Abney Elementary has defined our school rules in the Student Handbook in the front of your child’s agenda. Please read and discuss these school rules with your child. Not only will our class follow these school rules, but we will also be proactive and learn the skills of peacemaking. These skills will come to life for the students using role-playing, creative writing, children’s literature, music, art, and class discussion. We will focus on concepts such as: accepting self and others, communicating effectively, resolving conflicts, and understanding differences. We will begin working on these skills during our daily Class Meetings. The students will learn how to use these peacemaking skills in the classroom, on the playground, and at home. Hopefully, the peacemaking skills will become a part of their everyday lives. In our class I hope to provide a positive atmosphere for the class in order for learning to occur. Your child will be responsible to obey our classroom guidelines and obey school policies. If they are broken, your child will be responsible for consequences and like wise, if you child has an awesome day they will receive rewards and praise from the teacher and their classmates.I will not hesitate to write you a note, call you, or have your child call if he or she is having a particularly difficult day. Likewise, please do not hesitate to inform me of any concerns that you may have. By working together, we can assure that your child will grow in an atmosphere of acceptance and peace. There are MANY different things that will be happening school-wide and within my classroom this year! I am very excited about all of them, and I think the students will be, as well. Here they are: 1. PBS = Positive Behavior Support: This is promoting positive behavior throughout the entire school. All teachers have been trained in procedures that EVERYONE, Pre-K through 5th grade, will adhere to. This is to keep uniformity and especially safety throughout the entire school. There are procedures for the hallway, bathrooms, cafeteria, bus, and playground. All of these will be taught to the students and rehearsed many, many times with the students. This is the 2nd year implementing PBS, so these 4th graders should have a pretty well grasp on what is expected. 2. CHAMPs: This is a wonderful behavior management tool that I will be using throughout the school year. Students will be aware of what the behavioral expectations will be for everything going on in the classroom. There will be a CHAMPs board with icons showing the students what will be expected of them at any given time. We will also have CHAMPO TIME...This is when the ENTIRE class is on track and behaving awesome, I will announce..."It's CHAMPO TIME"...I have a CHAMPO board with a 100's chart on it. I will pick a student to pull a number. That number will be covered up. When we get a "bingo", we will have a class TREAT!!! I really think the kids are going to love this and really work hard for the CHAMPO TIME!!! C- Conversation (This is the type of conversation the child should be having.) H- Help (If a child needs help, this expectation shows how to ask for help.) A- Activity (This is the type of activity that should be going on.) M- Movement (This is the type of movement that should be going on.) P- Participation (This is who/what type of participation should be going on.) S- Success (If all children follow these expectations, then we will have SUCCESS!) While each 4th grade teachers classroom rules may differ slightly, the consequences are consistent. Each teacher will keep a private running record of all undesirable behavior for documentation. First, students will be given a warning and asked to correct the behavior. (Try it again) If the first step is not acceptable the student will be given examples or choices of how to fix the undesirable behavior. If the behavior continues and/or escalates the students will complete a reflection documenting the behavior and changes that can be made. Depending on the circumstances, the reflection will be completed in class or in a partner teachers room. A minor infraction form will be sent home with a copy of the student reflection. This is to be reviewed, signed, and returned the next day. If even after completing a reflection the behavior continues (or for reasons such as incomplete homework), the student will be issued a Recess Detention. An after school detention will be issued if a student is assigned a reflection twice in one week, receives two minor infractions in one week, OR any other major behavior problems such as disrespect and/or petty theft. After school detentions are held from 3:15-4:15 on the Friday assigned by your childs teacher. You are responsible for providing transportation for your child from after school detentions. * A minor infraction or recess detention may be automatically issued in such cases as foul language and/or willful disobedience. (Not limited to the listed.) * School policy dictates that on a childs 5th Minor Infraction, he or she will be referred to the office for further intervention. It could result in a Saturday detention or even a day of in-school suspension; at that point it will be at the administrators discretion. Major infractions are also automatically earned in situations such as participating in a fight, defacing school property, and bullying. If you have any questions, please let me know. * Parental involvement and parent-teacher communication are very important. We want to keep you informed and involved! Please help by staying in touch through phone calls, emails or notes and by returning papers that require your signature in a timely fashion. Strong parent-teacher alliances give students a much better chance at success in the classroom. * Through good communication and working with your child to correct problem behavior if it arises, we are confident that problems will not escalate. However, behavior is a choice and good choices lead to rewards and bad choices lead to negative consequences. Sincerely, Mrs. Diana H. Troyer