Bruceton School Responsible Students Programs
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Bruceton School has met the necessary reguirements for becoming a Validated West Virginia Responsible Students Program School David Stewart, State Superintendent of SchoolsFeburary 22, 2000 |
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Being Actively Responsible Kids
Why a Responsible Students Program?
Student Responsibilities,
Lessons,
Incentives,
Reminder Slips,
Reteach &
Teacher Responsibilities
Why a Responsible Students Program?
Educators have long recognized the need to build student responsibility in two key areas—preparation and safety. The Responsible Students Program is a school-developed program that teaches students responsible behaviors, assisting them in becoming organized and dependable. More students obtain low grades because of failure to be responsible with their work outside the classroomthan for any other reason. We are also concerned with the safety of our students while at Bruceton School. With these goals in mind the Bruceton School Responsible Student Program called BARK (Being Actively Responsible Kids) was developed. This program was developed following the guidelines of WV Code 18-5A-2 (5.11.3).This is not a discipline program.
Student Responsibilities
Using two major goals of building student responsibility in the areas of preparation and safetytwo standards have been developed. The first standard is “Be prepared, ready to work.” Students will need to have their textbooks, assignment book, writing utensils, homework and any other required equipment ready for use when called upon.The second standard is “Walk at all times.”In the hallways and on the sidewalks, students need to walk on the right and through the right door. These two basic standards will help students fulfill Bruceton School’s mission of developing lifelong learners and socially responsible citizens.
Lessons
Each week, every classroom will devote time to the teaching of a responsibility lesson on the word of the week (W.O.W.). The W.O.W. list includes caring, responsibility, self-discipline, citizenship, respect for others, pride, courage, fairness, dedication and ethics/ trustworthiness. These lessons are developmentally appropriate for the different ages and groups and aretaughtaccording to the individual teacher’s schedule in grades K-5 and during homebase period for grades 6-8.These lessons will help build personal responsibility both at school and outside of school.
Incentives
Everyone likes to be rewarded for doing what is expected of him/her. Too often attention is only given to negative behavior. We feel that the biggest rewards will be the successes that each student will experience as a result of responsible behaviors. At the beginning of each grading period all students will be given coupons called “Bulldog Biscuits.” In grades 1-5 those students having biscuits remaining at the end of each ten week grading period will place them into a container for a drawing for prizes during a “Spin the Wheel” assembly. Students may also use these coupons to ‘erase’ reminders from their records. In grades 4 - 8students may erase a reminder with two coupons. Younger students may erase a reminder with one biscuit. At the end of each grading period, reward days will be held for those students who have not been assigned to the reteach room.
Group reward activities will be held for the different grade levels at the end of each ten week grading period. Some of these could be field trips for ice skating, roller skating, theme movies, or community or school related activities.
Reminder Slips
Some students will undoubtedly neglect the standards and continue to arrive in the classroom unprepared or will violate the standard set forth for safe traveling on school grounds. If students are not responsible in following the standards, they will be given reminder slips. In grades 1-5 the teacher will fill out these slips. At the middle school level, grades 6-8, the students will be responsible for filling out the forms and turning them into their supervising teachers. These slips will be recorded in the students files. This will help the staff to monitor trends in irresponsible behaviors that may lead to lack of success.A copy of the reminder slip will be given to the students so they can monitor their own development. These slips will only be given for the two standards. For example, if a student comes to class without his/her textbook and his/her homework, he/she will be given only one reminder slip for not being prepared. Below is a copy of the reminder slip:
Bruceton School
Name________ Teacher_______
Date_________ Homeroom_____RSP Reminder Slip
1, Be Prepared at all times 2. Walk on the Right
Reteach
Those students who continue to exhibit irresponsibility in following the standards will be given the opportunity to be retaught the skills needed to follow the two standards. After receiving five reminders in any one grading period, students will be assigned to the reteach room. These classes are in different areas at different times for the various grade levels. A teacher or group of teachers will be assigned to the room and will review with the students how they have neglected to be responsible in following the standards. This adds the important component of reteaching the missing skills. So parents can assist in developing their child’s responsible behaviors, a letter will be sent home after the student has been assigned to the reteach room.
Teacher Responsibilities
Reminders are only to be given for the two standards. Reminder slips should not be given for being off task in the classroom. Being off task is a classroom management issue and should be treated accordingly. Reminder slips should not be tied in with detention or other disciplinary action. This is not a discipline program. At the middle school level, students are to fill out reminders slips themselves so the students will be reminded of the proper responsibility. After filling out the slips, the student is to give the top copy back to the teacher and keep the bottom copy for his/her records. If the students wants to erase the reminder off his/her record, the student will need to attach a Bulldog Biscuit to his/her copy and give to the teacher or the record keeper before the school day is over.Since we are asking students to be responsible, they should be given opportunities to be a part of this process. If a student refuses to fill out the reminder, then it has turned into a discipline issue and should be responded to accordingly.
In grades k-5 teachers are responsible for the following:
Filling out reminder slips for violations of the standards, recording in the students’ files, and giving a copy of the slip to the student. Students are responsible for erasing the reminder. Teachers should not remind students if they are close to accumulating five slips. At the different grade levels, teachers should meet and decide at least 3 weeks before the end of each grading period what the reward day activity will be and submit the decision to the RSP committee for approval. Funding and time involved are considerations.