School-wide Culture Plan
for
Wooddale Middle School
GOALS
We, the staff at Wooddale Middle School, recognize that we are responsible for creating a school environment that provides ALL students the behavioral and academic skills necessary to reach their fullest potential and become responsible life long learners. We will do this by creating a culture that embodies the 5 C’s:
· Commitment to Excellence
· College and/or Career Readiness
· Connected to our Community
· Concern for others
· Character Development
OBJECTIVES
Academic goals:
· Increase Reading/Language Arts, Math and Science success rates to 50%.
· Increase Social Studies success rate to 75%.
Behavior goals:
Reduce office referrals for disruptive behavior by 60% as measured by reviewing data every 20 days during culture team meetings. Reference Appendix: B.
· Reduce the number of fights/violent acts at school by 80%.
Attendance:
Increase daily attendance rate to 95%.
· Decrease tardies to less than 2% daily.
This will be tracked daily in the front office.
Increase time on task in classrooms to 90% as measured by principal and peer observations.
· See Appendix: D for observation tool.
EXPECTATIONS FOR STAFF OF WOODDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL
In order to reach the goals and objectives of the schoolwide plan the staff is expected to:
Recognize that all students are capable of behaving appropriately and accept the responsibility to take all steps to insure they learn to do so.
Establish an effective classroom management plan that includes rules/agreements, disciplinary consequences and positive incentives/rewards.
Teach students appropriate behaviors and procedures in both the classroom and common areas during the first two weeks and as needed throughout the school year ( i.e. after long breaks).
Clearly communicate to students how they are expected to behave in order to be successful at school.
Monitor student behavior and provide consistent positive feedback (4:1 ratio positive to negative) to students who choose to comply with expectations.
Monitor student behavior and quickly provide clear direction, narration and corrective action when needed in accordance with the school policy in a calm, respectful manner when the students choose to misbehave.
Take steps necessary to build trusting relationships with and among all students, including having restorative conversation with students after they are sent out of the classroom.
Take steps necessary to build trusting relationships with the students’ families.
Establish high academic expectations for EVERY student.
We will all “sweat the small stuff”
SCHOOLWIDE EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS AT WOODDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL
General
Follow directions of all staff - first time given
Be safe, respectful and responsible
Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself
Come prepared for your school day by being prompt and in proper dress code
Use appropriate language at all times
Classroom
Follow all teacher directions
SLANT during all instructional activities
Bring all necessary materials and homework
Use appropriate language at all times
The mnemonic SLANT reminds students to:
· S = Sit up straight.
· L = Lean forward.
· A = Activate your thinking.
· N = Note key information.
· T = Track the speaker.
EXPECTATIONS FOR COMMON AREAS
Gymnasium
Follow directions of all staff
Use equipment properly
Play in the assigned areas only
Follow the rules of the game – play safely
Keep the area clean - If you see a piece of trash please pick it up
Cafeteria
Follow directions of all staff
Leave seat only when given permission
Clean up your area
No food or drink leaves the cafeteria
Enter and exit the cafeteria silently and once you reach your seat use inside voices
Silent table for lunch detention or misbehaviors during lunch
Silent coming in and going out while in seat using inside voices
Administration by silent table if administration not there Officer Santos
Teachers give post-it to admin or Officer Santos with who has lunch detention
Assigned Tables
Teachers are timely to schedule
Channel 1 is running
Hallway
Follow directions of all staff
Walk with purpose on the right side of the hallway
Do not touch walls or lockers
Silent (use inside voice when necessary)
No food or drink
Keep the hallway clean
Must have a hall pass or an admit slip
Bathroom
Follow directions of all staff
Keep bathroom clean—water in sink, flush toilet, paper towels in trash bin
Respect persons and property
No playing in bathroom
No vandalism or graffiti
Assembly
Follow directions
Sit in your seat
Respond to call and response cues (Wooddale Eagles)
Talk only when called upon
Focus Room
Ms. Clear and Mr. Poyner facilitates
Desk placement for monitor and students
Sign in/out sheet-3 people needed-Administration and Clear
Robert with secretary
Work/packets from teachers-weekly
Team leader-Form with 5 copies of worksheets
Book/calculators, supplies, etc. in the room
Mr. Pogue
Robert to schedule meeting with Mr. Stitts
Positive Feedback All Students Will Consistently Receive
Verbal recognition of appropriate behavior – Positive Narration – As noted in the No-Nonsense Nurturer Training, all teachers at Wooddale Middle will consistently use positive narration for behaviors, not praise/judgment. Example of narration: John is silently working on his journal. Teachers may provide praise/judgmental statements for academic work and/or effort.
