Discipline Policy
Philosophy
It is our belief that school should be a secure, nurturing enviroment that fosters respect for oneself and others and a lifelong love of learning. In support of this we believe every student at Fields Road Elementary School has three essential rights:
- The right to be safe
- The right to feel safe
- The right to learn
These rights come with the following responsibilities:
- To respect the rights of others
- To respect the feelings of others
- To respect the property of others
- To respect adult authority, including teaching and support staff
- To know and follow school rules
In regard to discipline, we adhere to the following premises:
- Most children behave appropiately
- The relationship between teacher, student, and parent is key to a child's success
- Action must be taken when a child deprives others of any of their essential rights
- Disciplinary interventions should be timely, fair, and appropriate.
- Whenever possible, students should be allowed to collaborate on how to redirect their behavior in more appropriate ways
- Serious incidents will be handled in accordance with MCPS guidelines outlined in A Student's Guide to Rights and Responsibilities in MCPS
As a proactive conflict resolution strategy, Fields Road ES students are encouraged to use "DEBUG" to diffuse problems before they escalate. Students follow these steps:
- Decide to Ignore
- Exit, walk away
- Be friendly, talk friendly
- Use firm talk
- Get adult help
Rules and Interventions
Students are expected to demonstrate FRES core values of respect, responsibility, dedication, and safety. The principal had the authority to take any action that applies to specific lack of compliance or student misconduct. The frequency and severity of behaviors will drive the appropriate consequence.