Farmland Elementary School
Discipline Policy
Together Everyone Achieves More
The mission of Farmland is to create lifelong learners,
effective problem solvers, responsible citizens, and
productive contributors to their world.
Farmland’s discipline policy reflects a balance between rights and responsibilities. In order to
promote a positive learning environment, basic expectations for behavior were identified as
cornerstones of this discipline policy. Students, staff, and parents/guardians will act as partners
to support these expectations so all students can learn.
To create a positive learning environment, students will be:
 Respectful
o Use appropriate tone, words, and behavior
o Avoid disrupting others’ learning
o Use others’ things with permission and care
 Responsible
o
o
o
o
Take care of themselves and materials
Clean up after themselves
Follow directions from all adults
Be honest in words & actions
 Safe
o
o
o
o
Work, play, and travel safely
Walk
Keep hands and feet to themselves
Stay in assigned space
This symbol denotes a kid friendly page
Rights and Responsibilities
Student Rights
Student Responsibilities
 I will come to school on time and ready
to learn. I will bring the materials I need
and treat things at school with care.

I have the right to learn.

I have the right to be heard and to listen
to others.

I have the right to be safe.

I have the right to be treated fairly.
 I will not interrupt others or disrupt the
classroom.
 I will not hurt anyone physically. I will
not use words to tease, insult or put down
anyone. I will not touch anyone or
anyone’s belongings without permission.
 I will follow Farmland’s rules. I will
respect students and adults. I will be fair
to others.
Parents
The parent has the right to expect that the school will address the learning needs of
his/her child in an equitable way, respecting the individual differences of children. The
parent has the right to be informed of his/her child’s progress and of areas where closer
home-school cooperation is needed. The parent is expected to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Send his/her child to school regularly, on time, and prepared to work.
Respond to communications from the school pertaining to his/her child.
Encourage and help his/her child to understand and support the school’s rules and consequences.
Cooperate with school staff to address behavioral problems.
Develop in his/her child respect for the rights, feelings and property of other people.
Help his/her child realize that as an individual he/she is important and that, as a group member,
he/she should act in a responsible way.
7. Understand and support the fair, consistent administering of school rules and policies.
Teachers/Staff
The teacher has the right to work in an atmosphere which fosters satisfaction in his/her
work and the maintenance of high professional standards. The teacher is expected to:
1. Work with students so they understand the objectives of the classes and what they are expected to
learn.
2. Help the students realize that as an individual, he/she is important and that, as a group member,
he/she should act in a responsible way.
3. Encourage students to understand and support the rules of the school, participate in formulating
classroom rules and consequences and inform parents of classroom policies.
4. Know and enforce consistently and fairly the rules and policies of the school; including completion
of discipline forms.
5. Use procedures appropriate for the age, background and level of maturity of students to foster
appropriate behavior and deal with inappropriate behavior.
6. Have conferences with parents and other school personnel to help students who present behavioral
problems.
School Administration
The administrator, with the cooperation of staff, students and parents, will work to
achieve the objectives of MCPS and Farmland Elementary. The principal or his/her
designee is expected to:
1. Communicate and explain to students, parents and staff the MCPS discipline policies and the
local school discipline policy.
2. Implement specific plans for effective student, parent and staff participation in the formulation and
review of the local school discipline policy.
3. Guide and support all building personnel in maintaining appropriate and effective discipline.
4. Be available for conferences with staff, students and parents on discipline matters.
5. Inform the appropriate teachers of administrative disciplinary action take with students.
6. Identify the lines of authority in the building in his/her absence so that disciplinary actions can be
handled as expeditiously as possible.
How To Follow The Farmland 3 Expectations in All Locations
All Settings
Sparky
Scarecrow
says…
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Safe
 Use
appropriate
tone, words,
and behavior
 Avoid
disrupting
others’
learning
 Use others’
things with
permission
and care
 Take care of
self and
materials
 Clean up after
yourself
 Follow
directions
from all adults
 Be honest in
words &
actions
 Work, play,
and travel
safely
In the
Cafeteria…
In the
Hallway…
 Raise hand if
help is needed
 Use an indoor
speaking voice
 Follow
directions the
first time they
are given
 Wait
silently and
orderly in
line
 Respect the
rights and
privacy of
others
 Keep
bathrooms
clean
 Clean up after
yourself
 Place all trash
in appropriate
containers
 Eat your own
lunch
 Use hall
pass
 Go straight
to your
destination
(no detours)
 Use the
bathroom
correctly:
Flush, wash and
go!
