5.14. Alcohol, Drugs and Illegal Substances Statement

Transcription

1 5.14. Alcohol, Drugs and Illegal Substances Statement Parnell District School is committed to maintaining an environment that is healthy. This statement discusses the place of alcohol, drugs, prescription drugs and solvents. Students at this school are not to sell, supply, exchange items for, consume or be under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, solvents or other harmful substances, including taking these while travelling to and from school, or taking part in school organise d activity or when completing an activity on behalf of the school Staff are not permitted to consume, or be under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or solvents when school is in session and when they have responsibility for students during EOTC activities. Other adults taking part in any other activity organised by the school are also bound by this ruling. No alcohol is to be consumed at school camps Students who are using medication that may impair their ability to function normally should not be at school. Prescription medicine including Ritalin is managed under the Medicines procedures of the school Smoking at school is addressed by a separate procedure (5.22) Students may not smoke tobacco or possess any items relating to tobacco, cigarettes or alcohol Breaches of the Alcohol and Drugs Requirements No student should be using, possessing or under the influence of harmful drugs, alcohol or solvents at any time while under the school s jurisdiction. If a student breaches these requirements the student is to be referred to the principal and the matter addressed under the discipline procedures of the school (5.10).Parents and caregivers will be called as well as the appropriate authorities. Immediate Response (a) If a teacher comes across an incident in which a student is in possession of or under the influence of any tobacco, prohibited or inappropriate drug, or alcohol, or any item related to such possession, they are to follow these procedures - The teacher must ask the student to accompany him/her to the Principal. If there is a substance the teacher should confiscate it. (b) If the student will not accompany the teacher or will not hand over the substance, object or item, the teacher should -

2 send another student to fetch the Principal, Deputy Principal, Assistant Principal or other teacher. If there is no other student available, go immediately to the Principal, Deputy Principal or Assistant Principal. The teacher should not attempt to interrogate or search the student on their own. (d) (c) In the case of information received from staff, students or any other person on the basis of a rumour or suspicion or from a parental concern in relation to the matters referred to in guideline 1 above, then the matter must be referred to the Principal. The Principal and the Board are responsible for the decision on appropriate action and any necessary discipline. The school will provide the student appropriate support and guidance as negotiated with the family. If a staff member breaches these requirements the person will be referred to a subcommittee made up of board of trustees and senior management personnel. The school should seek the advice of the School Trustees Association and the staff member, the NZEI (if a member) The subcommittee will consider the matter using similar provisions to those outlined under Stand-downs, Suspension of pupils (5.11) A breach of these requirements by another person (e.g. parent or older sibling on school grounds) will be considered on a case by case basis by a board subcommittee. Alcohol on School Property Alcohol cannot be consumed on school property when the school is open for instruction. The school from time to time will host social events for adults where the consumption of alcohol on school property may be appropriate. The principal and/or the board of trustees can give prior approval to the consumption of alcohol by staff an invited guest s at least half an hour afterschool has closed and where no students are present. Organisers of fundraising and other school functions should ask the board of trustees in writing if they wish to serve alcohol at the function. Private hirers of the school hall or premises, through the Parnell Trust hire arrangement must also seek consent from the principal to serve alcohol at a private function. In making the decision about consent the following factors will be considered. The nature and purpose of the event The location of the event ( or off school site) The nature and the level of supervision The likely level of host responsibility The provision of a special licence if alcohol is to be sold or supplied

