The ELC/PC Viking View
Responsible, Respectful & Ready
Translation/Accessibility Options
Principal's Post - Behavior & Bullying
Dear Families,
The safety and success of each student is our ultimate focus. The ELC and PC are PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports) schools. This program clearly aligns with the district’s student behavior standards and is designed to provide students with a clear set of positive expectations for their behavior in every school setting. (PBIS) is a proactive system that provides behavioral support for all students to achieve social, emotional, and academic success. We will use three “R’s” as the backbone to our student behavior expectations; Respectful, Responsible and Ready. As a school and within each individual classroom we will be constantly reviewing the meaning of these words and how these character traits look and sound in each school setting. All school staff will use the three “R’s” as the base for student expectations in all areas of the school.
We have spent significant time during these past couple of weeks establishing and practicing expected choices in all school areas. When students demonstrate an unexpected behavior, we are reteaching and sharing replacement behavior ideas. We know that some students need additional practice and we shouldn't expect all 5-7 year olds to know all of the rules from the moment they walk in our door.
Each week, the Dean of Students and myself share a Monday video with all students and staff. Last week's message was about behavior and bullying. Please view our Monday Message to see one way we are supporting a safe and successful school year for each K-2 Viking.
Bullying, harassment, or intimidation in any fashion is unacceptable behavior and is prohibited at school. The ELC and PC strive to create a school community where all people are welcome and students learn to be respectful, responsible, and ready when working with others. To learn more about our proactive efforts, please visit our Social Emotional Learning page.
Despite our best efforts, peer conflict will happen. When it does, it is important to know when it reaches the level of bullying.
According to stopbullying.gov, “Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:
An Imbalance of Power: Individuals who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or social status—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.”
Bullying is not perceptions of rudeness, criticism, “not getting your way,” healthy peer conflict, isolated and unintentional physical contact, or lack of consideration. These are examples of conduct that is unlikely to constitute bullying, harassment, and/or intimidation.
Regardless if the problem is bullying or not, we want to know about it so we can address it. Please notify the Dean of Students, Katie Hardyman, if your student is struggling with a peer conflict.
If you believe the concern does constitute bullying, we need you to document your concern by completing this form and submit it to the Dean of Students or the Principal, Rachael Johnson. When this form is submitted, an investigation into the issue will begin and will be completed within 10 school days.
To learn more about our Anti-Bullying/Harassment/Intimidation Procedures, read administrative regulations here to learn more.
See something? Say something!
One of the best ways to improve school safety is for students, families, and staff to share concerning behavior with school administrators when they see it. If you have traveled by airplane, you are familiar with the regular announcements to report any suspicious activity to the Department of Homeland Security. “If you see something, say something” also applies at school.
When students hear of situations where someone might get hurt or they see someone harming another person, they are taught to report the issue to the supervising adult. This could be the classroom teacher or the supervising adult at lunch or recess. If students hear something outside of school or on the bus, they can still come to the office to report the issue directly to Mrs. Johnson, the ELC/PC principal, or share what they heard or saw to office staff.
Parents or community members can also report issues of safety or concern to the school. This could be via phone at 437-7506 or 437-7606, via email to Mrs. Johnson or another staff person, or stopping into the office in person.
With Viking Pride,
Rachael Johnson, Principal
Critical Incident Response Lessons Start Next Week at the ELC & PC
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Our school district, in partnership with our school resource officer, has continued to implement our Critical Incident Response (CIR) plan this school year. As you may recall, if you are a returning family in our district, part of our CIR plan is the Run, Hide, Fight approach. These options-based approaches are tailored to active threat situations and provide those in charge of students the flexibility to improvise and adapt to a threat that is present. While no system is guaranteed to be perfect, Run, Hide, Fight empowers us with options beyond just locking the door and staying in classrooms. The Run, Hide, Fight protocol has been adopted by numerous other schools in Dane County.
