Hearts (Character)

Hearts: Character & Behavior

“Education isn’t just about reading, writing, and arithmetic. It’s also about the life, citizenship, and value of being a good person. And when a school teaches these things, a child’s world – and perhaps the whole world around us – will begin to change.” -Charles C. Haynes & Marvin W. Berkowitz

Hexter Elementary has a comprehensive character education program comprised of school-wide rules, campus and classroom commitments, positive discipline, and parent involvement. Hexter has only 3 school rules, but these rules are broad and encompass every positive character trait. While the rules may have different expectations depending on the class and activity, all teachers, staff, students, parents, and visitors are expected to follow the 3 school-wide rules at all times. The rules, and sample expectations, are as follows:

Be Respectful	Be Responsible	Be a Good Citizen
Use kind words Say please and thank you Share and take turns Help others	Finish class and homework Clean up after yourself Take care of your belongings Do the right thing	Follow rules Recycle and don’t litter Work with others Get involved

Not only do we emphasize the school rules in everything we do, we also provide direct character education through regular classroom visits from the school counselor and weekly class meetings where students are able to create a supportive community with their peers.

Schoolwide Behavior Management Plan

Throughout the day, teachers and students use misbehavior and peer conflicts to learn and practice social skills such as self-control, empathy, effective communication, and problem solving. Under the supervision of a teacher, students who correct misbehavior or respectfully solve their problem with another student will be on “GREEN” at the end of the day. If a student continues to disrupt learning by engaging in inappropriate behavior, she will be removed from the rest of the class and will be given time to write a reflection about her behavior and will earn a “YELLOW” for the day. If the misbehavior continues, a conference will be scheduled with parents and/or an office referral will be written, and the student will end the day on “RED.”

Green: Positive behavior with reminders and support

Yellow: Continued misbehavior, time out and written reflection

Red: Persistent misbehavior, parent conference and/or office referral

Please join us at home by reinforcing the value of being a good person and making good choices. Students who learn and practice being respectful, responsible, and good citizens will be better prepared to succeed in school and in life. As parents and educators, our hope is that our students become intelligent, caring, and conscientious citizens of the world.

RESOURCES

http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/index.html

http://www.stopbullying.gov/index.html

http://familytlc.net/index.html

http://www.servicelearning.org/

http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

http://www.values.com/