P.R.I.D.E.

People Respecting Individual Differences Everyday

​

Committing to Kindness:

​

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior between people which involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated over time.  Cyberbullying involves the use of technologies to display behavior that harms another. Through email, instant messaging, text messaging and social networking sites, hurtful messages can be posted and shared.

Solanco Middle Schools believe in providing a safe and supportive environment for all scholars and staff. We want our scholars to develop compassion for one another and also foster friendships that will last a lifetime.  We know that when our scholars are comfortable socially and emotionally, they can achieve greatness academically.  Our staff actively works to create that atmosphere by modeling welcoming characteristics, fostering friendships, and creating opportunities for students to work together creatively.

​

​

A list of resources and programs Solanco Middle Schools use:

​

• PRIDE Ambassadors-group of scholars that lead and model positive behaviors and programs that promote positive messages and interaction.  These scholars meet regularly as a group receiving targeted training; preparing to teach lessons and promote compassion.  PRIDE means “People Respecting Individual Differences Everyday”.  A focus for our PRIDE ambassadors under our PRIDE 2.0 initiative will be for these leaders to find and support other scholars who are struggling socially and emotionally.

​

• “Caught with Pride”-All scholars and staff have the opportunity to recognize one another for doing something thoughtful.  (Timeline=All Year-Drawings are on last Friday of the month during the morning announcements)accomplishments.​​​

​

• After School Tutoring-scholars that have earned discipline or missed a large amount of school can earn their way back into Hershey Park by creating a plan of action with the principals through after school tutoring.  This gives the scholar an opportunity to continue to have a good experience in school should he or she have made some poor decisions early in the year.  

​

• Random acts of kindness days-on designated days, scholars will be challenged and recognized for performing a random act of kindness for an individual in the school.

​

• Community service projects.  Our Scholars will be given opportunities to  lead projects that serve the community around holidays and at other points in the year.  

​

• Lock-in for Leukemia-Our annual lock-in will give students the opportunity to raise money for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society.  Students will engage in great relationship building opportunities throughout the night with activities and games as well.  This will be led again this year by the Student Senate.  

​

• Homeroom structure- Following announcements two days a week teachers will spend time meeting with scholars and discussing academic progress and needs. Two days a week teachers will use homeroom time expanding upon PRIDE lessons and themes discussed during these lessons.  

​

• PRIDE lessons-Lessons run monthly in homerooms utilizing an adjusted schedule.  These lessons will be crafted and delivered by our teachers and PRIDE Ambassadors will support these lessons with knowledge from the Buck Corporation.  Lessons will also be included for how our students can be mature cyber-citizens-A cyber citizen utilizes technology in an appropriate manner including etiquette, communication, education, access, commerce, responsibility, rights, safety and security. It is important to be cyber aware: back up your digital files, create strong passwords, post only appropriate comments and control privacy settings. 

​

​

Reporting Bullying:

​

Solanco Middle Schools encourage scholars and adults to report any type of bullying to a teacher, staff, and/or administrator.  We want to know if there is unwanted or aggressive behavior towards a scholar that impacts learning.  We know that relationships between the school and families will lead to all parties feeling comfortable solving potential learning barriers for scholars.

​

​

Methods to report bulling in Solanco Middle Schools:​​

• Lead a Hand lockers-designated lockers that enable individuals to drop anonymous notes regarding incidents of concern or possible bullying involving themselves or another scholar. 

​

• On-line form-an official opportunity for parents/scholars to report an incident if uncomfortable doing so in person or over the phone. 

​

• Reporting to a teacher or staff-scholars can always share concerns with adults in the building that they feel comfortable with doing so. 

​

• Student and parent surveys-Surveys will completed twice this year and will give our scholars and parents the opportunity to share experiences and information about areas our programs may be missing.  This includes the chance to identify locations and times that negative interactions seem to occur more regularly. 

​

• Parent phone calls/emails-each teacher team (6th, 7th, 8th) 

​

• Access to counselor, teachers, and administrator-Counselors, teachers, and administrators make a great effort to representation at all school events.  These activities serve as an opportunity for parents to foster relationships. 

