Behavior and Discipline

Behavior Expectations

Positive Behavior Support (PBS) will have an encouraging influence on behavior at Columbine School.  PBS is a proactive systems approach for creating and maintaining safe and effective learning environments in school, and ensuring that all students have the social/emotional skills needed to make certain their success as school and beyond. 

Classroom Guidelines will be established by each classroom teacher.  Guidelines should be simple, specific, and consistently enforced.  If a rule is broken, the teacher will concentrate on the behavior -- and logical consequences for that behavior.

Students are expected to treat others as they wish to be treated and to do nothing which will harm themselves or others.  Student behavior which interferes with the ability of the teacher to teach or the ability of other students to learn will not be tolerated.

Teachers are asked to deal with observed behaviors and to provide privileges and consequences which are meaningful to the student.

Teachers may send students to the office for discipline reasons when a) the severity of the behavior warrants a more serious consequence, or b) the student is continuing to act in a disruptive manner after the teacher has already intervened.  Parents will often be notified by phone or in writing when a discipline referral is initiated.  Other options available to teachers when dealing with behavior difficulties include a) in-classroom interventions and b) after-school detention.

All staff members are dedicated to providing a quality learning atmosphere for all students.  At the same time, it is our belief that behavior interventions are most effective when students understand that logical consequences occur when a poor choice is made.  By tying consequences to student choices, we strive to teach responsibility and self-control to all students. Your support at home is very important in this process.  We view you as partners -- together, we can make a positive impact on a student to better prepare him/her for success in later life. Because this partnership is so important, we will keep you informed when we have discipline concerns.  We will also ask for your help in resolving those concerns.

Behavior Expectations Matrix

COMMON AREA	BE SAFE	BE RESPECTFUL	BE RESPONSIBLE
All Common Areas	Walk facing forward. Keep hands, feet and objects to self. Get adult help for accidents and spills Use all equipment and materials appropriately.	Use kind words and actions Wait for your turn. Clean up after self. Follow adult directions.	Follow school rules Remind others to follow school rules Take proper care of all personal belongings and school equipment Be honest.
Cafeteria	Keep all food to self. Sit with feet on floor, bottom on bench, and facing table.	Be kind to anyone who sits next to you.  Use quiet voices. Follow adult directions	Raise hand and wait to be excused. Get all utensils, milk, etc., when first going through the line.
Playground/Recess	Walk to and from the playground. Stay within the boundaries. Be aware of activities/games around you.	Play fairly. Include everyone.	Obtain adult permission to reenter the building to use the bathroom and leaving the area.
Passing Areas, Halls, Sidewalks	Stay to the right. Allow others to pass. Keep hands and feet to yourself. Walk.	Hold the door open for the person behind you. Use quiet voices.	Stay on sidewalks. Single file.
Bathrooms	Keep feet on floor. Keep water in the sink. Wash hands. Put towels in garbage can.	Knock on stall door. Give people privacy. Use quiet voices.	Flush toilet after use. Return to room promptly.
Arrival and Dismissal Areas	Use bike lane. Walk bike onto and off school property. Use sidewalks and crosswalks. Wait in designated areas. Walk	(See All Common Areas)	Arrive on time. Leave on time. Get teacher permission to use the classroom phone.
Gym	(See All Common Areas)	Use quiet voices.	Obtain permission before leaving the area.
Special Events and Assemblies	Wait for arrival and dismissal signal	Use audience manners. Sit on bottom.	(See All Common Areas)
Classroom	Keep hand and feet to yourself.	Use quiet voices. Follow teacher directions. Respect property, yours and others.	Come to class on time, prepared for class. Remain quiet while others are working.
Bus	Stay seated on the bus. Use quiet voices. Respond quietly to the bus driver.	Listen to the bus driver. Treat the bus like it was your own vehicle.	Line up single file in the bus line. Sit in seat. Be quiet at railroad crossings. Gather belongings before exiting the bus.

