Learner's Code of Conduct

UNIFORM POLICY

The dress and grooming of students at Excella Academy are expected to support individual health and safety, foster a positive educational environment, and ensure educational activities and processes are not disrupted. These minimum standards apply to all students, unless an exemption is specifically granted by the Principal or their designee.

EXCELLA ACADEMY REQUIRES STUDENTS TO WEAR THE APPROPRIATE SCHOOL UNIFORM:

Custom designed school t-shirt with logo. No logos permitted other than Excella Academy logo.
Solid charcoal grey uniform pants or shorts (boys), charcoal grey uniform style skirts of knee length with shorts/ tights worn underneath.
Primary School: Blue short or long sleeved shirts: Secondary school: White short or long sleeved shirts.
Students wear solid grey socks of knee length (boys); white socks no longer than mid calf (girls).
Black school shoes for both boys and girls.
Maroon jersey with school logo.
Maroon blazer with red ribbon and school logo, (see uniform catalogue).
Custom designed tracksuit, (see uniform catalogue).

COLD WEATHER CLOTHING REQUIREMENTS:

In cold weather students may wear whatever outerwear they wish to school when en-route to school; however, they must wear only permitted clothing in the classroom.

Permitted cold weather clothing:

PLAIN solid maroon sweater or zip-up jacket.
Undershirts must be PLAIN solid Maroon or White. Undershirts (long or short sleeves) can be worn under uniform shirts.
Leggings or tights worn under shorts, or skirts must be PLAIN solid Maroon, or Black.

NON-UNIFORM DAYS DRESS CODE:
On non-uniform days the following dress code will be enforced:

Clothes shall be worn as they are designed - suspenders over the shoulders, pants secured at the waist, belts buckled, no underwear as outerwear, no underwear exposed, etc.
Clothing with holes, tears or inappropriate patches will not be allowed.
Bare midriffs and bare sides should not show even when arms are extended above the head.
Clothing that is too tight or revealing is unacceptable.
Heelies, Crocs, sandals, flip flops, cleats and/or backless shoes are not permitted at any time.
No open-toe or backless shoes are permitted at any time.

The following items have potential to cause disruption or threat to a safe and positive school environment and are prohibited while on campus:

Hats, caps, visors, sunglasses or bandanas cannot be worn indoors. Excella logoed hats can be worn outside for protection from the sun.
Chains hanging from the neck, belt, pocket or attached to wallet.
Jewelry that contains any type of sharp object.
Short hemlines on shorts and/or skirts (less than mid-thigh).
Sleeves less than four fingers in width at the shoulders.
No dangling earrings.

HAIRSTYLE POLICY

At Excella Academy we feel each child should define themselves by their words and actions and not by their outward appearance or adherence to fashion trends. This policy promotes a philosophy of self-respect, dignity and personal hygiene with conscious understanding of and genetic pre-dispositions.

GIRLS

What is acceptable

Natural hair

Short or long natural hair should be neatly combed or brushed at ALL times.
Dreadlocks must be well maintained and clean. Only pencil size dreadlocks will be allowed.

Relaxed hair

Long hair must be tied at the base of the neck (at the back) in a neat single ponytail. This must not be flipped up to make a fountain.
A black, blue or maroon Alice band may be used to keep hair tidy.

Braided Hairstyles and extensions

Singles tied into a single ponytail.
Straight back braids. Must not be thicker than a pencil.
Bonding, long enough to be tied into a ponytail.
Braids the same as your natural colour will be allowed that does not touch the collar.
Reasonable shoulder-length braids will be allowed.

Plaited Hair

All hair plaited

Hair Accessories

Only simple black/navy blue/ maroon tie backs.

What is NOT acceptable

Natural Hair

Dyed (coloured) hair.
Shaved patterns cut into short hair.
A hairstyle of varying lengths.
Short dreadlocks.
No different lengths e.g. shaved at the back and long on the top (Undercut). Must be appropriate school girls hairstyle.

Relaxed Hair

No extreme hairstyles will be allowed i.e. funky hairstyles such as:
No highlighted hair or dyed (coloured) hair
No gelling of hair (use of gel)

Braided Hairstyles

No hair sticking up, hanging in or covering the face.
No big hair such as the dread bulk.
No highlighted or (coloured) extensions.
No fringe.
No braids that are touching the collar and are long.
No curly extensions.
No short bonded hair.

Plaited Hair

You may not plait sections of your hair whilst leaving other parts unplaited.

Hair Accessories

No big bows, flowers or beads to be worn as hair accessories.

BOYS

What is acceptable

Natural hair only
Shaved hair
Short hair, neatly combed or brushed at all times
Hair may not touch the collar or reach below the collar.

What is NOT acceptable

Plaited hair
Dreadlocks
Long hair touching the collar
Step haircuts (Mohawk)
Patterns cut into the hair
Hair of different lengths (e.g. longer at front or back)
Coloured or highlighted hair
No gelling of hair

DISCIPLINARY POLICY

The disciplinary policy outlines how Excella Academy deals with students who continuously fail to comply with the School’s Code of Conduct.

