Oakcrest Eagles are:
- Safe
- Responsible
- Respectful
Students at Oakcrest Elementary School are expected to meet behavioral expectations outlined in District policy. These policies can be viewed online at policy.jordandistrict.org. The following are “Cliff Notes.”
Attendance (Policy AA432)
School-age children are required, by law, to attend school. There are valid and legitimate reasons for a child to be absent. If you know, in advance, that your child will miss three or more consecutive days of school, please submit a leave form in the main office. You will receive an automated call through Skyward if your child is marked absent on any given school day. For documentation’s sake, please contact the main office any time your child is absent. Should attendance concerns arise, we will reach out to you in an effort to proactively address them. While policy prescribes referrals to DFS and/or the court system for serious unresolved attendance issues, we believe that most, if not all, attendance concerns can be resolved collaboratively by the school and parents.
Drugs and Alcohol (Policy AS90)
Illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and variations on vaping chemicals/devices are not permitted on District campuses. With the exception of asthma inhalers, students may not have a prescription or over-the-counter medications in their possession. Prescription and/or over-the-counter medications may be administered by a parent during the school day or by trained staff in the main office with a written directive from a physician (check with the office for paperwork).
Safe Schools - Student Exclusion (Policy AS67NEG)
JSD students and employees are entitled to a learning/working environment free from violent and unlawful acts. Fighting, use, or possession of a weapon or facsimile thereof, criminal behavior, or gang activity in or about district schools, property, or activities will be handled in accordance with district policy and the law. Students may not have matches, lighters, or fireworks in their possession at school. Violations of this policy may lead to student exclusion for up to one year.
Network Acceptable Use (Policy AA445)
Students at Oakcrest Elementary use digital devices and the internet to facilitate instruction, research, writing/presentation skills, and assessments. With power and privilege come responsibility. First is the responsibility to abide by generally accepted network etiquette. Civility and kindness are always in vogue. Second is the responsibility to use devices and networks appropriately. Students may not intentionally transmit or receive material that is indecent, suggestive, or pornographic in nature. Material related to weapons, controlled substances, or incendiary devices also fit this description. Students may not use school networks to promote or engage in illegal or inappropriate activities nor may they use them to intentionally harm or destroy school data/networks. No expectation of privacy should be assumed when using district devices and networks. Students in violation of this policy are subject to a loss of device and network privileges and may be suspended or excluded altogether, depending on the nature and gravity of the offense.
Bullying and Cyberbullying (Policy AS98)
Oakcrest Elementary is committed to providing a safe and civil environment wherein all members of the school community are treated with dignity and respect. Bullying behaviors, by definition, run counter to this commitment. They are repetitive and include a wide range of unkind/disrespectful actions that negatively impact the bully and the bullied alike, resulting in a clear lose-lose scenario. At Oakcrest, we are committed to teaching and living by the philosophy of Think Win-Win. Accordingly, we encourage all who believe they’ve witnessed or experienced bullying behavior to report it to a teacher or administrator. All reports of bullying behavior will be investigated in good faith and addressed at the level necessary to correct the problem, up to and including student suspension or expulsion.
By definition, bullying occurs when a student, or group of students, repeatedly behave or speak in a manner that belittles, scares, embarrasses, hurts, threatens, or intimidates another person. These behaviors can look like:
- Verbal – teasing, name-calling, or purposefully belittling others.
- Physical – hitting, shoving, tripping, poking, cornering, or otherwise physically harming others.
- Visual – leering, exposing to harmful/embarrassing material or making unkind/threatening gestures.
- Emotional – gestures, notes, rumors, or gossip intended to emotionally diminish or hurt others. May also include relational manipulation as a hurtful tool.
- Cyber – The use of media and/or electronic devices to humiliate, embarrass, threaten, or hurt others.
Student Responsibilities
If you feel you are being bullied:
- Tell the bully to STOP! Make it clear that his/her behavior is not funny, kind, or welcome.
- Walk away from the bully if he/she does not stop and report your concern to an adult (playground supervisor, teacher, counselor, principal and/or parent).
- Support a peer who is being bullied by telling the bully to STOP. Help the victim to peacefully escape the situation if you can and insist that he/she confide in an adult. Report the concern to an adult if you are uncertain the victim will.
Parent Responsibilities
- Review this Code of Conduct with your child and make sure he/she knows what you expect and stand for as a parent.
- If you feel your child is a victim of bullying, support and encourage him/her through this difficult situation. Insist that your child report the concern to school staff and follow up with him/her and school staff to ensure steps are being taken to address the problem.
School Staff Responsibilities
- Participate in annual training related to bullying issues.
- Explicitly teach students what constitutes bullying and how to proactively deal with it.
- Investigate all reports of bullying in good faith, communicate concerns with parents, and provide instruction/consequences, as necessary, to correct harmful behaviors.
Elementary-age students are at a stage in life where they are learning critical academic, emotional, and social skills. In many cases, students this age who exhibit bullying behaviors think they are being funny or playful, or are otherwise oblivious to the severity of their actions – for their own development as well as that of their victims. Ofttimes, with the support of parents, instruction and simple consequences are sufficient to correct the problem. Occasionally, more severe disciplinary measures are required. Depending on the history and severity of behaviors, consequences may range from something as simple as a conference with teachers or administrators to outright exclusion from school. No child will be allowed to persist in bullying behaviors at Oakcrest Elementary School.
Celebrating Great Kids!
We all make mistakes from time to time, doing or saying things we’re not especially proud of in hindsight. By and large, though, our kids are great! They’re caring and anxious to please. At Oakcrest Elementary, we teach and model positive citizenship and go out of our way to recognize students who make great choices and contribute to our school community in positive ways :o)
Principal’s 200 Club
Teachers “ticket” students for positive contributions and citizenship. Tickets are placed in a weekly drawing. Drawn tickets are placed on the Principal’s 200 Club bulletin in the cafeteria. Ticket “bingo’s” result in a special activity with the principal for those students whose tickets formed the winning combination.
Principal’s Pride
Teachers nominate up to two students monthly who are doing great work and/or showing great citizenship to be recognized by the principal at a Principal’s Pride Ceremony. Family and friends are invited to participate. It’s kind of a big deal!
Soaring Eagle
Each grade level provides a menu of challenges and activities a student may choose to take on. Students who complete enough of them are recognized at the end of the year in a special ceremony with a medallion and certificate.