After welcoming our new students from Overlook/Titusville and Noxon Road
schools, we held a "Constitutional Convention" to update our school rules.
Representatives from all classrooms K-5 met on several occasions to develop
our new set of school rules.
1. TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WANT TO BE TREATED
2. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, EACH OTHER, SCHOOL PROPERTY AND MATERIALS
3. DO YOUR BEST IN EVERYTHING YOU DO
4. BE SAFE IN ALL YOU DO
A copy of these rules along with our school's Responsive Discipline
procedures are sent home to all families each fall.
In keeping with the Responsive Classroom initiative which has been in effect
at LaGrange for the past twelve years, we carry out this mission statement
proactively in the following ways:
*The staff plans and works together to create a safe school envirnment.
*Teachers and children establish rules together. We discuss, model and
practice clear expectations for children's work and behavior.
*We recognize the importance of the children's voice in the life and work of
the school community. We provide opportunities to participate in morning
meetings, classroom problem solving, peer tutoring and student government.
*We encourage parents to share their hopes and goals for their children and
school.
*We communicate regularly with parents through the Homework Hotline,
websites, newsletters and report cards.
*We encourage parents to participate in every aspect of school life.
The Responsive Classroom is an approach to teaching the social and academic
curriculum, whose foundations are the knowledge of child development,
explicit teaching of social as well as academic skills and facilitation of
positive classroom climate, increased learner investment and independence
and a decrease in disruptive behaviors.
We held a Constitutional Convention which was made up of two representatives
from each classroom. These representatives developed the school rules by
combining all of their classroom rules and consolidating those that were
similar. This was an excellent way of having all students be empowered in
the rule-making process. The fifth grade representatives then put on skits
to present the rules to the rest of the student body. At this time, the new
school rules should be on display in all classrooms and teachers should be
referring to them as situations arise.
The overwhelming majority of students demonstrate positive beavior on a
consistent basis. When children forget their rules or lose control, we will
use the following three steps to help them get back on track and regain
control:
REMINDER - Students are given a single reminder about inappropriate
behavior in the classroom. (Flagrant or repeated misbehavior may eliminate
the reminder step.)
TIME-OUT/BUDDY TEACHER - Following a reminder, a brief time-out in the
classroom will be arranged for the student to gain self-control after which
time the student will return to the lesson or activity in progress. If the
student continues to exhibit inappropriate behavior, he/she will spend time
with the "buddy teacher". The classroom teacher will inform the parent when
a child is sent out of the room for disciplinary reasons.
OFFICE/CALL HOME - Should a student become disruptive in the buddy
teacher's classroom or continue to misbehave upon return to the classroom,
the principal or her designee will be called to retrieve and escort the
student to the office. In such instances, the student should at no time be
sent to the office unescorted. The student will remain in the office until
it is determined that the student is ready to re-enter the classroom. The
teacher will conference with the parent within two school days about the
child's behavior, either by phone or in person at school.
These procedures are utilized in order to have children regain their self-
control in the shortest time possible. Other logical consequences, such as
loss of privilege, or a way of fixing a situation through an "apology of
action", may be suitable for other misbehavior. In such cases, teachers
work with students to improve their behavior through these and other
appropriate means that are reasonable and respectful of student needs.
Our experience with this process in the past has resulted in a marked change
in the tone of the building. Discipline referrals are down, the children
are more respectful and courteous, and the staff is consistent in applying
the process.
For some children, however the above steps to self-control may not be enough
or may not be successful. Specific behavior management plans may be
developed with the knowledge and help of parents, teachers, specialists, and
administrators. In some instances, depending on the seriousness of the
infraction and board of Education policy, it may be necessary for the
Administrator to suspend the steps and take immediate action. Parents will
be notified immediately.
In extreme situations, where a student is physically out of control or
verbally aggressive, an out-of-school suspension may be deemed necessary.
Parents will be notified immediately. Any student receiving an out-of-
school suspension will need to have their parent(s) arrange a conference
with the Principal or her designee prior to re-entry into the classroom.
Using the rules at home, as well as at school, will provide consistency for
your child and support our efforts here at school.
