aim to:

  • offer a formal Pastoral Care Program that aims to develop the whole person;
  • provide and develop effective integrated pastoral care, based on the care of the individual within each Homeroom;
  • provide effective teaching and learning experiences;
  • promote and provide a variety of co-curricula activities;
  • provide specialist services and referral systems for students with special needs;
  • undertake just and fair discipline practices;
  • maintain open communication with parents and guardians;
  • offer a variety of leadership opportunities for students, parents and staff;
  • provide opportunities for personal and communal spiritual growth through prayer, liturgy and other faith enhancing experiences;
  • provide opportunities for personal growth through the Retreat/Camp/Community Day program;
  • develop and review structures and procedures that ensure the care and safety of all individuals within the community;
  • have a    clear   statement    of   responsibilities,    referral   protocols   and communication processes to support and monitor students at risk;
  • support staff professional learning in the area of pastoral

Pastoral care encompasses behaviour management and emotional support. Marian’s procedures for managing behaviour with understanding, compassion and justice will be aligned with the principles of Restorative Justice. The promotion of respect, justice, honesty, mediation, forgiveness and reconciliation underpins the implementation of pastoral care. It should provide a framework for quality interpersonal relations between members of the community.

This policy operates in conjunction with polices and protocols to counter all forms of bullying, harassment, violence, abuse and neglect to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment. Action will be oriented towards prevention and intervention.

Duty of care and privacy and confidentiality will be consistent with Diocesan policy.

Evaluation

With the support of the Director of Pastoral Care, the Principal will monitor the degree to which the outcomes of this policy are being met. A review will take place annually.

Rationale

 This statement outlines Marian Catholic College’s policy on how each the College uses and manages personal information provided to or collected by it.

The College is bound by the National Privacy Principles contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act.

The College may, from time to time, review and update this Privacy Policy to take account of new laws and technology, changes to schools’ operations and practices and to make sure it remains appropriate to the changing school environment.

Collection of personal information

 The type of information the College collects and holds includes (but is not limited to) personal information, including sensitive information, about:

  • pupils and parents and/or guardians before, during and after the course of a pupil’s enrolment at the College;
  • job applicants, staff members, volunteers and contractors; and
  • other people who come into contact with the

Personal information you provide: The College will generally collect personal information held about an individual by way of forms filled out by parents or pupils, face-to-face meetings and interviews, and telephone calls. On occasions, people other than parents and pupils provide personal information.

Personal information provided by other people: In some circumstances the College may be provided with personal information about an individual from a third party, for example a report provided by a medical professional or a reference from another school.

Use of personal information provided to the College

 The College will use personal information it collects from you for the primary purpose of collection, and for such other secondary purposes that are related to the primary purpose of collection and reasonably be expected, or to which you have consented.

Pupils and Parents: In relation to personal information of pupils and parents, the College’s primary purpose of collection is to enable the College to provide schooling for the pupil. This includes satisfying both the needs of parents and the needs of the pupil throughout the whole period the pupil is enrolled at the College.

The purpose for which the College uses personal information of pupils and parents include:

  • to keep parents informed about matters related to their child’s schooling, through correspondence, newsletters and magazines;
  • day-to-day administration;
  • looking after pupils’ educational, social, spiritual and medical wellbeing;
  • seeking donations and marketing for the College,
  • to satisfy the College’s legal obligations and allow the College to discharge its duty of

In some cases where the College requests personal information about a pupil or parent, if the information requested is not obtained, the College may not be able to enrol or continue the enrolment of the pupil.

Volunteers: The College also obtains personal information about volunteers who assist the College in its functions or conduct associated activities, such as ex-students’ associations, to enable the College and the volunteers to work together.

Marketing and fundraising: The College treats marketing and seeking donations for the future growth and development of the College as an important part of ensuring that the College continues to be a quality learning environment in which both pupils and staff thrive. Personal information held by the College may be disclosed to an organisation that assists in the College’s fundraising, for example, the College’s ex-students’ organisation.

Parents, staff, contractors and other members of the wider school community may from time to  time receive fundraising information. College publications, like newsletters and magazines, which include personal information, may be used for marketing purposes.

