1 - SCOPE and PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY:
The Saint Thomas Aquinas cultural policy applies to all cultural codes that are offered at the school. The purpose of this policy is to regulate the delivery of school culture for all learners, irrespective of ability in an age-appropriate and/ or grade appropriate way.
2 - VISION:
The vision of this policy is to create a school cultural environment that, through the Arts and Culture programme, discovers and develops the potential within all of our learners.
3 - MISSION:
Saint Thomas Aquinas participates in cultural activities for recreation and enjoyment. We also want to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn about, enjoy, and participate directly in the Arts. Years of research show that a child’s involvement in the Arts is closely linked to their academic achievement, social and emotional development. We promote the Arts not only for these reasons but also for the intrinsic pleasures and stimulation of the Arts experience; it does more than sweeten an individual’s life.
School Cultural Policy
SCOPE and PURPOSE
School Cultural Policy
4 - PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION ACT (POPIA):
St Thomas Aquinas will adhere to all POPIA processing obligations, policies and procedures. Personal information relating to children (under 18) – may only be processed by responsible parties (s35).
POPIA requires all responsible parties (e.g. school), in relation to personal information in its possession or under its control, to:
- Secure the integrity and confidentiality of the personal information;
- Take appropriate, reasonable technical and organizational measures to prevent the loss of, or damage to the personal information.
- Prevent unlawful access to, and unauthorized processing or destruction of the personal information;
- Identify internal and external risks to the personal information;
- Establish and maintain appropriate safeguards against losing or damaging personal information;
- Regularly verify the safeguards, and ensure the safeguards are continually updated.
When a St Thomas Aquinas learner takes part in cultural activities the Social Media Policy will apply. It is our aim to maintain the highest of standards of privacy when dealing with subject data and personal information.
5 - OBJECTIVES:
The cultural department at St Thomas Aquinas must meet the following objectives in order to fulfill the vision and mission for the Arts at the school:
- To organize an inclusive and integrated cultural program that emanates from the academic Arts & Culture classes.
- To offer the cultural programs to all the learners at Saint Thomas Aquinas.
- To develop extra mural cultural activities to promote the Arts within the school.
- To promote participation and competition in the various cultural codes that are offered at the school.
- To ensure that a cultural code of conduct is applied to every cultural code.
- To ensure that educators, coaches and community volunteers deliver a quality cultural program.
- To identify talented actors/musicians and help nurture their talent to be the best that they are able to be.
- To provide feedback to the SMT with regards to culture.
6 - STAKEHOLDERS:
- The Board of Governors
- The Principal and the Senior Management Team (SMT)
- The staff at the school
- Learners and parents
7 - ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Board of Governors:
- Draw up the budget and make provision for the cultural activities
- Provide cultural facilities and equipment
- Ensure that the educators are supported to offer school cultural activities
- Participate in selecting and approving school cultural codes
- Participate in the compilation of the school arts &culture policy and plan
- Principal and SMT:
- Ensure that the cultural policy for the school is in place and is updated as required
- Report to the Board of Governors on cultural matters
- Ensure that the cultural plan is implemented
- Ensure that the educators and volunteers are supported in offering the cultural activities
- School Cultural Committee:
- Provide input on the Arts & Culture policy
- Play a role in drafting the cultural calendar
- Coordinate the implementation of the cultural activities at school
- Draw up a budget for the cultural department
Each cultural code will have a committee that functions to ensure a successful season for participants.
The cultural committee will be put together by the SMT in collaboration with the Head of Arts & Culture.
- Educators& Volunteers:
- Implement the cultural activities within the plan
- Support, nurture and develop talent in learners
- Avail themselves of extra murals as the school requires
8 - CHOICE OF ACTIVITIES:
In order to be competitive and to use our resources as effectively as possible, the school must focus on a few selected cultural activities. Although the school will endeavor to offer as many activities as possible, this is not financially viable and logistically possible.
- Opportunities our learners at St Thomas Aquinas school have to engage in the Arts and Culture programme is as follows:
- Class Music is offered in our primary school.
- Choirs in the pre-primary, primary and high schools.
- Marimbas are an integral part of our music programme at school for both senior and junior enthusiasts.
- Drama has the potential to scale awesome heights.Annual productions will take place (COVID protocol and procedures apply)
- Participation in the local Arts Festival and AllegrettoEisteddfod is encouraged. All POPIA regulations will apply especially when learner activities required, are a part of a Social Media platforms. Consent needs to be given by a responsible party e.g. parent or guardian.
- Arts & Culture is a subject in both the primary school and senior phase of thehigh school.
- Visual Art is a matric subject at our school.
- All learners are encouraged to participate in a cultural activity.
- A minimum of two points for sport or culture is required for Grade 11 learners who wish to apply for the honour’s blazer. The two points are earned in Grade 10 and 11.