 Have a
bathroom pass
 Return quickly
to class
 Walk on the
right side
 Keep hands
at your side
 Stay in line
 Report
problems to
adult
 Enter and leave
cafeteria in a
quiet single
line
 Walk
 Remain seated
 Walk at all
 Keep hands
times
and feet to
 Use a pass to
yourself
exit the
 Stay in
cafeteria when
assigned space
working with a
teacher, using
the bathroom
or returning to
class early
In the
Bathroom…
How to Follow the Farmland 3 Expectations in All Settings
Sparky
Scarecrow says…
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Safe
At Recess…
On the bus…
At Assemblies…
In the
Classroom…
 Take turns
with
equipment
 Respect adults
 Include all
children in
play
 Play fairly
 Listen to bus
driver and
patrols at all
times
 Keep belongings
as well as hands
and feet to
yourself
 Speak quietly on
the bus
 No food or drink
on the bus
 Provide written
permission from
a parent/guardian
if going to a
different
destination. The
note must also be
signed by the
classroom
teacher.
 Enter and exit
in a silent and
orderly fashion
 Show
appreciation
through
applause only
 Take pride in
classroom,
keep it neat and
clean
 Listen to the
person who is
talking
 Watch and
listen for
directions
 Enter a
classroom
ready to learn
with all
materials for
the day’s work.
 Walk to your bus
 Enter and exit
bus in a single
file line
 Remain seated
while the bus is
in motion
 Sit “Magic-5” at  Enter a
all times
classroom only
when an adult
is present.
 Leave the
classroom only
with
permission
from the
teacher and/or
the appropriate
pass.
 Return
borrowed
equipment to
its proper
place
 Line up
immediately
after the
bell/whistle is
sounded and
wait for
directions
 Follow
directions the
first time they
are given
 Keep hands
and feet to
yourself
 Obtain a pass
to leave the
playground
 Play in
designated
areas
Farmland PBIS
ENCOURAGING APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR
Sparky Ticket Procedures
What is a Gold Sparky Ticket?
A Gold Sparky Ticket is an incentive for students to follow the Farmland Three (School-Wide
Expectations & Rules). The purpose of the tickets is to promote positive interaction with students by
every staff member.
How do students earn Gold Sparky Tickets?
Staff members should give out Gold Sparky Tickets throughout the school day to the students they feel
are following the school rules. Students may earn one Gold Sparky Ticket per positive behavior.
What do students do with Gold Sparky Tickets?
Each teacher may determine the process for managing the Sparky Tickets. Some options can include personal
collection bags (plastic or paper) or a group collection system, such as a pocket chart.
What do students get for Gold Sparky Tickets?
Students receive recognition by all staff members and the opportunity to trade tickets in for weekly
prizes. Each grade level has a menu of prizes posted in the classroom along with their point worth.
Prizes are both tangible and non-tangible. For example, students may trade in Sparky tickets for free
seating in the cafeteria or bring a stuffed animal to school for the day. The Sparky Store is open once a
week or bi-weekly for students to trade in tickets for prizes. Each grade level has determined a
consistent day for their team.
What is the process for giving out a Blue Sparky Ticket?
Blue Sparky tickets acknowledge the whole class’s positive behavior across all school settings.
Any staff member may recognize a class for demonstrating the Farmland Three throughout the school by giving
them a Blue Sparky. Once a class earns 30 Blue Sparky Tickets, they choose how they would like to celebrate.
For example, they may choose to have extra recess or extra computer lab time.
