Environment - Attendance and Behavior Policies
Attendance and Tardy Policy
Please call the office by 9:00 to excuse a child’s absence.
State law requires schools to withdraw students who have been absent 10 consecutive days. If there is a wait list for the class of the withdrawn student, we are obligated to fill the vacancy in order to continue to receive funding. To avoid excessive absences please schedule vacations during designated school vacations.
Tardy Policy
Education and learning enables and empowers all children. With the help of the community, regular school attendance affords every child the opportunity to learn something new, to build self-esteem, to reinforce positive values, to interact with others and to become an effective, productive citizen.
Please come to school on time! Because we start our day together thoughtfully and lovingly, we don’t want your child to miss the opportunity to begin each day with the class. Classes start promptly at the scheduled time. If a child is late for school, parents must sign them in at the office and pick up a tardy slip.
The Village School works very hard to create a rhythm in the classroom that will lead to a successful day for each child. The first half hour of the day is about grounding children for the rest of the day. The teacher meets each child at the door and greets him and her with a handshake. The class then does Circle and uses movement and rhythm to awaken the body and mind and to integrate the self and connect with the group. Children who start the day with this kind of engagement are less likely to retreat and are more likely to have a successful day. If they miss this, they miss the opportunity to start the day on time and to engage with the group.
The instructional day at the Village school begins at 8:30 AM. We ask your help in ensuring that students are at school and in their seats by 8:30 each morning. So you may want to allow an extra five minutes or so to make this happen. Students who arrive after 8:30 are tardy and must stop in the office to sign in and pick up a tardy pass. Parents of children in Kindergarten through grade four are asked to wait outside the room with their child(ren) until the teacher invites your child(ren) in. Students in grades five through eight are also asked to wait outside the classroom until he class teacher invites them in. The following applies:
1. Students are expected to attend school regularly and on time. The school will keep a record of all student absences and tardies. State law requires the school to contact students’ homes to verify absences.
2. A written verification noting the reason for absence should be signed by the parent or guardian or a doctor and presented to the school when the student returns. Doctor and dental appointments should whenever possible be arranged before or after school.
3. If absent, students must make up work. Arrangements for making up work must be established with the teacher upon the return of the student. If the work is not made up, students will be asked to complete work during “Homework Club.” Extenuating circumstances, however, may be considered in extending the time for make-up.
4. If a child has unexcused tardies and/or absences totaling five school days per grading period, State law requires the school to notify parents of excessive absences and/or tardies which may result in further consequences. Excused tardies and absences include personal illness, doctor/dentist appointments, and family emergencies. The Administrator will reasonably determine any situation in question.
5. When a child arrives late for school three or more days within a two week period, parents will receive a letter from the school.
6. If late arrival persists to the point of being chronic, the student will be reported to the District truancy agent.
The importance of attending school regularly and on time will be stressed in the classroom and at class parent meetings.
Students who attend school on a regular and timely basis have greater opportunities for increased learning. Especially at The Village School, where instructional materials are created by both the teacher and the students within an in-depth Main Lesson block, regular attendance becomes even more important. Attendance and tardiness are monitored on a regular basis and maintained in a data base. Any 2 1/2 hour tardy will constitute a half day unexcused absence.
What is considered an excused tardy?
• A doctor/dental appointment
• Transportation malfunctions
• Family emergency
Attendance
Absences are defined as excused and unexcused.
Excused absence:
• Illness: Parent notifies the school of a student’s absence. This notification should be on the day of the absence. The parent must call the school.
• Planned absence: Parents should make every effort to arrange vacations during school vacation time. If a student must miss school, the parent will notify the school ahead of the planned absence. According to state law the consequence for more than ten consecutive missed school days is un-enrollment.
Unexcused absence:
• Any absence that is not excused by a parent on the day of absence or prearranged before the absence
• The school will monitor unexcused absences. Teachers will discuss the effects of absences on a student’s learning. If unexcused absences exceed four full days or eight half days within a month, the administrator will send a letter notifying the parent with an attachment of the absences. The letter will include the expectation that the parent contact the administrator or teacher if the parent cannot ensure attendance.