 

Discipline

Student discipline is a prerequisite for sound educational practice and productive learning.  The objectives of disciplining any student must be to help the student develop a positive attitude toward self-discipline and socially acceptable behavior.  Discipline will be given out by the principal or designee.  The principal has the right to suspend students.  For more serious violations administrators have the right to move the offense to a more serious class or consequence.  

A teacher is authorized to immediately remove a student from the teacher’s classroom if the student’s behavior:

• Violates the code of conduct adopted by the Morgan County School District Re-3 Board of Education

• Is dangerous, unruly, or disruptive; or

• Seriously interferes with the ability of the teacher to teach the class or other students to learn.

Dress Code

Students are asked to come to school neat, clean, and dressed appropriately for the season and school setting/situation.  Appropriate shorts are acceptable in warm weather.  However, students are urged to use good judgment regarding when to wear shorts, as they will be expected to go outside at recess time with other students.  Please keep in mind that fall and spring weather is very unpredictable and warrants a check by adults before children leave for school.  In the winter, students will play outside unless it is very cold.  Please send your child to school with a warm coat, hat, gloves, and (if possible) boots.  If your children wear snow boots, please send a pair of shoes for them to change into for inside activities.

It is important that a student’s choice of clothing promotes a safe school environment, does not detract from the educational focus or distract other students from learning.  Parents of students who wear inappropriate clothing may be called to bring an appropriate change of clothing to school.

The following clothing choices are not acceptable at school and apply to both girls and boys:

• Clothing must be suitable for all scheduled classroom activities including physical education, science labs, and other activities where unique hazards exist.

• Clothing worn or haircut to denote gang affiliation 

• Hats when worn indoors

• Clothing that promotes violence, contains advertisements for tobacco, alcohol, or drugs, or conveys suggestive messages

• Any other clothing or accessories that, in the opinion of school staff, is inappropriate or distracting

Harassment 

Harassment is defined as:  Verbal, written, graphic or physical conduct that is pervasive enough to interfere with a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the district’s educational programs or activities.  

EXAMPLES OF HARASSMENT

• Intimidation implied or overt threat of physical violence

• Physical acts of aggression, assault, or damage to another’s property

• Demeaning jokes, taunts, slurs, nicknames, name calling, innuendos, or derogatory remarks either written or verbal

• Graffiti or visual displays such as cartoons or posters depicting slurs or derogatory sentiments

• Use of “fighting words” intended to incite individuals to violent actions

• Criminal offenses directed at an individual

Bullying

We support a secure school climate, conducive to teaching and learning that is free from threat, harassment, and any type of bullying behavior.  We promote consistency of approach and to help create a climate in which all types of bullying are regarded as unacceptable and will NOT be tolerated.  

Bullying is defined as unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. This includes occurrences in school buildings, grounds, vehicles, bus stops, and all school-sponsored activities and events.  

A student who engages in any act of bullying is subject to appropriate disciplinary action including detention, suspension, expulsion and/or referral to law enforcement authorities.  The severity and pattern, if any, of the bullying behavior shall be taken into consideration when disciplinary decisions are made.

Substance Policy

Please see District Policy information on our website ~ fortmorgank12.com

Suspension/Expulsion from School

Please see District Policy information on our website ~ fortmorgank12.com

Weapons in School

Please see District Policy information on our website ~ fortmorgank12.com

In-School Suspension

A student can be sent to in-school suspension (ISS) when a) he/she exhibits behavior that warrants immediate and long-term removal from the classroom.  ISS students will spend this time in the office area. While in this room, students are supervised by a school staff member.

Vandalism

The school system’s buildings, grounds, and other property are built, purchased, and maintained with taxes levied on the community’s taxpayers, and all damage caused must be paid for in the same way.  Students who willfully or maliciously destroy school property through vandalism or arson or who create a hazard to the safety of other people on school property may be referred to law enforcement authorities in addition to receiving disciplinary actions at school and subject to reimbursement of aforementioned property.