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Discipline

PHILOSOPHY

It is our belief that school should be a secure, nurturing environment that fosters respect for oneself and others and a lifelong love of learning.  In support of this we believe every student at Fields Road Elementary School has three essential rights.  They are:

·        The right to be safe

·        The right to feel safe

·        The right to learn

These rights come with the following responsibilities:

·        To respect the rights of others

·        To respect the feelings of others

·        To respect the property of others

·        To respect adult authority, including teaching and support staff

·        To know and follow school rules

 In regard to discipline, we adhere to the following premises:

·        Most children behave appropriately

·        The relationship between teacher, student and parent is key to a child’s success

·        Action must be taken when a child deprives others of any of their essential rights

·        Disciplinary interventions should be timely, fair and appropriate

·        Whenever possible, students should be allowed to collaborate on how to redirect their behavior in more appropriate ways

·        Serious incidents will be handled in accordance with MCPS guidelines outlined in  A Student’s Guide to Rights and Responsibilities in Montgomery County Public Schools (attached)

As a proactive conflict resolution strategy, Fields Road ES students are encouraged to use  “DEBUG” to defuse problems before they escalate. Students follow these steps:

·        Decide to ignore

·        Exit, walk away

·        Be friendly, talk friendly

·        Use firm talk

·        Get adult help

RULES AND INTERVENTIONS

Below are school rules and a continuum of actions for failure to comply with these rules.  The Principal has the authority to take any action that applies to specific lack of compliance or student misconduct.  The frequency and severity of behaviors will drive the appropriate consequence.

RULES	POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES
Tardiness: Students except patrols should arrive at school between 8:30 and 8:50.  Students who arrive after 8:50 are marked tardy.  Parents will sign-in their late children.	Office/parent contact after 3rd tardy within a grading period
Disruptive or Unsafe Behavior: Students are expected to act in a way that respects the rights, feelings and safety of others and allows for orderly school operations.  Violations of this include bullying, play fighting, inappropriate touching, running in the building (except in supervised P.E.), and leaving a location without permission	- warning - staff/student conference - principal/student conference - parent conference with staff / principal - exclusion from activities for part or all of the day - suspension from school for up to 10 days
Inappropriate Language or Verbal Abuse: Students will use appropriate language at all times.  Profanity, inappropriate racial, ethnic or gender comments, teasing or spreading rumors, extreme volume and verbal abuse are not tolerated.  This includes spoken and written language	- warning - staff/student conference - principal/student conference - parent conference with staff/ principal - exclusion from activities for part/all of the day - suspension from school for up to 10 days
Destruction or Taking of Property: Students may not take, misuse, damage or destroy property that belongs to another person.  This includes proper use of school equipment, and taking or attempting to take school and personal belongings, including but not limited to items in desks, backpacks and lunches	- warning - loss of privilege to use equipment - - replacement of property - staff/student/principal conference - - parent conference with staff/ principal - suspension from school for up to 10 days - suspension with recommendation for expulsion - police referral
Insubordination: Students should obey the lawful requests of the school staff and safety patrols who are on duty without talking back.  This includes responses to students who have items unrelated to school activities such as hats (in class).  Trading cards, chewing gum, toys and computer games are not permitted in school	- warning - staff/student conference - principal/student conference - parent conference with staff/principal - parent phone call; items secured in school office - exclusion from activities for part/all of the day - suspension from school for up to 10 days
Physical Aggression: Students will not start or participate in physical confrontations.  This includes shoving, hitting, kicking and tripping, as well as contact using objects	- staff/student conference - exclusion from activities for part/all of the day - principal/student conference - removal from activity for an extended period - parent conference with staff/ principal - suspension from school for up to 10 days - suspension with recommendation for expulsion - police referral
Dangerous Weapons or Items that look like Dangerous Weapons: Students may NOT bring to school or possess while at school ANY knives, firearms, bullets, bombs, or other potentially dangerous items including toys that look like weapons.  Students who know of any such items at school are expected to inform an adult on staff	- mandatory 10 day suspension from school and recommendation for expulsion - police report