G.D. Jones Parent
Handbook
2016-2017
G.D. Jones Elementary School
1018 South 12th Avenue
Wausau, WI 54401
(715) 261-0950
Robin Kordus, Principal
http://gdjones.wausauschools.org/
Wausau School District
Continuous Nondiscrimination Notice
The Wausau School District does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of sex, race,
religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation,
or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability. Federal law prohibits discrimination in
education and employment on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or
disability.
Anyone who believes that the Wausau School District has inadequately applied the principles
and/or regulations of Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Section 504 or the Americans with Disabilities Act,
may file a complaint with the WSD Equity Director at the Longfellow Administration Center, 415
Seymour Street, Wausau, Wisconsin 54402-0359, or by telephone at 715-261-0500.
Lub Wausau School District txwv tsis pub leejtwg ua saib tsis taus ib tus neeg twg txawm yog hais
tias nej yog pojniam los yog txivneej, yog haiv neeg dabtsi, ntseeg dabtsi, poj koob yawm txiv yog
leejtwg, nyiam pojniam los yog txivneej li cas, muaj mob nkees li cas los yog xiam oob qhab li cas.
Kevcai nyob rau tebchaws no txwv tsis pub leejtwg yuav ua saib tsis taus nej yog nej tuaj nrhiav
haujlwm ntawm peb txawm yog nej yog haiv neeg twg, muaj noob nyoog li cas, cev nqaij daim
ntawv yog xim dabtsi, nyiam pojniam txivneej, ntseeg dabtsi, los yog muaj kev xiam oob qhab li
cas.
Yog leejtwg ntseeg tau hais tias lub khoog tsev kawm ntawv Wausau School District ua tsis raws li
txojcai thiab/los yog cov lus teev tseg nyob rau Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Section 504 los yog
Txojcai Tiv Thaiv Haiv Neeg Mekas uas Xiam Oob Qhab, nej sau tau ib tsab ntawv tsis txaus siab
tuaj rau tus saib xyuas tej teebmeem zoo li no uas yog tus WSD Equity Director nyob tom
Longfellow Administration Center, 415 Seymour Street, Wausau, Wisconsin 54402-0359, los yog
hu rau nws ntawm tus xovtooj 715-261-0549.
El Distrito Escolar de Wausau no discrimina contra las personas por motivos de sexo, raza,
religión, nacionalidad, ancestro, credo, embarazo, estado civil, orientación sexual, o discapacidad
física, emocional, mental o de aprendizaje. La Ley Federal prohíbe cualquier tipo de
discriminación en la educación y empleo por motivos de edad, raza, color, nacionalidad, sexo,
religión o discapacidad.
Cualquier persona que crea que el Distrito Escolar de Wausau ha aplicado inadecuadamente los
principios y/o reglas del Título VI, Título VII, Título IX, Sección 504 o del Acta para Americanos con
Discapacidades, podrá presentar una denuncia ante el Director de Igualdad del Distrito Escolar de
Wausau al Centro de Administración Longfellow, 415 Seymour Street, Wausau, Wisconsin 544020359, o por teléfono al 715-261-0596.
G.D. JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
MISSION STATEMENT
We commit to provide a
safe environment where we help all students
learn academic and social skills.
G.D. JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BELIEF STATEMENTS
• We believe that all students can learn & that student
learning should be the focus of all school decisions.
• We believe that varied learning activities are necessary
to meet & assess students’ needs.
• We believe that our school needs to be a safe, clean, &
comfortable place.
• We believe that all students, parents, staff, & the
community share responsibility for the success of a
child’s education.
• We believe in positive relationships & mutual respect
between students, parents, staff, & the community.
