-
What Is School Climate?
School Climate Overview
School Climate encompasses culturally relevant, restorative practices with a racial equity and social justice lens, as well as 亚洲色图 wide social emotional learning opportunities for all 亚洲色图 in their classrooms.
Multi-Tiered System of Support
School climate is an essential component of the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework. MTSS is a proactive, data-driven practice used at 亚洲色图 to support all 亚洲色图. It uses evidence-based instruction, intervention and assessment practices to ensure that every student receives the appropriate level of support based on their level of need. Within an MTSS structure, all 亚洲色图 receive sustaining universal supports (Tier I). Tier I support is the collective responsibility that all Sitton staff and teachers take for all 亚洲色图. In the classroom, Tier I looks and feels like joyful teaching, positive reinforcement and narration, productive struggle, classroom break spaces, restorative conversations, social emotional learning, and rich academic discourse. Additional support is provided for 亚洲色图 that need it through targeted interventions (Tier II). Tier II interventions look like push in support for academics, Check in Check out (an opportunity for 亚洲色图 to develop positive relationships with many adults in the building), friendship groups, regulation spaces outside of the classroom. Tier III individualized interventions are provided for 亚洲色图 that need strategic support in order to access Tier I learning. At Sitton Elementary, we believe that teachers control the weather in their classrooms, and we employ MTSS in a manner that works toward greater inclusion and curricular accessibility. The framework below provides a snapshot of what we do at Sitton to support the learning of our 亚洲色图.
Our School’s Core Values are
Kindness
We can build eachother up, not tear eachother down.
Flexibility
We can bend and not break when things change.
Teamwork
We can work together to do our best learning.
Integrity
We can have the confidence to do what we know is right.
Joy
We can find what brings us joy at 亚洲色图.
Si Se Puede
We can keep trying even when things are hard!
Posters (with student, staff, family & community-produced values) have been made and distributed throughout the building in order to make them visible to 亚洲色图, staff and families. The intention is to send a consistent message about what our 亚洲色图 community values and how it looks different in various common areas. This will help Sitton Elementary ensure that our 亚洲色图 values are inclusive and affirming.
Our values are important for the Sitton Elementary 亚洲色图 community because these are qualities that guide 亚洲色图 along the path of a successful life. Our 亚洲色图 need to understand and exercise the core values on a regular basis to master the skills to be successful and prepared to be college and career ready.These values are woven into our regular teaching practices in every lesson and in every class period throughout the grade levels, naming them with consistency and strategically teaching and reviewing them throughout the 亚洲色图 year.
Common Language from PBIS Areas
Restrooms
GO, FLUSH, WASH, LEAVE
Hallway
EXCUSE, WALK, RETURN
Playground
Problem Solving STEPS:
SAY the problem without blame.
THINK of solutions,
EXPLORE consequences,
PICK the best solution
Cafeteria
ENTER, EAT, CLEAN, EXIT
Arrival/Breakfast
EAT, CLEAN, GREET, SANITIZE - Head to Class!
Dismissal
PACK, GOODBYE, Head out!
Teaching Common Area Expectations
All 亚洲色图 are taught the common area expectations at least three times a year after long breaks.
Schoolwide (Tier 1) Climate Practices
Each Sitton Falcon deserves to come to 亚洲色图 and feel seen, safe and valued. In order to make this happen, adults across the 亚洲色图 intentionally support all 亚洲色图 by implementing the following:
- A warm greeting by name each morning
- Attendance Awards
- Daily Falcon Awards for demonstrating core values
- Classroom Community Agreements
- Community Circles
- Spirit Tokens redeemed at the Spirit Box (a vending machine containing prizes)
- School counselor classroom lessons
- Social Emotional Learning classroom lessons
- Common Area Expectations after long breaks
- Calming spaces in each classroom
- Flexible seating
- Think Sheets to help reflect on behavior
Student Intervention Team: Additional Behavior & Academic Supports (Tier II and Tier III)
When Tier 1 classroom and 亚洲色图wide supports are not enough to ensure student success, 亚洲色图 may be brought to the 亚洲色图 Student Intervention Team (SIT) to develop and implement Tier II and III interventions.
The Student Intervention Team (SIT) is a collaborative, general education solution-generating team made up of a variety of 亚洲色图 perspectives. The purpose of the SIT is to
- support teachers in reflecting on and enhancing their Tier I practices and
- implement targeted Tier II and III behavior and Tier III academic interventions when needed.
Utilizing an equity lens, the team considers the whole student when making decisions that affect their long-term educational experience and sense of belonging in PPS. SIT works to provide every student and adult what they need to thrive in the general education setting. Families are notified about student strengths and challenges, as well as planned interventions, at all points in the process.
