Culture of Respect

Respect is to be treated with care and consideration.

St Patrick’s GNS, Hollypark

Roll Number: 19259W

Ratified on: 24th October 2018

Signed: Margaret Keane

Chairperson, BOM

At the time of drawing up this policy, all details and the enclosed information are correct. It is possible that between now and the review date, changes may have to be made to the provisions, policies and procedures of the school. This may be due to external changes required by the Department of Education and Skills, the school patron or other agencies. Mandatory policies will be available on the school website and up to date information will be posted regularly.

Inroductio

At St Patrick’s GNS, Hollypark there is a commitment to provide a safe, supportive environment for all members of our school, so that students can achieve their full potential enabling them to participate fully in society.

To this end, there is commitment to develop and then maintain a “Culture of Respect” throughout our school community. Every member of our school community is encouraged to “Choose Respect”

Choose Respect” is to make a conscious effort to

Treat others with Respect, no matter how they treat you
Treat yourself with Respect
Forgive others who do not treat you with Respect
Resist your natural desire to pay back or take revenge
Apologise when you do not treat others with Respect
Support others who are not being treated with Respect
Ask for support when others do not treat you with Respect.

In St Patrick’s GNS, Hollypark we actively promote positive respectful behaviours in the following ways:

Looking out for others
Raising positive energy
Building self-esteem
Co-operating
Modelling desired social behaviours
Rewarding and highlighting positive social behaviours
Always look for the best in our pupils
Being polite and courteous
Being fair, gentle, compassionate and kind
Ensuring a secure and safe environment for all pupils

Respect in our school involves:

Being patient
Honouring the other
Building character
Discipline and boundaries
Admiration and praise of others
Building trust
Developing a climate of stability, acceptance and security

How Respect is modelled in our school:

Having an awareness of how I treat others
Having an appreciation of other people
Being aware of other’s feelings- empathy
Keeping healthy boundaries
Treating others how I wish to be treated
Really listening to others
Showing kindness and care
Treating ourselves and others with dignity
Treating others with respect, regardless of how I am treated

In our school, having a focus on Respect requires individual and collective involvement. We encourage all pupils to think about Respect and Respectful behaviours. Having Respect for oneself and others is clearly communicated. In St Patrick’s GNS, Hollypark, we instil a sense of pride and belonging in our pupils so they are invested in the school community and the school’s future.

Building Respect into each day includes:

Making time for greetings each morning
Having a Mantra for Respect
Appreciating and reinforcing positive behaviour, verbally and visually. Monthly Social Stars Programme.
Circle time and other such initiatives
Appropriate reward systems
Class rules that the students have input into developing and ownership of.
Posters around the school which highlight Respect

Principles of Respect

The following principles are fundamental to understanding and developing our Culture of Respect in St Patrick’s GNS, Hollypark:

Every human being is unique, and has inherent worth and value, and therefore should be treated with Respect.
Respect is not only an attitude, but an observable behaviour. Respect will be clearly demonstrated in our school in the following areas:
- Respect of others
- Respect for yourself
- Respect for property
- Respect for positions of authority
- Respect for the environment
Every member of our school knows inherently how to demonstrate Respect.
If a member of our school community is not treating others or themselves with Respect, they are making a conscious choice NOT to do so.
Every member of our school community is responsible for their own actions and choices. These actions and choices will always have consequences.
It is acknowledged that every member of our school community will at some time fall short of the ‘Code of Behaviour’. However by providing an explicit standard or benchmark for what is right and acceptable behaviour we are holding up a ‘standard of behaviour’ to work towards.

Review

This policy will be subject to regular review and update.