• If unexcused absences continue, the school will notify Lane Educational Service District. The ESD will assign an attendance officer to investigate the absences.
Chronic absence
Chronic unexcused absences, those which exceed 4 full unexcused or 8 half unexcused days in 20 school days, will, after parent notification, be forwarded to Lane Education District.
Chronic excused absences will, after several consecutive days and/or 6 per month, require written documentation of the illness or other problem which is causing the student to miss school. The school will notify the parent of that requirement.
School Rules & Behavior Expectations
Be Safe
Solve Problems
Include Everyone
Respect Others
These simple rules provide everyone who comes and goes from the school with the basis for our interactions. They represent the optimum manifestation of a community’s mutual desire for maintaining a safe, happy and productive educational environment.
All Village School students are responsible for applying these rules in the classroom and on the playground. Each year, after an initial introduction of the rules is presented in an all school assembly, teachers spend class time guiding their students in developing a meaningful working relationship to them that is applicable to their choices of behavior throughout their daily school life.
Each year, The Village School staff devotes considerable time to reviewing progress made toward developing a support system that upholds these high level behavioral goals. Families that have been with the school for a number of years will recognize that our definitions of behavior expectations and consequences for when student behavior falls short of those expectations has evolved over time. This evolution represents efforts on the part of staff to be observant of and responsive to what is working and what is not.
Last year, our focus was on bringing consciousness to bullying behaviors. We studied the book, Schools Where Everyone Belongs by Stan Davis and on the basis of this work, developed definitions of bullying behaviors and rubrics for determining consistent consequences when we observed such behaviors. We highly recommend the work of Mr. Davis as a resource for families with school age children. This year, our goal is to establish the beginning of a values-based approach to our disciplinary process. To this end, teachers and staff have been studying among other things, the book, Teaching with Love and Logic by Jim Fay and David Funk. Out of our study, we have identified the following Core Values.
Village School Core Values
The “love and logic” approach calls for identification of core values that guide behavioral choices. During their preparatory meetings in August, The Village School staff identified the following core values that encompass their aspirations for Village School staff, students and parents:
• Every attempt will be made to maintain the dignity and self-respect of students, parents, and teachers.
• Students will be guided and expected to solve their problems without creating problems for anyone else.
• Misbehavior will be handled with natural or logical consequences.
• Misbehavior will be viewed as an opportunity for individual problem-solving and preparation for the real world as opposed to a personal attack on school or staff.
• Students are encouraged to request a “due process hearing” whenever consequences appear to be unfair.
• School problems will be handled by school personnel. Criminal activity will be referred to the proper authorities.
With these core values as a foundation, The Village School staff has developed the behavior guidelines that appear below. We respectfully invite your feedback and interest in our efforts to improve the social culture of our school.
Discipline / Behavior Policy
Objective:
The Village School teachers and staff strive to create a more peaceful world by offering a holistic education that is founded in experiential and authentic learning experiences.
We provide an environment that honors human development and the unfolding of each individual. Our learning communities are guided by the principles of respect, integrity, observation, self-awarness, listening, inquiry and reflection.
In our school, individuals are encouraged to develop positive self-discipline and a sense of accountability, experiencing liberty within limits, while learning to balance freedom and responsibility. Individuals are given the opportunity to become active contributing members of their communities, stewards of the planet, and self aware, creative individuals.
Policy:
At the beginning of each year, classrooms will discuss and establish the behavior expectations for their class communities. Based on classroom contributions, Village School Student Government will give input to the Village School/Ridgeline Montessori School Safety Committee and site-wide behavior expectations will be established for areas outside the classroom.
At The Village School, all feelings can be accepted but certain actions must be limited to:
1. The severity of the act
2. The situation in which it occurred
3. The frequency of behavior problems
4. The needs of the child
Procedures:
All students will be treated as unique individuals. Student behavior problems will, therefore, be handled as unique situations. In the event that the actions of the staff appear to be unfair, the individual may respond by filling out the “Due Process” form available in the School office, visit with the staff member involved, and present the individual’s case. Consequences may be adjusted accordingly. If the needs of the individual have still not been met, the individual may refer to the official Complaint Policy included in The Village School Handbook and the Village School Faculty Handbook.
