At Sandra Day O'Connor Elementary School, we use positive/assertive discipline as modified for use in our community. In the spring of 1986 before our school opened it's doors for the first time, the staff spent much time working with the community to design a school philosophy that would meet the needs of the parents and their children who would be our students. The staff worked as a core group attending neighborhood meetings to share educational and behavioral philosophy and to listen to the needs of the parents. Parents wanted a school that: would be a warm, caring environment, would have discipline policies to protect the safety and well being of all students, and would allow those children who wanted to learn to not be interrupted by the behavior of others. A school wide discipline plan was designed with these needs in mind. Through the years some minor modifications have been made. During the summer of 1991 committees of parents and teachers met again to review community input and further modified the plan. Portions of the plan were reviewed and further modified in 94/95, 95/96, and 96/97 by the site based advisory council of parents and staff (called O.C.E.L.O.T.)
At the beginning of each school year and as new students are registered, a copy of the current school wide discipline plan, dress code, and student/family calendar are given to each family. Parents are asked to review the school rules with their children and to sign that they have received them.
The key to making the school wide discipline plan work is to include lots of positive verbal reinforcing remarks and "pats on the back" to children as they choose to follow the school and classroom rules. We use "grabbers" as one of the ways to reinforce good behavior. Students receive these tickets for being thoughtful and helpful. All staff members may give these tickets to students but they are especially used for recognizing behavior in the halls, in the cafeteria, and on the playground. Students may place their tickets in the Grabber box in the office. Every morning 5 "grabber" winners are drawn and announced during morning announcements. After announcements each named student may come to the office for a special treat (usually a school pencil). Additionally, Student of the Week and Quality of the Month programs are used to recognize positive student behavior.
If the school wide discipline plan isn't working for an individual child, the teacher, parent and sometimes the principal will sit down to discuss the child, his/her needs, and the needs of the rest of the class. An individualized plan for that particular student may be developed. We believe the plan should be reasonable, productive for the child, include communication with parents, should not take away from the learning of other students, and should not take an inordinate amount of teacher preparation time.
In the O'Connor plan, Classroom Time Out, In School Time Out, and Out of School Suspension are all used. We have developed a progressive series of consequences to allow time for children to know and understand the rules before serious consequences are used. Time Out means that a student will be excluded from classroom participation for a set amount of time. It is used after a warning of improper behavior has already been issued. "In School Time Out" means that the principal, or selected representative will place the child in another room monitored by an adult for a specified amount of time. It is normally used for office referrals due to repeated misbehavior and/or disrespect. "Out of School Suspension" means that the child is excluded from participating at school, and monitored by his/her parents, for a specified amount of time. It is used for severe misbehavior. The discretion of the principal may be used for special or unique situations.
When a parent has a question about a disciplinary action his/her child has received, the first person to talk to is the child's teacher. If the parent isn't satisfied with the results of a parent/teacher conference or is not able to reach agreement with the teacher, either the parent or the teacher may request the principal be involved with the next level of conference about the problem. If the principal/teacher is unfamiliar with the situation, ample time needs to be allowed to seek the information needed to adequately respond to the situation.
When parents have extreme concern about the discipline plan or other activities, they are welcome to visit with the principal. They should make an appointment and leave a message as to the concern so information regarding the concern can be gathered.
In an effort to present a positive and consistent discipline program at Sandra Day O'Connor Elementary School, each student will be taught to demonstrate wise choices regarding his/her behavior. Knowing the rules and consequences beforehand will help each student make appropriate choices. Students are encouraged to make choices that will reflect citizenship and caring skills.
RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE a. Weekly and monthly treats and/or special activities to be earned in classroomsb. Grabbers for those students who follow school rules and/or are thoughtful. The grabbers are turned into the office for daily drawings and announcementsc. Announcements for students and classes doing outstanding jobs around our campusd. Recognition of O'Connor Students of the Week and Quality of the Month Studentse. Recognition of good behavior through Happy Grams, phone calls, positive principal phone calls, O'Connor Student Awards, and special treatsf. Concentration on specific verbal reinforcements, i.e.-"I like the way you..."1. Follow directions.2. Talk appropriately.3. Stay on task.4. Keep hands, feet, and objects to self.5. Be respectful of others.CONSEQUENCES:
First - warningSecond- 5 min Classroom Time Out / K-3 10 min Classroom Time Out / 4-6Third - 15 min Time Out / K-3 20 min Classroom Time Out / 4-6Fourth - 30 min Classroom Time Out in own room or buddy room (teacher decides) / K-3 60 min Time Out in own room or buddy room(teacher decides) / 4-6Fifth or SEVERE - office referral*Each teacher will determine the method to which he/she will record consequences in the classroom.
