At Friday’s assembly this week, I will dawn a “bucket filling costume” in honor of Project Cornerstone.  This initiative is lead at Almond by an amazing group of parent volunteers.  Each month, children engage with a book that conveys a positive message about making great life choices.  This month it’s about choosing to be BIG; whether that be helping a friend when they get hurt, or not repeating misinformation, or as simple as walking a ball back to the container rather than kicking it into a group peers that could get bonked in the head.  Come join us tomorrow morning as we talk through making the best choices we can to fill people’s buckets.

There are times of course when human nature grabs hold of us and we inevitably make a choice that wasn’t the best.  Here at Almond School, our first approach in addressing this is to redirect the student’s behavior and remind them of the appropriate choice.  After various reminders, the next step is to formalize the unfavorable behavior with a Behavior Communication Notice (also known as a white slip).  Parents have raised concerns with me that a particular offense is not worthy of a notice.  On the form it specifies the following challenging behaviors:  in unsupervised area, leaving trash, misuse of equipment, disrespectful behavior, playing in restroom, not following directions, inappropriate language, aggressive play, teasing/name calling, excluding others from game, throwing item and other.  When a child exhibits any of the aforementioned behaviors, whether in the classroom or on the playground, after a previous redirection, he/she will receive a Behavior Communication Notice.  Our goal is to keep you, the parent, informed and to align our efforts to support your child in making the best decision she/he can when faced with a future similar situation.

I’d also like to pause for a moment and ask for your support on two matters that involve student safety.  Please ensure that you sign in at the office and affix a visitor’s sticker that is visibly present.  I will begin approaching any adults on campus that do not have a sticker and will redirect you to the office.  We appreciate, welcome and value your presence on campus! Please make certain that when you are on campus you are fulfilling a particular purpose that has either been prearranged with a staff member or is supporting the efforts of our PTA.  Secondly, when bringing your children to school in the morning, please know that any staff member in a bright orange vest is on duty supervising student safety.  Please do not engage them in a conversation about your child, as this will take their attention away from their responsibility to supervise student safety.  Instead, please arrange a time with the teacher to have an in depth conversation.

We have an amazing community at Almond School because we do have SO very many children, staff and parents that make fantastic decisions on a daily basis.  Thank you!