College Affirmation

I have a right to learn free from distraction.I have a right to feel safe.

I always work to the best of my ability.

I treat everyone around me courteously and with respect.

I show courage when I attempt new things and I don’t give up easily.

I believe the best of myself and others.

I am the winner I was created to be.

Explanation of Affirmation

I have a right to learn free from distraction.

Each day our students line up outside their classrooms before the start of any lesson. They settle quickly and commence work. Occasionally, there will be student who acts inappropriately and is a distraction to others, either through their disrespectful behaviour or through some aspect of disruption. The student is asked to correct themselves quickly. If this behaviour persists the teacher will write the student’s name on the board or inform them verbally if it is in a Drama or Physical Education class where a whiteboard may not be available.

If this behaviour persists, the teacher will place a cross next to the student’s name and if the student continues their disrespectful or disruptive behaviour, the teacher will send the student to the office. This is called an Inside Send Out. Secondary students are allowed five of these over the life of the school year and Primary students are allowed eight.

Detailed information about this procedure in the Behaviour Management Policy can be found on our website.

I have a right to feel safe

This is a basic right of all our students. They should not have to put up with discrimination, bullying, harassment or intimidation whether it be before or after school, or at lunchtime or recess or through social media. Geelong Baptist College has a ‘zero tolerance’ to bullying policy. We are often questioned on the effectiveness of this policy. We can categorically state that every issue that is brought to Administration of a bullying nature is addressed and appropriate consequences are given. We are building a new culture within our students on a daily basis, ‘Everyone has a right to feel safe!’ 

I always work to the best of my ability

We use a statement in our classes that ‘The only time that Success comes before Work is in the Dictionary’. Our educational philosophy is summarised in one statement: ‘Quality is not Achieved by Chance.” Another statement found in classrooms is ‘Preparation plus Opportunity equals Success.” Around the school we find posters stating all these and we constantly talk to our students about the requirement for and rewards of ‘hard work’.

I treat everyone around me courteously and with respect

It is easy to be respectful, when everything is going well. It is a lot harder to show respect when there is a conflict of ideas or desires. We encourage all our teachers and staff members to treat everyone we come in contact with respectfully. Even when we are dealing with a discipline issue, it is vital for all staff to be respectful. We also ask students and parents to handle each situation calmly, courteously and respectfully. As the college has grown quickly, we have been faced with different challenges. I am pleased that generally, we have developed a positive and respectful attitude towards others from the car park to the classroom.

I show courage when I attempt new things and I don’t give up easily

The school day is full of opportunities to attempt new things, whether it is literacy or numeracy; sport or arts or technology; whether it is in making new friends or persisting through that extra bit of homework. Our students are encouraged to not give up easily, to conquer their giants, to believe that what seems impossible can be achieved.

I believe the best of myself and others

There is so much negativity around. We just need to turn on the TV or read the newspapers to see that. There is always someone criticising someone else and pulling them down. There is so much reaction from individuals as a result of hurt and offence. We believe that we can change that perspective. We can focus on the other side of the coin. We can look at the positives in ourselves and those around us. We can be good finders. The glass is either half full or half empty. What we are looking for is what we will see. We encourage our students to be ‘good finders’, believing the best of themselves and others.

I am the winner that I was created to be.

At Geelong Baptist College, we believe that all of our college community are winners. Intrinsically, we have the seeds of success inside us, otherwise life would be a lottery where the successful would achieve their rewards by some random chance. One of the slogans that we use at school is that, ‘Quality is not achieved by chance.' Because we have the seeds of being winners inside us we need to nurture that, we need to feed that, we need to believe that for ourselves and others. The work is not finished, but every parent who sends their child to GBC does so because they want those seeds of success to be nurtured and developed so that each student is given every opportunity to develop the potential that lies within them.

Every student is expected to uphold the principles and expectations of Geelong Baptist College.  All students are expected to take full responsibility for their appearance, behaviour and possessions to assist in every way possible with the smooth functioning of the College on a day to day basis.