Our Policies

Through this policy we aim to enable our students to be resilient, resourceful, responsible learners who have the confidence, skills and attitude to be successful life-long achievers. We aim to promote a nurturing yet challenging learning culture that helps them develop as mindful global citizens. Specifically, the aim is to enhance student outcomes as they learn at Sacred Heart International School, Marthandam.

Following are the learning outcomes from asynchronous teaching:

• To engage the maximum number of students using active participation, discussion forums, query resolution and quizzes. Learning to be at students’ pace; students and teachers get their time to think, plan and act. Learning takes place round the clock.
• To provide easy and equal access to learning with higher levels of temporal flexibility and no geographical boundaries.
• To develop critical thinking skills among students that help them solve real-life problems.
• To develop the knowledge, skills, abilities or attitudes essential to understand the concepts as per the curriculum defined by the ICSE/ISC board.
• To provide the necessary practical support by using simulation programs and online support of labs.
• To involve diverse students and cater to their needs from different social, regional and national backgrounds.
• To express views freely by teachers, to enrich the life of learners.
• To guide students to use the latest technological tools like Google Earth, Google Maps, various online labs, and other applications and tools for synchronous and asynchronous modes of learning.
• To maintain balance between professional and family commitments.
• To use the opportunity to learn new technological tools by students and teachers.
• To make personalised content to meet the diverse learning needs and methods of learning. For example, visual learners can be directed towards learning videos.

How do we define conflict?

Conflict can arise through personal differences between individual pupils, problems from outside school interwoven with school life, or from difficulties arising from the breakdown of relationships between individuals or groups of pupils.

The ultimate purpose of this internal procedure is to encourage the healthy growth and development of SHIS Marthandam.

SHIS Marthandam recognises that effective communication is paramount in effective conflict resolution, and therefore strongly encourages communication strategies that include:

• Taking personal responsibility for one’s own feelings and needs
• Communication that mutually acknowledges the needs and concerns of one another
• Demonstrating honesty and integrity in every interaction

Procedure

The following procedure is followed at Sacred Heart School, Pammam, Marthandam for resolving classroom conflict:

• Enhancing interactions for the resolution of personal disagreements arising out of difference of opinion.
• In case there is a disagreement with a staff member, a parent / guardian, a student or a community member, the students involved are advised first to meet together to clarify and respectfully discuss the problem in front of a known teacher.
• Most issues are resolved through enhanced interactions, ending in forgiveness and self-realisation, leading to the use of verbal expressions like sorry, excuse me and thank you.
• If a matter is not resolved between the individuals, it will be forwarded to the class in-charge, who will listen to the views of individuals and try to resolve it by providing a solution mutually acceptable to them.
• If it is a long-standing issue, it is important to forward it to the head of the institution, who will counsel the individuals. In most cases individuals are satisfied by the conflict resolution procedures. In case of a critical issue, the parents are informed about the conflict and the resolution.
• If the complaint is formal — a written complaint addressed to the Principal — immediate intervention follows with the help of the class in-charge and senior and experienced teachers or counsellor. The resolution should be achieved through continued discussion.
• A careful and concerned approach is followed, assuring the confidentiality of the matter.
• The Principal will assist the parties to attempt to reach a resolution, personally or through a delegate, by facilitating a meeting and mediating discussion. The principles of procedural fairness are: no partiality; everyone has the right to be heard; all relevant information will be taken into account; and where a conflict of interest arises or is perceived to arise, a mutually acceptable independent person may be brought in.
• Subsequent to these proceedings, the Principal may initiate appropriate action within the school.
• At every level of interaction with the parties concerned, counselling would be given by the teachers dealing with the issue. If it is found that a professional counsellor’s intervention is needed, that would be provided either by utilising the school counsellor or by referring to an external qualified counsellor.

Sacred Heart International School, Marthandam aims to enhance the intra-personal skills of our students and staff. Intra-personal skills help in building internal abilities and behaviour to manage emotions, stress and other challenges.

Guidelines for enhancing intra-personal skills

• Learners and staff are expected to plan their tasks and keep track of them using a to-do list, so that a balance between work commitments and appointments can be made.
• Teachers are asked to deal with students in a sensitive manner, keeping intact the qualities of patience and persistence. Teachers are advised to brainstorm solutions for a problem, keeping in mind the student’s perspective and the psychological problems faced by adolescent students.
• Learners and staff are encouraged to participate in games, exercise, yoga and meditation so that they can contribute towards physical and emotional wellbeing.
• Diary writing helps to build a connection with the self and provides a tangible record of thoughts and feelings to look back on later. Teachers and students are encouraged to write a personal diary.
• Students are encouraged to participate in after-school activities, which help in building social skills and gaining confidence.
• Learners and staff are asked to motivate each other so as to boost internal abilities and self-confidence.
• Learners and staff are asked to express compassionate behaviour towards each other and appreciate acts of kindness, so as to promote positive feeling.
• Learners and staff are expected to greet each other with a smile, exchange salutations and create an environment of mutual respect. Develop an attitude of gratitude.
• Learners and staff are expected to show an exemplary standard of conduct inside the campus and outside the school. All their actions should exhibit integrity, honesty and probity.
• Learners and staff are expected to maintain the highest standard of discipline and help in creating an environment conducive to learning.

Sacred Heart International School, Marthandam encourages the creation of an environment of mutual respect in and around the campus. Mutual respect helps in reducing workplace stress, conflict or problems. An increase in workplace respect helps to improve communication between colleagues, increase teamwork and increase productivity, knowledge and understanding.

