NON-CUSTODIAL PARENTS

PR-5-11

PROCEDURAL DOCUMENT

Effective Date: 4 September 2012

Rationale

To ensure that  the school adopts a fair and consistent manner for the dissemination of school information and reporting. 

Purpose

  1. The school has an obligation to forward information about student progress and attainment to both parents.
  2. The school recognises that non-custodial parents/legal guardian of children have the right to receive information about their child/children’s learning.
  3. The school follows a clearly non-partisan approach to the dissemination of information to parents.
  4. The school, on receipt of documented proof, will uphold any court decisions pertaining to custodial contact (i.e. copy of court orders, etc). 

Guidelines

  1. Enrolment forms must be correctly completed, and any custodial issues brought to the attention of the school immediately.
  2. The school will adhere to non-custodial contact(s), only after the Principal has sighted copies of the appropriate court or police orders.
  3. Appropriate notations will be made on the student's records.
  4. In the case of court decreed non-contact, the custodial parent/legal guardian is required to give to the school a photograph or detailed description of the person(s) concerned.
  5. School newsletters are public documents.  Arrangements can be made for non-custodial parents/legal guardians to receive copies of the school newsletter.
  6. School reports.  Arrangements can be made for copies of a school report to be made available for the non-custodial parent/legal guardian on request.
  7. Parent Teacher interviews.  Arrangements can be made for the custodial and non-custodial parents/legal guardians to have separate parent teacher interview times.
  8. School trips.  The school always welcomes parental involvement in school trips.  Where both custodial and non-custodial parents/legal guardians offer to assist with a trip, the school asks that the parents/legal guardians concerned discuss their involvement prior to making arrangements with the school.
  9. On site visits.  Unless there is a specific non-contact court order, which has been seen by the Principal, non-custodial parents wishing to undertake an on-site visit should make arrangements with the custodial parent/legal guardian prior to the visit.  The custodial parent/legal guardian should inform the school of any such arrangement.  Parents/legal guardians with custodial rights can make arrangements for the school to inform them of such visits.
  10. Board of Trustees Elections.  Both custodial and non-custodial parents/legal guardian have the right to vote at Board of Trustee Elections and the school has the right to request correct postal details for both parties for this specific purpose.
  11. The school should not become involved in the dynamics of personal relationships between custodial and non-custodial parents / legal guardians.

Conclusion

Both custodial and non-custodial parents/legal guardian have rights.  So does the child and the school.  By ensuring that fair and open procedures are followed all parties will ensure that their rights and responsibilities are upheld.