SHORT TERM RECOVERY SETTINGS
• In Another Area of the Classroom
• In Another Classroom
• In the Office
• At Home
There are four levels to recovery settings that may be used sequentially or bypassed depending on severity:
1. In another area in the classroom
This level of recovery is at the discretion of supervising adult and will align with the Village School Core Values.
2. In another classroom
Students will be sent to an alternate classroom when other preventive measures have not been successful and the student’s behavior is interfering with the learning of others. This will be accompanied by one documented observation.
3. In the Office
For more serious misbehavior and/or repeated misbehavior, students will have a written plan, established with the classroom teacher, for how they intend to address the problem in the future. If this plan has been unsuccessful and two documented observations have been made, students may be required to leave the classroom setting and go to the School Office.
4. At home
Serious violation of the Core Values or repeated misbehavior may result in recovery time at home. This recovery process is at the discretion of the School’s Administrator and the Class Teacher. Please refer to the Village School Disciplinary Rubric below for definitions of and consequences for severe behavior.
In all cases, care will be taken to assure alignment with The Village School Core Values.
In the event that a student does not comply with a supervising adult’s request to leave a learning environment, another adult will attempt to remove the student. If he or she continues to resist, the Administrator or her designee will inform the family of the situation as soon as possible. The family may remove the student from the school setting, or the Administrator or appropriately trained faculty member will physically assist the student to a safe, more appropriate environment.
As stated in the Eugene School District 4j’s Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook:
Students will be subject to discipline, up to and including suspension or expulsion, for misconduct that violates federal, state, county, or city laws or the policies and rules established by the school district, including but not limited to harassment or discrimination, theft, disruption of school, damage or destruction of school property, damage or destruction of private property, assault or threats of harm, unauthorized use of weapons or dangerous instruments, unlawful use of drugs, narcotics, or alcoholic beverages, and persistent failure to comply with rules of the lawful directions of teachers or school officials.
Serious Violations of Core Beliefs
Some examples of severe behaviors include any action that puts one’s own or others’ safety at risk; continued disruption of teaching; refusal to leave the room; continued or severe aggression; threat of severe aggression. These may include any of the following:
• Kicking, hitting, biting, fighting and/or causing physical harm/injury to another
• Severe harassment including bullying
• Stealing including stealing as a bullying behavior
• Running away, hiding, leaving area of instruction without teacher permission including refusal to return to class from outside
• Disruption of school
• Damage or destruction of personal or school property
• Extreme and overt disrespect toward peers and adults
• Threatening others
• Name calling
• Ditching class
• Open defiance or overt disrespect
• Use of profanity/inappropriate language
• Yelling at others
The Village School Rubric for Addressing Serious Violations of Core Beliefs
|
Behavior Time |
First Time |
Second Time |
Third Time |
More than Three |
|
Severe behavior* |
Remove to office, call parents and ask that students be picked up from school and taken home for the rest of the day. |
Remove to office, call parents and ask that students be picked up from school and taken home for the rest of the day. Make app’t. to create Individual Plan with parents, teacher, and Administrator |
Child sent home. Meeting with parents, teacher, Administrator, and child (as appropriate) to review and revise Individual Plan. |
Child sent home. Teacher calls home as soon as possible. Teacher/instructor calls parents within 24 hours. |
|
Severe behavior |
Remove to office for in-school suspension for one day. Student calls parents. |
Two days in-school suspension. Student calls parents. |
Three-day in-school suspension. Student calls parents. |
Three day out of school suspension. Individual Plan for re-entry to school |
All disciplinary responses will be in line with certain legal and ethical issues:
• Special Education Law PL 105-17 I.D.E.A.
Least Restrictive Environment
IEP – Programs individualized and responsive to the child’s needs
Parental Involvement and other due process requirements
Maximum cumulative suspensions
Documentation of interventions
• Ethical Issues
When a child needs constant removal, what is their behavior really saying?