Next week, your child will participate in an age-appropriate lesson. This lesson will introduce the Run and Hide options for responding during an emergency situation. To ensure that our lessons and safety strategies are age-appropriate, we will not be teaching the Fight option at the elementary level. During this lesson, we will focus on the Run option and explain the difference between an on-campus evacuation and an off-campus evacuation. This gives us two options for safety. On-campus evacuation is used in situations such as a building fire or chemical spill. Off-campus evacuation is used if there is a danger or threat to our school campus. We will also continue to communicate with families and students so that no lesson or drill is confused with a real active threat situation.
Preparing our students for emergencies is basic, fundamental education. We already teach and practice fire, tornado, and evacuation drills. No one wants to contemplate something bad happening in our schools, but through responsible planning and training, we are able to respond to a crisis in order to better protect ourselves. Safer schools can only happen if we take action. Safety depends on our ability, our determination, and our commitment to making emergency preparedness a top priority. We encourage you to talk with your child about what they are learning so that we, as a community, can all be better prepared in the event of an emergency.
Sincerely,
Rachael Johnson, Principal & Katie Hardyman, Dean of Students
Bridging Brighter Smiles - Get you Back to School Smiles Ready!
Back to School Cleanings are scheduled for the ELC/PC!
When: Tuesday, September 26, 2023
It is not too late to enroll if you are not already enrolled! Get your Back to School smiles ready!
As a reminder we accept enrollments for all students Head Start-12!
Sign up online at:
http://enrollment.bbsmiles.org/
Professional Dental Services Provided Right at School Include:
- Oral Screening
- Dental Cleaning
- Fluoride Varnish Application
- Dental Sealant Placement
- Silver Diamine Fluoride Application
- Oral Health Education
- Referral Assistance
Forward Health (BadgerCare) Accepted!
(Other Private Dental Insurance Not Accepted)
Funds made available through your FSA/HSA account may be utilized as a form of payment, please check with your carrier for specific terms and conditions.
Not sure if your child is enrolled, or due for care? Call Bridging Brighter Smiles at 262-896-9891, or email coordinator@bbsmiles.org.
ELC/PC Health News
September greetings Viking Families!
It is so great to see your students back in the school buildings. We are off to a fabulous start with a few colds going around but very little other communicable illnesses to report. That being said, we all know things can change in the blink of an eye and sincerely appreciate your efforts to keep your student(s) home when they are ill, especially with a fever of 100.4 or greater, vomiting, diarrhea or concern for a contagious illness. You can find more specific information regarding illness/injury here and COVID-19 information here.
Please do not hesitate to email or call with any health related questions or concerns regarding your student(s) and/or family, I am happy to help!
Make it a happy, healthy 2023-2024 school year.
Christy Staats
4k-grade 5 School Nurse
PTO News
PBIS Family Outreach
The Three Rs At Home:
Promoting Positive Behavior in Early Elementary Students: A Guide to Fostering Respect, Responsibility, and Readiness at Home
As parents and caregivers, one of our most important roles is to guide and nurture our children's development, not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) is a proactive approach that schools often use to promote desirable behaviors and create a positive learning environment. But did you know that you can also implement PBIS principles at home to help your early elementary students become respectful, responsible, and ready individuals? In this article, we will explore what PBIS is and provide practical strategies for fostering positive behavior in your child(ren) within the comfort of your own home.
Understanding PBIS: A Brief Overview
PBIS is an evidence-based framework that focuses on preventing behavioral challenges and promoting positive behaviors in educational settings. It is rooted in the idea that teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors is more effective than solely punishing negative ones. PBIS operates on three key principles:
Prevention: Proactively teaching and modeling appropriate behavior before issues arise.
Teaching: Clearly defining and teaching expected behaviors to students.
Response: Consistently acknowledging and reinforcing positive behaviors while addressing problematic ones.
Now, let's delve into how you can apply PBIS principles to help your early elementary child(ren) develop essential qualities we have identified such as respect, responsibility, and readiness at home.
Fostering Respect:
Model Respectful Behavior: Children learn by example. Demonstrate respectful behavior in your interactions with others, and your children are more likely to follow suit.
Use Positive Communication: Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings, and actively listen to them. Teach them to communicate respectfully even when they disagree.
Practice Empathy: Engage your child in conversations about how their actions might make others feel. Help them understand the importance of considering others' emotions.
