School & Playground Rules
Please refer to the district handbook for specific policies.
General School Rules
- Refrain from interrupting the learning environment
- Remember why you are here and stay on task
- Be polite and considerate, NO name calling
- Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself
- No fighting or play fighting allowed
- Do not use obscene gestures or language
- Clean up after yourself
- Keep Birney safe and clean
- Walk on campus at all times
Please be aware that the following items are not allowed at School:
- Toys (including trading cards) and electronics
- Pets
- More than $5 cash
- Matches, lighters, knives, fireworks, or weapons of any kind
- Illegal drugs or alcohol
- Inappropriate clothing
- Inappropriate reading materials or videos/cds/dvds/etc
Cafeteria Behavior
Every student is expected to buy or bring lunch. While eating meals in the cafeteria, all students are expected to follow these guidelines:
- Practice good manners and socialize quietly
- Leave the table and surrounding area clean and orderly
- Put trash in proper containers
Playground Behavior
- Any physical violence will result in an immediate referral to the office
- Use equipment properly and safely
- All slides are for going DOWN, feet first
- On the spiral slide, wait until the person in front of you "disappears" before you slide down
- All stairs are for going UP. If you want to go down, use the slide or fireman's pole
- Stay within the playground boundaries and do not leave the playground without permission
- Fighting and rough play is never acceptable (see #1)
- Respectful language is expected at all times (no back talk or profanity)
- Do not dig on the playground
- Deposit little in the trash can
- Do not run on the black-top
- Do not sit, wait, or play in the restrooms
- Follow the directions of staff members, volunteers, and Peacemaker Pals
We teach Birney students to solve problems:
- Talk it over and listen to others
- Apologize, say "I'm sorry" or "I didn't mean to" in a sincere fashion
- Ask a friend or grown up for help
- Take turns
- Share
- Ignore it/Walk away
- Write a plan
- Find something else to do
- Use "I" message ("I feel ______ when you ______ because ______."
Behavioral Rewards
Monthly Awards Assembly: At the end of each month, an awards assembly will be held (1:30pm for Grades 1 and 2, 2:10pm for Grades 3-5). Awards are based on academic merit, effort, or character and parents are encouraged to attend. You will receive notification from your child's teacher if your child is receiving an award and you may be asked to keep it a secret!
Birney Bucks: Students can earn "Birney Bucks" for earning gold cards or for having excellent behavior. During STAR testing in May, students can earn Birney Bucks each day. Birney Bucks can be used to purchase prizes from a special catalog.
Gold Cards and the Wall of Fame: Students can earn Gold Cards for having exemplary behavior. Gold Cards are based on the six pillars(trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship), his/her picture and name are added to the Wall of Fame in the cafeteria. Gold Cards may be earned in the classroom or on the playground.
Consequences
Because students are made aware of the limits allowed and an equal balance of empathy and natural or logical consequences replace punishment whenever possible, the following types of disciplinary actions may occur but are not limited to:
- Problem solving assignments
- Time in alternate classroom
- Visit to the principal
- Campus clean up duty
- Loss of privileges
- Behavior contracts
- Parent conferences
- Referral to Student Study Team
- Referral to SARB (School Attendance Review Board)
- In school suspension
- Out of school suspension
- Expulsion
In no situation will any student be allowed to threaten the health, safety, or welfare of fellow students and/or staff members. Under any of these or similar circumstances, district procedures will be followed.