Expectation of mutual respect from learners and staff

• Follow rules and regulations given in the student’s diary and teacher’s diary.
• Discuss mutual respect and establish that respect is something that everyone wants and is capable of giving to others.
• Exchange salutations and greetings with everyone.
• Be honest in dealing with everyone.
• Respect all prefects, elders, staff and parents.
• Show respect to students by addressing them by name. Speak to administrators, support staff and other teachers with respect.
• Create an environment conducive for learning.
• Observe good manners and etiquette.
• Follow actions and behaviours towards zero-conflict situations.
• Respect the authority of the position held by an individual.
• Maintain a friendly atmosphere on campus and help others in need.
• Never argue with anyone and never lower your dignity.
• Fix your target at the beginning of an academic year and put in sustained hard work to achieve it.
• Help your peer group / colleague whenever and wherever needed.
• Keep others’ interests ahead of your own.
• Pray regularly and meditate for some time on a regular basis.
• Never indulge in wrongdoing. However, if caught, accept punishment like a gentleman / lady. Whenever penalty, fine or punishment is given, do so privately, with respect for dignity. Calmly explain the reason and end on a positive note.
• Avoid getting annoyed with things outside our control. Be polite and humble in dealing with them and learn anger management techniques.
• Self-confidence is the key to success: work to develop a confident personality.
• Encourage and help each other.
• Avoid judging others. Instead, get to know each other and start to develop a more peaceful atmosphere.

Cyber Safety

It is the safe and responsible use of information and communication technology. It is not just about keeping information safe and secure, but also about being responsible with that information, being respectful of other people online, and using good internet etiquette.

Cyber Bullying

Cyber bullying includes sending, posting or sharing negative, harmful, false or mean information and content about someone. It is a serious offence which is punishable under cyber laws.

Activities coming under cyber bullying:

• Nasty comments on posts, or posting nasty comments about the victim.
• Creating a fake profile and trying to defame someone.
• Sending abusive messages using a mobile phone.
• Posting embarrassing photographs online without permission.
• Stealing a password and sending unwarranted or inappropriate messages from that account.

Do’s

• Do not respond to or retaliate against cyber bullying.
• Keep a record or proof of anything that you considered inappropriate or nasty.
• Block and report a person if someone bothers you, then report the offender to the authorities. Report online bullying immediately to the teacher and parents or someone whom you trust.
• Keep your privacy settings high and do not connect with anyone whom you do not know offline.
• Be aware and keep yourself updated about preventive and security measures in the cyber world.

Computer safety tips

• Log off your computer when not in use and don’t leave it unattended.
• Do not install pirated software.
• Have a password protocol with specific strong password guidelines, frequent changes of passwords, and prevention of reuse of old passwords.

Internet safety practices and ethics

• Respect other people’s privacy.
• Follow proper protocol in language use while chatting, blogging and emailing.
• Do not log into other people’s email accounts.
• Do not reply to unknown senders.
• Do not provide personal information like name, date of birth, school name, address, parents’ names or any other information.
• Never reveal your password to anyone other than your parent or guardian. Do not use the same password for different online transactions. Use a strong password for different online transactions which is a combination of numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, and special characters for each account.
• Do not fall for lucrative offers or discounts as they might be coming from an unknown source and may not be reliable. Ignore or delete such emails.
• Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders, since they may contain malicious files that might affect your device. Only click links and downloads from websites that you trust.
• Beware of phishing websites. Check the URL to confirm if the website is secure while performing any monetary transactions. If the URL begins with ‘https’ (the ‘s’ stands for “secure”), also look for a green address bar or a security certificate in the browser window that ensures a secure connection.
• Do not forward spam or suspicious emails to others.
• Do not post anything which hurts others’ feelings.
• Always be careful while posting photographs, videos and any other sensitive information on social networking sites, as they leave digital footprints which stay online forever.
• Do not post your friend’s information on networking sites, which may possibly put them at risk. Protect your friend’s privacy by not posting group photos, school names, locations, ages etc.
• Avoid posting your plans and activities on networking sites.
• Do not create fake profiles for yourself on any social networking site. If you suspect that your social networking account details have been compromised or stolen, report immediately to the support team of the networking site.
• Do not forward anything that you read on social media without verifying it from a trusted source.
• Use safe search options while searching for information on the internet.
• Avoid using free, unsecured Wi-Fi for shopping or banking on the internet, and also for logging into your social media profiles.
• Delete old accounts that are not used any more.
• Take regular backups of all important files onto offline / online cloud storage.
• Don’t click on ‘keep me logged in’ or ‘remember me’ options on websites, and log out of all accounts.
• Don’t save your credit / debit card information on websites and web browsers.
• Have dual or multifactor authentication.
• Lock your screen when you’re finished using your computer / tablet / phone. Further, set it to lock automatically when it goes to sleep.
• Always delete spam mails immediately and empty the trash box to prevent accidental clicking on the same link.
• Don’t plagiarise — copying information (book, music, video, software etc.) from the internet is dishonest and could also be illegal. You could be violating copyright laws. Obtain permission from the original creator and provide credit and attribution to the original owner of the resource.
• Don’t trust a site just because it claims to be secure. It may be a ‘phishing’ site.

* Source: Central Institute of Educational Technology, NCERT

Nutritional wellbeing is both a precursor and a product of good health. The policy of Sacred Heart International School, Marthandam aims to improve the health of students by adopting nutritional food habits and to generate awareness about healthy food choices.

Sacred Heart International School, Marthandam aims to promote and improve the nutrition status of learners in order to enhance and sustain their physical, social and mental well-being. Our target is to maintain the health status of learners through the initiation of effective health promoting activities. We provide health and nutrition education and promotion activities at all levels.

Our school promotes the consumption of healthy food which not only fulfils daily nutritional requirements but also has a positive effect on a learner’s wellbeing. Nutritious and healthy food improves learning and academic performance too.

School Health Team comprises of

• The Principal
• All the teachers
• Students
• Parents
• Community
• Medical officer (on demand)
• Nurse

Salient Features

• Students are encouraged to bring their own food from home.
• Students are advised not to buy fast food having poor nutritional value.
• Distribution of sweets made from sweet shops is not encouraged.
• Students are encouraged to enjoy their home-made food during lunch time.
• Disseminating ‘Nutritional Education’ as a part of the curriculum, explaining the components of food and the importance of a balanced diet.
• Disseminating the importance of nutritious food by involving students in activity.
• Serving of healthy and nutritious food during school functions and celebrations.
• ‘Fruit Days’ celebrations through participation in activities.
• Serving of healthy food in NCC and Red Cross camps.
• Measurement of nutritional status such as height and weight.
• Generating awareness about the importance of balanced food — three food groups eaten in the right proportion.
• Ensuring the availability of healthy food in the canteen and practising good food hygiene.
• Ensure the availability of nutritious food in the canteen at a reasonable price.
• Follow-up of vaccination and de-worming tablet distribution programmes as per the guidelines from government authorities.
• To promote recreational and sports activities to improve mental health.
• To provide first aid and emergency care in the medical centre (sick bay).

