Westernport Elementary students participate in a program for PAWSitive
bahavior. We have been very successful in this program. WES is a designated
exemplar school in the state of Maryland. Ask your child to tell you about
our program and how students are frequently rewarded throughout the school
year for "PAWSitive" behavior.
At WES, we PAWS to:
Be Responsible
Be Respectful
Be Safe
Be Kind
Each classroom has a large paw posted in it with the above on it. Also, each
morning as a part of our school opening, the entire school recites it.These
rules are visible throughout the entire building to remind everyone of the
expectations. Staff members have worked with the children to help them
understand what they should do to receive positive reinforcement for their
behavior. The PBIS team meets monthly to discuss the school plan and to make
modifications as needed. Members of this team also discuss what rewards are
in place for the classes to encourage them to always follow the rules. Data
regarding behavior is collected monthly for the school team to analyze. It is
also submitted to our “school coach”, Ms. Jennifer Kallenborn. Ms.
Kallenborn is responsible for gathering the data and reporting it to the
local Board of Education as well as the Maryland State Department of
Education.
Behavioral guidelines that have been established set a limit for
acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. All children have a right to learn and
to feel safe in the school environment. When another student causes a
disruption to the learning process or causes a child to feel threatened,
actions must be taken to remove the student from the classroom setting and to
help the student understand the consequences of his/her actions. This is
often accomplished through a teacher referral to the office. Each classroom
has established a list of classroom rules and expectations along with
consequences so each child is aware of what will happen when inappropriate
behaviors are exhibited. A referral to the office is often the last step in
the plan. If a child is sent to the office, a discussion will be held with
the principal and the child. If necessary, the teacher and any other students
involved will be interviewed. Depending upon the frequency and nature of the
discipline problem, consequences range from minimum to moderate to maximum,
as per Allegany County’s discipline policy. The principal has the ultimate
responsibility for implementing the discipline policy based upon his
knowledge of the facts of the incident and the needs of the student.
Depending upon the severity of the violation, the principal has the authority
to make the punishment more severe.