Tam Valley Elementary School

SCHOOL CLIMATE

All students have the right to an education in a positive environment free from disruptions which interfere with teaching and learning activities and free from discrimination or harassment based upon gender, race, national origin, religion or disability.

Tam Valley School provides a positive environment for learning. All members of our school community are encouraged to achieve their personal best and to work collaboratively.

Our Code of Conduct is founded on three basic rules: BE RESPECTFUL, BE KIND, AND BE SAFE.

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS

- Attentive Listening: Listen with your ears, eyes and hearts. Pay close attention to one another’s words and feelings. Give each other caring, respect and consideration.
- Appreciation – No Put-Downs: Treat others kindly and state appreciation for their unique qualities. Avoid negative remarks, name-calling, hurtful gestures and behavior.
- Mutual Respect: Be respectful of everyone, and their rights, needs, differences and property. Do not use gossip or negative names.
- Come to class on time. This means all kindergarten through fifth grade students should go to the classroom when the first morning bell rings at 8:12 am and be in the classroom ta 8:15 a.m.
- All students must sign in at the office if they enter school after the 8:15 bell.
- Sign out in the office when leaving school grounds during the school day with a designated adult.
- Use the designated student bathrooms properly and help keep them clean.
- Show respect for your school. Help keep the school clean and pick up litter.
- School doors are open after school until 4:00 p.m. After 4:00 we will not be able to get forgotten homework, clothing, uniforms, musical instruments, etc.
- Students should discuss after school plans with their parents before they leave in the morning. The office telephone is available only for emergencies.
- Jackets, sweatshirts, lunch boxes and backpacks should have the child’s name labeled in case they are lost.
- Use appropriate school language. Swearing is not permitted.
- Party invitations are not to be distributed at school, unless the entire class is invited.
- Clubs are not allowed at school, unless sponsored by school staff.
- Playground games are open to all students who are interested in participating.
- Do not verbally or physically hurt other students.
- Walk , do not run, in the hallways and buildings. Stay on the pathways in planted areas.
- Before school, students should stay out of the hallways, except if it is raining. During lunch, only first or second graders who need to use the bathrooms should be inside the hallways.
- Obey the playground rules.
- No weapons or dangerous items, including pocketknives, near or at school.
- Toys, collections, cards or items that are distracting to the learning process are not to be played with during school hours.
- Alcohol, tobacco, drugs or drug paraphernalia are not allowed at school
- Skateboards, scooters, razors, skates, and shoes with wheels all need to be carried onto the school grounds and taken to the student’s classroom for storage. They may not be used on the school grounds during the school day.
- Bicycles must be walked on the school ground and parked in the bike rack and may not be visited during the school day. ALL riders must have and wear a helmet.
- Bats and hard balls may not be brought to school

A view of a brightly lit classroom with tables and chairs arranged for learning. The disciplinary policy at Tam Valley School recognizes the relationship that students have with their individual teachers. Each classroom has developed its own standards of behavior consistent with schoolwide norms. Every effort is made by the teacher and student to work together to resolve any problems.

Recognition is given to those students who demonstrate appropriate behavior and work with other students to resolve problems. However, if there are infractions of school rules which need further attention, a student may be referred to the principal at which time the following interventions may be applied. These are not necessarily sequential and one or more may be used in a given situation.

CONSEQUENCES in order of progressive discipline

The student and staff member (e.g. teacher, aide, admin assistant, yard supervisor) will discuss the student’s behavior.
1. They will use Restorative Questions such as:
  - What happened?
  - What were you thinking at the time?
  - What have you thought about since?
  - Who has been affected by what you have done? In what way?
  - What do you think you need to do to make things right?
2. The student will make amends with the people or property impacted by their behavior. This could be verbal, written, or action (such as cleaning a mess they created).
3. A teacher and student may use an “Observed Student Behaviors” form, that may result in;
  - A verbal warning including an explanation of consequences if the student should continue to exhibit inappropriate behavior. There will be a focus on addressing the function of behavior (e.g. work avoidance, gaining peer attention, etc..)
  - Student being sent to a neighboring classroom to work.
4. Student and principal discuss a plan of positive action for the future.
5. Other, which could include school service, removal from the group or activity, parent conference, and/or loss of recess, including lunch recess.
6. After 1-5 have been attempted numerous times for smaller incidents, or once for larger incidents, the student may receive a Referral to the principal. A "Student Incident Report" may go home for parent signature and be returned to the school.
7. SUSPENSIONS: In cases of extreme or repeated infractions of the discipline policy, a student may be suspended. Restorative and Behavioral interventions will be exhausted before suspension is considered.
  - In-School Suspension: Students are restricted in their movement through school, and are closely supervised while they complete their assigned work.
  - Full Suspension: In situations where there is extreme behavior or where the safety of others in the school community is threatened, a student will be suspended from school, and be required to go home. As required by law, students will be immediately suspended for possession of a weapon, drugs or alcohol
The District shall notify parents at the beginning of each school year of the availability of rules of the district pertaining to student discipline. The principal shall notify students and parents of all rules pertaining to student discipline at the beginning of the school year or at the time of enrollment in the school.

FERPA is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. It is a federal law that protects the privacy of student information. FERPA states that schools must have written permission from a parent in order to release (discuss, comment, share) any information about their child. Therefore, school staff can only discuss the discipline, academics and behavior of individual students with their parents. Please do not inadvertently put school staff in an uncomfortable situation by discussing a child other than your own.
Students should wear clothes that are suitable for all elementary school activities. At Tam Valley School, the following guidelines shall apply to all school activities:
1. Appropriate shoes must be worn at all times and shall enable students to safely and fully participate in daily physical activities, including recess and P.E. Flip-flops and sandals are unsafe on an elementary playground.
2. Clothing, jewelry and accessories shall be free of writing, pictures or any other insignia that are crude, vulgar, profane or sexually suggestive or which advocate racial, ethnic or religious prejudice or the use of drugs or alcohol.
If a student arrives at school in inappropriate attire or footwear, parents may be called to bring a change of clothes for the student.