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Positive Climate and Culture

Positive Climate and Culture is our promise to provide a welcoming, supportive, and safe environment for teaching and learning; this environment will facilitate the academic journey for students.  

 

Our Commitment

If we use a consistent, clear, and proactive approach to student behavior across all grade levels, train staff together, and communicate expectations clearly to students and families, we will reduce office referrals and build trust in how discipline is handled. That will lead to a safer, more positive school where students are engaged and able to achieve at high levels.

 

Impact Goals

On the Upbeat Teacher Survey, 80% of teachers will agree that rules for student behavior are enforced consistently across the school and that discipline is applied fairly.

Students will raise their average rating to 3.5 or higher on the Student Gallup Survey statement: "When I am angry or upset, I am very good at explaining what is bothering me to other people."

 

Implementation Goals

Teachers will answer the same two Upbeat questions on a quarterly teacher survey, with a goal of 80% satisfaction.

Students will answer the same question about expressing feelings on the Student Quarterly Survey, with a goal of 80% reporting they have the skills to explain what is bothering them.

 

Our Follow-Through

A common 3-step response to minor classroom behaviors. Every classroom follows the same steps:
  1. The teacher gives a reminder and reinforces the expectation.
  2. The teacher has a private conversation with the student and contacts the family by note or phone call.
  3. The teacher assigns FLIP.

FLIP (Focus, Learn, Improve, Progress). A reflection program that helps students understand what happened and plan a better choice. 

Restore Time in middle school. During advisory, a student, teacher, and administrator can meet to reset and agree on next steps.

Staff training. Teachers work together on classroom routines and consistent responses so students get the same expectations in every room.

Building student skills. Staff use common language, connected to Leader in Me's 7 Habits, to teach the skills behind good choices and connect students' decisions to their own goals.

Helping students express feelings. Teachers and counselors use common sentence starters for difficult moments, use conversation codes in class meetings and counseling groups, and guide students through the PEACE Path to talk through and resolve conflicts.