Disclosure of personal information

 The College may disclose personal information, including sensitive information, held about an individual to:

  • another school;
  • government departments;
  • medical practitioners;
  • people providing services to the College, including specialist visiting teachers and sports coaches;
  • recipients of College publications, like newsletters and magazines;
  • anyone to whom you authorise the College to disclose

The College will not send personal information about an individual outside Australia without:

  • obtaining the consent of the individual (in some cases this consent will be implied); or
  • otherwise complying with the National Privacy

Management  and security of sensitive information

 In referring to ‘sensitive information’, the College means: information relating to a person’s racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religion, trade union or other professional or trade association membership, sexual preferences or criminal record, that is also personal information; and health information about an individual.

Sensitive information will be used and disclosed only for the purpose for which it was provided or a directly related secondary purpose, unless you agree otherwise, or the use or disclosure of the sensitive information is allowed by law.

The College’s staff are required to respect the confidentiality of pupils’ and parents’ personal information and the privacy of individuals.

The College has in place steps to protect the personal information the College holds from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure by use of various methods including locked storage of paper records and pass-worded access rights to computerised records.

Updating personal information

 The College endeavours to ensure that the personal information it holds is accurate, complete and up-to-date. A person may seek to update their personal information held by the College by contacting the secretary of the College at any time.

The National Privacy Principles require the College not to store personal information longer than necessary.

Consent and rights of access to the personal information of pupils

 The College respects every parent’s right to make decisions concerning their child’s education. Generally, the College will refer any requests for consent and notices in relation to the personal information of a pupil to the pupil’s parents. The College will treat consent given by parents as consent given on behalf of the pupil, and notice to parents will act as notice to the pupil.

Parents may seek access to personal information held by the College about them or their child by contacting the College’s Principal. However, there will be occasions when access is denied. Such occasions would include where release of the information would have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of others, or where the release may result in a breach of the College’s duty of care to the pupil.

The College may, at its discretion, on the request of a pupil grant that pupil access to information held by the College about them, or allow a pupil to give or withhold consent to the use of their personal information, independently of their parents. This would normally be done only when the maturity of the pupil and/or the pupil’s personal circumstances so warranted.

Access to the personal information the College holds

 Under the Commonwealth Privacy Act, an individual may seek access to  personal  information which the College holds about them. There are some exceptions through their Parents, but older pupils may seek access themselves.

To make a request to access any information the College holds about you or your child, please contact the College Principal in writing.

The College may require you to verify your identity and specify what information you require. The College may charge a fee to access and will advise the likely cost in advance.

 Enquiries

 If you would like further information about the way the College manages the personal information  it holds, please contact the College’s Principal.

YOU ARE LATE FOR SCHOOL

Report to the Front Office. A late note will be issued which you show to the teacher of the class you go to. If you know in advance, bring a note; if not, bring a note the next day.

YOU ARE ABSENT FROM SCHOOL

If you know you will be away from school for a good reason, bring a note in advance and give it to your Homeroom teacher. If the absence is unexpected, bring the dated and signed note from your parent when you return to school or within seven days. If the absence is unexpected and for more than one day, the College should be notified by phone. This still needs to be followed by a written note. Extended known absences (such as holidays) need the permission of the Principal prior to leaving.

YOU NEED TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL DURING THE DAY

This should be a rare occurrence and for a substantial reason.
You need to bring a note from your parent/ guardian to your Homeroom Teacher and call at the office to collect a permission slip. When leaving, show the permission slip to your teacher, call at the office on the way out, call at the office on the way back and then show the slip to your teacher when you return to class.
Parents need to pick you up from the Front Office.

YOU ARE ABSENT FOR AN ASSESSMENT TASK

Your parent needs to ring the College before 8.45am on the set day and explain the circumstances. You may need to supply supporting evidence (such as a doctor’s certificate) upon your return.

YOU ARE SICK OR HURT AT SCHOOL

Get a note from your teacher if you are in class or let the teacher on duty know if you are hurt on the playground, then go to the sickbay at the Front Office.

YOU REQUIRE MEDICATION DURING SCHOOL TIME

You need to bring a note from your parent giving full details. The medication should be dispensed from the Front Office under supervision.