2016-2017 SCHOOL CALENDAR
First Day of School....................................……….………………..September 1
Labor Day – NO SCHOOL…………………………………………..September 5
District-wide Professional Development – NO SCHOOL……….. October 27-28
END OF 1st QUARTER/NO SCHOOL PM/NO 4K – ALL DAY
(PM – TEACHER RECORDKEEPING)…………………………… November 4
Thanksgiving Break – NO SCHOOL.......………………..……… November 23-25
Winter Break Begins – NO SCHOOL.....………….……………… December 23
School Resumes..................................………….....…………….. January 3
END OF 2nd QUARTER/NO SCHOOL PM/NO PRE-K ALL DAY
(PM – TEACHER RECORDKEEPING)...................................… January 20
District-wide Professional Development – NO SCHOOL…….…. January 23-24
END OF 3rd QUARTER/NO SCHOOL PM/NO PRE-K ALL DAY
(PM – TEACHER RECORDKEEPING)......………………….…... March 24
Spring Break – NO SCHOOL…………………..…….……………. March 27-March 31
School Resumes......................................………….…………….. April 3
Inclement Weather Make-up Day, if needed………………………May 5
District-wide Professional Development – NO SCHOOL…….…. May 26
Memorial Day Observed – NO SCHOOL……………..…….……. May 29
END OF 4th QUARTER/NO SCHOOL PM/NO PRE-K ALL DAY
(PM – TEACHER RECORDKEEPING)......………………….…... June 6
Students' Last Day.…………….................................……………..June 6
Teachers’ Last Day…………….................................……………..June 7
DAILY SCHEDULE
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM
8:15 AM – 8:30 AM
8:30 AM
8:35 AM
Breakfast
Recess
Incoming Bell
Tardy Bell
8:25 AM – 11:00 AM
AM 4K Academy Session
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Grade 1 Recess
Grade 2 Recess
KDG Recess
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
11:10 AM – 11:50 AM
11:40 AM – 12:20 AM
11:30 AM – 12:10 PM
11:40 AM – 12:20 PM
11:50 AM – 12:30 PM
4K Lunch/Recess
Kindergarten Lunch/Recess
Grade 1 Lunch/Recess
Grade 2 Lunch/Recess
Grade 3 Lunch/Recess
Grades 4 & 5 Lunch/Recess
11:40 PM – 2:15 PM
PM 4K Academy Session
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
3 Recess
4-5 Recess
3:30 PM
K – 5 Dismissal
Transportation To and From School
Family Vehicle
Please note the change in the flow of traffic of the GD Jones parking lot. The
entrance is now on the west end of the lot and will ensure the safety of all students
during drop off and pick up times at school. Please follow the arrows to ensure
everyone’s safety and pull ahead as far to the east end of the lot before stopping the
vehicle where staff members will be available to help students in and out of your
vehicle.
Parking Lot
Exit Only
Parking Lot
Entrance Only
Walking/Biking
Walking and biking to school is not only a fun way for kids to get to school, but it is also healthy.
Physical activity improves mental health, attendance, and academic performance. Walking and
biking to school also decreases the amount of traffic in the parking lot and around the school.
When walking or biking to school, please keep in mind the following safety tips:
•
•
•
•
•
Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals, safety patrol, or the crossing guards.
Look both ways before crossing in the crosswalk.
Always walk, never run, when crossing the streets.
Always walk on the sidewalks.
Always wear a properly fitting helmet every time you ride your bike.
SAFETY PATROLS
Safety patrols will be on duty to help keep
children safe while crossing street corners
from 8:15 – 8:30 a.m. and 3:25 – 3:40 p.m.
COLT CORRAL
Students waiting for a ride after school must wait in the
Colt Corral, a waiting area painted on the sidewalk outside
the main entrance to the school. There are adults available
to supervise students in this area until 3:40 p.m. Students are NOT allowed
to wait for their rides in unsupervised areas, such as near the driveway to the
loading dock or on the corner of Rosecrans and 12th Avenue. Your child’s safety is our number
one concern and your help is most appreciated.
OFFICE HOURS AND MESSAGES
The office is open from 7:45 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. The secretarial staff will be happy to help you if
questions arise. Please make car-pooling and after-school child care decisions ahead of
time as it is very inconvenient to pass these personal messages on to the student. Also,
children are not allowed to use the telephone after school for these types of messages.
Emergency situations are different! We will do our best to be of service to you.
ABSENCES
Your child is required to be in school except when he/she is ill. Please call the
school office (715-261-0950) before school starts each day your child is absent.
