Our School Expectations
At Chatswood Hills State School, we use three simple expectations to guide behaviour across all areas of the school:
I Am Safe
Students make choices that protect their own safety and the safety of others.
Examples include:
Keeping hands, feet and objects to themselves
Moving safely around the school
Using equipment appropriately
Reporting unsafe situations to staff
I Am Respectful
Students treat others and the school environment with respect.
Examples include:
Speaking kindly and using good manners
Listening to teachers and classmates
Respecting differences and including others
Caring for school property and facilities
I Am Responsible
Students take responsibility for their learning and behaviour.
Examples include:
Being ready to learn
Following teacher instructions
Completing learning tasks
Owning mistakes and making better choices
These expectations apply in classrooms, playgrounds, specialist lessons, excursions, before and after school, and when representing the school in the community.
Minor and Major Behaviour
Like all schools, students sometimes make mistakes. Our staff work with students to correct behaviour and support them to make better choices in the future.
Behaviour concerns are generally classified as minor or major, depending on the seriousness and impact of the behaviour.
Minor Behaviour
Minor behaviour incidents are typically managed by the classroom teacher and may include:
Calling out or interrupting learning
Not following instructions
Disrupting the learning of others
Inappropriate language
Minor playground disagreements
Off-task behaviour
Teachers support students by:
reminding students of expectations
providing corrective feedback
reteaching expected behaviour
applying appropriate classroom consequences
The goal is always to support students to learn and practise the expected behaviour.
Major Behaviour
Major behaviour incidents involve more serious behaviour or repeated minor incidents.
Examples may include:
Physical aggression or fighting
Bullying or harassment
Defiance of staff instructions
Threats or intimidation
vandalism or property damage
serious disruption to learning
unsafe behaviour
Major incidents are referred to school leadership for further investigation and response.
Disciplinary Consequences and Responses
Our school uses a range of responses to support students and maintain a safe learning environment.
Responses may include:
Restorative conversations
Reteaching expected behaviour
Loss of privileges
Time out from class
Behaviour support plans
Parent communication or meetings
Removal from class for reflection
School disciplinary absence (suspension)
Suspensions are used only when necessary and when other strategies have not been successful or when behaviour places others at risk.
The focus is always on:
Behaviour Inside and Outside School
Student behaviour expectations apply:
during school hours
before and after school on school grounds
on school transport
on excursions and camps
when representing the school in the community
in situations where behaviour affects the safety, wellbeing or reputation of the school community
This includes behaviour occurring outside school hours, including online behaviour, where it impacts students, staff or the school.
Preventing and Responding to Bullying
Chatswood Hills State School does not tolerate bullying.
Bullying occurs when there is ongoing misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical or social behaviour that causes harm.
Bullying can include:
When bullying is reported, the school will:
investigate the incident
support the student who has been harmed
work with the student responsible to change behaviour
apply appropriate disciplinary consequences where necessary
communicate with families where appropriate
Students are encouraged to report bullying to a trusted adult at school so that it can be addressed quickly.
eSafety, Cyber Safety and Online Behaviour
Online behaviour is an important part of student wellbeing and safety.
Students are expected to behave respectfully and responsibly online, including:
not posting harmful or inappropriate content
not sharing images or information about others without permission
not participating in online bullying or harassment
respecting the reputation of the school community
Cyberbullying is treated with the same seriousness as in-person bullying, even if it occurs outside school hours, where it impacts the school environment.
Social Media and Age Restrictions
To support the safety and wellbeing of young people, Australian legislation now requires social media platforms to prevent children under 16 from having accounts.
As of 10 December 2025, platforms required to prevent under-16 accounts include:
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok
Snapchat
Reddit
X (Twitter)
Twitch
Threads
YouTube (account access)
Kick
Other platforms that have identified themselves as age-restricted include:
BigoLive
BlueSky
Lemon8
Wizz
Yubo
Students under 16 should not create accounts on these platforms.
Families play an important role in supporting students to build healthy online habits, digital literacy and cyber safety skills.
For more information, visit the eSafety Commissioner website.
Working Together
Strong school communities are built through partnerships between students, families and staff.
At Chatswood Hills State School we believe:
every child deserves to feel safe
every student deserves the opportunity to learn
every teacher deserves the opportunity to teach
behaviour expectations should be clear, fair and consistent
By working together we can maintain a positive learning environment where every student can achieve their best.