Behavior Standards

The goal of any good behavior plan should be two-fold: 1) to enable students to achieve academic success and responsible citizenry, and 2) to allow our staff to create and maintain a safe, positive learning environment. Ultimately, any system to guide behavior should target bringing students to a high level of self-discipline, compassion and responsible community involvement.

We are very proud of our students at John Hay. We also understand that students are children. All problem situations are first to be viewed as teachable moments.

We are here to nurture, respect, and assist students—academically, socially, and emotionally. We also believe that, where appropriate, students should be involved in setting some of the expectations. They should have some input in formulating class rules, for example.

We regularly ask students how we can make John Hay both safe and friendly. After working with staff and students, we have initiated some policies and programs. Our end of year student surveys showed a dramatic increase in their positive feelings about the climate at our school. The following information outlines some of these policies.

The Big 5

Our Transformation Plan called for our Discipline and Safety measures to be reviewed and revised. As part of that work on our Citizenship Goal Team, a newly revised and much enhanced Big 5 has been written and presented to every student in the school. You may want to take a moment to refresh yourself and your child about our Big 5.

1. Listen & Cooperate with Adults
2. Follow Directions the 1st time
3. Use Respectful Language
   • Use Proper Names
   • No Threatening
   • No Swearing
4. Respect Self Space & Keep Hands to Yourself
   • No Chase, Tag, or Tackling
5. Reach for the Stars through Good Attitude & Effort

Additionally, we have informed students that they can not kick balls on the playground that come their way by accident, unless they are involved in an organized game such as kick ball. If a ball comes your way, the rule is to return it.

Assumptions & Expectations

• Teachers, parents, and administrators form a partnership and support each other. We are good listeners.
• Disagreements, which happen in the best of situations, should be handled privately, away from the children.
• Teachers and parents communicate with each other. Minor student transgressions do not always need a phone call home, but we as educators recognize our obligations to keep parents "in the loop" and working with us to resolve issues with their children.
• Rules are fair and enforced equitably.
• Teachers have classroom management skills appropriate to our children's ages and they model respectful language and behavior.
• All mistakes and failures are feedback for learning how to improve ourselves in life's journey.
• We expect and believe that the best will happen, but prepare for any possibility.
• Students should be involved in establishing a good school climate and allowed to participate in rule making within the boundaries of their age and maturity level. In any case, they will be treated with respect and dignity at all times.
• Students will follow staff directions promptly and without question in any simulated or actual emergency.
• We are good listeners and we genuinely care about our John Hay family—that means EVERYONE.

School Rules

Bicycles/Skateboards/Scooters/Heelys
All bicycles must be registered with the city. Students should wear a safety helmet, and they must obey all traffic rules while traveling to and from school. Bikes must be locked at the bike rack located on the south side of the playground. The school is not responsible for bikes. Bikes/skateboards/scooters may not be ridden on school grounds. Due to property damage and unsafe behavior, skateboarding is not allowed on school grounds. Skateboards and scooters CAN be carried back and forth to school when on the grounds. Heelys (shoes with roller skate wheels in the sole) are not allowed to be worn to school or on the playground.

Big Toy (Climber - Playground Structure)
The Big Toy is fun when used safely. Mr. Sturm takes every class through the toy and explains the rules very carefully before they are allowed to play on the structure. For safety and fairness, rooms take turns on the toy and are assigned certain days for their class. Once the buses depart, children can play on the Big Toy under parent supervision only.

Dress Code
John Hay does not have a uniform requirement. We do, however, recognize the importance of good grooming and cleanliness. Clothing that is disruptive, like shirts with inappropriate slogans or advertising, or items that are overly revealing, are not permitted and are unacceptable for school. Students should not wear 1) low-cut pants, 2) spaghetti straps, 3) baggy, saggy pants, 4) short shorts, crop and halter tops, 5) low-cut shirts. Students are expected to dress in a way that is safe and appropriate to the weather and expected activities. Students should wear a reasonable type of shoe. Shoes should be substantial enough to stay on the foot. Students should remember to wear appropriate clothes and shoes on their PE days. Sandals are not allowed on PE days. Except in special circumstances, students are expected to remove hats while indoors.

Food and Drink
Students shall eat and drink in the cafeteria only. No food is to be taken outside or in the halls. Students are allowed to eat in a classroom, under teacher supervision, for a special activity.

Hallways
Any individual students in the halls, unescorted, must have a hall pass from the teacher or administrator. This is for safety and accountability. Students are required to go about their business in a quiet manner without disturbing others. Again, walking is required at all times.

Litter
All students are asked to be proactive in helping us keep John Hay beautiful and clean. Any type of littering is seen as disrespectful. Students in our school often help clean and put away playground equipment without being asked to do so.

Lost & Found
The Lost & Found is located by the gym. Please be sure to put your child's name on all personal items. Several times during the year we donate unclaimed items to charity.