The Sacred Heart International School community is committed and concerned about environmental sustainability, keeping in mind current trends on various environmental issues like climate change, population growth and the use of natural resources, which cause a major global health concern. Hence the community, including all stakeholders, has made a detailed policy on sustainability, thereby achieving Green Campus status.

A green campus is a place where environmentally friendly practices and education combine to promote sustainable and eco-friendly practices on campus. The green campus concept offers an institution the opportunity to take the lead in redefining its environmental culture and developing new paradigms by creating sustainable solutions to environmental, social and economic needs.

Scope of the policy

The policy for Green Campus and sustainability will develop exciting new co-curricular and extracurricular practices that encourage students to take the lead in creating positive change. These initiatives call for a thorough review of all infrastructural and administrative functions from the standpoint of energy efficiency, sustainability and the environment.

Focus areas:

• Clean Campus Initiatives
• Landscaping Initiatives
• Clean Air Initiatives
• Infrastructure
• Solar Power Plant
• Installation of Energy Efficiency Equipment
• Water Conservation through Rainwater Harvesting System
• Waste Management processes — Solid, Liquid and E-Waste Management
• Awareness Initiatives
• Environment-centric Student Activities
• Plastic-Free Campus

Objectives of the policy

• To protect and conserve ecological systems and resources within the campus.
• To ensure judicious use of environmental resources to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations.
• To integrate environmental concerns into policies, plans and programmes for social development and outreach activities.
• To work with all stakeholders and the local community to raise awareness and seek the adoption of environmental good practice and the reduction of adverse effects on the environment.
• To continuously improve our contribution to climate protection and adaptation to climate change, and to the conservation of global resources.
• To continuously improve the efficient use of all resources, including energy and water, and to reduce consumption and the amount of waste produced, recovering and recycling waste where possible.
• To make the campus plastic free.
• To minimise the use of paper in administration by having a policy for e-governance.

Clean Campus Initiatives

• Generating mass awareness on cleanliness and hygiene amongst students and staff members by holding regular cleanliness drives, motivating them to contribute proactively.
• Activities for cleanliness and public health practices will be a key component of all community work done by JRC, Scouts and volunteers of the school.
• Staff members will be encouraged to participate in the cleanliness drive on the school campus.
• Events such as poster and slogan competitions, essay writing, spoken word poetry, speeches and skits on cleanliness and public health practices will be organised.
• Rallies on themes connected with cleanliness and public health practices in and around the school campus will be conducted to create mass awareness.
• Remove all kinds of waste material such as broken furniture and unusable equipment.
• Administer the pledge by students and staff members to maintain the cleanliness of the school campus and its surrounding areas on an annual basis.
• Conduct workshops on the 3Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle waste.
• Commit to managing waste and maintaining a clean campus, especially during school events.

Landscaping Initiatives

The campus landscape, like its buildings, can be seen as the physical embodiment of a school’s values. It is a vital part of the life of a campus, providing space for study, play, outdoor events, relaxation and aesthetic appreciation. Green campus landscapes also manage runoff, help recharge groundwater, and clean and cool the air on campus.

There are more than 50 trees and more than 100 shrubs on campus along with 1 acre of grass cover. The landscape of trees and plants provides the 2000+ students and staff with clean, cool air and a soothing environment. The green cover of the campus also provides shelter and food for a variety of birds like a wetland, creating a campus rich in biodiversity. The school commits to enriching this healthy habitat and maintaining the symbiotic relation of the institution with nature by:

• Organising annual tree plantation drives
• Encouraging student societies to hold tree planting events

Clean Air Initiatives

We encourage our students and staff to use public transportation and encourage carpooling to school — an activity that will control air pollution and strengthen social interaction. The entry of automobiles inside the campus is generally discouraged on the whole, and there is a restriction on private vehicles inside the campus.

Our campus is located at Marthandam Road. For this reason, we feel responsible to maintain our green cover. The natural landscape not only cleans the air on campus but also makes it an extension of the green lungs of the town.

Water Conservation through Rainwater Harvesting

As an institution located in a fertile agri-rich area, the place has witnessed a drastic change in groundwater levels. Hence we are committed to replenishing the groundwater table by practising rainwater harvesting. This practice helps in the replenishment and recharge of groundwater.

Waste Management Processes

Solid Waste Management. With its aim to provide holistic education that also has a positive impact on the environment, the school will adopt practices that will mitigate the generation of, and manage, solid waste through the following methods:

• Systematically engage with the 3Rs of environmental friendliness (reduce, reuse and recycle).
• Collect paper waste produced on campus and collaborate with scrap dealers for recycling.
• Reduce solid waste by developing a technology-centric teaching and administrative model.
• Reduce the use of paper by supporting the digitisation of attendance and internal assessment records.
• Reduce the requirement of printed books by updating the e-books and e-journals collection of the school library.
• Encourage students and teachers to use emails for assignment submissions.
• Take initiatives to spread awareness amongst students about food wastage and ways of minimising it, minimising the use of packaged food, and the habit of reusing and recycling non-biodegradable products.
• Organise workshops for students on solid waste management.

Liquid Waste Management.

• Maintain leak-proof water fixtures.
• Minimise the use of water by constructing more Indian style toilets instead of western style toilets.
• Continued employment of a caretaker to take immediate steps to stop any water leakage through taps, pipes, tanks and toilet flushes.
• Prevention of release and mixing of oil from the staff mess liquid waste into the municipal drainage system by use of a grease trap mechanism. This way the Biochemical Oxygen Demand is reduced in the effluent wastewater.
• Reuse of wastewater generated by the Reverse Osmosis (RO) system in washrooms.

