Student Support

AoA offers an age-appropriate and restorative justice support program at every level of the student experience, ensuring students’ voices and needs are heard and directly addressed via facilitated meetings, plans to move forward, and addressing root causes of harm. 

Restorative Practices

Restorative practices allow students to be accountable for their actions and advocate for themselves. Students can understand the bigger impact their actions have on themselves, the classroom, and the overall school community. These practices allow students to learn from their mistakes and repair harm that is done.

Restorative practices are conducted following both student-to-student and student-to-adult incidents. They can also be implemented with a teacher, should the issue impact an entire class, whereas the dean and/or restorative justice coordinator would observe the classroom to determine which student or students are causing the issue before creating a plan with the teacher to manage the situation.

Restorative practices result in action. We speak with students about their actions, the impacts and results of their actions and the ripple effect, and how actions could have been conducted differently. AoA then brings conflicting parties together to share perspectives about the incident and a way to move forward. Moreover, an adult will follow up with parents and/or a student’s teacher.

During advisory periods, AoA advisors can facilitate group discussions where students can audibly process thoughts and feelings, learn about social-emotional curriculum, and build trust in their peer communities. This time both encourages student accountability and reflection and promotes equity and inclusion through group-specific community guidelines. 

Restorative practices aim to move away from punishment-only discipline while still holding students accountable for their actions. No accountability process produces perfect results, and if repeated unwanted behavior continues despite the restorative practices, staff will decide on next steps. All students have the right to privacy, and any additional corrective measures are not shared.

Grades TK-5

Students in grades TK-5 in need of support are offered non-punitive, research-based behavior solutions and no-nonsense nurture. Through restorative practices, positive reinforcement, accountability strategies, and collaborative problem-solving, we help students build the social and emotional skills needed for success in school and beyond. 

The Four B’s

Be Welcoming

Be Safe

Be Respectful

Be Responsible

Three-Tiered Support System

Tier 1: Support for All Students

• Students receive reminders for misbehavior:

1. Verbal Reminder
2. Move to a focus spot in the classroom
3. Short break in the classroom with a check-in
4. Reflection in a buddy classroom and restorative conversation. Families are notified.

• Students who receive 4 reminders may be asked to attend a Behavior Academy during the following week.

Tier 2: Behavior Academies

• Students needing extra guidance attend 4-day Behavior Academies to practice:
• Being responsible and respectful
• Following directions
• Positive conflict resolution
• Understanding boundaries and personal space
• Problem-solving and de-escalation strategies
• Academies are age-appropriate, take place during non-instructional time, and use social-emotional learning (SEL) tools, such as A Little Spot Takes Action.

Tier 3: Individualized Support

• Restorative practices allow students to take accountability for their actions, advocate for themselves, and understand the impact of their behavior on themselves, their classmates, and the school community. These practices can include:
• Individual or small-group circles
• Whole-class discussions facilitated by an adult
• Collaboration with teachers and either the dean or restorative justice coordinator to create targeted plans for classroom challenges.

Grades 6-8

AoA students in grades 6-8 are expected to advocate for themselves and be accountable to their own actions. Students understand the impact their actions have on themselves, the classroom, and the overall school community. In middle school, students build independence while still having trusted adults, advisory support, and clear expectations that prepare them for high school.

CROWN Guidance

CROWN was created to acknowledge students who exemplify our school’s values. Grades 6-8 staff recognize students “wearing” their metaphorical CROWN and nominate them to receive recognition and prizes at a monthly assembly

 

C- Community

R- Respect

O- Open Minded

W- Wise

N - Noble