Student Management & Discipline

Student Management & Discipline

NJC’s Framework

In NJC, it is expected that students exercise responsible decision making and evaluate the risks and rewards of one’s decisions regarding self and others. This involves understanding the impacts and consequences of one’s actions. College rules will safeguard the interests of the different stakeholders in the College community.

The NJC Code of Conduct framework is part of the College’s Character and Citizenship Education (CCE), which aims to help our students to:

• Develop self-awareness and management to attain personal discipline and well-being

• Develop social awareness and responsibility for the well-being of others

• Be accountable for their own decisions and actions

Restorative Practice in NJC

In NJC, the school community works together to ensure that the environment is safe and conducive. One’s action or inaction can affect others and lead to strained relationships. The school adopts a restorative approach to help the community build strong relationships as well as repair those that are broken. There are three questions an individual can ask in response to an incident:

1. What happened?

2. Who has been affected and in what way? 

3. What can be done to make things right?

The focus on relationship building contributes to a restorative culture where positive relationships between all stakeholders are highly valued.

Expectations and Decorum

The expectations and decorum of our students are expressed in the following sections.

1. Attendance and Punctuality

Good habits and self-discipline are essential for our students’ cognitive and character development. A strong partnership between the College and parents/guardians will allow students to grow to be socially responsible individuals.

Therefore, attendance and commitment in school are essential. Students are expected to attend school and all of its programmes throughout the year. This includes curriculum lessons, CCAs, enrichment programmes and remediation sessions, amongst others.

1.1 Reporting Times and Late-coming

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

The school gates will close at 7.40 a.m. Students are to be at morning assembly by 7.45 a.m. Students who fail to do so will be deemed as late.

Tuesdays

Junior High students are to report to lesson venues by 7.40 a.m. Senior High students with 7.40 a.m. lessons are to report to lesson venues by 7.40 a.m. All students are to be at morning assembly by 8.45 a.m. Students who fail to do so will be deemed as late.

Thursdays

The school gates will close at 8.40 a.m. Students are to be at morning assembly by 8.45 a.m. Students who fail to do so will be deemed as late.

1.2 Assembly and Flag Raising Ceremony

All students must attend Morning Assembly and Flag-Raising Ceremony, and observe the ceremony with dignity and respect. Students who are Singapore citizens must sing the National Anthem and take the Pledge. Students will take the Pledge with the right fist placed over the heart. Non-Singapore citizens should stand still to show respect to the host country during the Flag-Raising and Pledge Taking Ceremony.

1.3 Absenteeism

Absence from school without a valid reason and leaving school during school hours or before 12 p.m. without permission from the Principal or teachers will be considered an act of truancy.

Students who are absent from school should notify their Personal Mentor before assembly.

Students must submit their medical certificate or parent’s letter (maximum of five per semester) the moment they return to school.

Only a valid medical certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner will be accepted. A valid COVID- 19 positive test result will also be accepted, subject to prevailing national guidelines.

TCM certificates are acceptable only if the TCM practitioner is registered under the Ministry of Health. However, please note that TCM certificates will not be accepted for tests/examinations. Students who are absent from tests and examinations without valid/approved medical certificates will be given zero marks for the papers that they have missed.

Students who wish to request for leave during the school term (e.g. urgent family matters) are required to submit parent’s letter via email addressed to the Principal (njc@moe.edu.sg), Personal Mentor and Year Head together with relevant supporting documents. All requests are subject to approval by the Principal.

1.4 Early excuse during school hours

Online Blue Form System

Students who are unwell or need to leave school for official functions or medical appointments during school hours will need to seek permission from their Personal Mentor. If the Personal Mentor is unavailable, students can seek permission from their Subject Tutors or Year Head.

After obtaining approval for early excuse from the Personal Mentor, students are to approach the General Office Reception counter to sign out their early excuse using the online blue form system. It is considered an act of truancy if a student signs out their early excuse without obtaining approval.

Parents/Guardians will be required to pick the child/ward up from the General Office. In the event that the parent/guardian is unable to do so, he/she must consent to the early release via text messages or email to the teacher who approved the early excuse.

2. General Behaviour and Decorum

NJC is a community of self-regulated learners, guided by honesty and integrity. Students are expected to be courteous and respectful to all members of the school community.

2.1 Food and Drink Guidelines

Consumption of food and drinks in venues such as the Library, Lecture Theatres and laboratories are strictly prohibited.

Only bottled drinks are allowed in classrooms. Drinks in cups and canned drinks are strictly not allowed, even if they are covered.