5 C’s – to notice students who are adhering to/modeling the 5 C’s, teachers will be able to receive unlimited number of eagle buck, however each teacher is expected to give out at least ten each. Five of these dollars should be used for students in your class and five dollars should be used for students you do not teach.
Students earn Eagle bucks for a variety of reasons:
Strong hallway / cafeteria / assembly behavior
Picking up trash without being told
Respect toward teachers and peers
Recitation of school motto/ mission statement
On task behavior
Adhering to uniform policy
Student of the Month: By the 25th of every month, every team will submit a name of a boy and a name of a girl for student of the month. This includes special education. Exploratory teachers will submit one student every month alternating a boy and a girl each month. Criteria.. Students that continually exhibit the 5 C’s in the classroom and continually works towards their academic potential please consider strong attendance and NO conduct referrals.
Team Awards: To be decided by each team and can be demonstrated by Ms. Armstrong’s team. Students will compete for best overall attendance, grades & conduct
Shout-outs: Over the intercom on Fridays by group of peers
Positive phone calls/notes to family members: 10 positive phone calls a week
Ability to attend special events attached to 5 C’s:
Dress Down Days: Students will receive a dress down day after 15 consecutive days without fights or acts of violence on campus.
Field Trips:
Dances: During the day students without any office referrals will be able to attend. Evening dances any student will be able to attend the school wide fundraiser
Teacher of the month: one teacher will be selected each month by their peers to be the teacher of the month for Wooddale Middle School. Criteria: Teachers that go above and beyond in assisting their peers, Teachers that go above and beyond learning experiences for their students, Teachers that go above and beyond to create a positive school-wide culture.
Honor Roll Criteria
Principal's List- School-wide plaque, individual certificates, luncheon with the principal
· GPA is greater than 4.0 and no grade less than 93
· Conduct: All E's
Distinguished Honor Roll - certificates
· GPA of 3.6 or above
· No grade below 75 C
· Conduct: E or S
Honor Roll - certificates
· GPA of at least 3.0 but less than 3.6
· No grade below 75 C
· Conduct: E or S
Citizenship Award – School-wide plaque, individual certificates and luncheon with principal
· All E's in conduct
Perfect Attendance –Certificate and Party
· Zero absents and two tardies or less
Negative Consequences Students May Receive for Inappropriate Behavior Before Office Referral
Example referral found in Appendix: E
Wooddale Middle Classroom Discipline Plan:
1st infraction: Verbal warning, noted on clipboard by teacher
2nd infraction: Move seat in classroom
3rd infraction: Lunch detention at silent table or afterschool detention (10 minutes; limit interaction with peers) and phone call home by teacher (not during instructional time)
4th infraction: Office referral
Severe clause
If students exhibits level three behavior or higher they will be immediately referred to the office.
All teams need to agree and implement a class point system. This incentive system will be useful in establishing a positive classroom culture. Point system will be used by students to gain “extras” in class for earning points through demonstrating responsibility in the classroom. Points should be tallied bi-weekly and rewards issued.
Guidelines for Administrator for Referral to Office For Disruptive Behavior
1st Time= administrator - student conference OR family conference OR Focus Room AND follow -up relationship building intervention with student by teacher/administrator (restorative conversation)
2nd Time= family conference OR Focus Room AND follow up relationship building intervention with student by teacher/administrator
3rd Time (in a month) = Focus Room AND relationship building intervention with student by teacher/administrator AND initiate interventions for chronic behavior problems (i.e. Student Study Teams) AND include Guidance Counselors
Interventions for Chronic Behavior Problems
Students who receive more than 3 office referrals in a month: Develop an Individualized Behavior Plan using the Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) and referral to counselor.