Please use good judgment when determining if your child's health warrants staying
home. It is difficult to keep children inside during recesses and noon hour and to
provide them with proper supervision just because they "don't feel well." A written
doctor's excuse to stay inside will help us at school.
Help your child to develop the responsibility of arriving at school on time. G.D. Jones School starts
at 8:35 a.m. If your child gets an occasional "late start," please call and get him/her to school as
soon as possible. Have your child check in and out through the office whenever he/she does not
plan to be at school all day.
TOYS AT SCHOOL
We have had students bring radios, yo-yos, Pokemon cards, skateboards, and other toys to
school. Toys on the playground cause a number of problems, which we would like to avoid. The
toys may be lost and/or broken causing great disappointment to the owner. Our PTO and school
provide funds for playground equipment for all children. We would prefer that children share this
equipment while at recess and keep their toys at home. Additionally, for the safety of all students,
“heelys” are not allowed at school.
Parent Teacher Organization (P.T.O)
As parents of G.D. Jones students, you are members of our PTO where you will find many
opportunities for you to become involved in your child’s school. Focusing on the most effective
projects and events, Understanding the needs and interests of our school families to provide the
most support, Sharing the tasks, and Partnering with the school staff and community whenever
possible is the goal of the GD Jones PTO.
For more information regarding your P.T. please leave a message for Justin Sorenson, G.D. Jones
P.T.O president, at 715.261.0950.
SCHOOL COUNSELOR
Developmental Guidance provides weekly guidance lessons for all students. In an effort to help
children reach their greatest potential, lessons are designed to meet the needs of students in areas
of personal, social, academic, and career exploration. In addition to classroom guidance, small
group counseling on specific topics and individual counseling are provided. Parents and students
are encouraged to contact Cassie Cerny, the School Counselor, should a specific need arise.
PARTY INVITATIONS
Unless the entire class is being invited, please DO NOT send party invitations to
school with your child to hand out to select students.
VISITORS ARE WELCOME
Visitors are always welcome at G.D. Jones School. However, all classroom
contacts during the school day need to be initiated through the office for
your child’s safety. Visitors must register and obtain a visitor’s badge in the
school office each time they visit the school. (Please refer to School Board
Policy #1320 for further details.)
EARLY DISMISSAL SIGN-OUT SHEET
For your child’s safety, an Early Dismissal Sign-Out Sheet must be filled out by a parent in the
main office when your child needs to leave during the school day. When your child returns to
school, please let the office personnel know that he/she has returned.
*We cannot allow students to meet you outside of the school building. If someone other than
a parent or a legal guardian needs to pick up a child, we must have a telephone call from the
child’s parent giving us the person’s name/relationship and the reason that he/she is picking up
your child.
DISMISSAL
The school day ends at 3:30 p.m. It is important that all students are picked up at 3:30
p.m. unless they are involved in adult-supervised after-school activities.
EMERGENCY CONTACT
At the start of each school year, parents are asked to update and sign an Emergency Contact &
Medical Information form for each child they have attending G.D. Jones School. If the school does
not have this form for your child, it makes it extremely difficult to contact you or another responsible
party if an emergency situation occurs at school.
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
The Wausau School District is pleased to announce that it has been approved by the Department
of Public Instruction to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2016 - 2017
school year.
This is great news! All students enrolled at G.D. Jones Elementary are eligible to receive a
healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to parents each school day throughout the
2016 – 2017 school year.
If at any time you have questions regarding these very exciting free meal opportunities, please do
one of the following:
• Call Sheri or Lea, G.D. Jones School Nutritionists, between 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. or from 1:00
– 2:00 p.m. at 715-261-0953.
• Call the Wausau School District Food Service Office at 715-261-0809.
Breakfast:
Students may
beginning at
breakfast.
served in the
Once students
breakfast, they
the playground
A.M. If the
inclement,
supervised in
arrive at school
8:00 A.M. for
Breakfast will be
multi-purpose room.
finish eating
will be dismissed to
beginning at 8:15
weather is
students will be
the gymnasium
Lunch/Lunch
Recess:
All grades will
eat lunch and then
go out for
recess before
coming to eat
lunch. If the
weather is inclement, students will be supervised inside the building during their lunch recess.