Infractions and Consequences
One of the keys to successful behavioral intervention is communication with the parent. While parents
will not be notified every time a child is corrected for minor violations of the discipline policy, staff
members will promptly involve a parent if continued infractions occur or if the school environment is
significantly disrupted. Below is a list of the staff to administration managed hierarchy of
interventions.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Redirect student
Re-teach desired behavior
Provide repeated verbal warnings about inappropriate behavior
Give student time out in classroom – remind student of appropriate behavior in this situation and how to
make a better choice
Use one or more of the following strategies
a. Move closer to student
b. Use non-verbal cues
c. Change student’s seat
d. Warning with choices
e. Have student state rule
Have a one-on-one discussion with student about inappropriate behavior
Have student fill out a reflection sheet and send home with student for parent signature
Give student time out in an alternate location
Phone call to parent about student behavior
Provide a loss of privilege for inappropriate behavior and inform student that the next step is to be
referred to the office
Send student to the office with a completed Office Referral Form
12. Referral to Administration
13. In-School Suspension
14. Suspension
15. Expulsion
The severity of the infraction may cause any of the above steps to be escalated.
What Students May Not Bring to School
In compliance with Montgomery County Public Schools policy, students may not bring any of the
following to school:
 Weapons, intoxicants, flammables, or tobacco products
 Any objects that look or sound like a weapon or could be used as a weapon, including toy guns,
knives, or water guns, etc.
 Footballs, hardballs, softballs, lacrosse sticks, or baseball bats. These items may be brought in
an athletic bag only for use during after-school activities.
In addition, students may not bring:
 Any games that promote trading (ie. Pokémon, baseball cards)
 Toys of any kind from home, unless specified by the teacher for curriculum connections and
Sparky rewards
 Radios, television, headphones, i-Pods
 Skateboards, rollerblades, roller skates, roller shoes or scooters for use during the day.
 Electronic game toys or other electronic instruments, unless specified by teacher for curriculum
connections
 Roller backpacks
 Cell phones and/or Fireflies
Hierarchy of Consequences
Expulsion
In or Out of
School
Suspension
Referral to
Administration
Loss of Privilege
Phone Call to Family
Time Out in Alternate Location
Student and Teacher Conference
Time Out in Classroom
Standard Classroom Management Strategies
Consequences for Infractions of the Discipline Policy
Type of Behavior
Minimum
Maximum
AbsencesExcessive/Unexcused
Bringing Inappropriate Items
to schools
Bullying
Bus Behavior
Parent Contact
Computer Abuse
Disruptive classroom
behavior
Extortion (Request that a peer
give something to avoid
being hurt)
Harassment
Inappropriate Language
(profanity, ethnic slurs)
Insubordination/Defiance
Loss of Privileges/Restitution
Teacher Conference
Contact PPW
(see glossary)
Confiscation, parent called,
parent must pick up at school
Expulsion
Suspended from riding the
bus
Police Referral/Expulsion
Suspension
Suspension
Expulsion
Teacher Conference
Teacher Conference
Suspension
Suspension
Teacher Conference
Suspension
Lunchroom/Recess Behavior
Teacher Conference
Off school grounds without
permission
Physical Attack on Student or
Staff
Pornography-Possession of/or
creating lewd pictures
Possession of weapons (real
or pretend)
Possession/Use/Distribution
of Intoxicants
Sexual Harassment
Skipping Class/School
Teacher Conference
Lunchroom/Recess Privileges
suspended
Suspension
Teacher Conference
Expulsion
Parent contact
Suspension
Parent Conference/Suspension
Expulsion
Police Referral/Suspension
Police Referral/Expulsion
Parent Conference
Parent Contact
Theft
Threat or Verbal abuse
Vandalism/Destruction of
Property
Teacher Conference
Teacher Conference
Teacher Conference
Expulsion
Contact PPW
(see glossary)
Police Called/Suspension
Police Referral/Expulsion
Expulsion/Restitution/Police
Referral
Confiscation
Parent Contact
Teacher Conference
Parent Contact
This list is not comprehensive and does not include every type of
behavior that will result in a disciplinary action. The
administration reserves the right to impose the maximum penalty
authorized by MCPS policy.
Glossary
Away without Leave
When a student is not at the assigned location with written permission or a
pass.
