Behavior Response and Consequences

We believe that students best learn from their behavior when they are empowered to be accountable for their actions. We seek to balance our response to student behavior first by providing clear expectations, procedures, and routines and next by responding in a supportive manner that focuses on safety, de-escalation, repairing harm / mediation, and accountability. We also provide due process and document our communications and actions in response to student behavior.

Most student behavior is addressed by the teacher or staff member observing the behavior. We use tools from the Second Step social emotional learning (SEL) curriculum, and a three-tiered approach to behavior response: REFOCUS Forms (green), MINOR Referrals (yellow), and MAJOR Referrals (pink). The Second Step resources are tools to be used with students to help them process their thinking and generate a plan of action or solution. Our REFOCUS Form is available for both the primary and intermediate levels. This universal tool is also available for students to process their situation (Actions, Reflection, and Choices) to identify how they will do things differently in the future. We also use MINOR Referrals to document more serious offenses and as a communication tool between school and home. The MAJOR Referrals are used to refer students for administrative action for major disciplinary infractions which affect the safety of others and will likely result in an in-school or out-of-school suspension.

Minor Offenses

Issues and behaviors that distract other students from the learning process, behaviors that may lead to harm, behaviors that are without malice or forethought, or that are disrespectful to adults in the building. The resolution and consequences for a MINOR discipline issue will be handled by the staff member during the discipline issue. Staff use Restorative Practices to process with students. Staff and parents also partner with our grade-level teams and or members of our mental health team to help students process the incident, grow from the experience, and repair any harm done.

Major Offenses

These include inappropriate behavior that is intended to hurt another person’s body, things or feelings. A referral for these offenses will be made by the teacher or staff member with a Major Referral form. Any significant physical action or aggression, gang behavior, possession or use of a weapon or illicit substance or facsimile is a major referral. When the administrator receives an office referral, they will fully investigate what happened to assess situations and deliver consequences in a consistent way. Every child will receive DUE PROCESS. Administration will follow District Six School Board policy. Consequences for major offenses may result in an in-school or out-of-school suspension, the development of a behavior or safety plan, a referral to law enforcement, and or a recommendation for expulsion.