8.2 Commitment to Cultural Activity:
- Once a learner is signed up for a cultural activity, they must complete the year/season in that activity. Attendance at a chosen activity is compulsory. If a change is desired there needs to be a compelling reason for the change.
9 - DRESS FOR CULTURAL ACTIVITY:
- In the senior activities, where a St Thomas cultural uniform is required, pupils will be expected to buy their own from the school supplier, as coordinated by the staff member in charge.
- Cultural team members may be asked to get specific clothing so that the team is uniform/in character.
- If there is a uniform/clothing provided by the school, it is expected that it will be returned to the school as and when required, in good condition.
- The school staff will be responsible for having the school clothing/uniforms cleaned after use.
10 - CULTURAL PRACTICES:
- Cultural practice times are on the extra mural time table that is handed out at the beginning of each term. Monday afternoons are currently designated as “Cultural afternoons” for cultural extra-murals. Friday may also be used for practices that do not fit into the Monday afternoons designated times.
- In the High School,cultural practices will be scheduled for after the Academic Support Program i.e.They will start at 15h00 and not before.
- Extended practices and extra workshops may take place with the agreement of the Head of Arts & Culture. Parents must be notified timeously and transport is the responsibility of the parents.
- Learners not able to attend a cultural practice must notify the staff responsible.
- The Head of Arts & Culture must be consulted before a practice may be cancelled.
11 - PERFORMANCES:
1 Performances:
- Performance arrangements for all cultural activities must be made through the Head of Arts & Culture.
- Each cultural coordinator will communicate the agreed upon performance dates to the teams and parents as soon as they are available.
- In the event of a performance cancellation, the learners and parents must be notified. If transport is booked, this must be cancelled.
- Where possible performances should not take place during examinations.
- Learners will not be required to participate in practices during examinations.
- Should performances take place during examinations, the relevant Head of Department and Head of Arts & Culture will liase with parents and learners.
- A learner is only eligible for a performance if she/he has attended practices regularly.
- During the performance week of performances that include the whole school, e.g., House plays/musicals, there will be no sport matches or fixtures scheduled.
- Staff co-coordinating a cultural performance must ensure that
- the performance is advertised
- tickets are sold timeously
- the hall and other venues to be used(e.g., toilets and practice rooms) are cleaned and arranged appropriately and timeously
- the sound is arranged as is necessary
- food vendors are arranged if necessary
- The hall/foyer is decorated
- Staff are organized to fulfil tasks on performance nights
- Parking is arranged
- Keys are available to the person designated to lock and/or unlock venues
- All venues are cleaned and tidied after the performance, and all borrowed props/furniture are returned
12 - CLASHES IN CULTURAL COMMITMENTS:
- As far as possible the Head of Arts & Culture will work to ensure clashes occur, however it is not always possible.
- Due to the limited time on the cultural afternoon programme, pupils are discouraged from belonging to both the choir and marimba teams in the same age group, in the same year.
13 - NOTIFICATION OF PARENTS:
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- Parents must be informed in writing and must supply consent forms for a learner to accompany a team for an activity.
- Parents must be supplied with the extra mural time table each term and be given the performance dates in advance.
- Cancelled practices must be communicated to the parents via SMS.
14 - TRANSPORT:
- Transport will be arranged by the school, where numbers and venue warrant it. There may be occasions where parents are asked to assist with transporting learners to performances.
- A staff member will be present on the bus to and from the venue.
- All educators who transport learners must be in possession of a valid PDP license.
- Cultural staff will communicate with the Head of Arts & Culture to ensure that the transport is correctly booked.
15 - FACILITIES:
- It remains the school’s responsibility to ensure that facilities are maintained for successfulcultural practices and performances.
- All maintenance issues must be reported to the maintenance crew and the Head of Arts & Culture notified.
16 - TOURS:
- Tours are central to the creation of a positive and exciting culturaland educational programme.
- St Thomas has, since 2010, alternated overseas and South African based cultural tours.
- The SMT must be informed about a proposed tour before it is discussed with the parents or leaners.
- The cost of the tour will be charged to the parents’ account. Parents must receive due notice for any pending tour.
- The coaches and code coordinators must be mindful of the cost and security implications for any proposed tour.
- All fund-raising issues connected to tours must be approved by the SMT.
- Financial planning for tours must take place timeously. The SMT and the bursar must be involved.
- Thetouring policy will apply.
17 - BEHAVIOUR:
- The school code of conduct and school rules apply for all sport codes.
18 - AWARDS:
- A separate policy document outlines the criteria for awards handed out at school.
19 - COVID-19:
In light of COVID-19 all protocol and procedures will apply as set in our Health and Safety policy when cultural activities take place.