Principal McCollom's Notes

For the last two years, we have been learning about dignity as a school community: What is it? How do we honor it? How can it be violated? Why is it important? 4th and 5th Graders have been learning about the 10 elements of honoring dignity (see above), and the 10 temptations to violate it. Students have been thinking about what is important to them and the ways they want to be treated at school.

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been noticing some patterns of low level unkind or disrespectful behavior between students in 4th and 5th grade. This is not uncommon as students move up in the grades and explore new found privileges and responsibilities, and test boundaries. When we see this starting to happen as adults, we know that there is probably far more going on than we are seeing. Students are very good about taking responsibility for behavior when they feel like they can talk about it in a non-threatening way, and coming up with ways to improve and have school be a place that everyone wants to be.

Yesterday, our Student Advocate and I met with all 4th and 5th graders to have this conversation. They were able to list the behaviors that have happened that violate dignity and make school harder for all students. They also came up with a list of behaviors that we would like to see, honor people's dignity and make school a more welcoming place (see pictures below). I gave each student a list of the 10 elements of honoring dignity and had them rank them in importance for them personally. I also had the do a quick self-assessment on how they think they are doing with honoring people's dignity, which areas they are strong in, and areas. they could pay more attention to. Ask your student what they value the most, it is an important perspective to have!

Next month, 5th graders have a leadership and learning opportunity to be a part of our school Kindness Club. In that club, students learn what it means to be kind, as opposed to being nice. They come up with ways that they can encourage kindness across the school and lead the implementation of those ideas. Many of our students look forward to this a a rite of passage as a 5th grader!

4th and 5th graders are all eligible to become Jr. Coaches! Jr. Coaches take on a leadership role at recess and help lead group games, as well as help other students solve low level problems using a problem solving wheel. They also look for students doing the right thing and acknowledge and encourage them (and sometimes even give a bobcat ticket!) We have lots of student applications in! The first meeting will be next Wednesday for some initial training, then Jr. Coaches meet once a month for the remainder of the school year. Jr. Coaches make a commitment to serve in semester terms. The first group will serve through winter break, and then will be able to decide if they want to continue for the second semester. Students who didn't choose to participate first semester will have another opportunity to join after winter break.

Student council is open for any 5th grader to apply. This group advises the principal on how things going from the student perspective; what they appreciate about school ,what could use some improvement, and what new ideas t hey have to make our school a better place. Interested students can write me a letter explaining why they are interested in student council and what makes them a good candidate.

Please remember that the state law and district policy against student having personal electronic devices at school. This applies to any device that can be connected to the internet or can make calls, including cell phones, smart watches, tablets, or any other device with those capabilities.

If we see these devices at school, students will be asked once to put them in their backpack. If we see them again, we will hold the device in the office for a parent to come and get. Students can use a school phone to call home if they need to.