E-Waste Management. Sacred Heart International School ensures that its use of technology and generation of e-waste does not impact the environment. For this purpose, the school strives towards:

• More provisions for the disposal of institutional e-waste.
• Collaboration with e-waste recycling companies to get electronic waste recycled.
• Awareness amongst students about the reduction of e-waste and environment-friendly disposal practices for e-waste.
• Encouraging department and society level activities pertaining to e-waste management.

Awareness Initiatives & Green Society

Outreach and education are of utmost importance so that all members of the campus community may value the objectives of the policy and aid in its implementation. This is why Sacred Heart International School supports and encourages awareness campaigns, seminars, workshops, conferences and other interactive sessions. The school encourages all departments and NCC to organise events, competitions and training sessions that will bring about positive environmental changes at the grassroots level.

Green Society. Institutional changes towards sustainability and eco-friendly practices have percolated down to the students, and we wish to have a Green Club for students to join and actively participate in. Making the club a compulsory one will provide it a bigger platform to broadcast the institution’s environmental values and raise awareness.

Conduct Green Audit. The school plans to regularly conduct a Green Audit of our campus to assess our strengths and weaknesses and to further our goals of long-term sustainability. A green audit is a useful tool to determine how and where most energy, water or resources are being used. Recycling projects or waste minimisation plans can then be adopted. Green auditing will promote financial savings through the reduction of resource use.

Plastic-Free Campus

Sacred Heart International School has been observing most of its duties in terms of solid waste management since its inception. In view of the Government of India’s resolution to ban all single-use plastics due to the hazardous impact of plastic use and pollution, the school administration strictly bans the use of single-use plastics within its premises to make it a ‘Plastic Free Campus’.

The Sacred Heart International School community is committed and concerned about environmental sustainability, keeping in mind current trends on various environmental issues. Hence the community, including all stakeholders, has made a policy on energy conservation.

• We aim to assess energy and water use and identify areas of waste throughout the school, and then to set targets for reductions.
• We will adopt a whole-school approach to energy management by involving all sectors of the school, including governors, teachers, pupils, the site manager and administrative staff.
• We will set targets for reductions in energy use, expenditure and environmental emissions — for example, we aim to reduce CO² emissions by 5% over a five-year period.
• We will manage water usage and eliminate waste.
• We will assess options for energy saving in all ‘building’ and maintenance works undertaken on site.
• We will maintain a safe, healthy and comfortable environment in our buildings.

Infrastructural Initiatives

Renewable sources of energy. Sacred Heart International School is dedicated to minimising and sustainably managing its use of electricity. The school believes in reducing the consumption of electricity produced by non-renewable resources by switching to clean energy sources like solar energy for purposes such as lighting the campus.

Energy saving and energy efficient equipment. We commit to installing environment-friendly electrical appliances that save energy and reduce wasteful inefficiencies. The school believes in using cleaner energy such as LED lighting.

Conduct Energy Audit

An Energy Audit is to be conducted as and when required to further reduce our carbon footprint. The energy audit, with its specialised tool, will identify wastage of energy. Such an inspection often reveals several flaws which cause a loss of significant amounts of energy. These flaws often have easy and affordable solutions and provide significant savings.

Action Plan

• We will read all of our energy and water meters on a regular basis and evaluate usage against historical and ‘normalised’ usage. We will compare invoices from suppliers to our readings to ensure that we pay only for our actual usage.
• We will evaluate how energy is integrated into the curriculum and look at ways that this can be extended and improved.
• An agenda item will be submitted to the Administrator.
• Consideration will be given as to the frequency and content of future reports to the administrators.
• Energy and environmental issues will become standard agenda items at departmental and school staff meetings.
• A report on energy / water use and expenditure will be made to the governing body and the school (staff, students) by use of the school newsletter.
• We will identify the responsibilities of the caretaker, head teacher, school administrator, teachers and students.

Energy and Environmental Targets

• Reduce heating-energy use by 5% over 5 years
• Reduce electricity use by 5% over 5 years
• Maintain / reduce water use
• Reduce CO² emissions by 5% over 5 years

Sacred Heart International School believes that a respectful, sensitive and safe working and learning environment for all members of the SHIS community is of utmost importance. This child protection policy applies to all staff, including teachers, non-teaching staff, students or anyone working for Sacred Heart International School, Marthandam. The child protection policy also demonstrates the commitment of the organisation and its professionals to children and ensures public confidence in its safe practices.

The purpose of this policy is:

• To protect the students (children and young people) who receive education from the school.
• To provide staff with the principles that inform our approach to child protection.

It is strongly believed that a child or young person should never experience abuse of any kind. As a school we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe.

It is recognised that:

• Any type of harassment in the school will be considered inappropriate and offensive. Any such incidents related to harassment will face disciplinary action.
• Reporting false information and accusations intending to settle a personal score will also invite disciplinary action.

Policy adopted on: This policy, adopted in March 2020, is intended to help students recognise, understand, prevent and report incidents so as to prevent any untoward occurrences.

Reporting of complaints or giving suggestions: Any complaint or suggestion from a student or parent may be forwarded by email to principal@shis.in to the Principal for further necessary follow-up.

Confidentiality of the complaint: Any such complaint will be maintained by the school with the utmost care so as not to cause mental or psychological trauma to the concerned student.

Note: The examples illustrated below would be communicated to the students of all grades by the respective class teachers as part of creating awareness among the students:

• Unwelcome leering, staring, sexual flirtations or propositions.
• Using derogatory remarks, epithets, threats or verbal abuse.
• Verbal comments about an individual which may hurt the sentiments of learners.
• Sexual jokes, drawings, pictures, gestures or rumours.
• Touching of an individual’s body or clothes in a sexual way.
• Cornering or blocking of normal movement with an intention of troubling the opposite sex.
• Teasing or passing sexual remarks about a student.
• Any act or verbal use which is forwarded by the complainant to the authority which may have a correlation to the above stated illustrations.

Children and young people will be kept safe by:

• Taking a child-centred and rights-based approach to keep children sharply in focus.
• Adopting child protection practices through procedures and codes of conduct.
• Supporting, supervising and training all staff and volunteers to recognise and respond to child protection risks.
• Recruiting staff and volunteers safely and carrying out necessary checks and references.
• Sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents, staff and volunteers.
• Sharing concerns with relevant child welfare agencies and involving parents and children appropriately.