Lunchroom
Teachers escort students to the cafeteria each day at lunch. They are required to use the bathroom and wash their hands prior to lining up at the food counter. Students must sit at their table and eat for at least 10 minutes to promote the habit of eating a nutritious lunch. When they are ready to leave, they must clean up their area, raise their hand, and wait to be dismissed by the lunchroom supervisors.

Pets
Per City Ordinance pets are not allowed on school grounds. Students are not allowed to bring pets to school unless specifically cleared by the teacher for a special event or project.

Pathway Garden
The Pathway Garden is a beautiful memorial garden created through the efforts of the community, parents, staff and students. It is a tribute to the students and families who died in Alaska Flight 261, in 2000. It is also a fun place to play and visit and is part of our Memory Miles Book Lap course. Rules for keeping the garden beautiful and pleasurable to all are reviewed for students each year.

Parking—The Hay Way
Please observe the parking signs in front of the school on both the Galer and Garfield sides. We understand that parking is limited but please DO NOT PARK IN THE LOAD ZONE between 8:45-9:15 a.m. and 2:45-3:30 p.m.. In order to safely load/unload students, the buses must pull into the load zone. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Playground Supervision
Supervision by staff begins at 8:45 a.m. Other supervised playtime occurs at the morning, noon, and afternoon recesses. At least two adults and several other volunteer parents are on the playground during regularly scheduled breaks. The playground is not supervised after school buses depart.

Recess
Children are given several recesses each day. They are expected to dress for playing outdoors in rainy or cold weather. If the child is too ill to play outdoors, he/she should probably be at home or bring a medical excuse. In severe weather, students will come inside.

Supervision After School & Loitering
Students must leave the grounds promptly after classes or activities are dismissed unless with a parent or other adult. We have no supervisors on the grounds after the buses depart. Non-students are not permitted on the grounds unless they have registered as official guests in the Main Office and received clearance.

Visitors
Visitors must check in the main office whether visiting or volunteering. Volunteer buttons are available to those who frequently help out in the classroom. All visitors must wear a visitor sticker while in the building.

Attendance

Attendance Records:
School staff will take daily attendance and notify you when your child is absent without an excuse. Please notify the school office when your child will be late or absent by telephone or written notice.

When a student accumulates one unexcused absence in a month, the school must notify the home via letter or a phone call. After two full day unexcused absences in a month's time, a letter will be sent home scheduling a conference between the parents, student and school officials. At the scheduled conference an Attendance Agreement will be written up and filed with the district truancy office. After seven unexcused absences in a month's time or ten unexcused absences during the school year, the School District Truancy Board will file a petition with the juvenile court.

Notifying the School About Absences:
When your child will be late or absent from school please notify the attendance office at 252-2100 between the hours of 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM or leave a message on the voice mail during non-school hours.

The District's attendance definitions are as follows.

• Excused absences include: illness, family emergency, medical or dental appointments that cannot be scheduled outside of the school day, pre-arranged family trips, religious events.
  If a child needs to be excused early from the school day he/she must be checked out through the school office. Please arrange pre-planned, extended absences with the classroom teacher and written notification to the school office.
• Unexcused absences: All other absences are considered unexcused including parent oversleeping, student missing the bus, student needed for babysitting, transportation problems, etc. In addition, if the school determines that absences are excessive or interfering with student learning, a parent conference may be requested.
• Tardiness: Tardiness is considered an academic concern. Any child who arrives to school later than 9:30 AM - three separate times - will be marked absent for one-half day. Students who arrive after the 9:15 AM tardy bell must sign in with the office. A parent conference will be held for students with repeated tardies. If your child has an excused tardy be sure to notify the office the day of so it can be marked appropriately.

Emergency Contacts:
It is very important for emergency and administrative reasons, that we maintain up-to-date information in the school office. Please be sure we have a person to contact in case we can't reach you in the event of an emergency. PLEASE NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY IF YOU CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS OR PHONE.

Leaving Campus:
Students may not leave the school campus for any reason without the knowledge and consent of their teacher. Written consent must be given by parents/guardians and the student must be checked out through the office.

Changing Plans/Play dates:
Please let the office know ahead of time of any changes in your child's daily schedule either in writing or by telephone. Play dates should be arranged prior to the date.

Bus Safety Rules

1. Obey the driver and bus supervisor
2. Remain seated
3. No smoking, swearing or loud talking
4. No pushing, shoving or fighting
5. Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself
6. Keep bus clean—NO eating allowed
7. Keep personal belongings out of the aisles
8. Keep all parts of your body and all objects inside the bus
9. Get on and off the bus at your assigned stop
10. Be on time
11. Know emergency procedures

FAMILIES

l Before/After Care

l Behavior Standards,
      Rules, and Attendance

l Community Resources

l Parent Handbook (PDF)

l Online Resources

l Lunch

l Transportation

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