This year, we are taking a positive approach to addressing our school climate and supporting our students as they learn lifelong skills for being part of a community. Over the summer, several teachers came together to identify what values we hold as a school and how our expectations of behavior can support those values.

The committee decided on a new pledge for our school that supports our shared values: I take care of myself, I take care of others, I take care of this place.

On the second day of school, we held a schoolwide expectations walk to provide an opportunity for all students, preschool through fifth grade, to hear clear expectations for behavior while in different locations around the school (i.e. hallway, cafeteria, playground, and school bus). Our goal was to clearly pre-teach what we expect to see and explain why everyone's behavior is important and impactful.

Below, you can check out some of the resources that we use as a school to support our shared behavior and expectations within the school. 

Each morning, students have the opportunity to recite the Highland Hawk Pledge to start our day with our values at the forefront. We've included posters with reminders to students about the expectations we are all held to in each location throughout the school. Staff members at our school use common language about expectations to keep communication clear and consistent.

All of these efforts fuel our Hawk of the Week awards, which recognize students as they strive to take care of themselves, each other, and this place.