School rules and policies

Our philosophy and core values

Staff and parents are committed to creating a safe, positive and challenging learning environment for all students. We devote ourselves to developing well-rounded global citizens and responsible individuals, and students strive to be self-disciplined.

Our core values are that students be respectful, cooperative, caring, responsible and challenged to do their best. In Harvest, students do not learn to study, but study to learn. Everyday behaviour is guided by the Harvest 55 Practices.

School rules

1. Violence, cursing, bullying and abusive language will not be tolerated.
2. Drugs, alcohol and tobacco (cigarettes, snus, vaporisers) are strictly forbidden.
3. Lighters, matches and aerosols are forbidden on school property without a teacher's supervision.
4. No clothing displaying profanity, drugs or alcohol.
5. No headwear inside the school building.
6. Mobile phones, tablets and other devices are switched off or silent and kept in the locker during class, unless the subject teacher permits.
7. No chewing gum anywhere in school.
8. No food or drink in classrooms and the library.
9. Students do not leave school grounds during school hours, except for outdoor activities or with a Harvest staff member.
10. Late or missing homework is handled under the Homework Policy.

Anti-bullying policy

In line with our values of respect, cooperation, caring and challenge, Harvest has zero tolerance for bullying. Teachers foster respect and promote awareness and acceptance of personal and cultural diversity. We are aware of the life-long effects bullying can have, and we work with parents to promote healthy, positive relationships among all students.

Types of bullying

• Verbal: teasing, name-calling, inappropriate comments, taunting, threats.
• Social: leaving someone out on purpose, spreading rumours, embarrassing someone in public.
• Physical: hitting, kicking, pushing, tripping, taking or breaking someone's things, rude gestures.
• Cyberbullying: mean messages, rumours online, embarrassing pictures or videos, fake profiles.

How to report bullying

Any bullying should be reported immediately to administrative personnel and the class teacher. Reports may come from students, parents, peers or anonymous parties, and are handled with integrity. Each case is investigated by administrative personnel with the class teacher and/or Head of Discipline, with follow-up such as disciplinary responses, counsellor support and parent involvement.

How cases are handled

1. All parties are spoken to separately and the incident is documented.
2. A demerit card or advice letter is issued and recorded.
3. Parents are informed where the case requires.
4. An agreement towards resolution is made between the parties, and staff are informed.
5. If the behaviour continues, parents, teachers and the CEO develop a plan of action. At the follow-up meeting, the CEO makes the final decision.

Resolving conflict

Between students: students first try to resolve the issue themselves; if unsuccessful, the Head of Discipline and administrative personnel help; if still unresolved, the Chief Executive Officer and/or parents are involved.

Between a student and a teacher: both first try to resolve it directly; if unsuccessful, the Head of Discipline and administrative personnel mediate; if still unresolved, the Chief Executive Officer takes corrective action.

Attendance

Students should attend every lesson possible. Absence or lateness for medical or dental reasons needs an official medical certificate, given to the class teacher. Students arriving after 8:20am (the start of the class teacher session) without a medical certificate are marked late, and absences and lateness are monitored. After 5 absences without reason an advice letter is issued; after 10, the class teacher and administrative personnel meet the parents.

Homework

Homework consolidates learning and prepares for the next lesson. It may be printed or on Google Classroom, and each class has a homework timetable to balance the load across the week. Late or missing homework leads to a verbal warning and a Homework Notice; three Homework Notices equal one Red Card.

Electronic devices

Devices are allowed in school, but phones and tablets stay off or silent in the locker during class unless the subject teacher permits; laptops are used in class only with the teacher's permission. Smartwatches may be worn as a basic watch, with connectivity and notifications off during school hours. Devices that disturb learning are confiscated: for the first three offences they are returned to parents after 24 hours, after that they are kept for at least three months. Games are allowed only in the common area during breaks, never in lessons, classrooms or the dining hall.

Dress code

• Neat, modest clothing that lets students take part in all activities; collared shirts (long or short-sleeved).
• Shoes secured with laces, straps or fasteners. No pyjamas, headwear, sunglasses or jewellery (girls may wear one pair of small, plain earrings).
• Neat hairstyles: girls tie back hair longer than shoulder length; boys' hair no longer than the collar, eyebrows and mid-ear, and clean-shaven.
• No visible tattoos; only transparent nail polish and light make-up.
• The Harvest student ID is worn and visible at all times.

Honesty and academic integrity

Honesty is highly valued in Harvest. Lying, cheating, plagiarism and collusion are unacceptable. Work must be the student's own, with sources fully acknowledged. Copying or cheating in a test or exam earns 0% for that work, as does a student who willingly helps. Where a student had unfair help with homework, they first get a chance to revise it. Parents are asked to support honest work and not to give help that compromises it.

Our Honest Corner is an unmanned shop with self-service checkout for drinks, snacks and stationery — trust that helps students build money-management skills.

Merit and demerit cards

Cards track behaviour and help students make positive choices.

Students can reduce demerits by earning a Yellow Card after two months without negative behaviour. Most cases follow three advices, then three warnings: the first advice is a meeting with the student, the second involves parents, and the third comes with a first warning. A second warning may lead to suspension, and a third to dismissal. Serious infractions are dealt with directly by administrative personnel.

Visits

Visitors are welcome. For everyone's safety, visitors stay on the academic floor, are accompanied by school personnel, and are recorded. For a family visit, let the class teacher or administrative personnel know in advance the number of visitors, their relationship, the purpose, and the date and time.

Boarding rules

• Boarders report to their houseparent on arrival and departure, and are back by 9:00pm on the evening before a school day.
• Outings need the houseparent's permission; parents inform the houseparent if anyone other than a parent or guardian collects their child.
• Boys and girls never enter the opposite gender's dormitory floor.
• Each boarder may bring one laptop, one mobile phone and one tablet, registered with the houseparent and left at the study table at bed time.
• Boarders make their own beds and keep their rooms tidy. Borrowing or lending money and gambling are forbidden.
• Clothes are labelled with the student ID; laundry is collected on Wednesday morning and Friday afternoon.
• Not allowed: televisions, kettles, portable air-conditioners, chewing gum, matches, lighters, weapons and fireworks.

Any boarder with a worry can speak to any member of staff they feel comfortable with: a housemaster, housemistress, class teacher or any teacher. See the boarding routine.

This is a summary. Parents and students read the full Student Handbook and Boarders Handbook together, and they are discussed with students at the start of each school year. Questions? WhatsApp +604-970 4884.