Learning takes place in an environment that is safe, orderly, and respectful of others. We wish to promote an atmosphere of happiness, friendship, and cooperation between all students.
This Positive Student Behavior Policy was developed with these guidelines in mind:
Student safety is our top priority
Students show respect for themselves, one another, and their school
Students are responsible for their behavior, so each student can be academically successful
During the first few weeks of school and then again in January, the following rules and expectations will be explicitly taught. Please review these with your child at home. Thank you partnering with us in an effort to make Grapeland Elementary School a positive and safe learning environment for all!
Safety Expectations:
For their own safety, students may only be on campus when adult supervision is provided. For this reason, students must not arrive on campus before 7:45 a.m. The kindergarten playground is closed until the instructional day begins. Students in grades K - 5 are to wait on the sidewalk in front of the school until a staff member arrives for morning duty at 7:45 AM. Gates will be open at 7:45 AM.
Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 may ride their bicycles to school. Students must provide their own lock for locking their bike in the bike area. (The school and the Etiwanda School District will not assume any responsibility for any theft or damage.) Bicycles must be walked at all times on all parts of the campus including the sidewalks along the loop. Students are required by law to wear helmets when riding bikes. Students may not use roller skates, roller blades, or skateboards on campus or to go to and from school.
Respectful behavior is expected from all to help eliminate any dangerous situations that may cause harm or injury to others. Each incident will be investigated and communicated to parents as appropriate, and students are subject to fitting school consequences. Such behavior includes fighting, rock throwing, sand throwing, pushing, kicking, and other similar behavior that creates dangerous situations for students and staff.
Playground games such as "play fighting," “tag,” etc., which could cause the risk of injury are not appropriate on campus. Use of equipment as designed is expected but will first be taught by our Grapeland staff. Students shall follow school determined rules for all games. (Teachers and support staff will review expectations daily. Students will care and use all equipment properly.
Students must remain in assigned areas where proper supervision is provided. During recess and lunch students may enter the hallways only if they have permission and a pass from a staff member. When students arrive, they are to go directly to the playground.
Running or playing in the hallways, restrooms, or hard surface area is unsafe and can create a dangerous situation for others.
When the bell rings, students will:
Freeze - get off equipment, hold playground balls, and stand quietly.
Wait for the teacher on duty to blow the whistle.
Walk to their assigned line.
Stand quietly with peaceful hands and wait to be dismissed to class. (KAHFOTY expectation)
Respectful and Responsible Behavior:
People, including other students, are to be treated with respect. Rudeness or defiance of authority of any adult on staff will be addressed and positive expectation will be retaught.
Students will address all adults by their proper title... Miss, Mrs., or Mr.
Students are expected to take pride in their school by being responsible for cleaning up after themselves and putting all trash in proper containers while in their classrooms, the restrooms, the cafeteria, and the playground areas.
Profanity and obscene gestures are disrespectful and have no place on our campus.
Please keep gum at home. Students may eat healthy snacks at recess only at the covered activities center. Only shatter-free containers like plastics, aluminum, etc. are allowed on the campus. Glass containers pose a risk of breaking and causing injury.
Articles of value that students find should be turned in to the "Lost and Found" in the MPR
Restrooms are to be used for their intended purpose only.
Name calling, teasing, or being rude to fellow students is a form of disrespect and will be addressed with appropriate language reinforced.
Students should leave cell phones, electronic games, playing cards, and other "toys" at home. These items of value only distract from our purpose of education.
Our school provides all playground equipment needed for safe play. Teachers have the option of allowing special items, i.e. baseball glove, to be brought for P.E.
Students are to respect school property and the property of others. Misuse or vandalism may result in the natural consequence of repairing or replacing the damage.
Students are expected to support the proper environment for learning by following classroom expectations as set forth by the teacher.
Dress Code: Grapeland Elementary follows the Etiwanda School District policy.
Student Dress Standards:
The Etiwanda School District has developed these standards to create an atmosphere for learning, ensure students will graduate ready for college and careers, minimize barriers to student success, maximize learning time, as well as keep the school and students free from threats of harmful influence from individuals, groups, or gangs/crews who advocate disruptive and hostile behavior. The District understands that trends and clothing styles change. In order for our standards to remain inclusive and relevant, an ongoing committee will annually review the standards listed below.
School staff shall enforce the Student Dress Standards in a manner that does not reinforce or increase marginalization or oppression of any group based on race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, household income, or body type/size.
Parents/Guardians/Caregivers have the primary responsibility for students complying with the District Student Dress Standards. The standards below will apply to all students. The only exception is school-related organizations wearing designated uniforms for a specific purpose and school-sponsored activities such as spirit days and athletic events, as approved by the administration.
• Attire that is revealing (displaying undergarments or private areas), bare midsection, strapless tops, and pajamas are not allowed.
• Jewelry or clothing that present a safety hazard, e.g. large rings, belt buckles, or spiked/sharp earrings, are not allowed.
• Chains such as those attached to belts or wallets present a safety hazard and are not allowed.
• Shoes with an open heel or without a strap across the back, house slippers, shoes with wheels or rails, steel toe shoes/boots, and untied shoes are not allowed. Closed-toe shoes must be worn for PE.
• Hats or caps may be worn outdoors for sun protection.
