LEARNER’S PLEDGE:As a student, I pledge to be
RESPECTFUL of the rights and safety of the School learning community;
RESPONSIBLE in my academic, behavioral, and personal choices;
RELIABLE as a partner in the process of my education.
BEING RESPECTFUL OF THE RIGHTS AND SAFETY OF THE HORIZON HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING COMMUNITY MEANS THAT I WILL: - Strive to be tolerant of others and eliminate harassment.
- Solve disagreements in a responsible and non-violent manner.
- Work toward keeping school free of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gangs, weapons etc.
BEING RESPONSIBLE IN MY ACADEMIC, BEHAVIOURAL, AND PERSONAL CHOICES MEANS THAT I WILL: - Participate in my education by taking a course of study that will prepare me for my future.
- Use appropriate language and dress in the classroom, hallways, on school property and at school functions.
- Keep the hallways, parking lots, and school property LITTER FREE.
- Refrain from graffiti and damaging school property.
- Protect school property and report any damage to the valid school authority.
BEING RELIABLE AS A PARTNER IN THE PROCESS OF MY EDUCATION MEANS THAT I WILL: - Arrive punctually at school and at all lessons.
- Come to school prepared by doing assigned homework timeously and neatly.
- Complete all academic work honestly without cheating or plagiarizing.
- Assume responsibility for educational decisions and difficulties and seek advice or help as needed.
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF LEARNERS AND PARENTS
Students shall be extended the following rights and learners and parents are expected to take the responsibilities related to them
RIGHTS OF LEARNERS
According to the Constitution of South Africa, all learners have the right to education. These rights include inter alia, the right to:
- Be treated with respect and dignity.
- Express opinions verbally or in writing.
- Be educated in a safe school environment
- Attend school unimpeded
- Have no interference by others when attending class
- Obtain schooling subject to the guidelines dictated by the DoE
- Receive regular progress reports
- Have authorized access to all school facilities
- Receive counseling for personal or academic problems, provided that such facilities are available
- Take part in patriotic events. Should such activities go against any religious belief or personal convictions, a learner will be excused from such events
- Be excused from any activity which go against religious belief, by submitting a request in writing
- Attend a school where there is no drunkenness, intimidation, bullying or victimization
- Attend a school where there are no illegal drugs, weapons or alcohol
- Have private control of their possessions unless there is reasonable cause to believe that illegal or harmful substances or materials are in possession of the learner and are being used to jeopardize the well being of others.
- Receive fair and reasonable consequences for violation of school rules.
- Organize and/or participate clubs and student organizations.
- Acknowledge that academic performance be the only criterion for academic assessment.
- Be free of discrimination and racial, ethnic, religious, personal or harassment from school personnel and students.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF LEARNERS
Learners undertake to:
- learn
- attend all classes daily and on time
- be in possession of the required materials
- respect all persons
- respect school property
- Express opinions and ideas in a respectful manner so as not to offend or slander others and to refrain from using obscenities or personal attacks.
- do all academic assignments, projects, including homework
- Attend all assigned classes, complete all assignments to the best of one’s ability and participate in all activities conducted in relation to the class. Avoid dishonest or irregular practices in test and examination situations.
- conduct themselves in a safe and responsible manner
- conform to acceptable standards of personal hygiene and social decorum.
- refrain from any act of vandalism or damage or misuse of school property
- refrain from disruptive, undisciplined or uncooperative behaviour both outside and inside the classroom
- abide by the rules of the school as well as those of individual teachers
- practice tolerance i.e. racial, cultural and religious tolerance and to respect the personal convictions of all
- refrain from the use of drugs or any other illegal substance
- Be aware of all rules and regulations relating to student behaviour and conduct oneself in accordance with those guidelines.
- Inform school personnel regarding contraband, illicit activities, or weapons that could result in an unsafe situation.
- refrain from carrying dangerous weapons, involvement in illegal activities, bullying, harassment, smoking or being in possession of offensive material.
- Not have prohibited items on one’s person or stored in personal or school assigned property. If school personnel have reason to believe that prohibited items are in a student’s possession or stored in personal or school assigned property, it shall result in a search of one’s person, personal or assigned school property, and seizure of such items.
- Be familiar with the school policies and procedures regarding search and seizure. Be familiar with school rules.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS
The school believes that a positive and constructive partnership between the School and a pupil’s parents or guardian is essential to the fulfillment of the School’s mission. Thus, the School reserves the right not to continue enrolment or not to re-enrol a pupil if the School reasonably concludes that the actions of the parent or guardian make such a positive, constructive relationship impossible, or otherwise seriously interfere with our accomplishment of our educational purposes.
It is expected that all school parents will:
- Accept that by taking up a place at the school, they have considered and have agreed that there will be an optimal match between the needs of their child, their own expectations, and the philosophy and programmes of the school.
- Share with the school any religious, cultural, medical, or personal information that the school may need to best serve their child and the school community.
- Help and encourage their children to develop strong spiritual and moral values.
- Recognize that effective partnerships are characterized by clearly defined responsibilities, a shared commitment to collaboration, open lines of communication, mutual respect, and a common vision of the goals to be achieved.
- Provide a home environment that supports the development of positive learning attitudes and habits that are consistent with those of the school.
- Take an active interest in their children’s work and progress.
- Involve themselves in the life of the school, through volunteerism and other means, to promote the best interests of their children.
- Respect the school’s responsibility to do what is best for the entire community, while recognizing the needs of each individual child.
- Familiarize themselves with and support the school’s policies and procedures.
- Ensure that the children abide by the school rules.
- Avoid gossip and rumours, and if in doubt, consult with the school for definite information.
- Seek to resolve problems and secure information through appropriate channels (i.e., teacher/tutor, hostelmaster, the appropriate Deputy Principal, or finally the Principal – in that order).
- Treat everyone with respect and maintain an educational, rather than adversarial tone, in the face of the inevitable conflicts and challenges.
- Join the school society once their sons have left school as a way of maintaining a connection with the school.
- Acknowledge that their payment of tuition is not an investment of ownership in the school, with related controls, but rather an investment in the educational process of their child.
- Educate their children about illegal substances such as alcohol, smoking, drugs etc with respect to its dangers, social responsibility and parental expectations.
- Take responsibility for any gathering of their children and friends at their home or one organized by the parent at another venue.
- Report any unauthorized use of substances which may occur to the parents of all the children involved.
- Fulfill all financial obligations.