When a student chooses not to follow the Code of Conduct, a consequence will occur.

1. Interventions - In working with students several of the following interventions could be used. These include verbal warning, discussions, problem solving, time owed in small quantities, in-class isolation, removal from class, use of Kelso's Choices and phone calls.

Assigning sentences will not be an appropriate consequence.

2. If the above interventions have been unsuccessful and problems continue, the teacher will provide a consequence and conference with parent via phone, note, or in person to establish guidelines for future consequences and improvement. Possible consequences could include time out in another class, time out to complete problem solving form and/or to develop a contract, Poor Choice (loss of noon recess), or before or after school detention with parent permission.

3. In the unlikely event that problems continue, the student will conference with the parent, teacher, counselor and/or principal. Options at this time include contract or individual behavior plan, asking parent to remove the student for the remainder of the day, in-school suspension, or out-of-school suspension.

4. Serious behavior such as defiance, fighting, harming others, or possessing an illegal substance can result directly in suspension or emergency expulsion. Bringing a weapon to school will result in immediate emergency expulsion.

5. Staff will take appropriate action and will provide feedback to other staff members. Playground assistants, substitutes, specialists, etc. will notify classroom teacher if a problem has occurred at recess, music, etc. Classroom teachers will take appropriate action. Classroom teachers will provide feedback to specialists. Classroom teachers will use this information to establish class goals and reward or reinforce appropriate behaviors.

Celebration Assemblies are held once a month. Our Assembly Committee works hard to put together programs that highlight student accomplishments while enriching our learning environment. Celebration Assemblies often include: poems, songs, and classroom or small group skits and presentations.

Every current student and staff member has been trained in the program Kelso's Choice. Kelso's Choices helps students learn to use problem solving skills to make good decisions. The eight choices include: wait and cool off, go to another game, share and take turns, talk it out, walk away, ignore it, tell them to stop, apologize, and make a deal.

For more information about this program, please feel free to contact our counselor, Patsy Hoffman.