DAILY SILENT READING PROGRAMME & FLAG RAISING CEREMONY

1. As part of Covid-19 SMM, there will be staggered reporting time for our students. Students are to report to their classroom for the daily morning assembly at the following timings:Lower Secondary
   Mon : 8.50am
   Tue – Fri : 8.00amUpper Secondary
   Mon : 8.35am
   Tues – Fri : 7.45am

   Students who are Singapore citizens must sing the National Anthem and take the pledge. Students will take the pledge with the right fist over the heart. The flag-raising ceremony is to be observed with solemnity and respect.
   All students must sing the School Song with pride and respect every Monday.

   2. As part of the school’s reading programme to inculcate the good habit of reading, students are to bring English story book for silent reading from Monday to Thursday and Mother Tongue story book for Friday.

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WEEKLY ASSEMBLY

1. Weekly assembly will be held every Tuesday in the classrooms.
2. During the assembly programme, students must respect the speakers and presenters. They must listen carefully and write down key learning points in the Student Handbook.
3. Class chairpersons will take turns to lead the students in reciting the School Creed before the assembly ends.

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ATTENDANCE

1. Every student must be punctual in coming to school. Students must be present in their classes by the reporting timings stipulated above. In addition, absence from school must be accompanied by a medical certificate or a letter of explanation from parents or legal guardians. The letter must be submitted the next working day and it must bear the parent’s or guardian’s signature and current contact number. Any student who is late or absent from school without an official reason will be subjected to disciplinary actions.
2. Any student must seek permission from the Principal, Vice-Principals or Heads of Department if he/she needs to leave the school premises during school hours. The student will have to inform his/her Form Teacher and complete a permission slip which can be obtained from the General Office. Students who leave school during school hours should be accompanied by their parents/guardians for their own safety.
3. Students who are exempted from any subject are to remain in their classrooms and do their own work.
4. Students are not allowed to go on overseas vacation during term time as this disrupts their learning.

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GENERAL CONDUCT

1. Students must be exemplary in their conduct and demonstrate the school values of Integrity, Compassion, Resilience, Discipline and Respect at all times.
2. Students must be polite and mindful of their manners at all times. They must greet teaching staff, non-teaching staff and visitors upon meeting them.
3. Students must respect and obey school authorities – e.g. Principal, teachers, student leaders, and non- teaching staff at all times.
4. Students must pay attention in class at all times during lessons. They are not to sleep, place their heads on the tables or engage in disruptive behaviour. Even when there is no teacher in class, they must show consideration for their classmates and maintain a conducive learning environment.
5. Students who need to leave the classroom for valid reasons must obtain permission from a teacher. If a student is unwell, a classmate should accompany him/her to the sick bay for immediate attention. His/Her parents will be informed. No student should leave the school premises without authorisation from the School Leaders.
6. Students must use their time efficiently and effectively during relief periods or when the teacher is absent from the class. They must remain in their seats to : i) complete the work given, if any ii)  do their own silent reading  iii)  do their revision
   They should not pass the time sleeping or chatting with classmates. Engaging in discussions or peer tutoring is also not allowed.

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RECESS AND LUNCH BREAKS

1. Students must be socially responsible during recess and lunch breaks. For example, they must queue in an orderly manner when purchasing food in the canteen, they must not make noise along the corridors to disrupt other students having lessons, they must conduct the wipe-down routine in the canteen etc.
2. Students must return used cutlery and clear all litter before leaving the canteen.
3. Students must proceed to the classrooms with minimal noise when the bell rings at the end of recess.
4. Students are not allowed to consume food and sweetened drinks in the classroom. Any exception must come from the School Leaders.

