STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

The primary function of Stonegate Elementary School is to create a positive environment for student learning. The students, administration, faculty and parents believe that maximum learning can take place only in an environment where discipline exists. The purpose of our school discipline guidelines is to clarify expectations, set goals, establish rights and encourage self-development and individual responsibility. In order to ensure that the rights of all are valued and protected and a suitable learning environment occurs, we support this responsibility and partnership between school and home.

Although self-discipline is practiced in all communities, it is essential that children understand the rationale for appropriate behavior in an environment that respects the rights of everyone. An effective school provides a well-structured, well-defined, and well-developed behavior management plan for its students. Parents, staff and students must be involved in the design of a set of standards which will ensure that the school provides an environment that is safe, orderly and conducive to learning.

The staff at Stonegate Elementary School is committed to helping all students experience academic success. We are committed to ensuring that all students have a clear understanding of the appropriate standards for a school environment and of the consequences when those standards are not met. Parents, staff and students should feel confident that the behavior management plan will facilitate the resolving of conflicts as well as determine the consequences necessary to correct inappropriate behavior.

In keeping with the school philosophy, the following responsibilities of students, parents, staff and the principal are outlined:

STUDENT

Each student has the right to a public school education in an effective learning environment. He/she is expected to:

PARENT

Every parent has the right to expect that the school will address the learning needs of his/her child in an equitable way, respecting the individual differences of children. Every parent has the right to be informed of his/her child's progress and of areas where closer home/school cooperation is needed.  Every parent is expected to:

• Send his/her child to school regularly, on time and prepared to work.

1. Respond to communications from the school pertaining to the child.
2. Cooperate with school staff in solving behavioral problems.
3. Develop in his/her children the respect for the rights and property of other people.
4. Understand and support the fair, consistent administering of school rules and policies.
5. Call the school regarding concerns.

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STAFF

Each school staff member has the right to work in an atmosphere which fosters respect for each person's work with the support and guidance of the administration in maintaining high professional standards. Each school staff member is expected to:

1. Work with students so they understand the objectives of the subject and what they are expected to learn.

2. Help the students realize that as an individual, he/she is important and that, as a group member, he/she should act in a responsible way.
3. Encourage and help the student to understand and support the rules of the school and to participate in formulating rules relating to him/her and his role in the school.
4. Know and enforce consistently and fairly the rules and policies of the school.
5. Make decisions regarding corrective action based on individual differences of children and the degree of severity of violations.
6. Seek conferences with parents and other school personnel in an effort to help students who demonstrate behaviors contrary to expected school standards.

PRINCIPAL

The principal/principal designee has the right to expect the cooperation of staff, students and parents when seeking to facilitate the fulfillment of the school's function as an educational institution. The principal or designee is expected to:

1. Make known and interpret to students, parents and staff, the MCPS Discipline Policies and the Local School Discipline Policy.

2. Implement specific plans for effective parent and staff participation in the formation and review of the Local School Discipline Policy.
3. Support building personnel to maintain appropriate and effective discipline.
4. Be available for conferences with staff, students, parents, and others on discipline matters.
5. Provide support to teachers when problem situations arise.
6. Inform students, teachers and parents of administrative disciplinary actions.
7. Identify the line of authority in the building so that discipline matters may be handled as expeditiously as possible.

Schoolwide Standards

1. Each teacher will set classroom standards with the children's help. Obey the rules in your own class.

2. The following items are not allowed in school:

   • gum, dangerous objects, toy weapons, pocket knives, razor blades, caps, matches, lighters, beepers, non-prescription drugs, drugs or objects that can be harmful
   • large amounts of money or other valuables; for example, radios, toys (unless given written permission by teacher to "share" with class.)
3. When arriving at school, walk directly to your class line and wait in line quietly.
4. On "Indoor Line-up" days, sit quietly in the designated area.
5. Always have a bathroom or hall pass.
6. When using bathrooms, remember to flush toilets, wash your hands, throw all trash in wastebaskets, and return promptly and quietly to your classroom. Please be reminded that teasing, fighting and the disrespect of others will not be tolerated. Your teacher must always know where you are.
7. Wearing hats in the school building is not permitted.
8. No student is allowed to leave school property without the permission of the principal.

