Discipline

//This task team will review our current discipline policy. The goal of the team will be to recommend changes and or additions to the HMS Discipline Code. The team will also be charged with looking at a positive recognition program.//

5/24/10


 * Attendees**: Monica Albuixech, Daphne Easton, Barbara Moynihan

The team reviewed the findings and the recommendations. The team decided that the pink slip and the detention recommendations can be implemented next year. Our second recommendation might take longer to implement. Our third recommendation will take training and might be too ambitious to implement next year.

4/5/10


 * Attendees**: Monica Albuixech, Daphne Easton, Barbara Moynihan

//__Solution for keeping track of the infractions__//: A form will be placed in each student folder. The form will have three columns (each column will represent a different trimester) and 5 check boxes under each column (for 5 pink slips). After a teacher gives out a pink slip, she or he will take it into the student's folder, and will check the box that corresponds to the number of pink slip given. The teacher who assigns the fifth pink slip will take the form to Erich so that he fills out the detention form which will be mailed to the student's parents.


 *  **Findings** || **Recommendations** ||
 * 1. The current practices of pink slips and detentions aren't effective. || * Change the pink slip and detention policy (read notes below for specifics). ||
 * 2. We don't have sufficient positive reinforce programs for the whole school. || * To create different houses/teams following the Field Day colors.
 * Give points for positive behavior and academic excellence (read notes below).
 * Every trimester points will be counted and the winning team will get a reward. ||
 * 3. We don't have a peer mediation program. || * To look into it and talk to Jim (one more thing on your plate. We didn't think you had enough). ||

3/31/10


 * Attendees**: Monica Albuixech, DePaula Balich, and Daphne Easton, Barbara Moynihan

The following topics were covered at the meeting:

1. __Handbook__: We need to be more consistent when following the Handbook in regards to participating in sports, plays, and musicals.

2. __Positive Reinforce Program Review__

1. We agreed on having 6 teams/houses (like we do in Field Day -Purple, yellow, green, blue, red, and orange). 2. Student council will keep track of the positive points. 3. Students will participate in a contest to create their house T-Shirts. 4. Every trimester we will count the points and the winning house will get a reward.

5. Types of rewards:

a. Pizza Party b. Ice-Cream Party c. Gift cards (Dunkin Donuts, Barnes & Noble, Burger King, Friendly, Dick's). d. Donations from the Officers' Wives Club and PTO. e. Prizes for raffles organized by teams/houses. f. Teams/Houses could have a sports competition throughout the year. g. Teams/Houses could have academic competitions (bees). h. After school field trip/activity.


 * Feedback:** Who paying for all this stuff?

3/8/10


 * Attendees**: Monica Albuixech, DePaula Balich, and Daphne Easton

1. We looked at a new detention form.

Any of the following behaviors will be considered an infraction unless a teacher decides that because of the severity of the behavior, the student should receive an automatic detention.

- Disobeys school regulations - Disrespectful of the rights & property of others - Disrespects authority - disruptive behavior in class - Fails to follow directions - Harassment (verbal/physical) - Inappropriate language - Misuse of property - Speaks at inappropriate times - Inappropriate clothing. - Tardy without a pass - Chewing gum/eating in class - Possession of distracting items - Possession of illegal/dangerous materials - Use of inappropriate items, e.g. electronics - Leaving assigned seating/classroom without permission - Unprepared for class (no book, pencil, etc.). - Other

2. We decided that the forms will be sent to the parents via email. 5 Infractions will constitute a detention. We will keep a manila folder in the copy room for infractions.

What will happen if the student does not return the form signed by the parent?
 * Feedback**: Who will keep track of the infractions?

1/15/10
 * Attendees**: Monica Albuixech, DePaula Balich, Daphne Easton, and Barbara Moynihan


 * Meeting topic**: Review topics discussed in previous sessions and look at other schools policies.

1. Read topics & ideas discussed.

2. __**Discipline code**__. Include dress code as part of the discipline code. Sending student home to get changed is not enough.


 * Feedback section:** Should the consequence be stronger? What happens when the parent dresses up like the child?

3. **Detention** What do other schools do to assign a detention? Other schools use a form that gets mailed home. The students have to serve detention within a marking period.

4. We looked at the handbook to see our policies. The consequences aren't specific. They are too vague. Do we want to keep them like this?

11/30/09


 * Attendees**: Monica Albuixech, DePaula Balich, Daphne Easton, and Barbara Moynihan


 * Meeting topic**: Things that are currently working and things that aren't working.

__Not working__

1. **__Detentions__** Detentions should be served only twice a week. Detentions could be served on Tuesdays and Thursdays Team suggests sending a form home instead of making a phone call. Detentions should be mandatory. (Currently teachers have to ask parents for permission to keep a student after school to serve detention). Parent should sign the form that we send home. A detention should always be served if the student infringed the Handbook (even when the parent disagrees with his kid serving detention).


 * Feedback section**: ( How can we be certain that the student turns the form to his/her parents? Who keeps track of all the paperwork? The teachers? Erich?) Should the consequence match the crime? Or should the students not do anything during detention?

Team recommends using peer-mediation to assign detention consequences - We could have a student committee that decides the possible consequences. Students and teachers go through training.

2. __**Positive reinforce program**__ **(not enough)**

Team talked about creating a positive reinforce program.
 * We talked about dividing the school in teams/houses.


 * The students will get positive points that will go towards their house for science fair participation, field day participation, outstanding class work, sport spirit and school support, citizenship, honor roll, geography bee, above and beyond work, foreign language week contest poster, community service, charitable work, music & drama (not figure out what yet).


 * Feedback section**: How many houses/teams do we want? Names? Who keeps track of points given? (The team discussed getting the student council involved in the counting).

Points will be taken away for the following things:

For playground, hall, assembly, and lunch misbehavior. For using electronic Devices. For vandalism and theft. For cheating and plagiarizing. For lying. For sexual harassment, bullying and fighting. Teacher should use his/her discretion for other behaviors.


 * Feedback section:** How do we control black points? Paperwork?

During assembly students will be seated by teams. We could have a designated area in the Multipurpose room assigned to each house/team.

11/18/09.


 * Attendees**: Monica Albuixech, DePaula Balich, and Erich Ledebuhr

Erich commented on discipline procedures used in other schools he had worked in. The attendees decided:
 * Peer mediation
 * Positive reinforce program
 * To look at other schools' discipline procedures.
 * To revise the current school handbook (which is to vague).
 * To discuss on things that are currently working and things that are currently not working well.