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SCHOOL ATTIRE

1. . Students are to wear the prescribed school uniform and modification to the uniform is not allowed. The pants and skirts may only be altered to the appropriate length required. Both full uniform or half uniform must be worn with the school badge and name tag. Half uniform is defined as school-based T-shirt and school pants/skirts. The uniform must be tucked in at all times.
2. Students must wear name tags that are colour-coded according to the level they are in. They must order a replacement from the book shop immediately if they have misplaced their name tags.
3. Students must wear the school tie if they are in full uniform every Monday. They must button up the collar when the school tie is worn. The tip of the tie should reach the waist. However, students do not need to wear the school tie if their internal examinations fall on a Monday.
4. Students must wear white socks and white shoes, with the exception of coloured logos only. If the shoes come with laces, they must also be white. The socks must be visible and above (covering) the ankle-bone. Students wearing inappropriate socks will be required to buy a new pair from the school bookshop.
5. Students must wear school T-shirt and black shorts during PE lessons. They must tuck in their t-shirts at all times. They are not allowed to wear PE attire during any other curriculum time.
6. Students must be in full/half uniform and in appropriate footwear (no slippers or sandals ) when they report to school for activities during school holidays or on Saturdays, for CCAs or remedial lessons. Students will be asked to leave the school if they are found to be in inappropriate attire.
7. Students must not wear any jewellery, coloured contact lenses or religious ornaments to school. In addition, students must keep their fingernails short and clean and there must be no tattoos on any part of the body.
8. For Boys
   1. Students must be neat in appearance, clean-shaven and no facial hair is allowed.
   2. The hair must not touch the collar and must be sloped at the sides and rear. Long sideburns and ducktails are not allowed. The fringe must not cover the eyebrows or/ and the ears when combed down. There should be no fanciful haircut like gelled spiky hair, undercut or mohawk hairstyles. Students are also not allowed to tint or dye their hair.
   3. Students are not allowed to pierce their ears or wear any plastic studs or sticks.
   4. Students are not allowed to taper their pants. Tapered pants will be confiscated and the student would be required to purchase a pair of pants from the school immediately.
9. For Girls
   1. Students must be neat in appearance at all times.
   2. The skirt should be at knee length, i.e. touching the knee caps.
   3. Hair must be tied with a black hairband when it is longer than the shoulder. Any fringe must be above the eyebrows or pinned behind the ears with black clips. Students are also not allowed to tint or dye their hair.
   4. Students are allowed to wear a pair of simple round ear studs/ transparent ear sticks. The ear stud must not be more than 5mm in diameter.

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Discipline

1. Students must not engage in any activity that will harm, inconvenience or disturb the other
   students in the school and members of the public in any way. As long as students are in
   uniform, they are to uphold the name of the school.
2. All students are not allowed to have in their possession any weapon. They are also not allowed to bring any weapon-like item which can be used or intended to be used to cause
   harm to others.
3. Students who commit major offences will have to face the consequences and this may
   include counselling and punishment. The School Principal / Vice-Principal and the Student
   Management Committee will decide on the consequences. Only the Principal can give approval for suspension from school and/or caning. Students are to note that testimonials may not be issued for students who have committed major offences.
4. The list of possible offences is not exhaustive. For offences which are not listed below and for offences which may tarnish the school image, disciplinary action will be taken at the discretion of the Principal / Vice-Principal. This includes public caning and suspension from school. The school reserves the right to make amendments to any school rule as and when necessary

(A) Attendance

Leaving school grounds without permission

Truancy / Wilful absenteeism

(B) Misconduct

Use of threat/physical bullying/cyber bullying

Malpractice of Cheating in tests/assessments/examinations

Disruptive Behaviour

Forgery / tampering with official documents eg. medical certificates, results slip, exam papers

Open defiance and/or rudeness

Improper attire & grooming

Littering/Refusing to return crockery in the canteen/Dirtying common areas in the school

Not doing assignments

Use of vulgar language and gesture

Abuse of technology

Giving false information/lying

Repeatedly flouting school rules

(C) Theft/Damage of property

Arson

Theft

Vandalism (Eg. Setting off fire alarm, breaking of school furniture, defacing school property)

(D) Other Major Offences

Extortion

Substance Abuse (eg. consumption of alcohol, drugs)

Assault

Affray / Fighting

Gambling

Gangsterism

Inhalant abuse

Viewing / Possession of pornographic materials

Possession of weapons

Sexual misconduct, e.g. voyeurism

Smoking / Possession of cigarettes and/or e-cigarette / vaping

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Attire of a Gessian (Boy)

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. • Hairstyle:
                    • Gradual Slope.
                    • Short Side Burns.
                    • Fringe not touching the eyebrow.
                  • Attire:
                    • School Badge must be worn on the stitch above the pocket.
                    • Name tag to be worn below the school badge.
                    • Shirt must be tucked in.
                    • No modifications should be made to the uniform.
                  • Shoes:
                    • Only white shoes with white shoe laces.
                    • Wear white ankle socks without logo. No-show socks (invisible socks) are not allowed.

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Attire of a Gessian (Girl)

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. • Hairstyle:
                    • Hair length that touches the collar must be tied up.
                    • Fringe to be pinned up neatly.
                    • Fringe not touching the eyebrow.
                  • Attire:
                    • School Badge must be worn on the stitch above the pocket.
                    • Name tag must be worn below the school badge.
                    • Blouse must be tucked in.
                    • No modifications should be made to the uniform.
                  • Shoes
                    • Only white shoes with white shoe laces.
                    • Wear white ankle socks without logo. No-show socks (invisible socks) are not allowed.