Students must be responsible and maintain the cleanliness of the area after the consumption of food. All food and drinks related waste must not be disposed of in classroom dustbins.

2.2 Personal Mobile Devices Guidelines

Junior High and Senior High Students

1. Students are strictly not allowed to use any mobile devices during lessons, unless granted permission by teachers to use the devices.

2. Students are strictly not allowed to record and/or publish any teacher’s teaching and student’s learning. Prior approval must be obtained from the school to record and/or publish the materials.

3. The school reserves the right to conduct checks on any personal mobile device brought to school at any time.

4. Students are not to charge their personal mobile devices at will in school. Prior permission must be obtained from the teachers to charge the devices.

5. Students are to be personally responsible for the safekeeping of their personal mobile devices and any device that is left unattended will be confiscated.

Junior High Students

All personal mobile devices in school are to be used as learning tools only. They are not to be used at will for entertainment (i.e. gaming, social networking sites and videos) at all times within the College.

Consequences for Junior and Senior High Students

1. Confiscated personal mobile devices will be placed at the General Office. The device will be returned at the end of the school day or at the discretion of the School Leaders or Year Heads, on a case-by-case basis.

2. Repeated offences will affect the Conduct Grade, eligibility for MOE & School Awards, scholarships, school based programmes, overseas trips and running for leadership positions.

3. There may also be other consequences for repeated offences, on a case-by-case basis.

2.3 Dress Code & Appearance

All students of NJC are school ambassadors who are instrumental in upholding the tradition and reputation of the College at all times.

1. Students are expected to be neatly and appropriately attired whenever they are wearing the school uniform. All students are to wear the prescribed school uniform and no modifications are allowed to the uniform. Unless otherwise instructed, students are not allowed to wear PE attire during lectures and academic lessons. Exceptions will be made for students who have lessons/lectures immediately after PE (without any break). These students are required to change into their school uniform at the next available break.

2. All students are expected to wear the college pin on the left collar of the school uniform.

3. Girls with hair touching the collar are expected to tie it up neatly. In addition, only one ear stud should be worn per ear, on the ear lobe. All other accessories are strictly not allowed.

4. Boys must be clean shaven and no facial hair is allowed. In addition, ear accessories (e.g.: ear rings, ear studs) are strictly not allowed.

5. Socks must be white in colour and need to be visible at all times.

6. Shoes and shoelaces that are garish in nature are not allowed.

7. Necklaces, bracelets and other non-approved accessories are not allowed.

2.4 Offences

The rules are created to safeguard the interests of the different stakeholders in the school community. Students must learn to be responsible for their actions and expect certain consequences if their actions or inactions have affected the interests of others.

Offences would generally be categorised into Minor or Major Offences. For students who commit minor offences repeatedly, the school can classify these offences as major offences. Some of the common behaviours or actions for both categories can be found below. Please note that these lists are not exhaustive.

2.4.1 Minor Offences

2.4.2 Major Offences

A student who commits a major offence is liable to be suspended or expelled from school. Depending on the nature of the offence, the student will be referred to the police or the Student Development Committee. Parents will be notified of the offence and both students and parents will have to see the Principal. The student may be required to undergo counselling and the offence will be recorded in the School Offence Module (SOM) in the School Cockpit system.

Students who commit a major offence that has been reported to the police will be dealt with by the police. Students who commit multiple major offences will be expelled.

2.5 Conduct Grade Criteria

The default conduct grade for all students is VERY GOOD. Students who exhibit exemplary conduct may have their conduct grade raised to EXCELLENT. Students who do not adhere to school rules may have their conduct grade downgraded to either GOOD, FAIR or POOR.

Consequences

Downgrade of Conduct Grade:

• Affects eligibility for MOE & School Awards, scholarships, school based programmes, overseas trips and running for leadership positions

• Affects leadership position(s) in school

2.6 Other Matters

Classroom Cleanliness

Students have the responsibility to look after the school facilities and its environment.

All students are expected to maintain the cleanliness of their classrooms and personal desk, as well as their duty when rostered. The class committee is to ensure that the duty roster is followed throughout the year.

Students who attend lessons in other classes’ homerooms are expected to be responsible and considerate in the use of the equipment and personal desks of others.

Any defacing of furniture or misuse of equipment in the classrooms is considered vandalism and will be deemed a disciplinary offence. Such behaviour may also be reported to the police.

Possession of weapons

All students are not allowed to have in their possession any weapon. They are also not allowed to bring any weapon-like item which is used or intended to be used to cause harm to others.