At recent Laker Junior High and Laker High School Pride Assemblies, during which pieces of positive news are shared with students and staff, some Information was shared about disciplinary issues. It was the kind of news any school would love to share – many schools would want to shout it from a mountain top (or, at least, the tallest building in the area).
Laker Secondary School Principal Brian Keim talked with students and staff about the number of discipline incidents during the first marking period of 2013-14 and compared it with the first marking period of this school year. He also shared disciplinary information from six years ago and how those figures compare to this year.
He said in 2009-10, junior high/high school discipline referrals totaled more than 1,600 for the school year. For 2014-15, that figure is expected to be less than 400, based on first marking period totals.
In 2009-10, discipline referrals for defiance/disrespect – considered the most detrimental kind of discipline referral by administrators – made up about 50-60 percent of the total number of discipline referrals. This school year, it’s expected that less than a quarter of discipline referrals will be because of defiance/disrespect.
Between last year and this year, comparing first marking periods, total discipline referrals fell by one half.
This positive trend is something Secondary School Principal Brian Keim is thrilled to see because fewer discipline issues add up to a much more positive school environment for everyone.
"Studies show student discipline is a good measurement of your overall school culture,” Keim said. “When discipline referrals are high, your school culture is likely suffering. When discipline referrals are low, school culture is typically in better shape. And when specific types of discipline referrals, such as defiance and disrespect, are low, your school culture is probably very healthy.”
Keim said creating a healthy school culture can be slow and difficult, and requires a total team effort, but is the key to building a successful school.
“Once that is in place, your academics, athletics, school spirit and community support all begin to grow,” he said. “I believe we are coming into that kind of time right now in our building, and it's very exciting to see."
Keim said combined efforts of administration, staff and students - along with positive effects from the Rachel's Challenge program - have made very positive differences in the number of discipline referrals.
Laker Elementary making strides of its own
Laker Elementary also is on a positive trend in improving school culture, as it recently received a federal $1.83 million School Climate Transformation grant for positive behavior support and behavior intervention initiatives. The five-year grant allowed the school to employ multiple staff members to work with the most at-risk students so they can get the assistance they need as early as possible. Helping to prevent significant behavior issues is a very important goal because of the positive effect it has on the entire student body, said Elementary Principal Kathy Dickens.
Those hired as behavior interventionists include Kelsey McCormick, Jim Steinman, Michelle Wolschleger and Aimee Lemke. Behavior Coach Rebecca Krohn will continue in her role.
“This grant will allow us to put more feet on the floor to help our at-risk students,” Dickens said. “Paperwork (alone) doesn’t solve behavior issues.”
The grant also will be used to bolster the school’s efforts in encouraging consistent positive behavior for all students. The school already does a number of activities (Anchor Assemblies, Lighthouse rewards, Spotlight Breakfasts, Fun Days, etc.) and the grant will allow for more of these types of positive behavior programs. Positive behavior and academic success go hand-in-hand, Dickens said, so spending time and resources on behavior programs is well worth the investment.
Laker Secondary School Principal Brian Keim talked with students and staff about the number of discipline incidents during the first marking period of 2013-14 and compared it with the first marking period of this school year. He also shared disciplinary information from six years ago and how those figures compare to this year.
He said in 2009-10, junior high/high school discipline referrals totaled more than 1,600 for the school year. For 2014-15, that figure is expected to be less than 400, based on first marking period totals.
In 2009-10, discipline referrals for defiance/disrespect – considered the most detrimental kind of discipline referral by administrators – made up about 50-60 percent of the total number of discipline referrals. This school year, it’s expected that less than a quarter of discipline referrals will be because of defiance/disrespect.
Between last year and this year, comparing first marking periods, total discipline referrals fell by one half.
This positive trend is something Secondary School Principal Brian Keim is thrilled to see because fewer discipline issues add up to a much more positive school environment for everyone.
"Studies show student discipline is a good measurement of your overall school culture,” Keim said. “When discipline referrals are high, your school culture is likely suffering. When discipline referrals are low, school culture is typically in better shape. And when specific types of discipline referrals, such as defiance and disrespect, are low, your school culture is probably very healthy.”
Keim said creating a healthy school culture can be slow and difficult, and requires a total team effort, but is the key to building a successful school.
“Once that is in place, your academics, athletics, school spirit and community support all begin to grow,” he said. “I believe we are coming into that kind of time right now in our building, and it's very exciting to see."
Keim said combined efforts of administration, staff and students - along with positive effects from the Rachel's Challenge program - have made very positive differences in the number of discipline referrals.
Laker Elementary making strides of its own
Laker Elementary also is on a positive trend in improving school culture, as it recently received a federal $1.83 million School Climate Transformation grant for positive behavior support and behavior intervention initiatives. The five-year grant allowed the school to employ multiple staff members to work with the most at-risk students so they can get the assistance they need as early as possible. Helping to prevent significant behavior issues is a very important goal because of the positive effect it has on the entire student body, said Elementary Principal Kathy Dickens.
Those hired as behavior interventionists include Kelsey McCormick, Jim Steinman, Michelle Wolschleger and Aimee Lemke. Behavior Coach Rebecca Krohn will continue in her role.
“This grant will allow us to put more feet on the floor to help our at-risk students,” Dickens said. “Paperwork (alone) doesn’t solve behavior issues.”
The grant also will be used to bolster the school’s efforts in encouraging consistent positive behavior for all students. The school already does a number of activities (Anchor Assemblies, Lighthouse rewards, Spotlight Breakfasts, Fun Days, etc.) and the grant will allow for more of these types of positive behavior programs. Positive behavior and academic success go hand-in-hand, Dickens said, so spending time and resources on behavior programs is well worth the investment.