School Conditions and Rules

As part of their Governance Policies the Board of Trustees asks each student and parent or guardian of students to agree to the rules and conditions of attending Massey High School.

GENERAL

These rules are for general guidance.   They do not attempt to deal with all possibilities.  The Principal and Senior Staff will deal with situations as they arise.  These rules apply both inside and outside of the school environment, where there is a clear connection with the school.

ENROLMENT

All in-zone enrolments are conducted throughout the year, as advertised.  All enrolments initially undertaken on-line are confirmed following an interview.  Students who transfer from other secondary schools must make an appointment for a pre-enrolment interview with the Principal or their delegated representative.

STUDENT BEHAVIOUR AND DRESS

Students are expected to behave and dress in a manner which respects the rights of themselves and others and which enhances the school’s reputation in the community. 

Massey High School is a uniform school and this is to be worn correctly at all times so that students can be identified as belonging to Massey High School.  Appearance should be always clean and tidy.

Specific school rules are listed separately, and students are expected to always abide by these.  

ATTENDANCE

Students are expected to attend school, every day unless they are ill or family reasons prevent attendance.  In these cases, a written explanation must be provided to the school by the student’s parents/caregivers. The preferred method for this is by email to their tutor or to [email protected]. A telephone call to the school attendance officer is appreciated, or notification via the school app. Three consecutive days of absence for medical reasons may require a medical certificate.

For planned absences permission must be sought by the appropriate Dean, requesting permission to be away from school for a period of time and is required in advance.

All other cases of absence without explanation may be treated as truancy.

REPORTS

Throughout the school year parents/caregivers will be provided with weekly attendance reports, fortnightly Massey Way reports and Achievement reports covering each term.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

The school has three trained and qualified nurses on-site at all times, who manage the health centre.  In an emergency a student may be taken to a doctor or Accident and Emergency and may be taken by ambulance.  The school also has qualified first aid personnel on the staff and in all cases of sickness or accident full care and attention will be given to the best of our ability.  Please ensure your contact details are updated in case of emergencies.

INTERNET

Students access to the internet is subject to our Acceptable Use Policy which can be found by clicking this link:  https://www.masseyhigh.school.nz//acceptable-use-policy 

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

  1. If a student wishes to lay a complaint they should speak to their Tutor, Dean, Guidance Counsellor or a member of the Senior Leadership team.
  2. If a parent/caregiver wishes to lodge a complaint. They should follow our Complaints Procedure which can be found by clicking this link: https://tinyurl.com/MHSComplaintsProcedure

STAND-DOWNS AND SUSPENSIONS 

The Principal may stand down or suspend a student if satisfied on reasonable grounds that - 

  1. the student’s gross misconduct or continual disobedience is a harmful or dangerous example to other students at the school; or
  2. because of the student’s behaviour, it is likely that the student, or other students at the school, would be seriously harmed if the student were not stood down or suspended.

A stand-down may be for one or more specified periods, the period or periods may not exceed five school days in any one term. A student may be stood down more than once in the same year but for not more than 10 school days in total in that year:

Where a student is suspended, the Board of Trustees is involved and this action may result in the student being returned to school on conditions, or being required to leave the school.

OUT OF BOUND AREAS

If a student is not under direct supervision and control by a teacher then they must keep away from all areas that are deemed to be out of bounds.

Information on these areas is updated regularly and will be displayed in all classrooms.

Students must not leave the school grounds without permission during the school day and if leaving, must follow sign out procedures.

MOVEMENT AROUND THE SCHOOL

Students are expected to:

  1. Walk quietly when moving around the school and be courteous and respectful of others;
  2. Keep to the paths outside and walk on the left hand side (inside and outside the building); 
  3. Exit from and enter the buildings via the nearest door;
  4. On wet days, students entering buildings have priority over those leaving;

BUILDINGS

  1. Students are permitted to use classrooms at interval or lunchtime only if there is staff supervision;
  2. In the classrooms there must be no interference with equipment and displays, whiteboard, furniture arrangement or the teacher's desk and cupboards;
  3. Vandalism and graffiti are serious offences. 

LUNCHTIME AND INTERVAL

  1. Food stations and tuckshop queues:  We ask the students to be orderly, courteous and respectful of the rights of other students;
  2. All rubbish, uneaten food, papers and so on must be put in the bins provided.  

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

The rules on substance abuse always apply when a student can be clearly identified as belonging to Massey High School, that is, at school, travelling to and from school or at any school function or activity.

