TOPOLINO POLICIES

Download our code of conduct

1. Discipline regarding yourself

You must always look neat when dressed in your school uniform! You are an advert for the school even when you leave the school grounds! The rules when you are at school also apply when you are out in the eye of the public. Children with good manners make their school proud!

General

short, clean nails [colourless nail polish for the girls only]
no make-up
only girls may wear studs or small sleepers in their ears [1 in each ear]; no coloured gemstones
uniforms must be in a good condition, not faded, untidy, to big or to small
only 1 Christian arm band may be worn around the wrist
hands may never be in pockets
chewing gum is banned
sturdy navy, brown or black suitcases that can be carried by hand or on the back
suitcases are not allowed to be drawn on wheels
no graffiti on suitcases, space cases, etc.

Please note: Clothing must be marked clearly.

Hair

Boys:
• may not touch ears or brows
• minimum gel
• no coloured hair or highlights
• short and very neat
• no strange hairstyles
• no hairstyles with distinct “steps”

Girls:
• fringe may not touch brows
• if hair touches collar it must be tied up
• no coloured hair or highlights
• navy accessories – red/navy hair ribbons
• alicebands/headbands: may not have flowers or other decorations on
• no excessive use of hair accessories
Summer uniforms for both sexes

o skorts (skirt-shorts) and shorts must be approximately four fingers from knee
o bottom button of school shirt must be tied
o tracksuit top may be worn – zip must always be closed and shirt collar must be over top. The string should always be fastened.
o bare feet/navy crocs/white running shoes, or with blue stripes
o white socks must always be visible, no secret socks
o wear sport shirts to school on sports days

Please note: Wearing of a school cap as well as sun block is recommended.

Winter uniforms for both sexes

school tracksuit with the school shirt, with a collar, or round-necked navy long- sleeved top
white socks and trainers as for the summer uniform
a navy rain/windbreaker may be worn over the tracksuit, as well as, a navy scarf
navy gloves and beanies may be worn before school, but must be taken off during school hours

2. Discipline regarding the teaching staff

God appoints people in positions of authority

o greet the staff and use words like please, thank you and excuse me
o always be obedient
o be of service – offer to carry books, etc.
o body language when talking to adults must always be respectful
o disruption of lessons will not be tolerated
o children may not be in a school building without permission or supervision
o when any adult enters your classroom you should stand and greet as a sign of respect

3. Discipline regarding the school grounds

The school grounds, buildings, tables, books, readers, etc. are private property.
Learners will have to pay for damages, or replace anything that is damaged.

General

no dangerous objects, unappropriate reading materials, banned substances or electronic games may be brought to school
use of cell phones and psp’s is banned at school, or at any school event
no learner, who has entered the school grounds may leave again without permission
no learner may cross the road in front of the school without assistance; learners wait for their parents inside the school grounds
trees and walls are not to be climbed
play safely on the jungle gym – no pushing or shoving – take shoes off first
obey the prefects and follow their lead
keep the playgrounds, classrooms and cloakrooms neat
littering is taboo
don’t throw forbidden things into the animal pen – don’t hurt them
no swearing will be tolerated
no discrimination, teasing or bullying will be tolerated
no graffiti on any school property, eg. desks, walls, etc.

Please note: Report anything that is damaged. Report anything that seems dangerous, or wrong to the teacher who is on duty.

Cloakrooms

1. Gr. 1 – 3 learners use the Junior cloakrooms

2. Gr. 4 – 7 learners use the Senior cloakrooms

Cloakrooms may be used before school and during breaks.
The cloakrooms are cleaned daily. Flowers, soap and clean towels add to the hygienic atmosphere.
Learners are discouraged from taking their food into the cloakrooms.
They may not play there, nor may more than 1 child be in a cubicle at one time.
Vandalism is considered a crime!

Playgrounds

• Members of staff are on duty from 7:30 am.
• Learners come to school from 7:00
• At the start of the day learners line-up under the shade-cloth.
• During breaks staff members, as well as the prefects and monitors, supervise.
• Learners are encouraged to keep to the paths when swapping classes.

After school

• Learners wait for parents at the “the waiting class”.
• Learners who ride to school by bicycle, fetch their bicycles from the bicycle-rack and push them through the gate.
• Bicycle riders need to wear a helmet
• Grade 1 and 2 learners who have to wait for a bus, or older brothers and sisters, wait at “the waiting class”.
• Parents may telephone the school secretary if they would like their child to attend the Aftercare for that particular day. She will let the learner know.
• Parents may drive into the schoolyard to drop off or collect learners, but may not park there.
• Children who ride by bus, and aftercare learners, are transported by bus to sport.