(“I’m not getting what I really need to be successful.”)
Use of this plan is not an excuse to do nothing to help the child.
The child should be involved as much as possible in a plan to prevent frequent use of this approach.
Students will be supervised at all times.
We will continue to demonstrate through our actions, words and attitudes that the child is separate from the behavior and
worthy of our concern and respect.
Conclusion
The more effectively the children work together, the more they can accomplish in school. When the teacher is spending large parts of the day engaged in disciplinary endeavors, significantly less time is available for the curriculum. The Village School staff is confident that consistent application of the definitions and rubric described above will contribute greatly to the growth and success of our students.
Serious Misconduct
The Village School staff has discretionary power to invoke disciplinary actions and procedures in order to maintain a safe climate that is conducive to learning and to the protection of individuals and property. The School administration shall consider the age and past patterns of behavior of a student in determining whether to suspend or expel that student. Before an expulsion can occur there must be a hearing before the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee unless waived by the student’s parent or guardian, or if the student is 18 years of age or older.
Students are encouraged to maintain high standards of academic and personal behavior, not only in accordance with the rights and responsibilities set forth in this Handbook, but with respect toward other students, staff members, and private and public property. Oregon law requires students to comply with the written rules of the school district, to pursue the prescribed course of study, to submit to the lawful authority of staff, and to conduct themselves in an orderly fashion.
Students will be subject to discipline, up to and including suspension or expulsion, for misconduct that violates federal, state, county, or city laws or the policies and rules established by the school district, including but not limited to:
• Possession, handling, or transport of any dangerous weapon(s) or replica or facsimile of a dangerous weapon
• Harassment or discrimination
• Theft
• Disruption of school
• Damage or destruction of school property
• Assault of threats of harm
• Possession or unlawful use of drugs, narcotics, or alcoholic beverages
• Persistent failure to comply with rules of the lawful directions of teachers or school officials.
Eugene School District 4J Policies
1. Violation of the District’s Discrimination and Harassment Policy
Students shall refrain from harassment or discrimination by words or actions based on another person’s disability, race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital status, socioeconomic status, cultural background, familial status, physical characteristics, or linguistic characteristics of a national origin group. Students shall also comply with the district’s nondiscrimination and harassment policy, which is outlined on page one of this Handbook.
2. Theft and Stolen Property
No student shall steal or attempt to steal school property or private property on school property or during a school activity, function, or event that occurs off school property. No student shall have stolen property in his or her possession. Stealing means taking or withholding someone else’s property without permission, or extorting or taking the property by deception.
3. Substantial Disruptions of School and School Activities
Any conduct that substantially disrupts school activity, or is likely to do so, is forbidden. Willful disobedience, open defiance of a staff member’s authority, threats of harm to persons or property, harassment or discrimination prohibited by school rules, including racial and sexual harassment, or language that creates an immediate danger of disruption to the orderly operation of the school or creates a clear and present danger or violation of the law or attendance regulations are prohibited. The unauthorized use of pagers and cellular telephones is likely to disrupt school activity and is prohibited.
4. The Willful Disobedience of a Staff Member’s Authority
Student will submit to the lawful authority of teachers, administrators, and other staff members. If the student believes that a staff member has behaved inappropriately, he/she and his/her parents may use the district’s complaint procedure to resolve the issue.
5. Use or Display of Vulgar and Plainly Offensive, Obscene, or Sexually Explicit Language
The use or display of vulgar and plainly offensive, obscene, or sexually explicit language is prohibited. Clothing with vulgar and plainly offensive, obscene, or sexually explicit references and comments is prohibited.
6. Damage or Destruction of School Property
No student will vandalize or attempt to destroy school property. The district will attempt to recover (through legal action if necessary) from those students or their parents, the actual cost of repair or replacement of school property vandalized or intentionally or recklessly destroyed by students.
7. Damage or Destruction of Private Property on School Premises or During a School-Sponsored Activity
No student sill cause or attempt to cause damage to private property either on the school grounds or during a school activity, function, or event off the school grounds.
