Climate & Culture

• SCHOOL CLIMATE AND CULTURE

   

  School climate and culture is important for EVERYONE.  A Positive School Culture and Climate is one where all individuals feel valued, cared for and respected.  We believe that such an atmosphere contributes to effective teaching and learning and to genuine communication, both within and outside of the school.

   
  School climate refers to our school's effects on our students, including teaching practices; diversity, and relationships among administrators, teachers, parents, and students.  School culture refers to the way teachers and other staff members work together and the set of beliefs, values, and assumptions they share.
   
  At DeKalb County Central United School District, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible school experience and are continuing our implementation of, and work on POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORT (PBIS) - a framework for maximizing the selection and use of evidence-based prevention and intervention practices along a multi-tiered continuum that supports the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral competence of all students.   
   
  Bullying Prevention in Positive Behavior Support:  Expect Respect
  Our purpose is to improve the success of our students' learning experiences and environments.  We recognize that aggression, violence, threats, intimidation, and isolation compromise the ability of our students to learn and perform in school.  We have established school-wide expectations for common respect, teaching what that means, and ensuring that all students and faculty and staff members share in the responsibility of making our schools respectful settings.  
  The core of our beliefs revolve around five key messages:
  

  1. Everyone in the school should know what it means to be respectful.
  2. Bullying is a harmful and disrespectful behavior that continues when given attend from recipients, bystanders, and peers.
  3. Everyone in the school should have a strategy that stops attending to and acknowledging bullying. When someone is not respectful, ask them to stop.  Don’t allow bullying to be rewarded.
  4. Everyone asked to stop should have a common strategy for moving on without escalation.
  5. Regular information collection used to assess the safety and health of our school-wide culture.

PBIS Framework

(Positive Behavior Intervention Supports)

Celebrating Positive Behavior:

PBIS is a framework that focuses on the positive aspects of behavior by supporting students in making choices that are consistent with school-wide expectations. Staff members encourage students to continue making positive choices in their everyday lives.

DMS School-wide Expectations:

• Do the Right Thing
• Treat People Right

Baron Buck

Part of PBIS is celebrating positive behavior choices throughout the school year.  Students receive Baron Bucks in recognition of following our school-wide expectations: Do The Right Thing and Treat People Right.  

Daily our students can purchase various items at breakfast and lunch with their baron bucks.  Weekly our students can participate in Baron Buck activities. There are two weekly activities available for students. The activities change from week to week and only cost one Baron Buck to participate.

For the past few years, we have been able host a school-wide activity or auction once a year. Students are able to “purchase” tickets with their Baron Bucks and try to win various prices.  All students and staff come together as a school, regardless if they have a Baron Buck, for the school-wide celebration!