School Programs
PBS: You can't hide Oakwood Bear Pride!

Student Success Guide

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to a new school year at Oakwood. Over the past few months the PAWS team has talked about what we can do to make Oakwood an even better place to learn and grow. This Oakwood Student Success Guide is a great place to start!

By following the Oakwood expectations in this guide, you will be the best students you can be. You will also be practicing valuable life skills that will help you be better citizens in our school community.

Have a great year!

Sincerely,

The PAWS Team

PAWS Program
Positive Attitude Winning Students

Positive Behavior is essential to acquiring an excellent education. That’s why Oakwood School is implementing the Positive Attitude Winning Students (PAWS) program, which is a program based on a Safe Schools Initiative.

PAWS, also known as the good behavior game, is a management strategy designed to improve disruptive behavior. It is implemented in the early elementary grades in order to provide students with skills they may need later in life to respond to life experiences and social influences.

The PAWS program is a behavior modification program that involves lunchroom and recess supervisors as well as students. It improves the supervisor’s ability to define tasks, set rules, discipline students and allow students to work in teams in which each student is responsible to the rest of the group. Before the program begins each year and then again periodically throughout the year, Mrs. Slee and Mrs. Policht reinforce all the positive behaviors that are taking place in the lunchroom and on the playground and clearly specified those unwanted behaviors. Classroom and individual rewards are given out to students modeling our building expectations.

Extensive data indicates that when there are fewer disruptions due to behavior, there is more time for academics.

Oakwood School has high hopes for the PAWS program and its positive impact on our students.

Mission Statement

Oakwood School works collectively with students, parents and staff to achieve a child-centered environment that promotes academic progress, personal and social growth, as well as development of life skills, self-esteem, and lifelong love of learning.

School District 113A

Belief Statements

We Believe:

• Discipline is everyone’s responsibility;
• In preserving the dignity of people;
• Discipline should be consistent and reasonable;
• Positive relationships with open communication change behavior;
• In accountability;
• School climate is affected by discipline;
• In a clearly defined plan which incorporates respect for self, others and property.

Adopted by the Discipline Committee 2007-2008
(Red Handbook)

P.A.W.S. Newsletter

This year at Oakwood we are continuing to use a program called P.A.W.S. This is designed to reinforce and encourage positive behavior by developing school-wide expectations. The purpose of this newsletter is to share with you an overview of how this exciting program will be implemented.

Our Positive Attitude Winning Students (P.A.W.S.) system is designed to create a social culture in our school that will encourage positive behavior and interactions, while discouraging problem behaviors.

We will use Oakwood’s 3 school wide practices that our staff has clarified as “Be Ready”, “Be Responsible” and “Be Respectful”. Cool Tools are used to teach students any expected behaviors. As opportunities occur, teachers will re-teach expectations to students who are not following the P.A.W.S. path appropriately.  Daily celebrations will occur through our use of Bear Paws, which recognize students for displaying the school wide expectations. Monthly school-wide expectations celebrations are planned and will be enjoyed by all students and staff. In the event a student does not meet our school’s expectations, consequences are experienced through the individual classroom teacher or an Office Referral.

We are excited about this program and anticipate that the climate and culture of our school will continue to improve.

Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher should you have any questions.  We appreciate your support in making Oakwood a warm, friendly and safe environment for all.

Our Bear Pledge

I am proud to be an Oakwood Bear.
I promise to be ready.
I promise to be responsible.
I promise to be respectful.
Today I will be the BEST I can be!
Today I will be all THREE!

To be said after the Pledge of Alligiance or after our song “I’m So Glad To Be Here”

I’m So Glad To Be Here
I’m so glad to be here
I’m so glad to be here
I’m so, so, so, so, so glad
I’ll show you how I feel

I’ll jump up high
Slap my thigh
Touch my nose
Wink my eye
Stomp my foot
Tug my ear
I’m so glad to be here

I’m so glad that you’re here
I’m so glad that you’re here
I’m so, so, so, so glad
I’ll show you how I feel

I’ll jump up high
Slap my thigh
Touch my nose
Wink my eye
Stomp my foot
Tug my ear
I’m so glad that you’re here

I’ll jump up high
Slap my thigh
Touch my nose
Wink my eye
Stomp my foot
Tug my ear, I’m so glad to be here! YEH!

Oakwood School Expectations

Be Ready:

1. Be in your seat
2. Have supplies ready
3. Listen to teacher

Be Responsible:

1. Be prepared
2. Be helpful
3. Be kind

Be Respectful:

1. Be respectful to self
2. Be respectful to others
3. Be respectful of property

Playground Expectations

Be Ready:

• Freeze on the 1st whistle walk into line on the 2nd whistle.

Be Responsible:

• Be nice to everyone!
• Play, swing and slide safely.

Be Respectful:

• Be nice to everyone!

Hallway Expectations

Be Ready:

• Walk in the hallway

Be Responsible:

• Keep your hands and feet to yourself

Be Respectful:

• Use quiet voices

Bathroom Expectations

Be Ready:

• Walk to and from bathroom

Be Responsible:

• Leave bathroom neat and clean
• Use only 1 or 2 pumps of soap
• Use dryer for hands only

Be Respectful:

• Use quiet voices

Bus Expectations

Be Ready:

• Be on time to your bus stop
• Stay in your seat

Be Responsible:

• Sit in assigned seats
• No eating or drinking

Be Respectful:

• Use quiet voices
• Use kind words with your neighbor
• Keep your hands and feet to yourself
• Listen to you bus driver

Arrival/Dismissal Expectations

Be Ready:

• Arrive to school on time
• Go right to your classroom
• Unpack your bag
• Get out homework, lunch and supplies
• Line up when told

Be Responsible:

• Cross streets where the crossing guards are located
• Use the sidewalks
• Keep your hands and feet to yourself

Be Respectful:

• Use appropriate greetings
• Walk into school quietly
• Listen to the supervisors

Classroom/Specials Expectations

Be Ready:

• Be on time
• Have supplies ready
• Follow directions

Be Responsible:

• Keep your hands and feet to yourself
• Walk at all times
• Help others
• Be honest

Be Respectful:

• Listen for directions
• Raise your hand
• Use your quiet voice
• Try your best

Lunch Expectations

Be Ready:

• Know your lunch choice
• Listen for the whistle
• Follow directions

Be Responsible:

• Keep your hands and feet to yourself
• Walk at all times
• Wait your turn
• Stay seated

Be Respectful:

• Listen for directions
• Raise your hand
• Use your quiet voice
• Eat your own food

Assembly Expectations

Be Ready:

• Sit on your bottom
• Sit with legs like a pretzel
• Keep your hands in your lap
• Be ready to participate

Be Responsible:

• Enter and exit quietly
• Pay attention
• Show appreciation at the appropriate time

Be Respectful:

• Listen attentively
• Sit quietly
• Keep eyes forward

Emergency Expectations

Be Ready:

• Be alert
• Follow directions

Be Responsible:

• Listen
• Follow directions
• Keep hands and feet to yourself
• Stay silent
• Look out for the safety of others

Be Respectful:

• Respect others personal space

Paw Prints are given to students for …

• Being Ready
• Being Responsible
• Being Respectful

Paw to be hung up in designated spot of the building for all to see. (E.g. – on a large painted paw in the hallway)

Oakwood School