Coffee with the Counselors Attendance & Bullying Mr. Gwinn & Miss Hartman September 2016

Attendance

Why is Attendance Important?

Attendance Policy @ Lake Wylie If an absence if necessary, the following should be done: If possible, notify the school before the absence. Upon returning to school, send a note signed by a parent or guardian stating the exact reason for the absence. Without a written note, absences will be coded unexcused! Absence Codes: Excused Unexcused Suspension/Expulsion Excused Absences Examples: Illness, Appointments, Family Deaths, Religious Observances

Improving Attendance- Lake Wylie Elementary

Recognize Good and Improved Attendance “School communities can send a clear message that going to school every day is a priority by providing regular recognition and rewards to students and families who have good and improved attendance” How Does Lake Wylie Do This? SAIL Ceremony Perfect Attendance Certificate Star Attendance @ The Classroom Level Weekly Administration Meetings Open Communication with Parents and Families

Engage Students and Parents “A key component of the engagement is helping families learn about the positive impact of good attendance and the negative effects of chronic absenteeism on realizing their hopes and dreams for their children” How Does Lake Wylie Do This? 3,6, and 10 Day Letters Pirateer Coffee with the Counselors Open communication between families and school staff.

Monitor Attendance Data and Practice “The best way to identify students with poor attendance is to calculate the data that schools are already collecting” How Does Lake Wylie Do This? 3,6, and 10 Day Letters Weekly Administration Meetings Star Attendance @ The Classroom Level Open communication between families and school staff.

Provide Personalized Early Outreach “Perhaps the most critical strategy is using data to trigger early caring outreach to families and students who are already missing too many days of school. Outreach is essential for identifying barriers to attendance — hunger, health, shelter, transportation or other challenges — and the supports or resources that would help improve attendance” How Does Lake Wylie Do This? Open communication between families and school staff. Usually through contact with the school counselors.

Develop Programmatic Response To Barriers-If Needed “If large numbers of students are affected by chronic absence, that suggests some type of systemic barrier or barriers are at play. Identifying the barriers to attendance can indicate the appropriate solutions.” How Does Lake Wylie Do This? Weekly Administration Meetings To Monitor Attendance and Discuss Barriers Open communication between families and school staff. Working With Community and CMS Resource to Address Barriers.

Improving Attendance-Parents Build Regular Routines for Bed Time and the Morning Talk About the Importance of Attendance Don’t Permit Missing School Unless Student is Truly Sick Develop a Backup Plan Send in Notes if Absent Seek Support!

Bullying

Bullying Defined Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.  In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include: An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity— to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people. Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.

Bullying is NOT…. Not liking someone Being excluded Arguments Accidentally bumping into someone

Types of Bullying Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things. Verbal bullying includes: Teasing Name-calling Inappropriate sexual comments Taunting Threatening to cause harm Social bullying, sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. Social bullying includes: Leaving someone out on purpose Telling other children not to be friends with someone Spreading rumors about someone Embarrassing someone in public Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions. Physical bullying includes: Hitting/kicking/pinching Spitting Tripping/pushing Taking or breaking someone’s things Making mean or rude hand gestures

Cyber Bullying Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Electronic technology includes devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers, and tablets as well as communication tools including social media sites, text messages, chat, and websites. Examples of cyberbullying include mean text messages or emails, rumors sent by email or posted on social networking sites, and embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles.

Cyber Bullying Facts and Figures Teens spend an average of 26.8 hours a week online. 72 percent of teens have some type of social networking profile. 60 percent of teens use instant messaging. 91 percent of teens have an e-mail address.

Cyber Bullying: Where is it happening? Facebook Twitter Instagram Snapchat Kik YouTube

Behavior Policy @ Lake Wylie In all instances, administrative actions will be aimed at teaching good decision making rather than punishing. Counselors will be utilized as a form of intervention in the hopes that administrative action can be minimized. In some instances, however, fair consequences for inappropriate behavior are needed to emphasize the need for choosing appropriate courses of action.

Eliminating Bullying-Lake Wylie Bully Prevention Week Positive School Culture-7 Habits SAIL Ceremonies Counselor Mail CEO Lunch School Counseling Services Individual Counseling Small Group Counseling Classroom Guidance Lessons Disciplinary Consequences Clip System Discipline Referrals

Eliminating Bullying-Parents Recognize Warning Signs Talk with the student(s) about bullying Encourage positive social interactions with peers Teach (appropriate) problem solving and conflict resolution skills Communicate with the school Reaching out to other parents

Questions?

Your Counselors’ Info Jason Gwinn (E) Jasonr.gwinn@cms.k12.nc.us Andrea Hartman (E) andrea1.hartman@cms.k12.nc.us

Resources http://www.stopbullying.gov http://www.attendanceworks.org