Bullying
intentional conduct,
including verbal, physical, or written conduct or an intentional
electronic communication
that creates a hostile educational environment by substantially
interfering with a student’s
educational benefits, opportunities, or performance, or with a student’s
physical or
psychological well-being and is:
Motivated by an actual or perceived personal characteristic
including race,
national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
religion,
ancestry, physical attributes, socioeconomic status, familial status, or
physical or
mental ability or disability; or,
Threatening or seriously intimidating; and,
Occurs on a school property, at a school activity or event, or on a
school bus; or,
Substantially disrupts the orderly operation of a school.
Code Blue
Code Red
Destruction of Property
Disrespect
Expulsion
Fighting
Harmful Substance
In School Suspension
Insubordination
Intimidation
Intoxicants
Loss of Privilege
Parent Contact
This is a term used to alert staff that an emergency or crisis exists at or near an
MCPS facility. It requires all students to be accounted for and under
supervision.
Code Red is defined as an alert status indicating that imminent danger exists
to all staff and students. During a Code Red, staff and students must remain
within their classroom or within a secured area.
When a student destroys property that does not belong to them.
Inappropriate comments or physical gestures to teachers, staff members or
others.
Removing the privilege of attending an MCPS school.
When one or more participates engages in aggressive, intentional physical
contact.
Possessing or using substances such as: smoke bombs, fire crackers, stink
bombs, pepper spray, matches, lighters or caps.
Temporarily withholding the privilege to be in the classroom. Such
suspensions will be held in a location designated by the principal.
When a student refuses to obey a request or direction of staff.
When a student frightens or torments another person by verbal threats, taunts,
posturing, or throwing objects.
Possessing, using, or showing evidence of use, sale, or distribution of illegal
drugs, inhalants or smoking materials.
Losing opportunities, such as: participating in a classroom party, going on a
field trip, maintaining classroom jobs, serving as a patrol or member of the
Student Council.
Communicating with a parent by phone, email or in person.
PPW
Recess Detention
Sexual Harassment
Stealing
Suspension
Verbal Abuse
The Pupil Personnel Worker is the link between the school, community and
family. The PPW’s role includes being an advocate for all students; a
consultant to school staff and parents; the school system liaison; and referral
source to outside agencies.
Having recess withheld from a student. Detention may be held in a teacher’s
room or in the office.
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and/or other
inappropriate verbal, written, or physical conduct of a sexual nature, directed
toward others.
When a student takes something that does not belong to them.
Temporarily withholding the privilege of being in school.
Note: MCPS has outlined the criteria for suspension in regulation JGA-EB as:
In those instances when the behavior of a student is disruptive and detrimental
to the operation of the school, the student may be suspended or expelled. Both
conditions must be met in order to qualify for a suspension or expulsion
according to both MCPS regulation and Maryland state law.
When a student uses offensive or derogatory language or gestures directed at
others (profanity, obscenity, or racial slurs).
Due Process
All appeals of disciplinary action should begin with the staff member who made the
decision. The student and/or parent have the right to appeal a decision to the principal.
The principal shall hear the appeal within three school days and notify the
student/parent of his/her decision.
1. All appeals of a disciplinary action should begin with the staff member who made
the decision.
2. Students and /or parents have the right to appeal a decision to the principal.
3. The principal shall hear the appeal within three school days and notify the
student/parent of his/her decision.
4. The decision of the principal may be appealed to the Associate Superintendent
(see “Student’s Rights and Responsibilities” for procedure).
Primary Reflection Form
Name______________________
Date ___________________
Please circle what happened.
I was not respectful of
others, myself, and/ or
property.
I was not responsible.
I was not safe.
I chose to ________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Circle what you will do from now on.
I will be respectful of
others, myself, and/ or
property.
I will be responsible.
I will be safe.
A better choice would be to ________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Parent Signature __________________________________
Intermediate Reflection
Rethinking Behavior: Designing Good Choices
Circle the Farmland 3 rule(s) you did not follow:
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Safe
1. Describe what you did.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
2. What was not good or appropriate about what you did?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
3. Explain a better choice to follow next time.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
4. How will you do it (list steps)?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Please return this signed reflection to school tomorrow.
Parent Signature ______________________________ Student Signature _________________________
Teacher Signature ______________________________
Notes