4. Discipline regarding friends

Every learner is special and has the right to be happy.

no discrimination
no verbal or physical bullying
no teasing
no swearing
no stealing
no fighting of any kind
copying another’s work is banned

5. Discipline at home

Parents need to lay down these rules at home

homework must be completed, checked and the homework book signed
newsletters must be signed
be at school on time i.o.w. be punctual
parent must support the school’s code of conduct at home
discipline at school must flow over into the home: Topolino expects children to rise in the presence of adults, and to greet them. Boys are expected to stand aside at doorways for their sister and mother.

Absenteeism

• Please contact the office if your child is absent.
• Please send a doctor’s note to school the next day.
• Please keep your child at home if he/she has a contagious disease.
• If a child has had a contagious disease, he/she is only allowed back with a doctor’s clearance certificate.
• Work that Grade 1 to 3 learners miss will be given to their parents so that it can be done at home.
• Grade 4 to 7 learners who are absent are expected to make the necessary arrangements to get the work themselves from fellow learners. Learners are responsible to get the work they missed in 5 days after returning to school.

In closing, we believe that emotional growth and intelligence should ultimately lead to self-respect, self-discipline and good manners as a way of life. Policing children’s every move may make them feel insecure and sceptical. We spend much time guiding children to behave in a more acceptable manner with discussion and constantly accentuating positive behaviour.

You, no doubt, will want to be informed when your child’s behaviour isn’t in step with the school’s code of conduct so that the situation can be remedied. The nature, and degree of seriousness of the bad behaviour, will determine what steps are taken.
Disciplinary Steps of Topolino Private School:
1. Written notice to parents after offence
2. Three offences – detention on Friday after school
3. If a serious offence occurs again, the problem will be discussed with the parents
4. Temporary suspension
5. Permanent suspension depending on seriousness of offence.
6. Offences by prefects will result in temporary/permanent removal of badge.

Kliek hier om Somersport-beleid af te laai 

Topolino se visie is om leerders in totaliteit te onderrig. Die leerders se emosionele welstand bly die eerste punt van oorweging met sport besluite. Daarmee saam is die kind se sportvaardighede en liggaamlike ontwikkeling ‘n bepalende faktor.

Hiermee die somersport-beleid t.o.v atletiek, krieket en tennis.

Net soos met ons wintersport-beleid, speel die ouderdom van die kind ‘n groot rol in die bogenoemde sportsoorte. Indien die leerder in Graad: 3 is en 10 jaar oud word in daardie jaar, mag hy nie saam sy graadgroep deelneem nie. Hy of sy moet dus saam die Graad: 4 groep deelneem.

In tennis sal die leerder se vaardighede bepaal of hy in die senior tennisspan is of in die ontwikkelingsgroepe.  Kleredrag vir tennis is as volg: Topolino sporthempie, wit sokkies, wit tekkies,  Topolino sportbroek en Topolino pet.

In atletiek sal die leerders deelneem in ouderdomsgroepe en nie klasverband nie. Kleredrag vir atletiek is as volg: Topolino sporthempie, Topolino sportbroek/skoolbroekie en Topolino pet.

In krieket sal die grondslagfase leerders aan mini-krieket deelneem. Die 0/11 krieket span speel met ‘n 113g bal en die 0/13 span speel met 135g. Die skool verskaf die nodige krieket toerusting, maar leerders word aangemoedig om hul eie ook te kry. Elke spelers moet sy eie “ballbox” hê. Kleredrag vir krieket is as volg: Topolino sporthempie, Topolino pet en skoolbroekie met die Topolino blou hokkiesokkies [0/11 en 0/13]en wit tekkies. Sokkies is by kantoor beskikbaar teen R65

Indien ‘n individu in krieket bo die res van sy ouderdomsgroep presteer, sal so ‘n speler na ‘n 0/11 of 0/13 span opgetrek word.

To Download Enrolment Policy Click Here

The following documents are required, for enroling at our school:

• Admission form
• Copy of birth certificate
• Copy of both parents’ IDs
• Copy of clinic card
• Latest report
• Agreement for payment of school fees
• Transfer document from previous school
• Financial clearance from previous school

After an assessment by Topolino and consultation with the previous school, the parents will be notified.

In the case of a positive notification, the learner will only be admitted after proof of payment  of the enrolment fee and the first month of school fees.

The enrolment fee is non-refundable.

To Download Language Policy Click Here

Topolino Private School is a parallel medium school. We offer Afrikaans classes from Gr. 00 – Gr. 7 and separate English classes from Gr. 00 – Gr. 7.

Afrikaans and English are offered as a Home Language and First Additional Language.