8. Coercion, Assault, Menacing, Threats, Intimidation or Harassment
No student will coerce, assault, menace, intimidate, harass, or threaten to harm another person for any reason including to obtain money or other property, or force any person to do any act against the will of that person. Assault means intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing injury to another. Menace means by words or conduct the student intentionally attempts to place another person in fear of imminent serous physical injury.
9. Possession, Handling, or Transport of Any Dangerous Weapon
No student will possess, handle or transmit any object that can reasonably be considered a dangerous weapon on school grounds or off the school grounds at any school-sponsored activity, function, or event, including in a student’s motor vehicle.
A dangerous weapon is defined as any weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance, animate or inanimate, which under the circumstances in which it is used, attempted to be used, or threatened to be used is readily capable of causing death or serious physical injury, or is possessed in a manner in which another person could reasonably consider it to be a dangerous weapon.
Dangerous weapons include, but are not limited to, guns and other firearms, knives, metal knuckles, straight razors, explosives, noxious and irritating gases or chemicals, poisons, drugs, or any other items determined by the building principal or designee to be fashioned with the intent to use or sell or harm, threaten or harass students, staff members, parents, or patrons.
10. Use or Possession of Any Controlled Substances, Including Alcoholic Beverages and Drug Paraphernalia
No student shall possess, use, or transmit any drug paraphernalia or possess, use, transmit, or be under the influence of any controlled substance or intoxicant of any kind on the school grounds or off the school grounds at a school-sponsored activity, function, or event.
Use of a drug authorized by a medical prescription from a registered physician for use during school hours shall not be considered a violation. Students who must take prescription medication at school are to follow district adopted procedures.
11. Violations of City, County, State and Federal Laws While Involved in School Activities
No student shall violate federal, state, county, or city laws while involved in school activities.
12. Misconduct that Occurs Off Campus
Students may face disciplinary consequences for (1) any off-campus behavior that would otherwise tend to disrupt the educational process or the operation of the school or district; (2) for conduct that occurs off the school premises at school-related or supervised functions and at a school bus stop; (3) or for behavior that occurs while traveling to and from school if the behavior has a threatening effect on students safety or physical or mental health.
Cooperation with Law Enforcement Agencies
School officials have dual responsibility. They must safeguard the rights of students, and even represent students in certain situations. They also must cooperate with law enforcement officers in the legitimate pursuit of their duties.
1. Investigations by Law Enforcement Officers
Police officers investigating a case involving an illegal act in which a student may be involved, or about which the student may have information, shall contact the building principal, or his/her designee, before any effort is made to question a student during school hours.
2. Contacting Parents
a. Investigations Related to Illegal Acts that Occur Off-Campus and are Not School-Related: The principal, or his/her designee, will make a reasonable effort to contact the parent, or guardian, when an officer comes to question or arrest a student related to illegal acts that occur off-campus and that are not school related, unless there is reason to believe that such notification would unduly interfere with the investigation, or that the matter pertains to alleged child abuse. If the principal or designee is unable to reach the parent or guardian the officer should not be delayed further. However, a school official should contact the parent or guardian as soon as possible.
b. Investigations Related to Violations of School Policies and Rules: The principal, or his/her designee, may involve a police officer in investigating violations of school policies and rules, including student interviews, without first contacting the parent. However, if during the investigation, a student becomes a focal suspect to an illegal act, then it is the responsibility of the principal or designee to make a reasonable effort to contact the parent or guardian before allowing an officer to proceed with an interview.
3. Questioning of Students
The police officer will observe all the procedural safeguards prescribed by law and his/her agency when questioning a student. An administrator, or designee, will always be present when a student is being questioned, unless the issue pertains to child abuse.
4. Taking a Student from School
The school administrator or designee will not let a police officer, or an official from the Services to Children and Families, take a student from a school building without a court order, an arrest, protective custody from SCF, or permission of the parent or guardian.
This document was produced with contributions from Love and Logic, The Love and Logic Press, the Eugene District 4j Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, and with input from Ridgeline Montessori Public Charter School.