​

• Monday Morning reflection cards-Every Monday morning teachers will give scholars an opportunity to reflect in their morning advisory classes.  Scholars will have the chance to write about anything that could have happened over the weekend which could impact their day at school.  This will help staff and administration stay aware of possible negative social media activity over the weekend.  Any concerns teachers receive will be made aware to counselor immediately.   

​

Intervening:

• Solanco Middle Schools want to help! We will intervene in any situation that involves our students to help provide a safe and supportive environment in Middle School.

​

• Counselor Mediation-When a concern is first brought to the attention of the staff, our school counselor will discuss the situation with the scholars involved.  If possible, students will resolve the situation with mediation through the guidance counselor.  A phone call to parents/guardians will follow these situations.

​

• Seat Changes-a simple seat change within one classroom (or at lunch) could solve concerns between two students.  

​

• Administrator conferences-If a concern has happened more than once, administrators will have a conference with either the student, parents/guardians, or both.  The counselor will stay involved in this process to keep the intervention supportive.  Conferences could also involve the counselor and teachers.  

​

• Cease and Desist-When students cannot resolve issues that have been consistent, parents will be notified and students will sign a contract agreeing to refrain from negative contact with the other party.  By signing the contract, they are stating that they understand any further concerns can result in immediate discipline action.     

​

• Schedule Changes-We rarely make this move, because the goal is always to lead students to restoring relationships and solving problems.  If needed, a student could have a schedule change for the purpose of keeping the learning environment emotionally and physically safe for all students.  

​

• Restorative mentorship program-students with multiple situations involving bullying characteristics will be subject to restorative actions.  Examples: book studies, community service, teach anti-bully lessons with elementary students, and designing plans of action to demonstrate improvement with social interactions. There could be traditional disciplinary action involved in this process (detentions or suspensions).  These will be assigned mandatory educational programs for our repeat offenders.  

 

 

Supporting Each Other:

​

Solanco Middle Schools will provide opportunities to guide and support all parties involved in an incident of bullying.  Bullying occurs when individuals perceive that they are not being supported or welcomed.  Supporting our staff and scholars through planned recognition and opportunities to be kind will lead to positive interactions.

​

• Peer Groups-our counselor, staff members, along with our SAP assessor from the Caron Foundation, will run different “friendship groups” that could focus on different situations some of our students may have in their lives.  This gives scholars the opportunity to form friendships with individuals dealing with similar concerns and celebrate victories together.  

​

• Student Assistance Program-through the Caron Foundation, our buildings have a trained assessor that can support families to determine the next steps in finding additional support for individual children.  Our SAP team, including the Caron Assessor, is made up of teachers and administrators in the building.  This program allows students to have a mentor that helps our scholars focus on emotional success to lead to greater academic success.  

​

• “Character Counts” and PRIDE lessons-PRIDE lessons will occur monthly and will be led by the PRIDE ambassadors.  There will be an additional lesson monthly which will be designed through the “Character Counts” program in partnership with the Buck Company.  The company representatives will support PRIDE ambassadors in designing and leading these lessons to their peers.  

​

• Texas Roadhouse Recognition Shout Outs-teachers have the opportunity to recognize and support each other by nominating one another for the monthly drawing to Texas Roadhouse for a gift card.  Teachers can be nominated in one of the four areas that Solanco focuses on (Courage, Kindness, Respect, and Responsibility).  

​

• Lobby TV-scholars and staff will be recognized with pictures and music on our lobby TV through a slideshow.  This will be updated biweekly.  Student representatives will play a role in this project.  

​

• Sharing is Caring- The Sharing cooler is a place where students can place unopened food and drinks that they choose not to eat or drink. This provides an opportunity for other students to take additional helpings of food or beverages from the Sharing Cooler at no cost to them. 

​

• PRIDE Ambassadors- Throughout the year PRIDE Ambassadors will make calls to all our 6th grade families along with new scholars welcoming to our buildings.  

• Mix-It-Up Day- Once a year the PRIDE Ambassadors will sponsor a mix-it-up day.  Where scholars are seated at different lunch tables with different peers.  PRIDE Ambassadors will facilitate conversations, so scholars broaden views of their peers.   

​

• Day of Kindness 

​