Character Counts

Grant's Great Expectations

As Grant Gecko students, we are committed to being a terrific (TRRFCC) caring community in order to learn in a safe environment for all. We will follow the premises of Character Counts at our school, which are based on the following set of shared character traits and values:

Trustworthiness
Be honest • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do • Have the courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation • Don’t deceive, cheat, or steal • Be loyal — stand by your family, friends, school, and community • Be an UPSTANDER

Respect
Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant and accepting of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements • Be an UPSTANDER

Responsibility
Do what you are supposed to do • Plan ahead • Persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your words, actions, and attitudes • Set a good example for others • Be an UPSTANDER

Fairness
Play by the rules • Take turns and share • Be open-minded; listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others • Don’t blame others carelessly • Treat all people fairly • Be an UPSTANDER

Caring
Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need • Be an UPSTANDER

Citizenship
Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment • Volunteer • Be an UPSTANDER

T R R F C C
TRRFCC: Students can use this acronym to help them remember that people with good character are terrific:

• Trustworthiness
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Fairness
• Caring
• Citizenship
  
  

Rules for Good Citizenship at Grant School

GENERAL RULES

1. Soda is not allowed at school.
2. Fighting will not be tolerated at any time for any reason.
3. Children who are late for school must report to the office. A "late slip" is required for entry into the classroom.
4. Cell phones and Smartwatches must be off at school. They must not be seen or heard except before and after school and off campus. We are not responsible for lost or damaged phones. Confiscated phones and Smartwatches will be held until the end of the school day and returned to the parent/caregiver. 
5. Students always walk in the hallways, moving quietly to avoid bothering other classes.
6. Students should only be in a room with an adult present.

DRESS CODES

1. Children are to wear comfortable clothing to school.
2. Hats are allowed on the playground, but they must be taken off inside the classrooms.
3. No open-toed shoes, sandals, or other footwear that does not adequately cover the feet.
4. T-shirts are fine, but may not have any logo or other "artwork" that is deemed inappropriate for school.
5. If any student is not appropriately dressed for school, the parents will be contacted and the child must change into proper school attire.

GOING TO AND FROM SCHOOL

1. Students walking to and from school must use the sidewalks and avoid using alleys and parking lots.
2. Streets should be crossed only at crosswalks, and students should be extremely careful when crossing all streets, especially Pico Boulevard and Ocean Park Boulevard.
3. Crossing guards at 25th and Pearl, Cloverfield and Pearl, and 23rd and Pearl, will direct and assist students at those locations. Students should always follow their directions.
4. Students should not get into conversations, or accept gifts or rides from strangers.
5. School rules start when you leave your house in the morning until you get back home in the afternoon.

BEFORE SCHOOL/AFTER SCHOOL

1. Students should arrive at school between 8:00 and 8:20 a.m. and go directly to the playground. Breakfast is served at 8:00 M-F. Students who come for breakfast must stay in the cafeteria until yard supervision begins at 8:00.
2. If you need to drop your child off earlier, please adjust the time by carpooling with another family or enrolling in childcare.
3. Students in grades PK-3 must be picked up after school by an adult in front of the school. Students in the 4th or 5th grade may exit the campus at the back of the school. Use the drop-off and pickup areas. DO NOT use the staff parking lot to drop off or pick up your child. 
4. After school has been dismissed, students leave campus unless enrolled in CDS child care, CREST, Gecko Academy, Intensive Intervention, or any other after-school enrichment programs as available.

BICYCLES/SCOOTERS/SKATEBOARDS

1. Only students in 4th and 5th grades may ride their bikes/scooters/skateboards to school unaccompanied.
2. Students in TK through 3rd-grade students may ONLY ride bicycles/scooters/skateboards to school with a parent accompanying them.
3. Bicycles/scooters/skateboards must be ridden according to the traffic laws which apply to cars.
4. Bicycle/scooter/skateboarder riders must obey the crossing guards at all locations.
5. Bicycles/scooters/skateboard riders must enter the school through the front of the school or the 24th Street gate and walk their bicycles to the bike racks.
6. Bicycles/scooters/skateboards must be locked to the racks.
7. Bicycles/scooters/skateboards must be walked anywhere on the grounds or hallways at all times.

CAFETERIA/LUNCH BENCHES

1. Students are expected to eat with proper table manners.
2. Sodas or glass bottled drinks are NOT permitted due to safety.
3. Students in the cafeteria should sit at a table and remain seated until dismissed by a supervisor.
4. The table area should be cleaned. The floor under the seat should be cleaned. Trash should be thrown in the trash cans. Recycled items should be recycled.
5. Students raise their hands to be dismissed.
6. Students at the lunch benches may proceed to the playground after cleaning their area and when dismissed by the campus supervisor.
7. Students should finish food and snacks before walking and running.
8. Food and drinks are used inside the designated eating areas.

PLAYGROUND

1. No games of physical contact may be played, such as tackle football, wrestling, tag, etc.
2. Students should always follow all adult directions.
3. Students should quickly report any problems or injuries to a campus supervisor.
4. Students should keep from chasing, teasing, insulting, or making any rude comments.
5. When a whistle is blown, a student should stop in place and look to see if they are being called.
6. Personal sports equipment or toys are to stay at home.
7. The school is not responsible for lost or damaged articles.
8. Students may not leave the playground or go into the parking lot during lunch or after school without an adult.

RESTROOMS

1. All students must have a restroom pass when visiting the restrooms except during recess and lunch periods. 
2. The childcare restrooms are to be used at lunch.
3. Restrooms may be used during the recess period and lunch.
4. Students should report any problems in the bathrooms immediately to a campus supervisor or adult.

PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

1. Horizontal ladder: the next student in line should wait until the person on the ladder is halfway across.
2. Rope Diamond: Inside the Diamond is not a playing area. Only 6 students may be on the Rope Diamond at a time. 
3. Parallel Bars: No jumping off or flipping on the bars.
4. Climbing Structure: Children should flow in one direction. No climbing up slides. No pushing or shoving while waiting in line.

OLWEUS ANTI-BULLYING PROGRAM

The Olweus Program (pronounced Ol-VAY-us) is a comprehensive approach that includes schoolwide, classroom, individual, and community components. The program is focused on long-term change that creates a safe and positive school climate. It is designed and evaluated for use in elementary, middle, junior high, and high schools (K-12). The program’s goals are to reduce and prevent bullying problems among school children and to improve peer relations at school. The program has been found to reduce bullying among students, improve the social climate of classrooms, and reduce related antisocial behaviors, such as vandalism and truancy. The Olweus Program has been implemented in more than a dozen countries around the world, and thousands of schools in the United States.

OUR SCHOOL'S ANTI-BULLYING RULES

1. We will not bully others. 

2. We will try to help students who are bullied.

3. We will try to include students who are left out. 

4. If we know that somebody is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home. 

Definition

Olweus defines bullying as when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person who has a hard time defending himself or herself.

According to Dr. Olweus, this definition includes three important components:

1. Bullying is aggressive behavior that involves unwanted, negative actions.
2. Bullying often involves a pattern of behavior repeated over time.
3. Bullying involves an imbalance of power or strength.

Is it Bullying?

Bullying is a very serious word and offense, so it is important we know the difference between bullying and inappropriate behavior, so we can use the word correctly.

• Rude: When someone says or does something unintentionally hurtful once
• Mean: When someone says or does something intentionally hurtful once
• Bullying: When the same person says or does something intentionally hurtful, and they keep doing it, even when you tell them to stop or show that you’re upset, and they have more power than you in some way

Types of Bullying