Cultivating Responsibility:
Establish Routines: Set consistent daily routines that include responsibilities like making the bed, cleaning up toys, or helping with meal preparation. This teaches your child to take ownership of their tasks.
Create a Chore Chart: Develop a visual chore chart with age-appropriate tasks. Allow your child to track their progress and offer praise or small rewards for completing tasks.
Problem-Solving Skills: When your child faces a challenge, guide them through problem-solving steps. Encourage them to brainstorm solutions and make decisions independently.
Promoting Readiness:
Set Realistic Goals: Work with your child to set achievable goals, such as completing homework before playtime. Celebrate their accomplishments to foster a sense of readiness to tackle new challenges.
Encourage Self-Care: Teach your child the importance of taking care of themselves by getting enough sleep, eating well, and engaging in physical activity. These habits contribute to their overall readiness.
Cultivate Curiosity: Provide opportunities for exploration and learning through books, games, and hands-on activities. Encourage questions and curiosity to nurture a love of learning.
Implementing PBIS Strategies:
Clear Expectations: Clearly define your expectations for behavior at home. Discuss these expectations with your child and reinforce them consistently.
Positive Reinforcement: Praise and reward your child when they exhibit respectful, responsible, and ready behaviors. This could include verbal praise, a sticker chart, or special privileges.
Consistency is Key: Consistency in your approach is crucial for PBIS success. Ensure that all caregivers are on the same page and reinforce the same expectations and rewards.
Corrective Feedback: When your child engages in challenging behavior, address it calmly and provide corrective feedback. Focus on teaching them the appropriate behavior rather than simply punishing them.
Conclusion:
By incorporating PBIS principles into your home environment, you can help your early elementary student(s) develop essential life skills such as respect, responsibility, and readiness. Through modeling, communication, routine-setting, and positive reinforcement, you can create a nurturing atmosphere that supports their overall growth and well-being. Remember, the journey towards positive behavior is a gradual one, and your consistent efforts will lay the foundation for your child's future success. Please reach out to the ELC/PC Student Services Team with any questions.
PLEASE PACK YOUR CHILD A CHANGE OF CLOTHES
We would like to encourage you to send a change of clothes for your child to keep in their backpack or cubby. With spills, accidents and a wet playground, our supply of extra clothes is quickly depleted. Having a change of clothes at school, for your student, will save you a call from the office asking you to bring your child a change of clothes during the school day.
Thank you so much for your help with this!
Mark Your Calendars!
Tuesday, October 3 - Picture Retake day and PC Open House from 6-7:15 PM
Monday, October 9 - Early Release (12:30 PM)
Friday, October 13 - MHASD Homecoming (8:40 AM Pep Assembly & Parade at 2:45 PM)
Supports Available
Need social-emotional support for your child? Need to problem-solve or check-in with our Student Services team members? We have a team of highly qualified staff who stand on the ready to support you and your student. You can call the PC main office at 437-7506 or ELC main office 437-7606 to be connected to our team, or you can send them an email directly.
Dean of Students: Katie Hardyman, hardymankatie@mhasd.k12.wi.us
School Counselor: Brooke Running, runningbrooke@mhasd.k12.wi.us
School Social Worker: Megan Handrick, handrickmegan@mhasd.k12.wi.us
School Psychologist/4K Coordinator: Nicole Tepe, tepenicole@mhasd.k12.wi.us
School Nurse: Christy Staats, staatschristy@mhasd.k12.wi.us
RESOURCES
Volunteer Background Check form
Blue Note Form for temporary bus riding changes
Bullying, Harrassment & Intimidation - How to Report It
Early Learning Center
Secretary: Colleen Kittleson, kittlesoncolleen@mhasd.k12.wi.us
Website: https://www.mounthorebschools.org/schools/elc/
Location: 300 Spellman Street, Mount Horeb, WI, USA
Phone: 608-437-7606
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elcpc.mounthoreb.7/
Primary Center
Secretary: Lyndsay Evans Eder, evansederlyndsay@mhasd.k12.wi.us
Website: https://www.mounthorebschools.org/schools/primary/
Location: 207 Academy Street, Mount Horeb, WI, USA
Phone: 608-437-7506
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elcpc.mounthoreb.7/