Village School Dress Code
The Village School Dress Code exists to assure that students are prepared to safely and comfortably participate in all the activities of a normal school day. A typical day at the Village School will include many different kinds of physical activities for which it is necessary that children are appropriately clothed. Therefore, clothing should always accommodate the active child and be appropriate for prevailing weather conditions. We ask that families consider the following:
1) Outside play is a part of the daily school routine. Students who come to school properly attired for outdoor activities in all kinds of weather and in clothing that allows for freedom of movement will be best able to fully participate in and enjoy outdoor activities in all kinds of weather.
2) Footwear that allows for freedom of movement and protects the whole foot are essential. Sneakers or athletic shoes best accommodate Movement classes as well as the many indoor and outdoor activities that occur throughout the school day. Flip-flops and shoes that do not cover the back of the foot are strongly discouraged. Shoes with wheels in the heels are not permitted.
3) Village School students enjoy outdoor activities regardless of the weather. Warm and/or waterproof clothing for cold or rainy days as well as proper wet weather shoes are a must.
4) Moderate jewelry may be worn. Dangling earrings can pose a safety hazard. Students will be asked to remove large earrings during Movement classes or during any other activity where they might pose a safety or health hazard. For similar reasons, we ask that students do not wear chains or spikes to school.
5) It is a good idea to keep a change of clothes at school for your child.
In the interests of the School’s intrinsic aesthetic values, we make the following requests regarding choices of attire:
1) We appreciate neatness!
2) We seek to avoid clothing that is distracting or provocative. Positive imagery on clothing in the form of logos or other graphics and that is minimally commercial is acceptable. We will not allow violent imagery or advertisements of illegal substances on campus.
3) While sleeveless shirts may be worn to school, skimpy tops that expose waists, cleavage, and backs such as halter or cropped-tops are unacceptable. All underwear must be completely covered. Transparent/see-through clothing may not be worn to school.
4) Skirts, shorts and skorts are acceptable as long as they allow freedom of movement without exposure. A good rule of thumb is that the hemline be no higher than the tips of the fingers when the student is standing with arms down at their sides.
5) Pants and shorts should be in good condition and should fully cover underwear. Baggy, saggy trousers that expose the top of one’s undergarments are unacceptable.
6) Natural looking make-up may be worn in moderation by 7th and 8th grade students.
Consequences for Non-compliance with the Dress Code
ß Children who arrive at school dressed inappropriately will be asked to change into alternative clothing that is available in classrooms and in the office.
ß Children who fail to arrive at school with athletic shoes / sneakers for movement classes will be loaned spare shoes provided to them by the Movement Teacher.
ß In cases of repeated non-compliance, parents will be contacted and asked to bring a change of appropriate clothing to school for their student(s).
Cultural practices will be honored in dress and jewelry as approved by the teachers.
We ask that parents and students honor and respect the Village School Dress Code. The need for continuing and frequent reminders to students to comply with the Dress Code can have a negative and erosive effect on the student-teacher relationship that can ultimately undermine the educational process. Parents please discuss the Dress Code with your student(s) and check in with them before you leave your homes in the morning to be sure that their choices of attire are in line with the School’s requirements.
Current trends and fads will be addressed as they arise. The teachers have discretion to determine whether their students are in compliance with the Village School Dress Code. On occasion under special circumstances, teachers may communicate additional requirements with regard to student attire.
Other Considerations
Wheels
There are a few other ways that Village School families are asked to support the School’s educational environment. While we encourage bicycle riding, for safety reasons we ask that you inform your children that they may not ride their bicycles on School grounds. In addition, skate boards, scooters, and unicycles must be “parked” as soon as the student(s) arrive on the school grounds. Skateboards, scooters, or unicycles may be left in the classroom or in the School Office during the school day.
Electronic Devices
Electronic devices such as iPods, video games or Game Boys, and cell phones are not allowed to be carried by students onto the campus. The goal here is to protect the learning environment from the distractions that can arise in the presence of these devices. In isolated cases, parents may arrange with the School for their child to carry a cell phone with the agreement that it is to be used only under certain extenuating circumstances that will be communicated to the Class Teacher and/or the Administrator.