Revised Cafeteria Standards for Students

1. Enter the cafeteria in an orderly fashion using indoor voices. PLEASE WALK.

2. In the interest of safety, please stay in your seats once you are seated at your lunch table.
3. Please raise your hand if you have any questions or need to get up for any reason.
4. Use a pass when going to the bathroom.
5. We will show respect for each other: adults and children alike.
6. Food is to be eaten only in the cafeteria. Trash can games are not to be played. We will not share our lunch with others.
7. Please remember to use your restaurant voices in the cafeteria. Yelling from table to table or across the room is not acceptable.
8. Always sit facing the person in front of you.
9. We will keep our cafeteria clean. This is a matter of safety and health.
10. Please line up orderly and quietly to leave the cafeteria. Your teacher will meet you.
11. When leaving the cafeteria, please walk on the right side of the hall.

Playground Standards

1. Walk quietly from the school doors to the play areas.

2. Share playground equipment and use appropriately.
3. Stay in assigned play areas away from rails, fences and classroom windows.
4. Stay outside unless you have permission from an aide or teacher.
5. Return the equipment when the aides signal.
6. Line up when the bell rings.
7. Tell an aide if you have a problem which you cannot solve yourself.
8. Do not throw dirt, sticks, stones or any other objects on the playground.
9. No wild or dangerous behaviors are allowed (fighting, play fighting, wrestling, tag, chasing, or teasing).
10. Do not disturb a game in progress.
11. Follow the directions of the playground aides.
12. Report animals and strangers to a playground aide.

Bus Standards

1. Wait in an orderly line.

2. Follow the bus driver's and patrol's directions for safely entering and leaving the bus and crossing the street.
3. Enter and leave the bus in single file.
4. Remain in your seat and keep all belongings out of the aisle when the bus is in motion.
5. Keep head, arms and legs inside the bus.
6. Animals, glass containers, and dangerous objects are not allowed on the bus.
7. Eating and drinking are not allowed on the bus.
8. Do not damage, deface, or litter the bus.
9. Do not open or tamper with the emergency door on the bus.
10. Get on and off the bus at your regular stop unless you have written permission from home with other instructions.

11. Obey the bus driver and the safety patrols assigned to your bus.

Assembly Standards

1. Walk to and enter the all-purpose room in a quiet and orderly fashion.

2. Watch for your teacher's signal showing you in which row to sit.
3. When an adult signals for your attention, be absolutely quiet.
4. Show respect and good manners to all the performers and your classmates by being polite and quiet.
5. Show your appreciation through applause only (yelling and booing are not allowed).
6. Leave the all-purpose room in a quiet and orderly fashion.

7. Any children not abiding by the above rules will be asked to leave.

Behavior Policy

The purpose of a behavior policy is to encourage an orderly, safe environment where all students can learn and be comfortable.

In the past, a list of behaviors which require disciplinary actions and a list of possible consequences, ranging from lease to most severe, were developed.  Considerations have always been made to make consequences practical and reasonable whenever possible.  For example, a child might miss recess as a consequence of an altercation on the playground.  The staff tries to discipline consistently.  We use good judgment by taking into account the number of previous offenses and the severity of the misbehavior.

Type of Conduct

Consequences

2.  Illegal Substances

a. Possession

b. Sale/Distribution

c. Beepers

3.  Theft

Parent notified

Teacher counseling

Suspension

Parent notified

Teacher counseling

Suspension

Suspension for 5 days

6.  Extortion (requiring that a child give something to avoid being hurt)

Parent notified

Suspension

7.   Destroying property

Teacher counseling

Suspension

8.   Purposely striking, biting, or fighting another student

Suspension

Suspension

9.  Purposely striking, biting, or kicking a staff member

Suspension

Suspension for 5 days

10. Name calling, teasing swearing, threatening

Teacher counseling

Suspension

11. Disruptive classroom behavior (shouting, throwing objects, excess noise, being defiant)

Teacher counseling

Suspension for 2 days for second offense

12. Inappropriate bus behavior as reported

Parent conference

Suspended from riding the bus