6th Grade Responsibility Plans

The Responsibility Plan is a new twist that we are using this year with our 6th graders at SCMS to help students adjust to middle school and mature as young adults. Our hope is that with the help of parents we can turn a negative into a positive. In the past, inappropriate behavior would result in a discipline referral with consequences. The Responsibility Plan allows the student to reflect on what was disruptive and given a chance to come up with a plan to correct the problem before a discipline referral is assessed. Here is how the plan works. When a student makes a poor choice they are redirected or talked to and explained why it was a poor choice. If the same behavior continues the student is asked to fill out the Responsibility Plan. Once it is reviewed by the teacher, the student is to take the plan home to be signed by a parent and brought back to the teacher the next day. Realizing that many parents work varying hours and that life is sometimes hectic, the parent has the option of calling and leaving a voice message for the teacher letting us know that they saw the plan and talked to their child about the problem. Please keep in mind that there has never been a truer statement than good kids will make poor choices. Many times, if not most times, a student is much more concerned of what their parents will think of than any consequence that accompanies the Responsibility Plan or a discipline referral. I still remember my days in the middle school when I made a poor choice that my parent found out about. I would twist every detail I could to try to deflect the blame somewhere else. Please keep that in mind when talking to your child. They were a good kid long before the poor choice and they’ll be a good kid long afterwards. It’s a part of growing up. Thank you in advance for working with us. SCMS a firm believer that education is a team sport. The road can get a little bumpy at times but with all of us pulling in the same direction we’ll get to the finish line just fine.