Policies and Expectations

Attendance

  • Students must be in their seats before the bell rings.  If not, it may be counted as a tardy.  If a student has more than one tardy a week, a 15 minute detention will be owed before or after school.
  • If a student knows he/she will be missing class, please see me for assignments that will need to be completed and handed in by the due date.
  • If a student is absent or misses class for any reason (including band/chorus lessons), he/she is responsible for making up the work.

Behavior

Positive Behavior Choices: We all want to do the right thing and do our best when we are at school. Fortunately, most of the time, most of us can do just that with great success!  Choosing positive behavior not only will make you more successful in school and in life, the rewards you earn are also pretty awesome!

  • Aardvark Dollars – When caught showing positive behaviors, your teacher, principal, librarian, custodian, nurse, lunch attendant, secretary (whew!) may reward you with dollars that are redeemable at the Aardvark store.  There are hundreds of cool items to choose from!
  • Oops Celebrations – You will be given an Oops card that you will carry with you in your binder.  If you’ve shown positive behaviors throughout a two-week time period and have not received more than three marks on your Oops cards for negative behavior, you will be rewarded with a 30 minute recess to hang out with friends and have a good time!
  • End of Year Recognition Ceremony – If you can go the whole year without receiving any punches on your Oops card, you will be recognized in front of all of your teammates with a super nice trophy! It is quite an honor.

Negative Behavior Choices: We all have days once in a while when we aren’t feeling 100%.  If you are struggling, the first step is to talk with me to see if we can solve the problem together.  Many times it’s  just nice to have someone to talk to and know that someone cares and hopefully you will be able continue on with your day.

The following are consequences if you continue to struggle or make negative choices during class.

  • Safe seat:  An assigned seat away from the group so the student can refocus.  When ready, the student may come back and join the group.
  • Time Out:  For behaviors that continue after being redirected and/or weren’t resolved in the safe seat, the student will be asked to go to another TeamB classroom to sit and fill out a think sheet.  The student may come back when the “buddy” teacher and student conference and agree the student is ready to come back to class.  The student will also need to conference with me before joining the class.  A copy of the think sheet will be scanned and emailed to the parent.
  • The Learning Center (TLC):  A student that displays serious behaviors or offenses will be sent to TLC for the remaining class period.  In the TLC classroom, the student will problem solve with the TLC teacher, as well as being retaught Irving expectations. The student will be welcomed back to class the following day after conferencing with me before or after school. Before coming back to class the following day, the student will need to fill out a time out form, have it signed by a parent, and then conference with me.  If this procedure is not followed, the student will return to TLC until these steps are completed.  Parents will  be contacted by phone the day of the incident to discuss the behavior.
  • Written Referral:  Documentation of serious behavior infractions sent to administrators.  Principal will meet with the student and call home to parents.  Referrals can result in In School Suspension (ISS) or Out of School Suspension (OSS). Referrals will remain in the student’s cumulative file.

Homework

Homework will count for 20% of the student’s grade.  It is important to get homework turned in on time.  If homework is not turned in, it will be a zero in the gradebook. Because I feel strongly that homework is an important part of learning, I don’t deduct points if homework is late and will give full credit if handed in within a reasonable time of the due date. It is better to turn it in late than not at all. If you are having a problem with getting homework turned in, then we can arrange for you to stay after school to get extra help.