To Download The Appeal Form Click Here

GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF APPEALS RELATING TO PROGRESSION AND PROMOTION AT SCHOOL AND DISTRICT LEVEL

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 This circular serves to explain the procedure that must be followed when dealing with appeals relating to the progression and promotion results of learners.

1.2 Parents or guardians have the right to appeal when they are dissatisfied with the progression or promotion result of their child, (Refer to paragraph 5 of Circular 0225/2003).

1.3 The stipulated appeal procedure is important for ensuring transparent assessment practices at schools, fairness to all learners and consistency in dealing with appeals across the province.

1.4 Principals must ensure that all parents and guardians are informed about the procedure to be followed when lodging an appeal.

1.5 When the end-of-year schedules are signed off by the district, principals must ensure that evidence of learning is available for all learners who are not ready for progression or who have not been promoted.

2. TIMEFRAMES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF APPEALS

2.1 A parent or guardian may appeal in writing to the school principal by the first Friday after schools reopen in January.

2.2 The school principal should communicate the outcome of the appeal to the parent or guardian within 5 working days of receipt of the appeal.

2.3 If the parent or guardian is not satisfied with the outcome of the appeal, he or she may appeal to the district director within 3 days of receipt of the outcome of the appeal.

3. MANAGEMENT OF APPEALS AT SCHOOL LEVEL
School principals must:

3.1 issue the parent or guardian with the appeal form (Annexure A) on the day of lodging the appeal and ensure that the parent or guardian completes Part 1 of the appeal form;

3.2 gather the required information from teachers’ files, evidence of learning, learner profiles and all evidence of interventions. (This information must be filed and be available to the appeals investigating officials);

3.3 provide a register of appeals to the circuit team manager (CTM), informing him or her about the appeal(s), by the second Monday of the first term;

3.4 together with the school management team, reconsider all evidence, make a decision with regard to the appeal and obtain written approval from the CTM if the promotion or progression result has to be changed;

3.5 complete Part 2 of the appeal form (Annexure A). The completed form must be returned to the parent and a copy should be filed.

3.6 the outcome of the appeal must be communicated to the parent or guardian within 5 working days of receipt of the appeals; and

3.7 keep all the supporting documents used in the appeal process for a minimum period of 3 months.

4. MANAGEMENT OF APPEALS AT DISTRICT LEVEL

4.1 The office of the education district director must send a letter acknowledging receipt of the appeal to the parent or guardian within 3 working days of receiving the appeal.

4.2 The director must refer the appeal to the assessment co-ordinator and request him/her to form an investigation team to investigate the appeal. If the appeal involves a subject or subjects, or a learner with special needs, the relevant official(s) should be co-opted to assist with the investigation.

4.3 The assessment co-ordinator must assign a case number to each appeal lodged and record it on the appeals database (Annexure B).

4.4 Based on the investigation and all the supporting evidence, the assessment coordinator must write a report, make recommendations (Annexure C) and complete Part 3 of each appeal form.

4.5 The assessment co-ordinator must submit the report to the director, who will complete Part 4 of the appeal form.

4.6 The office of the district director must write a letter to the school and to the parent or guardian, informing them of the outcome of the appeal. The decision of the district director is final.

4.7 All appeals must be finalised by 15 February of each year.

4.8 All appeal cases that were a result of an examination or assessment irregularity must be tabled before a full sitting of the district assessment irregularities committee (DAIC), which may impose a suitable sanction. If the appeal is the result of misconduct, the matter must be referred to Labour Relations.

4.9 Attached to this circular is a flow chart (Annexure D) illustrating the procedure for the managing of appeals at school and district level.

5. Principals are kindly requested to bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all teachers and parents.

To Download The COVID-19 Policy Click Here

This document informs procedures of the preventing and managing COVID -19 at Topolino and creating a safe environment for all learners, employees and parents.

At Topolino our priority is to reintegrate learners and staff, safely and efficiently under the guidelines of the WCED and the Provincial Department of Health.  

To Download The Trauma Policy Click Here

Trauma is defined using eight general dimensions and six specific distinctions:

―Threat to life or limb; severe physical harm or injury, including sexual assault; receipt of intentional injury or harm; exposure to the grotesque; violent, sudden loss of a loved one; witnessing or learning of violence to a loved one; learning of exposure to a noxious agent; and causing death or severe harm to another (Wilson & Sigman, 2000).

―Physical trauma, psychological trauma, social trauma, historical trauma, ongoing trauma, and vicarious or secondary trauma.

To Download The SOP Policy Click Here

In the light of the current pandemic, this document will focus on precautionary measures that will be implemented by Topolino Private School. It will also indicate which steps will be taken should the school identify an individual who is infected.