The following are examples:
1. Pocket charts with "lights", checks,or teacher made symbols located on one of the classroom walls.2. Each child will have a personal card on his/her desk.3. Teacher keeps track on a record sheet kept on a clipboard.4. Teacher writes name with checks on the chalkboard.Special Notes:
a. Consequences accumulate on a daily basis (students start new each day-except as stated herein).b. Parent notification begins when a child reaches the step four consequence.c. "Classroom Time Out" (in the classroom) consists of the child sitting in a designated area so as not to disturb the class. The child returns to participate with the class when Time Out is completed.d. "Classroom Time Out" (in another classroom) consists of the child being escorted to another classroom with daily assignments or extra work. The student will work until the specified time is over, and then be escorted back to his/her classroom.e. When notification is attempted requiring parent signature and the form is not returned, the first day the child will be verbally reminded. The second day the student will call his/her parent with teacher supervision. The teacher will document the call was made.f. If a teacher chooses to use a classroom discipline plan that differs from the plan described herein, the teacher will send home the written plan. A sign off sheet will be signed by the parents and returned to the teacher.
RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE a. PlaygroundRULES:
l. Plays on assigned playground.2. Keeps hands, feet and objects to self.3. Uses appropriate language.4. Walks on sidewalks.5. Uses equipment safely.6. Is respectful of others.
CONSEQUENCES: First - Warning Second -Stand / sit against the wall for five minutes. Third - Stand / sit against the wall for the remainder of recess (lunch consequence room may be used) Fourth - Child is escorted to the office. (lunch consequence room may be used) Severe - Child is escorted immediately to the office.
b. Cafeteria
RULES:1. Speak in soft voices.2. Sit in assigned seat / area.3. Raise hand to be excused.4. Keep food and / or drink inside.5. Keep hands, feet, and objects to self.6. Is respectful of others.
CONSEQUENCES:First - WarningSecond - Sit in Time Out area for remainder of lunch.Third - Loss of cafeteria privileges, must leave. (lunch consequence room may be used)Severe - Child is escorted immediately to the office.
c. AssemblyRULES:1. Enter quietly.2. Use quiet voices before lights dim.3. Use appropriate audience behavior.4. Sit in assigned places.5. Keep hands, feet, and objects to self.6. Is respectful of others.
CONSEQUENCES:First - Warning.Second - Removed from audience area.Third - Loss of assembly privilege, must leave and go to office.Severe - Child is escorted immediately to the office.
d. BusRULES:
1. Obey driver's instructions.2. Keep aisles clear.3. Remain seated until the scheduled stop.4. Keep hands, arms, feet, legs and head inside the bus.5 Talk quietly. Do not yell or use vulgar or abusive language.6. Keep hands off others. Be courteous.7. Do not throw anything inside the bus or from the bus.8. Do not eat or drink unless allowed to do so by the bus driver.9. Do not carry animals, weapons, tobacco, alcohol, or drugs on the bus.10. Do not play radios or tape recorders.11. Sit in assigned seats if seats are assigned.
CONSEQUENCES:
Parents will be notified each time the office receives a written discipline report from a bus driver.First - Warning and note home.Second - Loss of bus privileges for one to three days.Third - Loss of bus privileges for five days.Fourth - Loss of bus privileges for one month.Fifth - Loss of bus privileges for remainder of semester / year.
RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE If a student consistently chooses not to follow classroom rules and reaches the step on the discipline plan where he / she must be escorted to the office, parents will be notified and the student may receive one or more of the following consequences: (parents can be given the option of taking their child home rather than having their child serve in - school time out).
In all office referrals, the descretion of the principal may be used in special or unique situations.
In addition to the Mesa School Board Student Dress Standards (as stated in the District Guidelines for Students Behavior), the O'Connor Site-Based Advisory Council (O.C.E.L.O.T.) has recommended the following for O'Connor Elementary Students:
1. Make up and unusual hair color is not appropriate for young children. However, with parent direction, modest/light make up may be worn by older students only if applied at home and no make up brought to school. (Students tend to share make up which is a health problem and may violate another parent's preference for their own child.) Consequences may include parent phone call and/or removal of makeup or hair color.2. Loose clothing and/or decoration is not recommended as it may be dangerous in PE and playground situations. This includes: tops that gap open when bending over, "sagging" pants or shorts, belts that hang below the waistline, chains attached to or hanging from clothing, jewelry that dangles/ hangs from the ears or neck that might catch and cause injury. Clothing may not advertise a message that is contrary to the positive purpose of O'Connor School.3. Pagers, cell phones, portable radio/tape/CD devices are not allowed to be brought to or used at school. Exceptions may be made in the case of music devices when a class activity permits. The teacher will send a note home to parents to notify them of the exception.4. Additionally, at O'Connor, hats are to be worn, bill forward, and outside the buildings. Tops need to be long enough to cover tummies and backs. Shorts/skirts are long enough to cover bottoms when bending over. Closed-toed shoes are recommended. Shoes with laces should be tied. Footwear should be safe (no thongs or flip flops or high heels)5. Student dress and appearance should not detract from the learning environment. Appropriateness of appearance will be determined by staff and principal. Consequences may include parent phone call and/or changing clothing.
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