Social Matters and Student Expectations

Early Childhood and Lower School

Behavior

In Early Childhood, children are learning how the world works and deciphering the many rules adults make. Children model the behavior that they see, and repeat the behaviors that get them desired results. We have empathy for all people as they engage in the life lessons of practicing kindness, respect, responsibility and honesty toward others and learning how to "get along.” Undesirable behaviors are often developmentally appropriate. It is important to understand the reasons behind why a child might throw, hit, bite or spit before a judgment is passed on their character or the parenting in the home or the supervision of the teacher.

St. Anne’s School’s Early Childhood division has a three step approach to supporting children’s positive behaviors and irreproachable conduct.

Model positive behaviors and appropriate language.
Prevent misbehavior through attentive, compassionate supervision and the design of curriculum and the learning environment.
Redirect children to different activities or locations if they have trouble exhibiting self-control.

All human beings want to feel respect and self-worth and have a sense of belonging. We focus not on punishment, but on social learning and education. Parents are invited to share their strategies with staff as they prepare their child to be a happy, successful adult.

It is possible that some children may exhibit consistent negative behaviors that are detrimental to the ongoing safety and security of the children in the program. Such situations will be handled discreetly and with compassion. St. Anne’s School staff will work with parents to determine an appropriate individualized strategy that best supports the needs of the child.

Toileting and Bathroom Matters

Children must be potty trained in order to attend the Preschool or Prekindergarten classes. We have found that, with encouragement and positive partnership between home and school, most young children make it through the school day. Our accreditations, facility limitations, and health/safety regulations do not permit us to have students who aren’t potty trained, in diapers or “pull-up” trainer pants. Please send an extra set of clothing in case of an accident. We will put the child’s first set of garments in a baggie and send them home with him/her.

Our goal is to have every child feel happy and comfortable and accident free for the duration s/he is in the morning program. We look at each case individually when a child begins to have accidents with some frequency, and we will be in close conversation with you about this. We will call home if your child becomes overly upset about an accident, or if there is more than one accident during the day. We will work with the child and the family (finding out what “works” at home, being consistent at school, offering gentle and caring reminders, making frequent “bathroom stops,” especially in the first month of school).

Typically, if the child has a third accident within a week’s time or four accidents within a two week time span, the school will ask the parent to keep the child at home for a short amount of time and work on learning to use the bathroom in order to make it through the school day accident free. We want to be supportive of each family’s efforts, and the teacher, along with the EC Program Coordinator and the Associate Head of School, will talk together with the family to create a plan and time line for having the child return to school. Again, we want each child to feel safe, comfortable, and confident and to be part of a learning process in this area that promotes confidence and alleviates stress for the child and the family.

Middle School

Discipline

We expect all middle school students at St. Anne’s School of Annapolis to be positive, contributing members of our community, and to act with respect, responsibility, honesty, kindness, and common sense.

Our discipline process is aligned with the guidelines of Developmental Designs which is under the umbrella of the Northeast Foundation for Children. This approach includes the following guiding principles:

Teaching respect and caring as the basis for interaction so that everyone feels significant and included.
Identifying with students, clear, meaningful boundaries for behavior so that everyone feels safe.
Emphasizing cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control through the teaching day.

Students create a Social Contract at the start of the school year and are expected to follow the contact. Consequences for deviations from this contract include, but are not limited to:

A brief time out within the classroom (Take a break)
Time out from the classroom (Buddy Room)
A “fix-it” plan
Advisor and/or teacher meeting
Communication with parents which may include a conference
Removal from a special activity including recess

Academic Honesty

In an academic community, honesty in academic matters is essential to maintaining trust. The Middle School faculty helps students to understand issues of honesty, particularly those involving the integrity of individual work. Cheating includes, but is not limited to:

Intentionally using or giving unauthorized aid on any work and then having the recipient representing it as his/her own.
Copying the school’s software, using illegally copied software, or copying an electronic file.
Passing information, either general or specific, about a test or quiz to any student who has not yet taken it.
Taking someone’s ideas or words and presenting them as your own.
Each teacher will set his/her guidelines about collaboration for each specific assignment. If there is ever any doubt as to what is appropriate, the student should consult with the teacher.

Suspendible Offenses

While we strive to work within a proactive system, occasionally student behavior may call for a more reactive consequence which could include an in-house or at-home suspension. These behaviors include, but are not limited to:

Vandalism and the destruction of property
Plagiarism
Fighting
Stealing
Cheating/Lying
Racial, ethnic, or sexual slurs and/or harassment
Smoking on campus, field trips, or camping trips
Possession of knives, weapons, firearms, lighters, or small explosives
Verbal or physical threats
Use of illegal substances at school or on field trips
Repeated disciplinary offenses

Expulsion

St. Anne’s School desires to retain all students; occasionally it is necessary to expel a student because of either repetition of violations or a grave infraction of school rules.

Drug Policy

The possession, use, solicitation, distribution, exchange or sale of drugs including alcohol on campus or at a school sponsored event is absolutely forbidden. No drugs or medicines may be brought to school or used on the grounds except under the specific supervision of the front office. Students should not come to events under the school’s jurisdiction having used drugs or alcohol. St. Anne’s School jurisdiction extends to any event sponsored by a school organization. Such events include, but are not limited to: plays, concerts, games, trips, and social events. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of and uphold the rules of the school. Violation of the drug policy may result in suspension or expulsion.

Discipline Committee

For serious violations, a discipline committee chaired by the division head will be convened to consider consequences, and will make a recommendation to the Head of the School, who will make the final disciplinary decision.