Tauranga Boys’ College Rules

Included is a summary of rules and expectations for students at Tauranga Boys’ College. There are times when students may be unclear about what the rule is regarding one of the topics below and this booklet is designed to make the rules and expectations clear. If students are clear about the rules then they know what is expected of them. It is a requirement of all students that they familiarise themselves with these rules and ask their class teacher, form teacher or dean if they are unsure. These rules and boundaries are in place to create a safe and orderly environment for all students and staff at Tauranga Boys College.

RESPECT CODE - At Tauranga Boys College we show RESPECT for:

“SELF”

Be organised and on time.  Wear our correct uniform.  Follow instructions. 

“OTHERS”     

Be a gentleman.  Use positive language.  Be supportive and tolerant.  

“LEARNING”

Participate and show effort.  Set goals and have high expectations.

“OUR SCHOOL”    

Care for our environment by recycling and using bins for litter. 

Care for our facilities, buildings and equipment.


ATTENDANCE

There are no ‘free periods’ for students at all in the timetable; attendance is compulsory for all periods, including form times and assemblies.

If a student is going to be away for any reason (e.g. illness) parents should advise the school through the Parent Portal, email [email protected] or phone the school office on the day. If a student is unwell for more than 3 days a medical certificate may be requested. 

If a student is going to be out of school for an extended length of time, including sporting and cultural commitments, permission is required from the Principal by email to [email protected] 

Any unaccounted attendance issues will be directed to the Dean or Attendance Officer smartly for follow-up and truancy consequences.


LATENESS

If a student is late without a genuine excuse they will likely incur a school detention. If there is a genuine reason for them being late and a Parent Portal notification, a phone call or a signed note is received from a parent/caregiver or teacher on the morning, then the lateness will be excused.

Students late to school in the morning go straight to the Attendance Officer/Deans to obtain a “Late Note “ before they can go to class. Lateness to class between periods and after lunch is entered into KAMAR by classroom teachers.

Students should obtain a late note from a teacher if they are late leaving a class.


APPEARANCE – “Reflecting positively on you and your school”

Hair - Students must be neat and tidy, with hair no lower than the bottom of the collar and clear of the eyes.  Students with long hair must tie their hair back to achieve this standard.

Boy’s hair colour is to be their natural hair colour only (no dye or bleaching). 

Skinhead cuts, mohawks, and lines shaved into the hair are unacceptable. 

Decoration headwear and/or ties, tape, or beads may not be worn in the hair unless there is a significant religious reason. E.g. turbans. 

Students must be clean-shaven, an exemption may be sought for religious reasons only. 

Students may wear taonga/necklaces/bangles for cultural or religious reasons only.

Jewellery (rings, anklets, earrings, studs, or other piercings) must not be worn. Note: covering rings or studs with sticking plasters etc or using spacers/fishing nylon is not permissible. 


UNIFORM – “(Uni means One) therefore only the correct uniform is to be worn”

All uniform items should be clearly named.

A navy blue polo with crest, light grey shorts with crest (not drill or fashion shorts), a school jacket, and/or navy jersey, socks are mid-grey with two navy blue bands.

Senior Uniform (Year 13 students with Principal’s permission) white polo with crest navy blue long trousers or navy blue shorts with crest, plain white walk socks with plain black hard-soled, heeled school shoes able to be nuggeted (not flat soled sport, canvas or skate shoes) or regulation sandals (plain black or brown) may be worn.

A plain white tee shirt/polyprop - not long-sleeved - may be worn underneath all polo shirts. Labeled or coloured polyprops or tee shirts are not permitted.

School jackets or jerseys are appropriate on colder days. The school cap/hat is encouraged in the summer in accordance with the school’s ‘Sunsmart Policy’. Variations on these are not acceptable. No alternative jackets, polar fleeces, hoodies, sweatshirts, or beanies are permitted.  

Uniform must be worn correctly on the way to and from school and during the school day. Shoes must be clean, shirts tucked in if worn underneath jackets/jerseys, heel straps on sandals must be worn up at all times. 

Similar uniform items, such as non-regulation shirts or pants, labelled fashion items, black socks or flat-soled shoes, and no back strap sandals, etc are not permitted.

Confiscated items go to the AP Mr Akkerman – named for collection after a detention is completed and picked up at the end of the school day.


SHOES & SANDALS

Plain black lace-up or slip-on school shoes that are hard-soled, have a heel, and able to be nuggeted. Note; NO flat-soled canvas/sport or skate-type shoes are permitted. Also, plain black or brown sandals (without socks) that must have a front strap, secured by a buckle or velcro, and a heel strap, may be worn. No logos! Heel straps on sandals must be worn up at all times. 

Students with incorrect footwear must report to the Dean’s area prior to the start of school with a signed note. They will be given a shoe pass if there is a medical reason (with a medical note) for having to wear alternative footwear or they will be given a pair of loan sandals/shoes for the day to replace their non-regulation footwear. 

Repeated incorrect shoe issues will incur consequences and also contact with home.


CELL PHONES EAR-BUDS (AND OTHER PERSONAL DEVICES)

This includes mobile phones, laptops, i-pads, tablets, i-pods, head-phones, and any other electronic devices. These items are not to be used in class unless teacher

permission is given.

