Principal Update – September 21, 2012

During our Accreditation process and within our School Improvement Team, we identify challenges within our school and develop action plans to address and improve them.  One particular challenge, creating a consistent, school-wide behavioral management plan, is a major area of focus for the current school year. We researched a variety of different models used in schools to help find the right fit for the students at Saint Pat’s. Based on our staff’s past experiences and vision for the future, we have chosen to adopt The Responsible Thinking Process.

The Responsible Thinking Process is about teaching our students how to get along with one another through mutual respect and to provide individuals the tools for handling conflicts. The overarching emphasis is to teach accountability and self-discipline. Both aid in strengthening and freeing a person rather than making the person struggle against himself/herself – or against other people. We want students to identify and discuss their actions instead of our teachers having to tell them what they may have done or what rule they may have broken.

Our teachers have implemented the process into each of their classrooms to start the school year. Students have made agreed upon classroom rules that each teacher helped facilitate. If a particular student is having any difficulty, the teacher will ask the students a series of questions that help the individual identify and admit what the behavior problem is. If the problem persists, the students will be asked to develop a plan that includes identifying what rules they are breaking, and will create a plan of action that allows them to be a productive member of the classroom community. Both teacher and student must agree that the plan is appropriate and works within the rules of the classroom.

Attached to this letter is a simple summary of the procedures that teachers are using with students that should help to understand the process. I have personally used these procedures as a teacher in the past and have found it to be extremely helpful to students, teachers and even parents at home. Please review the attached information, I am more than happy to discuss this in detail if there are any additional questions. More information can be found at http://www.responsiblethinking.com. I also have copies of the book “Discipline for Home and School” for anyone who would like to use this at home.