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PE Attire

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Conduct Grades Indicators

GESS Conduct Grade
1.  Conduct grade will be awarded to students based on 2 components:
i) Basic Components
ii) Determining Components

2. Basic Components are made up of 2 parts.
The first part is aligned to school values and the second part is aligned to the socioemotional competencies.
Students will be assessed by their teachers based on their demonstration of the attributes in these 2 areas.

3. Determining Components are veto components and are determined by the following:
• School Attendance
• Serious Discipline Case
Students who do not meet the minimum expectations will be awarded a “Fair” or “Poor” conduct grade.”

4. Students with poor late-coming records will have their conduct grade downgraded by 1 grade.

5. Students who obtain a Fair grade for Conduct will not be eligible for:
• MOE Edusave Awards eg Scholarship, Bursary, Good Progress
• Edusave Character Award (ECHA)
• External Scholarship/Bursary

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Weightage of Basic Components

Component	Raw Score	Weighting (%)
School Values (Form Teacher)	25	25%
School Values (Subject Teacher)	25	25%
Socio – Emotional Competencies (Form Teacher)	25	25%
Socio – Emotional Competencies (CCA Teacher)	25	25%
Total	100	100%

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Wireless Network Policy – WIRELESS@GESS

The Wireless Network Policy (SWN@SSOE) applies to all wireless network users (staff and students) operating within the school. Uses of the SWN@SSOE wireless network are required to adhere to the acceptable and prohibited use guidelines listed below.

To limit the potential security risks that may be associated with wireless network technologies, access to the Authenticated Wireless Network must take place in a controlled and secure manner.

ACCEPTABLE USE

Students’ use of the following for solely educational purposes:

• School-owned IT equipment (e.g. classroom IT equipment, iPads and SSOE2 laptops in the Computer Labs);
• School-owned IT software, data, and wireless accounts.
• Student-owned IT devices (e.g. those procured as part of MOE’s Personal Digital Learning Programme (PDLP) with effect from 2021).

PROHIBITED USE

Students’ access to IT devices and the wireless network in GESS is a privilege and not a right. Examples of unacceptable uses include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Unauthorized use of computers/mobile devices – Accessing computers/mobile devices during curriculum hours without specific authorisation from the supervising teacher. Accessing these devices after curriculum hours is only permissible for educational purposes.
• Unsupervised usage of computers in computer laboratories – The use of computers in the computer laboratories is purely for curricular purposes under the supervision of the Subject Teacher. Computers located in the Aroozoo Library are available for use during non-curricular hours.
• Accessing Inappropriate Materials – Accessing, submitting, posting, publishing, forwarding, downloading, scanning, or displaying materials that are defamatory, abusive, obscene, vulgar, sexually explicit, sexually suggestive, threatening, discriminatory, harassing and/or illegal.

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Handphone Policy

In GESS, we believe that a positive, educative and restorative approach to discipline is more effective than one that is punitive. And we recognize that in order to learn well, there must be order and discipline. It is also important that each student has a safe environment where he/she
is free to learn. In order to sustain that safe environment, it is imperative for schools to nurture students to be responsible and discerning users of technology.

The school handphone policy has been established, based on MOE guidelines and Wireless Network Policy – Wireless@GESS (Pg 41-42 in the student handbook). This policy is meant to ensure that students are focused during lesson time and not be distracted texting or playing with phone functions. Henceforth, we are informing the students and their families about the policy and procedures that will promote a positive educational experience in GESS.

Guiding Principles
The hand phone rules apply to all students who choose to bring their hand phones to school.
• All hand phones must be switched off or put on silent mode and put in the school bags
during lesson time.
• All handphones must be handed over to the teacher during PE lessons for safe keeping.
• Students are not to display their hand phones during school activities inside or outside
school.
• If students need to contact their parents while in school, they are to call within
the designated area in the foyer or canteen during recess and after school hours.
• If students need to contact their parents during a school activity out of school, they must have the teacher’s permission.
If the students choose to bring their hand phones to school, they must be responsible and should not :
• leave their hand phones unattended.
• leave the hand phones in open view, for instance, in the toilet, classroom and canteen.
• bring expensive hand phones to school. This may create temptation for theft, and it is a costly lesson if the hand phone is lost or damaged.
Students who are found to have breached the guidelines will have their handphones confiscated by the teachers and parents/guardians will be informed. Parents/Guardians may be required to personally collect the handphones from the school’s Operation Manager (OM).
As for student offences involving the use of the mobile devices, e.g. inappropriate content such as making derogatory or hurtful remarks, taking upskirt photographs or possession of pornography, the students will have to surrender the handphones to the school for investigation.

Important Note :
The school will be installing a handphone cabinet in every classroom in Term 2 2022. The handphones will be collected from the students during the first period and returned to the students on the last curriculum period of the day.