NOTE; When lining up and entering classes, all Phones, earbuds, and headphones must be away.

Students are not encouraged to use personal devices during break times, however, if they choose to, they must be used appropriately at all times and with respect for others. The school takes no responsibility for damaged or lost devices that are used during break times.

Inappropriate use:

    Using the device to photograph, film or voice record anyone else (with or without their consent). Using the device to harass, bully or threaten anyone else in any way. Using the device to personally access, store or show anyone else any socially inappropriate, offensive, or illegal material.

Appropriate Disciplinary action will be taken by the College for any of the above violations. This may include a Stand down or Suspension by the Principal.


BUSES

Students waiting for buses must wait inside the school grounds. Any student leaving the school grounds (to go to Countdown or shops etc) will be deemed to have left school for the day and will be unable to travel on the bus.

Students must remain on the bus all the way to school. They do not get off at other stops such as ‘Girls’ College or Tauranga Intermediate.

Once you have arrived at school by bus, students must stay inside the school grounds.

School rules around behaviour also apply while travelling on the bus, to and from school. Any poor behaviour may result in removal from the bus for a period of time, a term, or permanently.


EXEAT PASSES

Any student leaving the school grounds during the day must sign out at the Attendance Office and get a pass. A Parent Portal message, email [email protected], phone call to the attendance office on the day, a signed note from a parent or an appointment card (Doctor/Dentist, etc) will need to be sighted- NO text messages (staff may phone caregivers to verify leaving arrangements).

Lunch passes can be obtained from Mr Akkerman. These are not encouraged and are only available for students living close, to go directly to their home address for lunch. 


SICKBAY

If a student feels unwell or has an injury while at school, they need to report to the Sick Bay at the Student Office BEFORE contacting and arranging to go home with parents/caregivers.

They will be provided with First Aid or attended to by the School Nurse and we will contact parents/caregivers if necessary.


BICYCLES

Helmets must be worn. Bicycles are not to be ridden at all in the school grounds. Students must lock their own bikes and take responsibility for doing this every day.


LUNCH AREAS/ OUT OF BOUNDS

For the first 12 minutes of lunchtime, Students must remain in the lunch areas, (also after the 12-minute bell if they have not finished eating). Lunch eating areas include the Amphitheatre, the Green, the Hexagon, and the Canteen.

Southey Field and the Hostel Block are strictly out of bounds unless fully supervised by a staff member. Students should not lean on fence lines, especially along Cameron and Devonport Roads. Classrooms, indoor corridors and foyers are off-limits during all breaks unless supervised by staff. All carparks/bike stands and the area behind the GYYT, Tech block and Aronui carving rooms are also strictly out of bounds. 


LITTER – “We have a Superb College environment – We must keep it that way!”

Litter infringements include, dropping litter, sitting/standing amongst or near litter, and walking past litter. It is a shared responsibility. Detentions or “litter duty” can be incurred for any of the infringements mentioned above.

Students are not to eat while indoors, on the turf or on the tennis courts.

Buckets are in the Dean's area for offenders to do ‘litter duty’ with duty staff. 


MOTOR VEHICLES

Students must have permission prior to bringing a motor vehicle to school.

Students must complete the appropriate registration form & hand it to Mr Akkerman after the form has been signed by a parent. The licence class will also be recorded.

No vehicles are to be used at all during the school day (except Senior Uniform Wearers) without permission of a Deputy/Assistant Principal (including lunchtimes). Breaches of the guidelines for bringing vehicles to school will result in Disciplinary action being taken and permission to bring the vehicle to school may be revoked. 

Safety is a major issue with vehicles, both for drivers and the large number of pedestrians about the school. Passengers must also be cleared by Mr Akkerman.


WITHDRAWAL ROOM/ DETENTIONS

If sent to the withdrawal room students must report to the Dean/Assistant Principal on duty. Staff - Please send a note or referral form with the student.

Departmental detentions will be held in classrooms during lunchtime. Dean’s Detentions are held in room 16 at lunchtimes. 

After-school or Saturday detentions are held in the Withdrawal Room and supervised by Mr Akkerman, students and parents will be notified of these prior to the day.


School Rules in relation to Drugs / Alcohol / Assault / Fighting / Bullying and Theft while under the authority of the school* (Tauranga Boys' College):

  1. No student shall consume, sell, purchase, supply, have in his possession or be under the influence of illegal drugs, R 18 Iegal drugs, party pills or alcohol, whether or not lawful under the law of New Zealand.
  2. No student is permitted to have in their possession any drug or alcohol paraphernalia.
  3. No student shall assault, fight with, bully or intimidate another student or staff member.
  4. No student shall steal.

Policy - It is the Principal’s Policy to treat very seriously a breach of any of the above rules. The Principal would review all the circumstances and consider stand down or suspension as disciplinary options.

*Students are deemed to be under the authority of the school (Tauranga Boys' College) while:
(a) Present at school during an official school day.
(b) Representing the school at any time whether it be in sport, cultural or academic pursuits.
(c) On a school trip or camp, whether or not a parent or guardian is also present.
(d) On the way to and from school.
(e) At any time they are wearing the Tauranga Boys' College school uniform.