VCE Student Handbook

Welcome to VCE at Villa Musica

Your Safety and Wellbeing

At Villa Musica, we adhere to the Victorian Government’s guidelines for child safety standards.

We believe every child has the right to feel safe, respected and valued. We are committed to promoting the wellbeing of all children and maintaining an environment that is free from abuse, discrimination, harassment and bullying. Villa Musica’s updated child-safe policy can be accessed here.

Inclusion and Respect

We welcome children and families from all backgrounds and strive to create an inclusive community where diversity is respected and celebrated. We are committed to ensuring that all students are treated with dignity and provided with opportunities to participate and succeed.

Villa Musica is committed to meeting our legal obligations under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic), the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), and the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (Cth). Theseobligations apply to all students with disability, not just those who are eligible for support under targeted funding programs.

We ask that parents to share the details of any disability or additional learning needs on enrolment, and share the details of any assessment or Individualised Education Plan which is in place at the the student’s home school, and invite them to meet with the VCE teacher to create a plan to accommodate these additional needs in the context of the VCE music classroom.

Reporting Concerns

Any concerns relating to child safety, wellbeing or inappropriate conduct are taken seriously. Concerns about anything at all can be raised by contacting Lucy Adeney, Penny Adeney or Linda Kops on 9557 4017, or by completing this form here: https://villamusica.typeform.com/to/RjGlKFkS

Anti-Bullying

We are proud to have such a diverse community and we are committed to providing a safe physical and emotional environment for all students and staff, free from bullying and harassment of any kind. Bullying and harassment can take many forms including verbal, physical, social, cyber and emotional. We expect our senior students to be kind to and encouraging of each other and to model this type of behaviour to younger students at our school.

If you experience bullying, or observe bullying, we encourage you to:

Acceptable Use of Technology and Mobile Phones

Students are expected to use mobile phones responsibly and respectfully while attending lessons, rehearsals, classes and other school activities.

Mobile phones may be used:

  • for learning activities and educational purposes as directed by the teacher;

  • when the teacher has given permission for their use in a particular class or activity; or

  • in other circumstances specifically approved by a staff member.

When using a mobile phone, students must comply with the school's Acceptable Use of Technology policy at all times. This includes using devices safely, respectfully, legally and in a manner that supports learning.

Students must not:

  • use mobile phones in a way that distracts themselves or others from learning;

  • access inappropriate content or engage in inappropriate online behaviour;

  • photograph, video or record other students, staff or visitors without their knowledge and permission;

  • use mobile phones to bully, harass or intimidate others; or

  • use mobile phones in any way that breaches the school's policies or applicable laws.

If a mobile phone is being used inappropriately, staff may direct the student to stop using the device, put it away for the remainder of the lesson, or take other appropriate action in accordance with the school's behaviour management procedures.

Students who repeatedly fail to comply with this policy may have their permission to use mobile devices at school restricted.

Heath Care and First Aid

Your VCE teacher is your first point of contact for all health related concerns including first aid.

It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to provide details of any pre-existing conditions, including mental and physical health considerations. Where a health matter is rated at a severe level, and requires specific equipment in case of emergency, such as Ventolin, adrenaline autoinjectors (epipen) or medicine, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to submit a medical action plan (MAP). If the health matter is complex, then the parent/guardian can schedule a meeting with the student’s VCE teacher and our child-safe officer regarding medical care. Further information can be found in our Health Care Policy here.

In the event that students require medication whilst at classes at Villa Musica, please complete the Medication Authority Form, following the instructions within, with permission from a parent/guardian.

Social Media

We know that many of our senior students are active on social media platforms. We encourage students to be kind and refrain from isolating peers and other individuals when interacting on social media or chat platforms. We also encourage students to set social media accounts to the highest possible privacy setting and think carefully about the long-term consequences including reputational damage to yourself and the school through posting inappropriate content on social media or in chat platforms. We ask that students refrain from creating or posting videos or music recordings of Villa Musica performances or classroom activities due to copyright licensing agreements, and our Child Safe Policy.

Policies

Duty of Care Policy

Health Care Policy - students with medical conditions and allergies

Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement - policies on internet and use of technology