Parkes High School logo

Parkes High School

Parkes High School

Inspiration, Innovation and Inclusion.

Telephone02 6862 1844

Emailparkes-h.admin@det.nsw.edu.au

PHS discipline system

Student monitoring and resolution system 

The system aims to address student behaviour in a proactive way rather than a reactive one and aims to drive the key philosophy of student ownership and responsibility to resolve any matters that may arise within their classes concerning behaviour. The system also strengthens that vital relationship between staff and students to work together to guide the student to success in addressing behaviour with the staff member. It does not promote punitive measures which may have been the hall marks of discipline systems that you or I were familiar with when we went to school. The system was designed by staff, parents and students.

The first two tiers of the new system are based in faculties (green and orange). The red and blue tiers are utilised by the Deputy Principal to resolve behavioural challenges and also to monitor  students who return from suspension, truancy, consume tobacco products on school grounds, or may be experiencing issues across several key learning areas. Head Teachers can also utilise a yellow card to address issues that arise in the playground at recess or lunch times.           

Major behavioural issues such as fighting, cyber bullying, disrespectful behaviour and defiance issues are addressed directly through the Deputy Principals and the Suspension Policy of the school.

This system has an enormous range of benefits for students who have to engage the system  because of behavioural issues. These include:

  • students are monitored only from the area in which the problem has been experienced
  • students are engaged with a reflective practice and meeting with staff  prior to when a  monitoring and resolution card is issued
  • students nominate how they will return their behaviour to a level of respect, responsibility or safety and play a key role in the planning process to address the issue
  • the monitoring length can be determined by negotiation with staff through compliance with the plan designed by the student and after consultation with staff
  • students are only placed on the NO GO list for the duration of the card being used and not for two weeks after the matter has been addressed successfully
  • students may be required to complete planning, if on a red card, during sport on Wednesdays and also at lunch time for two days. These planning sessions allow students to think about the issue, formulate strategies to address them and create a plan based on student driven change and modification of behaviour in line with PBL principles and ideals
  • both the green and orange cards, used by classroom teachers and Head Teachers, promote  immediate contact with parents either through a phone call or letter home to discuss the problem being experienced but also to make parents aware of how it is being addressed, so parents can support the student in line with the plan that has been devised by their son or daughter and our staff
  • students can represent the school at sport and other extracurricular activities as soon as the matter has been resolved but not when they are on the card
  • monitoring cards are not used across the school day but allow issues from specific areas like the playground, to be addressed, and does not involve areas where the student has demonstrated exemplary behaviour.

For further information please contact Mr Adam Currey - Deputy Principal.


green card
  • This card is used by classroom teachers and students  to resolve issues of behaviour or conduct within classrooms
  • student must fill out reflection sheet on page 4
  • the green card is recorded on RISC as part of the student's discipline record as well as in faculty record book
  • if a student is unable to resolve the issue concerned the classroom teacher and Head Teacher may determine to move the monitoring to the orange tier of the system
  • the classroom teacher is encouraged to make contact with home as part of this procedure.


orange card
  • Orange is used by Head Teacher to resolve the issue with the student and to address behavioural issues and conduct matters that have not been successfully resolved by the student with their classroom teacher
  • monitoring for up to 3 days (max) or until matter is resolved
  • student fills out reflective sheet on page 4
  • Head Teacher records on RISC as part of the student's discipline record
  • if the matter is resolved the Head Teacher and classroom teacher will determine if further monitoring on green is required
  • Head Teacher will contact home about the matter
  • if unresolved the Head Teacher may choose to move the matter to blue monitoring with a Deputy Principal.


blue card
  • This tier of the system is used by the Deputy Principal to broker an arrangement with a student to find a solution to any matter not resolved on orange and to ensure that the student works with the Head Teacher and classroom teacher to resolve the matter
  • student begins the resolution by completing page 4 of the card
  • Deputy Principal monitors the resolution for 5 days if required
  • the Deputy Principal, Head Teacher or classroom teacher may determine if further monitoring on orange or green tiers is required
  • student may be required to complete planning sessions at lunchtime with the Deputy Principal
  • Deputy Principal contacts home to outline the conduct issues and how the matter is to be addressed
  • student reports to Deputy Principal each morning
  • unresolved issues go to the red tier.


red card
  • Situation monitored by Deputy Principal but may involve other staff
  • used to resolve general conduct issues across many areas
  • resolution and successful address of matter must occur by the student or the matter may be resolved by suspension
  • Deputy Principal issues a written formal pre-suspension caution
  • used for conduct related to suspension, smoking, truancy, as well as matters that have not been addressed with success on green, orange and blue cards
  • may also be used for students who are experiencing general conduct issues across several key learning areas
  • students are required to utilise lunch time planning sessions to plan strategies to address issue, meet with the Deputy Principal or to meet with staff who may be involved in the resolution of the matter
  • monitoring for up to 5 days if required and may have specific conditions applied to it
  • student reports to Deputy Principal each morning.


yellow card
  • Used by Head Teacher on playground duty to address issues related to poor conduct on the playground – example, littering, unsafe conduct, not following instructions
  • student meets with Head Teacher on Duty to discuss matter
  • Head Teacher may place conditions on student to address the matter of poor playground conduct
  • 2 days of monitoring
  • Head Teacher contacts home about matter
  • student reports to Head Teacher playground at the end of each lunch period for 2 days to return card.

Related content