Implemenation

The following is the plan our committee has developed. It is ready to be implemented on the first day of school:

School Wide Discipline Plan
Wilson Elementary
2010 - 2011

· The goal of the School Wide Discipline Plan (SWDP) committee is to develop clearly stated, universal goals and expectations for each Ranger, in every area at Wilson Elementary. This all-encompassing plan will be a part of their daily routine, and will guide our campus to a cohesive environment with high standards for each student.

· The SWDP committee decided to clearly outline expectations (of both staff & students) that will be visible. Because we recite the Ranger Creed daily, and the creed contains all of the areas of concern, we will use it as our model of what is expected from each Ranger. The creed did not, however, have a line about doing your best work at all times, so it has been revised as shown below (passed by both SWDP & SBDM committees):

I am proud to be a Wilson Ranger
I will be kind to others
I will take care of our school
I will use my best manners
I will walk and be quiet in the halls
I will be prepared for learning
I will do my best today.

· Every student in the school will now have a plastic folder with a calendar inside. The calendars will be sent out to staff members in August. They can be edited by grade level, but the overall appearance will be universal. These folders will be sent home daily to ensure parent involvement, and student accountability. Inside the folders will be two lists:
· The first list will be for disciplinary action. When a student breaks an expectation, the folder will be signed by the witnessing teacher/staff member. The creed will be clearly listed in the folder, and each line will be numbered. The teacher will sign the folder and list the expectation number on the calendar. If signed, parent signatures will be required.
· The second list is for positive actions. The creed has been reworded into positives, with a list of letters next to each line. If a student is seen doing something positive and/or constructive, the teacher may take folder, and award the student with this accolade.
· Students will be required to have these folders at all times. In the halls, in the cafeteria, in specials, etc. This ensures complete accountability.
· Teachers who sign folders and apply consequences will be responsible for following that consequence through. 5th grade punishment will obviously be very different from Kindergarten, and will be left up to the teachers discretion. We need to utilize natural consequences.

· In an attempt to move away from the tangible side of rewards, we are asking staff members to use words, spontaneous encouragement & special activities, and the folder system to encourage kids to do their best work because they can and because it helps them, not because we are always working for a party, or candy, or stickers, etc.

· In lieu of different grade-level systems of reward, we will be utilizing a school-wide system next year: the boot system. The boot system will be up and running the first week of school. A set of cowboy boots will be displayed at the front office, one boy and one girl boot for each grade, PK-5. When students are caught doing random acts of kindness, modeling our creed, etc, teachers can give them a ticket. They can then take that ticket up to the front office, and place it in their respective boot. Each Friday, Deana will announce winners of tickets drawn from the boots from each grade level on announcements.


· Lastly, the SWDP committee discussed the lack of school unity and fellowship we have been experiencing. As a result, we will be utilizing community meetings:
o One the second day of classes, we will have an all-school community meeting in the gym. At this community meeting, we will go over all expectations with the student body, introduce the folder system & boot system, and review the newly revised creed. We will also explain the new community meeting that will take place weekly in class.
o Every Monday morning (starting the second week back) the entire school will have community meetings. These meetings are designed to be student-led, and are an opportunity for students and staff alike to share affirmations, set goals for the week, develop problem-solving skills, and let the students have a voice in their classes. Many times we forget that the problems we see are not the problems the students see as the most pressing. We need to let them share their concerns, and validate them. We can use these community meetings to accomplish these goals.
o Community meetings will last from 8:00-8:25 or so. If the meeting is going longer but the conversation is rich and vital, then it obviously might take longer that day. The first few weeks will be more teacher-led as we train the students in how to host these meetings.
o An outline of community meeting structure will be presented at staff development in August.

· Immediate office referrals will be:
o Physical aggression
o Derogatory language
o Creating an unsafe environment for others

· Teacher expectations will be in line with student expectations. We need to model the behaviors we want to see. We will follow the creed as the students will.

· Our theme next year will be Be All You Can Be!
· If you would like to read up on behavior theory, try Alfie Kohn’s Punished by Rewards.