DBCS Expectations

Schools will act best when there is a shared purpose and understanding between parents, staff and learners regarding the role and functions of the school. In order to arrive at that situation, the Charter Document and Code of Honour are held as a guide for achieving that shared understanding. Parents sign the Enrolment Contract document to secure their son’s place in the school, and in signing that document, parents are also committing themselves to the substance of the two documents mentioned above.

Expectations for Parents

It is expected that all school parents will:

1. Accept that by taking up a place at DBCS, they have considered and have agreed that there will be an optimal match between the needs of their child, their own expectations, and the philosophy and programmes of the school.
2. Share with the school any religious, cultural, medical, or personal information that the school may need to best serve their child and the school community.
3. Help and encourage their children to develop strong spiritual and moral values.
4. Recognize that effective partnerships are characterized by clearly defined responsibilities, a shared commitment to collaboration, open lines of communication, mutual respect, and a common vision of the goals to be achieved.
5. Provide a home environment that supports the development of positive learning attitudes and habits that are consistent with those of the school.
6. Take an active interest in their children’s work and progress.
7. Involve themselves in the life of the school, through volunteerism and other means, to promote the best interests of their children.
8. Respect the school's responsibility to do what is best for the entire community, while recognizing the needs of each individual child.
9. Familiarize themselves with and support the school's policies and procedures.
10. Ensure that the children abide by the school’s Code of Honour.
11. Avoid gossip and rumours, and if in doubt, consult with the school for definite information.
12. Seek to resolve problems and secure information through appropriate channels (i.e., teacher/tutor, housemaster, the Deputy Head, or finally the Rector - in that order).
13. Treat everyone with respect and maintain an educational, rather than adversarial tone, in the face of the inevitable conflicts and challenges.
14. Utilize the support of the Parent Group Committee when appropriate.
15. Acknowledge that their regular payment of tuition is not an investment of ownership in the school, with related controls, but rather an investment in the educational process of their child.

The school believes that a positive and constructive partnership between the School and a learner's parents or guardian is essential to the fulfillment of the School's mission. Thus, the School reserves the right not to continue enrolment or not to re-enrol a learner if the School reasonably concludes that the actions of the parent or guardian make such a positive, constructive relationship impossible, or otherwise seriously interfere with the accomplishment of our educational purposes.  By signing the Enrolment Contract, parents are indicating their acceptance of these expectations as well.

Parents and Staff

 1.   Parents play an essential and positive role in the life of an Independent School. Not only are parents advocates for their children, they also support the staff and executive (where possible) through extensive volunteer activities and events.

2.   The relationship between parents and the staff is formally governed by the school's written Enrolment Contract. When parents choose to enrol their child at DBCS, they agree to subscribe to its mission, follow its rules and abide by its decisions.

3.   The manner in which parents conduct themselves with and regarding staff has an enormous influence on children in modelling adult working relationships and these should always be based on civility, honesty and respect.

4.   Parents are encouraged to work productively with the teachers by staying informed about their child and important events in the life of the school. In the same manner, they should timeously inform the appropriate staff of any information relevant to the well-being of the child. Thoughtful questions and suggestions should be welcomed by the school.

5.   Parents best support a school climate of trust and respect by communicating concerns timeously, openly and constructively to the staff member closest to the problem. Efforts by parents to lobby other parents will be viewed by the school as counter-productive. In any event, if a concern is legitimate, the school will address it with the same vigour whether it is raised by one or a multitude of parents.

6.   Whilst parents may not agree with every decision by the school, in most cases the parent and school will find enough common ground to continue a mutually respectful relationship. In the extreme case, however, an impasse may be so severe that the parent cannot remain a constructive member of the community. In such cases, both the parent and the school should consider whether another school would be a better match for the family.

7.   Should the breakdown in the relationship between the school and parents (or the learner) be considered to be irreparable, or should the school and the parents be unable to agree on a positive way forward to resolve the impasse, the Rector may need to consider instituting cautionary measures against the parents and/or even revoking the Contract of Enrolment.