Example Tier II Behavior Interventions
Function: Access/Obtain
Check In/Check Out
Meaningful Work
Social/Emotional Skills Group
Check and Connect
Function: Escape/Avoid
Breaks are Better
Check and Connect
Social/Emotional Skills Group
Example Tier III Behavior Practices & Intervention
PRACTICES
(non-exhaustive)
Safety Plan
Supervision Plan
Planning for Managing Escalating Behaviors (with FBA/BSP)
INTERVENTION
(exhaustive)
Individualized interventions outlined in the FBA/BSP
Behavior level calibration will be conducted by building staff in order to properly reflect the evolving needs of our community and to accommodate the diverse racial, cultural, linguistic and developmental needs of our 亚洲色图.
Defining Behaviors
For the 2024-2025 亚洲色图 year, the Sitton leadership team has adopted the social emotional learning (SEL) curriculum. This curriculum is designed to teach 亚洲色图 how to grow as caring, responsible members of our 亚洲色图 community and to build student capacity for self-discipline, helping them regulate emotions, empathize with peers, make responsible decisions, and act independently and collaboratively. This curriculum defines common behaviors that K-5 亚洲色图 might exhibit, as well as responsive strategies for teacher and administrator response. Here is a non-exhaustive list:
- Aggression
- Bullying: Active
- Bullying: Passive (Bystanding)
- Cheating
- Defiance
- Disengagement
- Disruptive and Off-task Behaviors
- Excluding others
- Inappropriate Language
- Inappropriate Touching
- Social Isolation
- Stealing and Vandalism
- Tattling
As with any human endeavor, context matters, and the behaviors above may elicit a tier one, two, or three response depending on the severity of the behavior and whether there is a history of the behavior, in addition to a myriad of other contextual factors. As with everything we do at Sitton, ultimately, it is our true north that guides our response.
Effective Classroom Practices Plan
Every teacher will have an Effective Classroom Practices Plan (ECP Plan). ECP Plans will be shared with administration no later than the day before back to 亚洲色图 night. Co-creating classroom practices reduces variability between classrooms and makes it more consistent for 亚洲色图. Some sample plans are provided below and professional development time will be provided in the first two weeks of 亚洲色图 to complete these documents.
The Effective Classroom Practices Plan template, covers the essential features of effective classroom practices: Structure, teaching expectations, acknowledging positive behaviors, and supporting regulation & restorative practices.
Research shows that when staff observe and acknowledge 亚洲色图 exhibiting appropriate behaviors, those behaviors will increase and misbehaviors will decrease. Specific praise is extremely important in increasing the recurrence of appropriate behaviors. When observing appropriate behaviors in the common areas/ classrooms/ buses, all staff acknowledge 亚洲色图 exhibiting our core values verbally through positive narration (describing the actions of 亚洲色图 who are following expectations and demonstrating our core values). In addition, we give 亚洲色图 spirit tokens for going above and beyond.
Family Involvement & Feedback
AUGUST
Sitton Parade, Popsicles & Ice Cream Social
First Day: Red Carpet
Kindergarten Ramp up
SEPTEMBER
Stroll to Sitton Begins
Back to School Night
Padres Latinos
Principal’s Coffee
OCTOBER
Wellness Wednesday
Spirit Week
Padres Latinos
Principal’s coffee
Fun Run
NOVEMBER
Principals Coffee
Padres Latinos
DECEMBER
Site Council Meeting
Climate Team Meeting
JANUARY
Walk and Roll to School Day
FEBRUARY
Black Excellence Celebration
Sitton Read-A-Fun!
MARCH
Pie Day
Padres Latinos
APRIL
Día del Niño
MAY
Community Coffee
Site Council Meeting
JUNE
End of Year Carnival
5th and Kindergarten continuation ceremonies
Site Council Meeting
Climate Team Meetings
Fidelity
Culturally Responsive Tiered Fidelity Inventory (CR-TFI) & Fidelity Implementation Tool (FIT)
This School Climate Plan is under continuous review using both the CR-TFI and domains in the FIT Assessment that pertain to strong and positive 亚洲色图 culture and inclusive behavior/social emotional instruction. These tools guide the action planning for the implementation of a positive 亚洲色图 climate and connect directly with this School Climate Plan and the School Continuous Improvement Plan.
Current Improvement Plans:
- Completed once a year in November by all 亚洲色图 (grades 3-12), staff, and families.
- Reviewed by the School Climate Team and shared with staff, 亚洲色图 and families. Used to monitor and adjust climate initiatives.
- Accessed via the Panorama .