SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Each letter of the word “Respect” was placed on a bulletin board at Indian Fields School, with students writing their ideas of what the word means.
Be nice to each other. Raise your hand. Listen to others.
Use kind words. If someone is sad, cheer them up.
Take care of others. Play nicely. No bullying.
Shake each other’s hands. Be an upstander. Everybody should be treated equally.
The first through fifth graders learn about respect all year, but the entire school, plus the preschool and kindergarten students from the neighboring Dayton Elementary School, celebrated their positive behaviors during a pep rally and sing along on Oct. 10.
“We all use the same language with the children and we all have the same expectations,” assistant Principal Carol Piza said. “It’s really about how all of us in the building want to be treated.”
Focusing on the three keys that are taught – take care of yourself, take care of others and take care of the school environment – the students joined in singing “This School is Your School” written by Patti Del Guercio and the theme song from “Arthur” before the safety patrols and trusted adults were introduced, plus the holding of the letters R-E-S-P-E-C-T by designated staff members.
“I want to remind you how proud I am of all of you,” Principal April Gonzalez said. “Respect does feel good. When someone respects you, you feel good, you feel cared about and you feel a little bit important.”
The Responsive Classroom technique focuses on responsive language and helps with problem solving, communication and self regulation, said Amy Robles, part of the Climate Committee at the school. For example, instead of telling a child to sit down, one would say, “Show me how to sit down like a second grader.”
“It’s a very respectful way to speak to kids and a respectful way to have expectations of kids,” she said.
The school also embraces the philosophy of CARES: Cooperation, Assertion, Respect, Empathy and Self Control.
In the spring, the school hosts Celebrating Uniqueness Day, where people with disabilities speak to the children. There are also food drives, holiday gift giving programs and the observance of the Week of Respect to reinforce positive behavior.
“The language, the philosophy, is just so part of the school community,” Robles said.
Contact Jennifer Amato at [email protected].