Social Welfare Organization is an initiative undertaken by the students and teachers of Sacred Heart International School, Marthandam. Social empowerment is understood as the process of developing a sense of autonomy and self-confidence, and acting individually and collectively to change social relationships and the institutions and discourses that exclude poor people and keep them in poverty.

The aim of this policy and related procedure is to contribute towards the safeguarding of both children and staff during school timings and outside of school near the school premises.

The purpose is to ensure the safety and well-being of all children, staff members and every single member associated with the institution. The policy aims to have in place a clear protocol and procedure for the admittance of external visitors to the school which conforms to child protection guidelines and prevents unsuitable people from entering the campus.

The following procedures will be followed by all stakeholders:

• Visitor entry is through gate no. 1 only.
• Entry to the campus is after identification and signing the register for visitors.
• Visitors are asked to give a written reason for the visit and the person or office personnel they wish to meet.
• The security on duty will convey the information to the receptionist after verifying the gate record register and ID.
• The visitor will check in at reception and will be guided by the receptionist.
• The receptionist will contact the staff member that the visitor wants to meet.
• At the end of the meeting, the visitor will return to the security office.
• In order to minimise the loss of instructional time, it is intimated through the school diary to parents — who constitute the majority of school visitors — to use the ‘after school timings’ for their visit.
• Wherever possible, the staff concerned can contact the person on the mobile phone to avoid inconvenience to students, staff and visitors.
• Personal meetings of staff with an outsider are not encouraged during school hours unless the reason for the meeting is communicated to the admin office.
• If an appointment is scheduled in advance to meet a class teacher, it is usually done at a time after school working hours.

Visitors

• Prospective parents and family members of employees.
• Invited guests: speakers to talk on social issues, technological development, cyber security, municipal administration, road and fire safety etc.
• Suppliers and contractors.
• Salespersons seeking a business opportunity.

In case of invitation of a guest speaker, permission is required from the head of the institution with the required details mentioning the relevance, purpose, date and time of the proposed visit.

This policy applies to all parents seeking admission for their children at Sacred Heart International School, Marthandam.

• To ensure that the school gets the maximum number of admissions possible without making any compromise.
• To match the objectives of the school with the goals and abilities of the student.
• To have a transparent process without discrimination against any student.
• To have a fair and transparent policy for all parents.
• To make the admission process easy for parents and students.
• To set a standard so that families of our students have similar core values.
• Adherence to local laws.

Admission will be granted subject to the availability of seats, on a first-come first-serve basis. There will be a student and parent interaction for those who have registered their wards.

• For admission to Pre-KG, there will be parent interactions along with the child with the Principal and the Coordinator / Pre-Primary representatives.
• For admission to LKG to Grade 2, there will be an age-appropriate assessment (oral assessment) through evaluative worksheets that test the general comprehension levels of the child.
• For admission to Grade 3 and above, there will be an age-appropriate assessment (written assessment) through evaluative worksheets that test the general comprehension levels of the child.
• The assessment tests are a tool for both the school and the parent to get a genuine assessment of where the child stands and whether there are any particular areas of weakness that need to be focused on.

To promote a good academic environment with serious and dedicated students, and to ensure maximum progression is made throughout the session.

Students of Sacred Heart International School are expected to attend all of their classes, every day. If for any reason they cannot attend, the school must be informed before their class starts, through the class teacher or reception.

Authorised Absence

Holiday: Any student who would like to take a holiday must inform the school at least one week before the time they wish to take it, in the form of a written application. The school will then decide whether to authorise the holiday.

Illness: If a student is feeling unwell and unable to come to school, they must call or email the class teacher or reception before the start of the day. If the student is still unwell after 3 days, they will need to bring in a doctor’s note (authorised Medical Certificate) when they return. Failure to call the school will result in the days missed being counted as unauthorised absence.

Unauthorised Absence

Any day on which the student has not attended any classes, and has not informed the school by phone, letter or email as to their non-attendance, is counted as an unauthorised absence. The school has strict procedures in place to monitor and act upon unauthorised absences.

Non-Consecutive Unauthorised Absence

If a student’s attendance falls below 80% for the academic session, the following action will be taken in consultation with the parents:

• If any medical reason: authorised medical certificate along with a written leave application to be produced.
• Unavoidable circumstances: the Principal will decide after looking into the severity of the incident.

The goal of our discipline programme is to promote responsible decision making, respect for self and others, respect for property and pride in appropriate behaviour. One of our primary responsibilities as a school is to promote a safe, productive learning environment, and it is our belief that communication and teamwork between the home and school are important in promoting good citizenship and a secure school.

Teachers will present basic rules and regulations for the classrooms and playground. Our rules involve creating a safe and orderly working environment for all and will include the following principles:

• Treating others with respect and as you would wish to be treated
• Playing safely, with no rough play, fighting or play fighting at any time
• Using language that is appropriate to the school setting
• There is to be no profanity or demeaning name calling.

Sacred Heart International School Discipline Plan

We believe that together, we will promote an academically, physically, socially and emotionally safe environment in which every individual accepts personal responsibility for making a positive contribution to the harmony and welfare of the school as a whole. We strive to have excellent character and good citizenship!

• Integrity — Make a choice to be your best; be honest, be loyal, honour your commitments, and keep your word.
• Respect — Make a choice to treat others with courtesy and respect.
• Kindness and Compassion — Make a choice to be thoughtful of others, always striving to be kind and considerate.
• Responsibility — Make a choice to think before you act, consider consequences, and be accountable.
• Citizenship — Make a choice to play by the rules, do your share, and be charitable.

We play by the rules!

