Every act of behavior cannot be anticipated through written
expectations. The staff will make judgments in handling situations not
covered in this list. Consistent with the philosophy of King Open is the
recognition that behavior often has a variety of causes. We affirm the
process of using reflection, listening, writing and discussion. Our
teachers have classroom expectations and policies that will be reviewed
with students. Students often help make the class priorities for each
year. Within the classroom and with administrators, playground and lunch
supervisors, we use processes consistent with Responsive Classroom in
order to build community and to help students learn how to repair
damage that their negative behavior may have caused. We are working to
institute a “Buddy Room” system among all classrooms to minimize
disruption to teaching and learning and to provide time-out for students
when it may be helpful.
Regular, frequent or severely disruptive behavior requires more serious consequences. We teach about “Bullying behavior”
so that all learn what bullying is and how to oppose it. Students learn
that we adults deal directly and decisively with bullying behavior.
We
also recognize that sharing information with parents and guardians is
important for effective home-school collaboration to support positive
student behavior and to correct problems. We have the responsibility to
notify parents consistently when significant issues arise and to
document these calls.
School suspension, either in-school or
out-of-school, is a consequence for more serious infractions.
Administrators will contact parents in a timely way when such situations
arise.
Our goal is to protect the right of every student in our
school to receive an education in a positive, safe and orderly
community. With everyone working toward that goal, King Open School will
be a positive place in which to learn.