Counselor will contact parent to arrange a meeting to establish BIP (include teacher and student). Team will arrange a date for the follow-up meeting which will occur in four weeks. At that time the BIP will be reviewed to determine effectiveness. If plan is working, no need for additional action. If plan is NOT working, team will revise. Personnel responsible to establish BIP: 6th – Ms. Johnson; 7th – Mr. Pogue; 8th – Mr. Banks.
Interventions Severe Behavior Problems
Students who engage in severe behavior problems and/or do not respond to interventions for chronic behavior problems:
Same steps as above and possible referral to Special Education, counselor, outside agency for Mental Health, Law Enforcement etc…
Possible Reasons for In-School Suspension:
Severe Defiance
Fighting
Destroying property
Bullying
Chronic violation of classroom or school rules; multiple referrals in a month
Possible Reasons for Out of School Suspension:
Fighting
Weapons
Chronic behaviors
Note: At Wooddale Middle School, Out of School Suspension will be used only as a last resort or as demanded by Tennessee Code Annotated
Three levels of students (for tracking purposes of our student population):
GOAL: Increase the number of Tier three students; decrease the number of Tier two and Tier one students; Track students at each level in Appendix: C.
Tier One: Student behaviors can be modified but these students have significant struggles permanently modifying behavior or maintaining behaviors for a long period of time. These students may need preventative supports/constant supports. These students may qualify for special education services or counseling services; when referred level 1-5 infractions
Tier Two: Students with chronic behavior problems who have more than 3 referrals in a month; have moderate disruptive behaviors (i.e. repetitive talking out, moving from seat without permission, excessive tardiness); these students often fluctuate or ride the roller coaster of good behavior; may need high levels of support from time to time or over the course of the year (i.e. stamp sheets); when referred level 1-4 infractions only
Tier Three: 85-90% of our students who follow the rules and never to very rarely receive referrals; if referred, level 1 infractions only
Wooddale Middle School Daily Schedule
7:15 Teacher Sign In
7:20 Teacher receive students at door
7:20 – 7:30 Students go to lockers and enter homeroom
7:30 Students are tardy/check in with teacher
7:20 – 7:35 Channel One
7:40 – 7:50 Announcements
7:45 Tardy students to pupil services
7:50 – 8:40 2nd period
8:45 – 9:35 3rd period
9:40 – 10:30 4th period
10:35 – 12:15 5th period
12:20 – 1:10 6th period
1:15 – 2:05 7th period
2:07 6th grade dismissal
2:09 7th grade dismissal
2:11 8th grade dismissal
***2:05 Bus riders dismiss/afternoon announcements
Wooddale Middle Lunch Schedule
10:35 – 11:05 6th grade lunch
11:10 – 11:40 7 grade lunch
11:45 – 12:15 8 grade lunch
Communication Plan
Parent Link/Parent connect: Parent link will go out every Wednesday reminding families of take home folders/agendas.
Take home folders should include such items as:
· Newsletters from administration
· weekly assessments for families to review
· important information from the school district
· weekly newsletter from the principal
· Progress reports will be sent home every 41/2 weeks
Agendas: Every student at Wooddale Middle will receive an agenda book.
· Teachers will have students write daily objectives in their agenda books for every class
· Homework assignments and projects that are coming due
· Agendas should be shared daily with families and a family member is expected to sign
· Agendas will be checked daily teachers for signatures and to ensure that homework is completed
· Teachers can use agenda books to send positive notes home or note concerns or requests for meetings with families
Town hall meetings: These meeting will occur two times per year and will cover such topics as….uniform policy, school rules, agenda books, take home folders, tests, NCLB, incentives, open house
All staff are required to return emails or phone calls that are school related within 24-48 hours
Policy for using classroom or office phones will be for emergencies only.
Communications to Staff
Weekly bulletin will be sent via email to all staff members on Friday afternoons. Staff is expected to review, comment or ask questions by Sunday evening. Bulletin will include all pertinent information for staff for the upcoming week and will include a calendar of upcoming important events that teachers should be preparing for. Updates will be emailed as needed. All staff are expected to check their email at least 2 times daily so they have the most up-to-date information.
The intercom will be used daily for a very limited about of time in order to provide the most learning time possible at Wooddale Middle. Daily announcements will happen as scheduled. Staff and students should expect that the intercom will not be used during the school day unless there is a campus emergency.