  1. Smoking/Vaping - Smoking/Vaping is considered to be a serious offence in this school.  Students caught with cigarettes or smoking/vaping materials or associating with smokers/vapers will be subject to our school disciplinary systems.   All schools in New Zealand are smoke-free.  It is illegal to smoke/vape on school grounds 24 hours a day every day of the year. Please note smokefree extends to all visitors to the school.
  2. Alcohol - The bringing of alcohol and/or the consumption of alcohol and/or arriving at school intoxicated are serious offences.
  3. Non-prescription and Drug Use - Possession, consumption, or receiving/distribution of illegal drugs including solvents and cigarettes/vapes, is regarded very seriously and may become a police matter or involve suspension which can result in exclusion or expulsion.
  4. Prescribed Drugs - Students with prescribed drugs must report them to the Health Centre.

 UNIFORM AND PRESENTATION

  1. The correct uniform must be worn at the appropriate time and according to the regulations set out by the Board of Trustees. This includes from the time students leave home in the morning until returning in the afternoon;
  2. Extreme presentation is not permitted. The Principal is the sole judge as to what is extreme;
  3. Jewellery permitted is as follows:
    1. A watch;
    2. For health and safety reasons, only gold/silver studs/sleepers are permitted as ear piercings.
    3. A single nose stud
    4. Nose rings or septum piercings are not permitted.

 BUSES

  1. Students must board buses in an orderly manner;
  2. Once students arrive at school in the mornings, they must remain at the school and not wander along the neighbourhood streets;
  3. Any misbehaviour on the buses could result in a student being barred from the bus transport for a period of time.

TRANSPORT - YEAR 12 & 13 STUDENTS ONLY

  1. No student is allowed, as of right, to bring a car, truck or motorcycle onto school grounds. 
  2. We ask that students who drive to school provide their vehicle registration number to the school.
  3. We expect all students who drive to do so in accordance with the conditions/restrictions of their current drivers licence.
  4. Vehicles must be parked in accordance with local parking regulations.
  5. Students who drive to school do so at their own risk, the school accepts no responsibility for students cars.

 LEAVE

  1. A student is allowed to leave the school before the end of the school day only after communication from home to the school with an explanation.
  2. All students must follow the correct sign out procedures before leaving school grounds.

TRUANCY

Any student who is out of class/school without the permission of the school may be deemed as truant and appropriate action will take place. 

ILLNESS

  1. Students who are ill should be kept at home;
  2. If a student feels unwell or falls ill while at school, must report to the Health Centre.  
  3. Once the Health Centre makes contact with home, students are allowed to leave school grounds only when accompanied by a Parent/Guardian or permission is given for them to do so.

 PERSONAL EFFECTS

  1. The following items should not be brought to school: 
    1. Weapons or other items that could cause harm;
    2. Fireworks, Explosives, Toy Guns
  2. If valuables or large sums of money are brought to school, the school will take no responsibility and it will be at the owner’s risk.

CELLPHONES

In line with Government regulations our approach is “away for the day”, meaning cell phones either do not come with the student to school, or are switched off and placed in school bags during the full school day.  This includes in class, EOTC activities, interval, lunch, and movements between classes.

If a student does bring their cell phone to school, these must be switched off and always kept in bags, unless directed by a teacher for a learning activity. 

If a cell phone is brought to school, the school takes no responsibility, and it will be at the owner’s risk.

BICYCLES/SCOOTERS

  1. Bicycles/Scooters must be placed in the designated area, and it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they are locked or secured safely.
  2. Bicycles/Scooters must not be ridden in the school grounds;
  3. We expect that students adhere to safety regulations when riding their bicycles/scooters.
  4. Bicycles/Scooters are brought to school at the owner’s risk.

GENERAL BEHAVIOUR

  1. When visitors come to the school students are expected to show them courtesy;
  2. We ask that students exercise common sense around school buildings;
  3. Fighting/'play' fighting and other violence is regarded seriously and may result in stand-down or suspension;
  4. Provoking or bullying of other students in any form is forbidden and will be treated very seriously;

CHEWING GUM

Is not permitted in the school grounds.

GANG COLOURS AND/OR PATCHES

Are strictly forbidden.  This also extends to all visitors to school.

GENERAL

These rules are for general guidance.  They do not attempt to deal with all possibilities.   The Principal and Senior Staff will deal with situations as they arise.