Students will be held responsible for their behavior during lunch and on the playground. They will
be expected to be where they belong, do their work (in this case, eat or play) and respect others,
property, the environment, and themselves.
PLAYGROUND SUPERVISION (8:15 A.M.)
Playground supervisors will be on duty before school from 8:15 - 8:30
a.m. We strongly recommend that children come no earlier than
fifteen minutes before the school day begins unless they plan to eat
breakfast at school. Students are asked not to enter the building
unless an emergency occurs or a red ball is on the door. When the
red ball is on the door, students may come into the gym where they
are supervised. This red ball is put up during stormy, rainy, or
extremely cold weather.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
On rainy or extremely cold days, children should stay home as long as
possible until the school day begins. On these inclement weather days,
students will be allowed to come into the building through the gym doors
before school beginning at 8:15 a.m. and will be supervised inside
throughout the day during recess times.
NO SMOKING POLICY
Smoking is prohibited anywhere on school property – INCLUDING INSIDE
CARS – at any time. Students face suspension, faculty members can be
reprimanded, and other adults will be warned/ticketed if they violate this policy.
TEXTBOOKS AND CLASSROOM SUPPLIES
The Wausau School District furnishes textbooks to the students. Please
have your children cover the textbooks with grocery bags, wrapping
paper, book covers, newspaper, etc. Students and their parents will be
held responsible for lost or damaged books.
Students need to bring classroom supplies as soon as possible and
need to have rubber-soled tennis shoes at school just for physical
education classes.
Since many children wear identical clothes and use similar classroom
supplies, please identify your child's name on these items with some type of marker or other
identification tool.
VISION AND HEARING SCREENING
The Marathon County Health Department technicians will be in our school again this year to
conduct the vision and hearing screening. Screening will be done on all students in grades K, 1, 2,
3 and 5. If your child wears glasses, please be sure that they are worn on that day. If a child does
not wear his/her glasses, he/she will not have the vision test.
Please notify the school prior to the screening day if either of the following
applies to your child:
1)
2)
statements
You do not wish to have your child participate in the
screening, or
You feel your child may need to be screened and is not in
one of the grades being screened.
NOTE: This is only a screening. You will receive a referral if the
screening results indicate that your child may need further
evaluation. Then you may wish to make an
appointment with a physician of your choice.
“No matter how good schools are, how capable and caring the teachers,
they will not have as much effect on a child’s permanent level of intelligence
as has the environment in which he has lived before he started first grade.”
Joan Beck
LIBRARY
All parents are encouraged to read books with their child and to
let him/her tell you about the pictures and story. A book from
the school library needs to be returned on library day. Each
book is stamped for two weeks and must be returned before
other books can be checked out. Please help your child learn
the following rules for the library books:
1)
Find a safe place where the library book can be kept away from pets and younger children. If the book is kept
in the same place each time, it is easier to find it on library mornings. Also, this special
place will keep the library book from becoming mixed in with your own books.
2)
Remind your child to have clean hands when he/she looks at books and to turn the pages
from the upper right hand corner.
3)
Send a book bag or backpack on library day so that library books are protected from bad
weather.
Students who lose or damage books will be fined.
PARENT RESOURCE LIBRARY
We are very fortunate to have a Parent Resource Library right in our school! Parents are able to
check out books, videos, and cassettes – anonymously – through our parent partnership
coordinator, Cassie Cerny, our school counselor, or Kristen Brown, our school social worker. The
materials cover a variety of topics pertinent to parents. Topics include such things as how to help
your child succeed in school, positive parenting, alcohol and drug abuse, friendship, and many
other topics.
HOMEWORK
The Wausau School District believes:
•
Mastery of basic skills is essential for a sound education,
•
Meaningful practice over a period of time will be necessary to attain mastery learning, and
•
Homework allows students an opportunity to explore educational experiences beyond the
classroom.
Therefore, it is both appropriate and necessary for students to be assigned some homework. It is
the intent of the Wausau School District to encourage standards for homework that will maximize it
as a meaningful and reinforcing part of the student's program of learning.
Homework may be expected under the following circumstances:
1)
When an assignment has not been completed in the allotted class time.
