Captain Johnston Blakely Elementary

*The following information was discussed with the Blakely staff at the beginning of the year. It is presented here for your information with the hope that we can support each other in guiding our students/children to become Respectful, Reasonable, and Responsible people at school and at home.*

The Blakely 3 R’s are the cornerstones of the positive school climate that characterizes Blakely School. The expectation that all students and adults will act Respectfully, Reasonably and Responsibly establishes a clear and concise framework for student behavior, and staff and parent communication. Your students should know the 3 R’s and have the opportunity for classroom discussion during the first week of school. Please spend some time during each of the first four days of school to help students understand these terms and the implicit expectations. The time spent now will provide benefits for the entire year.

Around the Building:

• Walk at all times in the halls and approaching the building
• Talk in soft voice upon entering the building from recess
• No pushing or grabbing
• Please and thank you are always appreciated and appropriate

Buses:
Please emphasize that school rules and expectations apply on buses. Drivers must be able to concentrate on safety and should not be distracted.

Students are expected to:

• Use soft voices
• No changing seats or moving about when bus is moving
• Follow driver directions and requests
• No pushing, grabbing or horsing around at any time

• North-tree/walkway back to building by art room.
• Center: edge of blacktop next to tree by walkway
• Playshed: line up under playshed.

Bullying happens when a person with greater power takes unfair advantage of a less powerful person and these negative actions are repeated into a pattern of behavior.

Bullying means there is an imbalance of power so that the victim cannot successfully defend him/herself. Power can be physical size, strength, numbers, social standing, verbal skill, cultural or ethnic power, level of intelligence, popularity, gender, etc. Bullying is the persistent abuse of an underdog. It can be physical, emotional or social. The bully watches for opportunity to pick on the victim and the victim feels tormented and defenseless.

Adult intervention is critical. We often assume that once the bullies recognize what they are doing and how it affects other people, they will stop the behavior. True bullies don’t usually respond to this way of thinking. These are the kids who don’t care if what they are doing is creating problems for someone else. They may actually enjoy watching the results of their handiwork. Adults must intervene with consequences. Parents should be notified. Bullies need to know that our school will not tolerate bullying behavior. Bullying will only be stopped by the intervention of adults in authority. Victims of bullying must have a support system that makes them feel safe and comfortable in order to report intimidation to authority figures.

Please help your students understand that isolated, inappropriate behavior does not constitute true bullying behavior. If the behavior becomes a pattern, then adults must be informed and we must follow up on the situation [

Use questions to help clarify student concerns

• Is the act hurtful?
• Was it an accident?
• Has it happened before?
• Did you tell them to stop?
• Are you informing me or do you need help?
• Help from me or someone else?

• Help students understand that being bullied is not their fault
• Encourage the child to stand up to the bully; be confident and look them in the eye and tell them to stop what they are doing
• Walk away in the direction of friends or an adult
• Retaliation is not always the best solution. Bullies want a reaction.
• If threatened or hurt, it should be reported to an adult

Adult Response:

• Do not ignore student complaints. Intervention should be prompt and visible.
• If a pattern is detected, confront the student who is exhibiting the behavior. Inform parents and notify Ms. DeSimone or Mr. Jones.

• Use and review playground log
• Make sure specialists are informed

Blakely has wonderful students and supportive parents. We can use these assets to maintain a school environment in which all students feel safe and empowered. Learning cannot take place if students do not feel like they belong and are safe. We must provide the best possible learning environment. Thank you.

RESPONSIBILITY

Being responsible means:

-Coming to school prepared to work
-Being accountable for oneself. Admitting to mistakes rather than blaming things on others.
-Being independent. Being able to do work and follow rules without constant reminders or supervision.
-Doing your best at all times
-Being helpful to others
-Making good choices. Choosing right over wrong, especially when confronted by peer pressure.
-Keeping promises.
-Finishing assignments.
-Being a leader for good.
-Leaving things better than when you found them.
-Knowing when to be a “reporter” (not a tattler) and having the courage to do it.
-Doing what is right for Blakely School.

REASONABLE

Being responsible means:

-Making sure your actions and words are appropriate to the place, time, and people involved.
-Having realistic expectations of others and ourselves.
-Respecting other peoples’ personal style and speeds. Not everyone does things the way you do.
-Cutting others some slack.
-Being patient with and having faith in yourself. “If you say you can, you might; if you say you can’t you’re right!”
-Being open-minded, open to new information.
-Being tolerant.
-Being fair.
-Listening to other’s opinions.
-Making sure your response is appropriate to the circumstance. Don’t overreact.
-Using “common sense.”

Being respectful means:

-Being fully attentive when someone is speaking to you. Don’t be engaged in other activities, talking to someone else or be looking elsewhere.
-Responding to people when they are talking to you. Don’t ignore people.
-Avoiding improper body language or tone of voice when someone is talking to you or teaching you. Don’t demonstrate impatience or dismissiveness by rolling your eyes, making exaggerated yawns, or using facial expressions that demonstrate contempt or ridicule.
-Being supportive of other’s efforts. Encouraging others even when they make mistakes. Not teasing or ridiculing.
-Waiting for someone to finish speaking before you respond. Not interrupting.
-Following the “Golden Rule.”
-Being graceful when you don’t get your way.
-Demonstrate “Good Sportsmanship” when winning or losing.
-Accept responsibility for your actions.
-Avoiding words or gestures that offend others including obscenity, sarcasm and name calling, even when any of the above are used in “fun.”
-Knowing the difference between reporting and tattling.
-Being obedient when asked to comply with reasonable requests by adults at school or on the buses. Not engaging in “sassing” or over defiance.