• Be in class, on time and ready to learn
• Treat others as you wish to be treated
• Be courteous, kind and positive
• Be trustworthy
• Keep your hands, feet and unkind words to yourself
• Take responsibility for your actions
• Take the initiative to solve problems positively
• Show pride and loyalty for yourself and your surroundings
• Follow the school rules and regulations

We accept responsibility…

As students, we will…

• Show courtesy, trust, caring, respect and fairness
• Abide by the guiding principles
• Uphold the school standards
• Accept responsibility for decisions and actions

As parents, we will…

• Model courtesy, trust, caring and respect
• Support our student(s) in being in school, ready to learn
• Participate actively as members of the school community
• Be informed about school policies and events
• Work as partners with the staff in the problem-solving process
• Hold high expectations for our children’s productive, responsible behaviour

As teachers, we will…

• Maintain professionalism as we model courtesy, trust, caring, respect and fairness
• Provide a well-organised instructional period and engaging work to facilitate good study habits and independence
• Properly supervise students at all times
• Be primarily responsible for managing discipline in our classrooms
• Maintain high expectations for productive, responsible behaviour
• Set responsible and reasonable limits, make fair judgments, and follow appropriate procedures for rewards and / or consequences for behaviour
• Cooperate with students, parents and administration in a positive problem-solving process
• Facilitate home-school communication and parent participation in problem solving
• Refer students to the appropriate support staff after appropriate measures to manage disruptive behaviour have been unsuccessful

As support staff, we will…

• Maintain professionalism as we model courtesy, trust, caring, respect and fairness
• Support students in making positive choices to maintain standards for academic excellence
• Be a positive role model
• Supervise the students on and off school grounds during school activities
• Support the certificated staff in conflict situations
• Participate in gathering information and problem solving

As the Principal, I will…

• Facilitate collaborative development of school-wide procedures and programmes that promote a safe, respectful learning environment
• Maintain professionalism as a model of courtesy, caring, respect and fairness
• Provide support for the staff in the implementation of the discipline plan
• Provide strong, positive leadership in the development, implementation and evaluation of Sacred Heart International School
• Provide leadership in maintaining a healthy, safe, productive and content environment
• Accept ultimate responsibility for the resolution of conflicts at the school site level
• Research and mobilise school-community resources to develop activities that encourage students to feel good about themselves and their school
• Be an effective school-community liaison

This policy has been adopted by the school management and applies to all teachers and support staff employed to work at Sacred Heart International School.

Aims: for complaints to be settled fairly and promptly, as close to their point of origin as possible; to encourage professional behaviour and a productive working environment. The emphasis is on informal resolution and empowering individuals to effect change without threatening good working relationships between managers and employees; to empower individuals to challenge and tackle inappropriate behaviour, including bullying and harassment.

All allegations will be treated seriously and sensitively. They will be investigated thoroughly and a speedy resolution sought. It is essential that managers and employees approach the process as an objective method of resolving differences and avoiding conflicts, rather than “winning or losing”.

Confidentiality

All parties involved in the process must respect confidentiality at all times. Information must not be shared with anyone except those directly involved and as necessary to ensure a fair process.

Dignity at Work

The school is determined to drive up standards of service delivery through a high-performing, high-quality and motivated workforce. Bullying and harassment negatively impact the productivity, well-being, morale and creativity of individuals and their teams, and damage the school’s reputation as a fair employer. The school is committed to creating a positive and safe working environment for its workers in line with its core values. Everyone has the right to be treated with respect and dignity in the workplace, irrespective of their level, status or position within the organisation. Bullying and harassment, whether perpetrated by colleagues, visitors or service users, will not be tolerated.

Clear standards of behaviour are set out in the school’s Code of Conduct, which has been brought to the attention of all employees. Any employee who believes that they are not being treated with respect in accordance with the Code of Conduct has the right to challenge such behaviour and / or to raise a complaint using this procedure. Individuals are encouraged to challenge unacceptable behaviour and will be protected from victimisation after seeking resolution of a genuine complaint, whatever the outcome.

Appropriate action, which may include disciplinary action, will be taken where an allegation of bullying and harassment is upheld.

Raising a Formal Complaint

An employee wishing to have a complaint considered formally under this procedure must submit their complaint in writing to the Head of the institution.

The Transport Department of Sacred Heart International School is established by seasoned transportation professionals to provide strategic solutions to student transportation issues. We endeavour to provide the best possible transport service for all our students, placing the safety and responsibility of the children as our highest priority.

We are committed to providing the best school transport service with the highest safety measures and comfort to each student. Buses will ply through their regular routes and this will not be changed to individual needs. The school bus facility cannot be demanded as a matter of right. The Transport Department reserves the right to disallow any student from availing the bus facility for any justifiable reasons, at its own discretion.

Bus Rules

• Parents are not allowed to board school buses to see off or receive their wards.
• Parents should not try to overtake and stop the school bus to facilitate the boarding of their wards, as this endangers the safety of the bus and its occupants. This act will lead to strict disciplinary action.
• Parents should not argue with the conductor or driver. If there is any problem, a written communication should be forwarded to the Administrative office.
• A student using the school bus is expected to be at the bus stop at least ten minutes before the scheduled arrival of the bus, and has to be on the correct side of the arriving bus. The scheduled pick-up time is available with the Transport-in-charge at the school. The school reserves the right to alter the timings, routes and stops as and when necessary.
• If any parent whose child is availing school transport wishes to take their ward privately in their own transport, they have to collect the Permission Slip from the school authorities half an hour before the end of the last class.
• Students are allowed to use only the allotted bus and bus stop. No change can be allowed without prior written permission of the school.
• If a student misses the allotted bus, they should not try to board any other bus. It is the responsibility of the parents to drop their wards at the school. However, the student will return by the allotted bus.
• The buses will not wait for any student. Parents are asked to arrange the students based on the SMS alert by NEO Tracker.
• Students should stay away from the main road until the bus arrives.
• No student should come near the entry door of the bus until it comes to a complete halt. The front door of the bus is the only authorised entrance and exit.
• Boarding and alighting from buses should be done in silence and in an orderly manner.
• No student should travel standing on the footboard.
• Students must not move around in the bus when it is in motion.
• Students must not put any part of their body outside the bus. They should not put their hands out even for waving.
• Don’t throw papers, chocolate covers or any objects inside or outside the bus.
• Consumption of edibles is not permitted in the buses.
• Unruly behaviour like shrieking, shouting and playing foul is strictly prohibited. Courteous behaviour is expected at all times.
• The driver’s attention must not be distracted for any reason.
• Don’t instigate the driver for fast or rash driving.
• The drivers are authorised to stop buses at the designated stops only. The list of stops is prepared keeping in view the convenience and safety of all bus commuters and is always subject to change.
• The bus monitor on duty is responsible for maintaining discipline in the buses. Any serious offence must be reported to the Principal, Admin Officer, Transport-in-charge or Coordinator immediately.
• In case of any change, of a temporary or permanent nature, in transport pick-up / drop point or transport route, permission for the same has to be sought by making an application to the Transport Department at the school office.
• Parents have to ensure that their wards do not go to and from bus stops unescorted.
• Bus facility is optional and those who wish to avail it are asked to pay the bus fee in advance. The fee is collected in 4 terms (3 months together). Only paid students will be permitted to travel by school bus.
• Parents are not permitted to give tips or gifts to the drivers or aunties in any form.
• Pre-KG students will not be provided bus facility due to safety precautions.
• Students are asked to use the bus facility carefully. Any physical damage to bus property will be charged to the students.
• One-way fee is not entertained. Parents willing to avail one way travel have to pay the full fee.
• Fees once paid are not refundable.
• Bus services will be discontinued without further notice for children who do not follow bus rules, damage accessories in the bus, or offend passers-by with their actions or words.
• In case of any breakdown of the vehicle on the route, the vehicle will be replaced at the earliest possible and / or the school will get in touch with the parents concerned.