• Personal belongings and/or attire that advertise and/or promote alcohol, tobacco, vaping, drugs, weapons, hate, gangs, violence, vulgar/obscene/sexual language or imagery, or any illegal or prohibited item or activity is not allowed.
• Clothing, jewelry, headgear, accessories, personal belongings, or personal protective equipment determined by the administration and/or law enforcement agencies to represent or support a gang /crew or creates a hostile and/or intimidating disruptive educational environment are not allowed.
Prohibited Gang-Related Apparel
1. Clothing that depicts tagging or spraying of graffiti.
2. Clothing marked with numerals, letters, or words that may be interpreted as demonstrating gang affiliation.
3. Wearing an overwhelming amount of red (“Bloods”) and/or blue (“Crips”) clothing garments on a continuous basis.
4. Bandanas worn as head coverings, accessories, or hanging from pockets.
5. Clothing that depicts violence, weapons, brass knuckles, or knives.
Cafeteria Expectations:
During lunch or while in the cafeteria students should:
Be courteous in the lunch lines -- pushing or cutting in line will not be tolerated. (KAHFOTY expectation)
Sit at the tables and remain seated throughout the lunch period until excused by the campus support staff.
Use "dining room" manners. Speak in normal voices, use proper manners when eating.
Clean up one's own spills and messes.
Wait to be excused by the campus support staff on duty.
Throw away his/her own trash in barrels after being excused.
Bring containers in lunches that do not pose a safety concern.
Select healthy snacks and meals, leaving gum and candy at home.
Playground Rules:
WALK on all hard surfaces. (G.R.O W.- Grass running only, walk everywhere else.)
Care properly for all equipment. Use playground "bouncy" balls and basketballs on hard court only. Use soccer balls and kick balls on grass only. .
Softball and flag football must be lead and supervised by staff in order to be played at recess, lunch, or before school. Softballs and footballs may be used only for throwing and catching practice and must ask for permission from campus support staff.
Softball and flag football may only be played at P.E. under close adult supervision.
Students should take care to keep all playground balls on the school grounds. Students may not leave campus to retrieve a ball. Students are to report the lost ball to the campus support person or teacher on duty. Balls will be retrieved by a supervising adult.
Follow school expectations for basketball, tetherball, hopscotch, four square, four corners, soccer, handball, etc. Campus support, teachers, and PE staff will teach and review these rules in class and the first week of school.
Sand is for digging and building. Students must be careful when digging so as not to get sand on other students or damage their construction. Sand should never be thrown! When the sand is wet, the sand area is off limits.
Jump ropes are for jumping only. Activities like "helicopter," "waterfall," twisting, tying on to others or things, or "tug of war" create a dangerous situation for others. Jump ropes should be used on the hardcourt only.
Use hula hoops properly - trapping people in them or tugging on hoops is misuse. Take care to keep the hula-hoops in shape.
Fences and backstops serve a safety purpose and not a climbing apparatus.
Remember that games are always open to everyone. Students may use rock, paper, scissors to handle disputes and may consult a campus support provider whenever disputes arise.
Handball, pizza square and other games require the assistance of a student judge . He/she is the next person to go in the game and who stands in the judging box. He/she has the responsibility to watch the game closely and make official calls when a dispute arises. Other players may not argue with the judge or try to persuade the judge. His/her decision is final.
**Please note that all game rules are posted on the PE equipment door.
Recognition
Students who demonstrate responsible citizenship by following our school and classroom rules will be recognized in a variety of ways:
PBIS Rewards Points for prizes!
Citizenship grades on report cards
Recognition at the GREAT Grizzly Assemblies (G.R.E.A.T.)
Bonus extended recess/free time
School-wide positive behavior referrals (Cub Concerns and Shout-outs)
Other forms of recognition both in the classroom and around campus.
Disciplinary Consequences - Suspensions/Expulsion
The main goal of our Positive Student Behavior Policy is to teach students to manage their own behavior. When a problem arises we begin a process of reviewing expectations, administering a consequence and alerting parents if the problem continues. We are committed to a proactive, intervention-based approach, instead of reactive. Our staff will attempt to provide other means of correction, related to the specific behavior prior to suspension from school.
At our school, we strive to create a positive and inclusive environment where all students feel valued and supported. We prioritize positive reinforcement and restorative practices to encourage respectful behavior and strengthen relationships.
Our staff uses proactive strategies such as recognizing positive behavior, modeling respect, and providing opportunities for students to reflect on their actions. These practices help students understand the impact of their behavior and promote personal growth.
When challenges arise, we address them constructively, tailoring responses to the situation. Interventions may include:
- Reflective time to guide positive choices.
- Restorative conversations or activities to repair relationships.
- Collaboration with students, families, and staff for behavioral support.
- Intervention-based referrals (LLR or OR) if needed.
In cases of significant disruptions or safety concerns, structured responses are carefully considered. Serious behaviors, such as physical altercations or possession of prohibited items, may require immediate action to ensure safety.
We are committed to using restorative justice practices to repair harm, foster accountability, and build a stronger school community. Together, we aim to equip students with the skills to contribute positively to their environment and beyond.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this policy, please contact your child’s teacher or Grapeland administration. We greatly appreciate your support at home and want to work with you to assure success for your child. It is our ultimate goal to help your child manage his/her own behavior in a safe, respectful, and supportive environment.
We welcome your input and believe our learning to best manage behavior is vital to continuous improvement. Thank you for reviewing this policy with your child. We appreciate your support!