2)
When a specific student learning difficulty needs to be overcome.
3)
When a student returns from an absence.
4)
When a student or class displays an interest in doing additional research on a given topic.
5)
When a student is not working up to his/her potential.
6)
When class time has not been wisely used by the student.
7)
When specific skills need to be strengthened through independent practice.
8)
When the goal for the student is to strengthen independent study habits.
General Homework Suggestions:
•
Ask your child to show you any homework or reading assignments.
•
Find a quiet space, free from distractions, for your child to read.
•
Establish a routine or certain time to complete work. Don't let your child
leave homework until just before bedtime.
•
Tell your child how important school is. The attitude you express about
school will be the attitude your child acquires.
•
Provide your child with a healthy snack.
•
Limit the time spent watching television or playing video games until after
PERSONAL APPEARANCE
We know that children frequently act like they are dressed. Parents are responsible for guiding
their children in making appropriate choices when dressing for school.
Children should dress for the weather conditions. Except during periods of rain or extreme cold,
students will be expected to remain on the playground until 8:30 in the morning, during recess
periods, and during the noon hour. Warm caps, mittens and weatherproof footwear are a must
during winter months. During spring and fall, the temperatures are often unpredictable. Students
should select clothes for comfort, keeping in mind that shorts and shirts should be appropriate in
length.
Safety should also be a consideration. Skirts that are too long, as well as too short, can be
dangerous on playground equipment or difficult to sit and play in. Shoes should be sturdy.
Skinned knees can be avoided by wearing longer pants.
To help you and your child choose appropriate clothing for the weather, we will follow these
temperature guidelines during outdoor recesses: If the temperature is 59 degrees or below,
students will need to wear jackets when outside, if the temperature is 60 – 64 degrees, students
may go outside wearing long sleeves. If students are not wearing long sleeve shirts, jackets must
be worn. If the temperature is 65 degrees and above, students may wear short sleeves outside.
Wausau School District Policy 5131.15 states:
In order to assure a healthy and safe school environment for students, the following
student dress code guidelines will be enforced:
1.
2.
3.
During the school day, hats, caps, bandannas, head coverings, and jackets shall be
taken off and placed in the student’s locker soon after the student enters the
building. These items shall not be worn in the classroom and they shall not be worn
in the school building except when the student has immediately entered or is leaving
the building.
No student shall be permitted to wear any clothing that contains pictures and/or
writing referring to alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, sexual references,
profanity, promotion of gambling, illegal drugs, and/or gangs.
Medallions or other jewelry which identify gang members or gang affiliation or which
have come to represent a gang shall also not be worn or displayed in school or at
school events. Also, gang clothing is not always restricted to an item of clothing, but
may include the way in which a particular item of clothing is worn. No gang insignia
may be worn, possessed, used, distributed, displayed, carried, or sold by any student
on school grounds or at school-related activities at any time. The reference to “gang
insignia” would also encompass items of clothing that signify gang activity by the
manners in which they are worn.
During the school year, the students participate in many performances, as well as events within the
Wausau School District where they represent our school. These are special occasions and should
have special consideration when it comes to dress. A clean and neat appearance makes the best
impression!
FIELD TRIPS
Field trips are an extension of the classroom-learning environment in a less structured setting.
Therefore, it is important that students participating in field trips conduct themselves in an
appropriate manner to ensure their safety and the safety of others. While on field trips, students
will be expected to follow school rules and exhibit behavior that is appropriate to the setting to
allow all students the opportunity to see, hear, and learn.
Appropriate student behavior at school is also very important. One indicator of a student's ability to
act appropriately on a field trip is the citizenship exhibited at school. Parents of students whose
behavior at school requires an increased amount of teacher/supervisor time may be required to
attend school field trips with their child. At the principal’s discretion, students exhibiting extreme
cases of behavior at school prior to a field trip, which results in suspension, may be excluded
altogether from a field trip.
POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS &
SUPPORTS (PBIS)
What Does PBIS Mean?
PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports. All elementary schools in the
Wausau School District are using PBIS.
PBIS helps us to prevent & respond to classroom & school behavior problems. The school-wide
systems that are put in place help teachers to teach & students to learn. When we have fewer
behavior problems, school is a safe place to learn for all.