3 The Health programme of the school The health education programme provided by the school will include factual information regarding the risks of tobacco, alcohol and drug use personal and social attitude clarification and skill development appropriate to the needs of the learner. The school recognises that the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs can impair individual well-being and endanger personal safety as well as endanger the well-being and personal safety of others. Such consumption can also interfere with the teaching and learning process. The school s health educators are to provide relevant information and education.to keep up to date in this area (Refer public health nurse) All staff, students and parents will be apprised of these requirements through appropriate means.(enrolment pack, newsletters, website) SMOKE FREE AT PARNELL Our smoke-free policy allows us to comply with smoke-free legislation, and promote a smoke-free lifestyle to all members of the school community. The Legislation The Smoke-free Environments Amendment Act, 2003, directs that all buildings and grounds are smoke-free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week (with no exemptions). The education provisions in the Act aim to: prevent the exposure of children and young people to second-hand smoke prevent children and young people being influenced by seeing others smoke send a positive message about a smoke-free lifestyle as the norm. The Act applies to anyone on the school grounds including students, staff, visiting parents, contractors, and people hiring or using the school facilities outside school hours. To comply with the legislation, schools must ensure that everyone coming on to the school site is aware that the entire grounds are smoke-free at all times. This means: displaying Smoke-free signs at every entrance to the school grounds and the outer entrance of every building advising contractors and other people working at school of our Smoke-free Policy communicating the policy to parents through the newsletter and other means ensuring that people hiring or using the school facilities are aware of the policy and accept that there are no exemptions and that it applies 24 hours a day, seven days a week having a procedure for breaches of the policy. Failure to take these steps may result in the management of the school being fined up to $4,000 for non compliance. It isn't smoking that is the breach, it's failure to take the steps above. Promoting a smoke-free lifestyle

4 Educational / Curriculum. To implement and evaluate a preventative health education programme which promotes positive lifestyle choices with the aim of reducing the incidence of smoking, alcohol and drug related problems. Guidance and Support. To intervene in the harmful or inappropriate use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs in a positive and supportive manner considering the best interests of the students, staff members and other parties concerned. Smoking is the single most preventable cause of premature death and ill-health in New Zealand, and most people who take up smoking do so by the age of 18. According to the Ministry of Health's 2006 Tobacco Use Survey the age of smoking initiation in New Zealand is 14.6 years. Exposure to second hand smoke (passive smoking) affects the health of non-smokers, especially babies and children. As well as the well documented health issues for children, recent studies have shown that exposure to passive smoking affects a child's behaviour and ability to learn (see helpwithsmoking.com). Children who receive consistent messages, see smoke-free role models, and grow up in a smoke-free environment are less likely to smoke. Our school aims to reduce smoking uptake among students and work towards a smoke-free society through- Consistent messages: We prominently display our Smoke-free Policy in the staff room and the public area of the office. We display Smoke-free signs and ask anyone smoking to stop. We do not provide ashtrays or smoking areas. We educate students through the curriculum about the harmful effects of smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke. Where possible, we provide staff with smoke-free-related professional development. We communicate our Smoke-free policy to the school community via the newsletter and other means, and promote the Quit Smoking programmes as appropriate. We inform parents of new entrants, and prospective employees, of our school's Smoke-free Policy. Role models Young people are more likely to start smoking if they see adults smoking We promote all school activities outside of our school's premises as smoke-free, e.g., EOTC activities, sporting events, etc., and remind parent helpers that they must not smoke while looking after students. We include the school road crossing (and rostered adults) in our smoke-free zone. We regularly remind current employees of the policy and ask them to ensure they cannot be seen smoking by students even when they are off the school grounds. Smoke-free environment There is no smoking anywhere at school at any time. Parents are encouraged to embrace a smoke-free lifestyle.

5 Breaches of the smoke-free policy Students found smoking in or around school are offered appropriate counselling and education. Parents are contacted and encouraged to deal with the smoking as a health issue rather than a discipline issue. Adults smoking in or around school environment will be reminded that the school is smoke-free by law and asked to stop smoking or leave the premises. Persistent offenders will be dealt with under the provisions of the discipline procedures Complaints All complaints involving smoking are referred to the principal, who may pass these to the board of trustees for investigation. Investigations take place within 20 working days of the complaint or incident and follow the procedures laid down in the Smoke-free Environment Amendment Act, 2003.Briefly, these are: Any complaint about smoking in the workplace should be made to the principal (who may refer it to the board) or to the Director General of Health. Complaints made to the Director General are referred back to the board in the first instance. The principal/board has 20 working days to investigate whether there has been a breach of the Act, and to try to resolve the complaint. This involves being assured by the person in possible breach of the Act that there will be no further cause for such a complaint. Employees are entitled to have a workplace representative present at any meeting called by the employer to resolve the complaint. If the principal/board is unable to resolve the complaint within 40 working days of receiving it, they must refer it in writing to the Director General of Health. Employment relationship issues arising from smoking in the workplace are dealt with in terms of The Employment Relations Act References Smoke-free Schools Nga Kura Auahi Kore Ministry of Health National Drug Policy New Zealand http// The Public Health Service at your local District Health Board.