Safety Norms in School Buses

• All our school buses are driven by experienced drivers who possess a valid heavy vehicle driver’s licence of minimum 5 years.
• Each bus has lady attendants who are responsible for ensuring discipline in the school buses.
• All lady attendants have a dedicated mobile number and are designated for each route without being changed frequently. They monitor discipline in the school bus and report directly to the school Principals and the Transport Department.
• Extensive training is provided to both the drivers and lady attendants to ensure efficient transport operations.
• All buses are installed with CCTV cameras & GPS navigation systems to maintain student discipline & route monitoring.
• All buses are installed with speed regulators / governors, so that there is no complaint regarding over-speeding.
• All buses strictly follow all norms stipulated by the Government from time to time and ensure impeccable safety & security of the children.
• Attendance is marked in the morning as well as in the evening.
• Thermal scanning is done before a student is allowed to board the bus.

The Sacred Heart International School examination committee strives to guarantee the quality of all examinations held in the institution. The SHIS exam committee has a well-designed structure including the following members as representatives: the Principal, Exam Coordinator, Academic Coordinators, HODs and faculty representatives.

Exam Committee Policy

• To bring more transparency in the exam initiation and evaluation system.
• To evaluate the students’ performance through the conduct of online examinations.
• To bring reputation to the school even at this time of pandemic.

Re-Test Policy

In genuine cases like medical issues, if a medical certificate is produced, a retest will be permitted, as it will be helpful at the time of promotion.

Revision Policy

• Revision schedule will be prepared and verified by the HODs and will be strictly followed.
• Revision classes for Grades VI–VIII are conducted for 1 hour on the previous day of the exam.
• Revision worksheets will be prepared and sent to the children during the revision days.
• Teachers are supposed to effectively revise each chapter of the assigned portion.
• Teachers should make sure that slow learners will be able to overcome their learning difficulties.
• Relevant sample question papers may be prepared well in advance by the concerned teachers.

Attendance sheets are distributed to all the class teachers and attendance is marked on a daily basis. Absentees are called by the class teachers and the reason for their absence is found out.

Sacred Heart International School, Marthandam establishes the Logo Use Policy to avoid any legal or policy-related issues which can be raised by any governmental or non-governmental agencies or organisations. It is also to exhibit the organisation’s identity based on the logos received by it through certification and recognition. The following are the criteria regarding the use of the school logo and the other logos received from other agencies or organisations:

• The EOMS of SHIS will adhere to the terms and conditions of the mother organisations from which a logo is received.
• The EOMS shall not use any such logos accredited to the SHIS EOMS from other sources for branding any school product.
• The school shall or may use such logos in service-related documents only.
• The branding of such incoming logos due to accreditation or certification shall cease in operation on the day of expiry of such accreditation or certification.
• Any such logos received from other organisations will not be distorted or altered while using them in school documents.
• All such logos will be displayed either in their original colour or in black and white, as fits the documents, without losing proportion & ratio.
• SHIS EOMS has the discretion of using more than one logo at a time on any school document, without infringing the terms and conditions of the mother organisation during the validity period of such logo use given by the accredited organisation or agency.
• In case of any objection by any such mother organisation regarding the display of their logo, the SHIS EOMS shall, without any notice or public information, have the right to delete such logos from the documents of SHIS EOMS.
• The SHIS EOMS will have the right to take legal action against any individual or organisation using the school logo, name of the school, or the logos which SHIS EOMS gets through accreditation, if it is not with prior written permission from the school management.
• The provision regarding legal action mentioned above is applicable to all those who use mediums like notices, pamphlets, brochures, newspapers and internet-based social media (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Snapchat, Moj, Josh, YouTube, TikTok) etc.
• SHIS EOMS shall not permit or make any misleading statement while using other logos coming to the system through certification or accreditation.
• Upon the suspension or withdrawal of any certification or accreditation, the EOMS shall discontinue its use of any such logos coming to the system externally.
• The logos coming to it shall not be applied on visiting cards.

As part of the New Education Policy of inclusive classroom teaching-learning processes, the SHIS EOMS hereby establishes the policy for gifted and talented learners:

• The SHIS EOMS recognises the uniqueness of each and every child as gifted and talented, having the right to be nurtured in an environment helping overall development.
• The school distinguishes the gifted as students with the ability to excel in more than one subject, and the talented as one who excels in practical skills and in extracurricular activities.
• The school ensures the specific learning needs of the child through formative and summative assessment, parental feedback and school counselling.
• The school makes a coordinated effort to bring up such students.
• The school Principal ensures that the policy and associated activities are implemented effectively.
• The school encourages gifted and talented students to exhibit their abilities in extracurricular activities.

SHIS Marthandam, adhering to the ISO 21001:2018 International Standard, has established a communication policy to ensure the appraisal of all stakeholders including parents, teachers, non-teaching staff, students and all other interested parties. Our objective is to have an effective communication system and thereby get the participation of all members involved in the EOMS.

