School Wide Positive Behavior Expectations

 

The classroom management and discipline plan for Walter J Baird Middle School has been developed using School-Wide Positive Behavior Support guidelines.  An important part of the plan is teaching the expected behaviors in specific areas of the school: classroom, gymnasium, cafeteria, restrooms, hallway, bus, media center, lab settings, special event/assembly, field trip, emergency procedures, arrival/dismissal areas, and bus.   Reminding students of the expectations through re-teaching is also a part of the process throughout the school year. Students are rewarded to encourage compliance with the expectations and offered incentive events throughout the year as another reward for following expectations.

School Wide Positive Behavior Support (SWPBS) is systematic and individualized strategies for achieving important social and learning outcomes while preventing problem behavior with all students.  SWPBS is a combination of effective practices that: teaches and encourages respectful, responsible behaviors and uses data continuously to support decision-making. It also creates an individualized, total school climate that supports staff and student behavior and encourages family engagement.

The outcomes of utilizing SWPBS are:  increased instructional time, improved staff and student attendance, increased student proficiency, increased parent participation and partnerships, improved community involvement and support, and a decrease in staff turnover.

Every classroom teacher will develop rules and expectations for acceptable behavior for his/her classroom in compliance with the overall school plan.  The rules and expectations will be communicated to the students and parents/guardians. The teacher will handle consequences for violations of the classroom rules. When inappropriate behavior from a particular student continues to occur or is a major event, an office referral form becomes necessary.

The Lebanon Special School District Middle Schools Office Referral Form will be used to record inappropriate behavioral events resulting in an office visit.  Students will receive a copy of the referral which provides information on the Problem Behaviors, Possible Motivation, Others Involved, Administrative Action, and Student Response to take home to parents.  The problem behaviors are identified based on consistent definitions for the types of unacceptable behavior which result in office referrals.  

The three school-wide rules are:  Be Ready, Display Respect, and Practice Responsibility

The preferred method of handling student behavior will always be the positive approach, with rewards given to encourage and acknowledge students that are exhibiting the desired behavior.   Office discipline referrals will be utilized when this approach has not been effective.