GROUP A: GENERAL RULES

No littering is allowed, nor wastage of water and electricity.
Pupils may not use the office telephone except in an emergency.
Certain school functions such as the inter-house events, Prize-giving, Drama events and any school functions in which the pupils are directly involved, must be attended.
Pupils must have all necessary books, stationery and sports equipment at all relevant lessons – no sharing is allowed.
Homework must be done on time as instructed and the Academic Programs of the school are to be adhered to. The rules of classrooms and the library must be adhered to. Lost library books must be replaced or paid for.
Chewing gum is totally banned.
Each pupil is encouraged to take part in at least one extra-mural activity per term.

GROUP B: GENERAL RULES

1. ATTENDANCE

Holidays must not be arranged during the school term and doctor and dental appointments must not be made during school hours if at all possible.
School attendance is compulsory including at the beginning and end of the term (first and last day). If a child is absent on a particular day due to illness, the parent must phone the school before 8:30 am to report this.
Bunking, or the non-attendance of school without a valid reason is a serious offence.
A letter of explanation or a Doctors certificate must be handed to the respective class teacher by a pupil on his/her return to school after absenteeism of any description. These letters etc. must be filed by the class teacher.
All pupils are to take part in sports lessons held during school hours. Only valid, written excuses will be accepted. Parents will be notified about the rules and regulations of sporting activities once adapted.
Pupils must be punctual for all lessons and school events, including the line-up and getting to class after the break. No loitering around the school premises is allowed.
All learners must be at school by the allocated time; And must be fetched at the given allocated time.

3. ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

Cell phones are not allowed to be brought to school by children. If a parent wishes their child to have a cell phone on them for emergencies when travelling to and from school, they must notify the school office in writing and the child must hand the phone in for safekeeping before 07:40 am and collect it when they go home. Children who are collected from the school by car or taxi may not bring phones to school. No child is allowed to use phone watches.
The school will not accept responsibility for any cell phone brought to school. Any phone found at school (except in the circumstances above) will be confiscated for 2 months and returned on payment of an R200 fine. Other electronic equipment (e.g. CD players, iPods, earphones, MP3 players and any other technological equipment) may not be brought to school. Toys may not be brought to school.

3. BEHAVIOUR AND MANNERS

Pupils are to be courteous to staff members and their fellow pupils. Insolence and disobedience will not be tolerated. - SERIOUS
When moving about the school, pupils should move quietly, quickly and in an orderly way, keeping to the left on the stairs.
Loud, inconsiderate behaviour will not be tolerated. - SERIOUS
Swearing, Blasphemy, foul language and abusive language and threats are forbidden. - SERIOUS
Pupils should behave in keeping with the ethos and values of the school whether inside the school, on public transport and outings - SERIOUS
Thieving is absolutely not allowed at school. - SERIOUS

4. HEALTH AND SAFETY RULES

Once they have arrived at school, pupils may not leave the school premises until the end of the day for any reason without the permission of the School Administrator/ Principal. They may not leave to purchase food from vendors of any description outside the school grounds nor from shops
Sanitary wear is to be disposed of in the bins provided.
Permission by a teacher for a pupil to leave a classroom, for whatever reason, is necessary during lessons.
Pupils are to vacate the classrooms during break unless it is extremely cold and/or wet and permission has been granted by the class teacher / teacher on duty to be in the classrooms.
If the learner continues to contravene the rules, which falls under Group A or B the Disciplinary Team – at their discretion may call in the parents of the student concerned. If the learner continues to contravene the rules which fall under Group A and/or B and has attended a Disciplinary Hearing, suspension or expulsion may result.

GROUP C:

CONTRAVENTION OF ALL OF THE BELOW ARE VIEWED AS EXTREMELY SERIOUS

Stealing (or borrowing without permission), and cheating in any way are forbidden and will be extremely seriously dealt with.
No drugs are allowed on the school premises unless prescribed by a Medical Professional. Being in possession or the bringing to school or on school excursions of illegal drugs, smoking material, alcohol, pornographic material and weapons are forbidden. (Random drug and illegal material searches can be implemented at the discretion of the Principal).
Weapons or any instrument which can in any way cause harm to others are not allowed.
Plagiarism and copying are forbidden.
No pupil may harm another pupil physically or emotionally. Bullying in any form, whether physical, emotional, verbal or by electronic means is forbidden.
Pupils may not leave the school grounds during the day without the permission of the Principal or Acting Principal. Pupils must bring a letter from a parent or guardian when asking to leave the premises during the day and pupils must be collected from the office and signed out by a parent/ appointed driver.
Pupils may not willfully damage or misuse property. This includes writing on walls, desks or toilet doors. Parents will be held liable for all costs to replace or repair damage caused by their child, whether deliberate or not (eg. Broken windows etc).

Although the punishment for all transgressions is at the discretion of the Principal and the Disciplinary Committee contravention of any of the rules especially if specifically indicated SERIOUS or EXTREMELY SERIOUS may result in expulsion.
Where an offence or crime is committed and the presence of the student at the school would disrupt order and discipline at the school and be to the detriment of the common good, this may result in expulsion
After a disciplinary hearing, the staff of the Disciplinary Committee will recommend their decision and sanction to the Principal who will inform parents about this.
If a learner is expelled the Parents/Guardians of the learner may if they so wish appeal against the process which has taken place to the Principal for a review of their child’s expulsion.