• Printed circulars, notices, social media platforms (WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube) and the website created by SHIS EOMS.
• The school has made available the Complaint Box, Complaint Registers and school email to receive communication, besides conventional methods like post and telegraph.
• Intercom facilities are available for communication within the school.
• Handing over of a student to the parent during school time due to any emergency uses intra-office communication with the approval of the concerned teacher and AO.
• The EOMS of SHIS prepares an academic calendar every year to communicate the proposed activities.
• For effective parental communication, the SHS EOMS has the school diary with separate columns for instructions, teacher’s notes and parent’s column for communication.
• Periodic meetings are conducted by the Principal, Coordinators, HODs and Process Owners for effective implementation of planned activities.
• The school prospectus and flex boards project academic and co-curricular activities to interested parties.
• Every document of communication is approved by the head of the institution before publishing.
• An indent form has to be used for the movement of any article in and out of the school under security clearance by security personnel.
• The school telephone numbers are made available in documents like the school diary and prospectus.

The age of the child will be enquired to check the suitability of the grade requested for.

• Relaxation in the age limit may be considered upon receipt of a formal request.
• A minimum of 35% marks must be scored to pass the entrance assessment.
• A retest is conducted for students who score less than 35%, on request from any internal or external source.
• If a child fails the retest, an oral assessment is conducted by the respective subject teachers to evaluate understanding.
• Children of high-profile professionals are given admission at any time of the year when requested.
• Assessment is mandatory except for Pre-KG children.
• On selection of a child, remarks must be written on the assessment sheet.
• Where the difference in entrance assessment scores between candidates is marginal (not exceeding 5%), the final selection may be based on the oral assessment performance, including communication skills, conceptual understanding, confidence and overall aptitude, as evaluated by the assessment panel.

The school implements the following interventions:

• Diagnostic assessment to identify learning gaps.
• Remedial classes before or after school hours.
• Small-group or one-to-one mentoring.
• Regular practice tests and revision sessions.
• Counselling and motivational support where required.
• Continuous parent communication regarding student progress.

Roles and Responsibilities

Subject teachers identify students requiring support, prepare remedial lesson plans and learning materials, monitor progress and maintain records. Class teachers coordinate with subject teachers and parents, monitor attendance in support classes and review overall academic improvement.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The effectiveness of the Support Programme is reviewed through monthly assessment results, classroom performance, assignment completion, attendance in remedial classes, teacher observations, parent feedback and comparison of pre- and post-support assessment scores.

During the academic year 2026–27, Sacred Heart International School will undertake the following continual improvement initiatives to enhance educational quality and institutional excellence:

• Strengthen competency-based, experiential and AI-integrated teaching-learning practices across all grades.
• Implement data-driven academic interventions using learning analytics to monitor student progress and improve learning outcomes.
• Expand teacher professional development through certified training programmes in AI, assessment, NEP 2020 and innovative pedagogies.
• Enhance stakeholder satisfaction by strengthening feedback mechanisms and ensuring timely closure of suggestions and complaints.
• Improve digital transformation through ERP enhancements, paperless administration, online assessments and digital documentation.
• Strengthen internal audit processes by ensuring timely closure of non-conformities and monitoring the effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Expand the use of AI & Robotics, STEM and innovation-based learning through interdisciplinary projects and competitions.
• Strengthen student well-being through counselling programmes, life skills education, career guidance and mental health awareness initiatives.
• Improve campus safety by enhancing CCTV surveillance, emergency preparedness, transport safety and child protection measures.
• Promote environmental sustainability through energy conservation, water management, waste segregation, paper reduction and green campus initiatives.
• Strengthen parent and community engagement through regular workshops, orientation programmes and structured communication channels.
• Enhance resource utilisation by maximising the use of laboratories, library resources, smart classrooms and digital learning platforms.
• Establish benchmarking with leading national and international educational institutions to adopt best practices.
• Review institutional risks periodically and implement proactive mitigation strategies to improve operational resilience.
• Prepare the Educational Organizations Management System (EOMS) for migration from ISO 21001:2018 to ISO 21001:2025 by reviewing policies, objectives and documented information.

Expected Outcomes

• Improved student learning outcomes and Board examination performance.
• Higher stakeholder satisfaction (95% and above).
• Increased teacher competency through continuous professional development.
• Enhanced digital and AI-enabled learning environment.
• Improved operational efficiency and compliance with statutory and ISO requirements.
• Stronger culture of innovation, sustainability and continual improvement.
• Greater institutional readiness for future accreditation and quality assurance requirements.

To minimise its environmental impact and contribute towards climate action, the school has implemented the following initiatives:

Paperless Administration

The school has significantly reduced paper consumption through digital transactions and communication on the school ERP. Worksheets, homework, assignments, notices, circulars, report cards and other academic resources are shared digitally.

Environmental Awareness

Students are educated about climate change, biodiversity conservation, waste management and sustainable living through environmental expos, awareness campaigns, exhibitions, seminars and activities organised by the Conservation Committee and Eco Club.

Green School Audits

The school participates in Green School audits with students, involving them in assessing campus sustainability practices, identifying areas for improvement and promoting active environmental stewardship.

Water Conservation

The school promotes responsible water management by reusing treated water from the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) for irrigation, landscaping and groundwater recharge.

Waste Management

Waste is segregated at source, recyclable materials are collected for recycling, and biodegradable waste is composted to reduce landfill disposal.

Green Campus

Regular tree plantation drives, campus greening initiatives and maintenance of gardens improve biodiversity and reduce the school’s carbon footprint.

Energy Conservation

The school encourages the responsible use of electricity by promoting energy-efficient practices, LED lighting, and ensuring electrical equipment is switched off when not in use.

Community Engagement

The school organises clean-up drives, rallies by students for public awareness, and outreach programmes to encourage responsible environmental practices in the wider community.

Student Participation

Students actively participate in climate action projects, eco-club activities, environmental campaigns, Green School audits and community outreach programmes, fostering a sense of environmental responsibility. The effectiveness of these initiatives is monitored periodically.