Harbord Public School

Committed Teachers, Enthusiastic Learners, Supportive Parents.

Telephone02 9905 4276

Emailharbord-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Rules and policies

Rules and policies are in place to make sure your child remains safe and well at school.

Visit the NSW Department of Education’s policy library for all current operational policies.

Our school uses the department's School Community Charter to ensure all of our communication is collaborative and respectful.

Attendance and absences

Students must attend school regularly so they can achieve their educational best and increase their career and life options.

In NSW, all children from the age of 6 are legally required to attend school or be registered for home schooling through the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). All students must complete Year 10, or its equivalent and remain in school, employment or training until they turn 17.

For more information about compulsory school attendance, visit:

School frameworks (school rules)

As well as following the department’s operational policies, we have developed frameworks for our students in line with our school’s values and commitments.

Positive behaviour for learning

Nurturing respectful, responsible students who are achieving their personal best.

Positive Behaviours for Learning are:

  • A system of expectations for all areas of the school,
  • Explicitly taught to students,
  • Modelled by teachers, and
  • Reinforced by everyone through a series of rewards and pre-defined consequences.

Eagle Rocks are used frequently to reinforce positive behaviour choices. Class and Assembly awards are targeted to reinforce a particular behaviour under one of the Respect, Responsibility or Personal Best expectation banners.

Consequences for behaviour choices are clearly explained to students since regular reminders of expectations are the first step to correcting behaviour. 

Minor incidents (orange card) are for those behaviours that are distracting, annoying, unsafe or thoughtless. Major incidents (red card) are for those behaviours that are not socially acceptable eg swearing, dishonesty, stealing, aggression, vandalism.

Here are our expectations of behaviour: