Pow Wow Principals Press
April 27
We are setting a goal for a 50% reduction in referrals for MAY!!!!
Remember, that's zero minor infractions for the month of May in order to attend!!!
GET READY FOR AN AMAZING TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK COMING SOON.... time to get spoiled from May 7-11th!
Behavior Update
Just a reminder. This was discussed at the beginning of the year and again in November.
We have come to learn that there has been some inconsistency in what you have been told about minor infraction forms and behavior.
Please read carefully as we are hearing there are some concerns with consistency. What is being clarified across the board is the following. Please feel open and willing to come to admin if you feel that you are not being supported so we can problem solve or clarify.
Accountability and transparency are vital.
When behaviors are MAJOR we REQUIRE referrals so we can ensure we are documenting and putting the right interventions in place. This helps us collect data that is necessary for MTSS problem solving. In addition, if your student is put on a point sheet, this data becomes auditable, so you must collect it daily and turn it in to the BIS. This would be regardless of whether the student "wants" a point sheet or not. This can stall us in moving forward on doing what is best for the child. Please make sure that the behaviors on the point sheet are consistent with the behaviors that we are targeting due to the infractions of the student.
Our overall tier one behavior has improved considerably, which is why students are being able to be identified so much quicker!
However- Please make sure the following steps are being provided for minor offenses.
1. Students should receive minor infractions if the behavior is being targeted. Each minor infraction requires parent phone contact. This allows YOU to keep your power! MINOR INFRACTIONS CAN BE ANY BEHAVIORS CUMULATIVELY. They require an intervention being put in place by the classroom teacher prior to another minor infraction being written.
For example Student A is openly defiant on Monday.
Student A continues to be disrespectful throughout Monday.
Teacher calls parent for this infraction making them aware of the behavior. This would be ONE minor infraction as the parent call would be the interventions. This should be documented on the minor infraction form.
Student A on Friday teases another student and pushes them on the playground.
Yikes! This would be the SECOND minor infraction for this student. A one on one conference with the child, going over expectations, and calling the parent again for the minor infraction would be a great way to handle this. However, you have the autonomy to handle this using any of the interventions listed on the minor infraction form or coming up with a creative approach, like scheduling a one on one conference with the SRO or BIS.
Once you have documented the behavior and the parent contact, that would be the second infraction and intervention done.
2. On the third infraction, inform the behavior intervention specialist so they can provide support- this does not require a call for assistance to the classroom.
3. ONLY call for assistance when the situation is an emergency, so behavior interventionists can spend their time being pro-active rather than re-active. What would be best practice when the BIS is called is for them to work with the remainder of the class, so you can try to do the intervention and keep the control in the room. Pull the student outside, work with them from the safe space, take a quick walk with them. These are all strategies that can work rather than having the support staff do this. While it takes time away from the teaching for a few minutes, it tends to be the most successful and re-teaching and setting expectations for how the student can handle the behavior in the future. Many times they are triggered by the other students or situations outside of school.
4. 4th infraction would require a written detention by Behavior Specialist. Please make sure the BIS receives a copy of the minor infractions so they can communicate with the parent the interventions put in place and the dates and times of parent contact. Please do not verbally tell the BIS to do a detention. We need the actual forms and interventions done.
5. Infraction beyond that would require an Office Discipline Referral- consult behavior specialist if you are unclear. Once a referral has been issued and the consequences given, you would start a new minor infraction form. This would allow time for interventions to work. Remember, interventions done with fidelity over a 6 week period are what work best.
6. Students start fresh each quarter!!!
If the student is ESE and the behaviors are a manifestation of a disability- there may be interventions put in place in order to keep students safe and keep student from escalating based on their disability- Ex- Respite pass,
After you have written a minor infraction and once the student has de-escalated- THE MOST IMPORTANT part is to re-address the behavior as the teacher and do a re-teaching/ role play of your future expectations. Most minor infractions seem to be related to students inability to self-regulate and calm themselves. Showing the student how to use your safe space and how they can communicate with you when they are frustrated BEFORE acting impulsively is our goal. Safety first!
Finally, We are seeing more students getting referrals than students being removed from the PBIS celebrations. This doesn't seem to be making sense. Only students who have consistently followed the VIBE for the month should be invited to attend. If a behavior tech was called to your class earlier in the week for the student, for example, they should definitely not be in attendance outside.
This is meant to be a behavior support for YOU.
Please join us at the monthly PBIS meeting on Friday morning, May 11th, if you have any questions or need clarification.
Our #VBEVIP is Mrs. Fiori! Enjoy your special parking spot, and keep making those nominations on Twitter!
Promotion Review
Promotion Review meetings are scheduled for Friday, May 18th during planning periods for Kindergarten-4th grade. Please mark your calendars now.
** A list of all students that should be reviewed by the committee needs to be emailed to Mrs. Moree, Mrs. Riddick, and Mrs. Van Brimmer by May 11th. The forms and directions for completing them are on the table outside Mrs. Moree's office. Please see a coach or your grade chair with any questions.
Assessments
Updates from Ms. Van Brimmer
The state of Florida is sponsoring a Summer Literacy Pledge and the school with the most students who read the most books will receive a surprise visit from First Lady Ann Scott.
Please have your kiddos log on to take the pledge
http://web02.fldoe.org/SummerLitAdv/SummerLitAdventure.aspx so that they can list the number of books they will read this summer.
Shower Your Shelves with Books Contest Leaders:
It looks like Ms. Emerson better get her giraffe costume ready! As a tribe, we've read 7,895,660 words in the month of April! If we make it to 8 million words Ms. Emerson will dress up and read Giraffe's Can't Dance!
A huge shout out goes to three classes who have met the millionnaire mark for this month -- Congrats to Ms. Craner, Ms. Kincus, and Mr. Hill!
We also want to recognize Rocky Cantu! He's read 1 million words -- just this school year!
Updates from Ms. Ragley
Please join the Vero Beach Elementary March Of Dimes Team and Walk for Babies on Saturday, May 5, 2018!
Updates from Ms. Keeley
Mystery Science
This is a great website that you can register for free right now.
There are resources for all grade levels with units that include videos, online games, printables, books, quizzes, games etc. Topics include:
Kinder - Plant and Animal Needs, Force Olympics
First - Plant and Animal Parts, Survival, and Growth
Second - Earth's Surface Processes
Third - Life Cycle, Traits, Hereditiy
Fourth - Rock Cycle, Erosion, Natural Hazards
Fifth - Sun, Moon, Stars, and Planets
A big thank you to Ms. Rochon, Ms. Berwick, Ms. A. Patterson, and Ms. Nesbitt for attending the science curriculum PD on Wednesday.
Updates from Ms. Riddick
iReady Winners!
Kinder-Ms. Martin's Class 79% pass rate
First Grade-Ms. Barth's Class 89% pass rate and 100% participation
Second Grade-Ms. Hoffa's and Mr. Robinson's class 81% pass rate and 100% participation
Also...
Congrats for 100% participation on meeting their goal of 45 minutes per week in Mrs. Paulk's, Ms. Vega's, and Mrs. Blidgen's classes!