YOU WISH TO GO TO THE TOILET DURING CLASS TIME

Ask your teacher for a blue slip and go to the Front Office to use the sickbay toilet.

YOU DO NOT HAVE CORRECT UNIFORM

If there is any good reason for you not to wear the full uniform at any time, your parents should send a note of explanation to your Homeroom Teacher, who will sign it and then you keep it for the day to show any teacher or Coordinator who asks to see it.

YOU LOSE SOMETHING

Lost property is kept in the Front Office. Unclaimed property is given to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at the end of the term. All clothing and books should be clearly marked so that lost items can be returned to owners.

YOU HAVE CHANGED YOUR ADDRESS, HOME PHONE NUMBER OR FAMILY SITUATION

It is essential that the Front Office has accurate records. You need to bring a note from your parents, indicating the changes that have taken place to your contact details or family situation.

YOU WANT TO CHECK AN ARTICLE IN AT THE OFFICE

Bags, heavy books and other articles can be checked in and out of the Front Office before and after school and at recess and lunch time. Students are given a printed number which they use to get their belongings back.
Students should not be going to the Front Office during class time to collect items.

YOU NEED TO BRING MONEY OR VALUABLES TO SCHOOL

The College takes no responsibility for students’ money or valuables unless they have been checked in at the Front Office. Do not leave money or valuables unattended.

YOU NEED TO MAKE A PHONE CALL

If you need to contact parents, you can ask permission at the Front Office to use the office phone.
Mobile phones are not to be brought to school as they can be a security risk, can compromise the safety of others in an emergency, can be used inappropriately, can be an intrusion to the learning in the classroom and can be used to harass and bully others.
If a student has a mobile phone, it will be confiscated and taken to the Front Office. For a first offence, it will be returned by the Assistant Principal at the end of the day. For a second offence, it will remain in the office for a week. For subsequent offences, parents will be contacted.

SOMEONE WANTS TO GIVE YOU A MESSAGE

Students are not permitted to come to the phone, but Front Office staff will pass on messages from family members to them at the next available break.

YOU HAVE VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL

All visitors to the College are required to check in at the school office, sign the visitors record book on arrival and when leaving. Students are not allowed out of class to see visitors. Family members wait in the office and students are sent to the Front Office to see them there. more>

YOU LOSE YOUR STUDENT DIARY

See the Assistant Principal. Replacement may incur a cost.

YOU HAVE A BIKE OR A SKATEBOARD

Students need to lock their bikes in the bike racks. Helmets can be left in the Front Office. Bikes are not to be ridden on the College grounds.
Students who bring skate boards to school check them in at the Front Office before morning Homeroom and can claim them back after the end of the last lesson of the day. more>

YOU WISH TO DRIVE TO SCHOOL

Senior students who have a driver’s licence may drive a motor vehicle to school on the following conditions:
~ Application forms must be completed and signed by the Principal
~ A car driver may carry two passengers only
~ The driver’s parents and the passengers’ parents must give written permission for this
~ Students are not permitted to ride or carry passengers on motor bikes to or from any
activity associated with the school
~ Motor vehicles are to be parked outside College grounds during the school day
~ No student may be a driver or passenger in a student’s vehicle on a school organised
excursion
~  No student is to drive through the school yard during the school day.

YOU DAMAGE SCHOOL PROPERTY

If students have caused damage deliberately or carelessly, they will be asked to pay for repairs. The payment may be negotiated over time.

YOU WANT TO TAKE A PHOTO OR VIDEO RECORDING

Permission must be sought from the Principal.

Marian Catholic College collects personal information, including sensitive information about pupils and parents or guardians before and during the course of a pupil’s enrolment at the College. Marian Catholic College follows the Catholic School Office guidelines for the collection of personal information: Standard Collection Notice

SUSPENSION, EXCLUSION AND EXPULSION POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Marian Catholic College follows the Catholic School Office procedures for:

Marian Catholic College follows the Catholic School Office procedures to engage volunteers working with students. Click here to follow the link to ascertain if you are required to register to work as a Volunteer with Children in our College environment.