At G.D. Jones, we are working to define, teach, & support the appropriate student behaviors so
that our school is a great place to learn, have fun, & make new friends.
G.D. JONES SCHOOL-WIDE EXPECTATIONS
The “Big 3”
RESPECT – treating other people, property, the
environment, & myself the way I want to be treated
WORK - doing what I’m supposed to be doing &
bringing the materials needed to do it
BELONG - being where I am supposed to be & being
there on time
STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FOR
APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR
1. Colt Cash
G.D. Jones students are acknowledged for good behavior – showing
RESPECT, doing their WORK, & being where they BELONG – with Colt
Cash. Students put their name on the back of the Colt Cash & put it into a
personal “wallet.” Students bundle Colt Cash to use at the School Store.
2. School Store
Every other week, students are given the opportunity to shop at the store during their recess. Colt
Cash used at the store is placed into the Colt Cash Bank to celebrate all the hard work our
students are doing.
3. All School Celebrations
Our ALL SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS are a chance to acknowledge our students’ good behavior &
encourage them to continue to RESPECT, WORK, & BELONG at G.D. Jones School. These
events help build community for both our staff & students.
CONSEQUENCES FOR INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR
1. Adult Correction
A verbal correction will be given to students by an adult when a student is not following any of our
three school-wide expectations: RESPECT, WORK, & BELONG. Students will be given the
chance to “fix” the behavior before further action is taken.
2. Minor Behavior Report
Behavior that needs more than adult correction is written on a G.D. Jones Behavior Reporting
Form. As part of the conversation between the student & the adult, the adult may offer choices of
how the student might “fix it.” The choices will be related to the misbehavior, respectful of the
student, & reasonable as a consequence. Once a student has four minor behavior reports in two
or more locations & by two or more adults within a four week period, the classroom teacher will call
the parents or hold a parent-teacher conference. Together, the parent & the teacher will discuss
possible steps to increase appropriate RESPECT, WORK, & BELONG behaviors.
3. Major Behavior Report
Any of the following behaviors are major:
• Behavior that breaks federal law, state law, and/or a major Wausau School District policy
• Behavior that is physically or emotionally dangerous that poses a threat to physical and/or
emotional safety
• Acts of defiance
• Other “extreme” behavior
All major behaviors require follow-up & parent contact by the principal.
SUPPORT SYSTEMS
At G.D. Jones, we have created some built-in support as a way to help children use appropriate
behavior – or stay “above-the-line.” Any one of the following supports may be used, depending on
the level of need:
Matrix Walks – These are events in which all students walk through our common areas to learn
expectations and practice expectations. Matrix Walks are scheduled three times each year, the
beginning of the year, after winter break, and after spring break.
Re-teaching – “COOL TOOLS” (lesson plans) are used to re-teach appropriate RESPECT,
WORK, & BELONG behaviors that were previously taught to all students. Sometimes, the reteaching might be done in a new way & may be done one-on-one or with a whole class.
Expectation Celebrations – Each month the school hosts an Expectation Celebration. Students
following expectations enjoy an extra recess. Students demonstrating inappropriate behaviors
(earning 3 ODRs in a week and/or earning 5 or more ODRs in the month) participate in a booster
(re-teaching) in the area they are demonstrating need for improvement.
Check-In Check-Out – To prevent students who are acting out from becoming worse & to provide
them with more frequent feedback on their behavior to prevent future problem behavior, a G.D.
Jones Colt Card is used. With the goal of increasing appropriate RESPECT, WORK, & BELONG
behaviors, students are given feedback on their behavior by an adult about every 30-60 minutes.
Social Academic Instructional Groups – These student groups are created using data from
behavior reports & after being involved with check-in check-out. The students in these small
groups usually need re-teaching of specific behaviors. They meet with an adult to practice
appropriate RESPECT, WORK, & BELONG behaviors that will help them to be successful at
school.
Sometimes, adults at G.D. Jones meet to try to figure out the purpose of an inappropriate behavior.
This helps the adults know how to best support the student & his/her family in changing the
behavior so that the student can learn & his/her teacher can teach.