• ... to be treated with dignity and respect in a safe and caring environment
• .... to receive a quality academic and skill-based education. to participate in learning activities without undue interruption
• .... to be provided with success-oriented activities which build on their strengths
• .... to receive assistance in meeting their academic and social responsibilities
• .... to be supported and guided in their emotional growth.

• ... to show respect for themselves, and for all individuals in our school.
• ... to understand school expectations and strive to meet them.
• ... to be prepared for class, and to complete class and homework assignments.
• ... to listen attentively when others speak.
• ... to assist others when they need help.
• ... to show respect for property.
• ... to ensure, through their actions, that Central Queens School is a safe and caring environment in which to learn.

The Eastern School District's Caring Places to Learn policy is a wide-ranging comprehensive policy designed to ensure that schools in the Eastern District provide a healthy, safe, and supportive working and learning environment for every student and staff member.

Thousands of personal interactions occur in Eastern District schools every day, and these interactions are the focus of this policy. The policy guides the way people in our school communities treat each other, directing that students and staff demonstrate regard, concern, and respect for the unique differences and worth of every individual.

Achieving and maintaining this positive climate is the responsibility of everyone involved in education in Eastern District schools -- students, parents, teachers, support staff, and trustees. There are high expectations for all members of Eastern District school communities, and these expectations are met and exceeded daily on a regular basis. We continually strive to do better at this, and work hard to make sure that our schools are inclusive, supportive, and healthy for all.
 

What's different about this policy from what we're doing now?

Hopefully not very much, because we all are constantly working hard to making our schools caring and safe places to learn. The policy merely sets down, for the first time in our District, what the expectations have always been for the type of learning and working atmosphere we want for our schools.

In order to achieve this caring atmosphere, the policy makes clear the kinds of behavior that is expected from all members of the school community. It also sets down expectations that schools will provide education in interpersonal relations and violence-prevention programs, that all situations which would negatively affect the healthy and supportive environment of a school must be reported, and that reports will be followed up on.

The policy also makes clear what should happen if someone breaks the standards of behavior, and in so doing makes the school environment less caring or safe for someone else. "The District will not tolerate behaviors that infringe upon the rights of students and/or staff to benefit from a successful and fulfilling working and learning experience in its schools," is an important statement in the policy.

What are the expectations for behavior?

Each school has its own Code of Conduct and/or disciplinary procedures. The Caring Places to Learn policy is an "umbrella" policy which supports each school's own policies in this area.

The Caring Places to Learn policy covers such specific areas as verbal abuse, violence, bullying, discrimination, sexual abuse, threats, trespassing, and weapons. Within these areas, the policy dictates what steps should be taken when allegations of violations of this policy are made. These allegations may involve student to student incidents, student to staff incidents, staff to student incidents, and staff to staff incidents.  The expectations for behavior for all members of the school community are similar: that we will demonstrate regard, concern, and respect for each other in all our interactions -- both inside and outside the classroom. It is expected that students and staff will demonstrate diligent effort in ensuring safe and caring learning environments.

The policy states that students and staff will know what is expected of them, that they will have help in meeting the expectations, that they will be informed as to how well they are meeting expectations, and that corrective action be taken when necessary. In short, it is expected that we give, and are given, every opportunity to be successful.

What should parents be aware of?

There are a few, areas to which parents in particular, should pay close attention. One of them is the fact that all situations which would negatively affect the school's healthy and supportive environment should be reported. Sometimes parents are reluctant to contact  the school when students may be having a difficult time with a situation, and the situation worsens. We can't guarantee that we can "fix" every situation, but if the school knows about problems early, we can often take steps to prevent the problem from becoming worse.

Parents are encouraged to become involved with their school to help maintain its safe and caring atmosphere. It's a responsibility of the entire school community.