4/5 Team Constitution
2007-2008
Preamble
We, the members of the 4/5 Team, pledge to demonstrate loyalty, honesty and kindness to our peers and teachers. We promise to follow the rules of the classroom, Circle of Courage and school. We will listen to our speaker at all times. If we have a problem, we will try to solve it ourselves but if we can’t, we will take it to the executives. This constitution will help the 4/5 Team build a better community and family.
Article I: Legislative Branch: Rules
To be a successful team, we must be respectful of ourselves, our teammates, our teachers and our community. A respectful person follows these rules:
1. We will listen to our teachers and other adults in the building and school community and talk to them with a polite voice and words. We will think before we act.
2. We will look at the person who is speaking or we are speaking to. We will not talk when others are speaking or working.
3. We will always seek ways of including others in our work and play
4. Each member of the team must be considerate of others’ feelings and possessions. We will keep our hands to ourselves and not touch anything that does not belong to us unless invited to.
5. During group activities, everyone must cooperate by taking turns, making a contribution and being certain that all members of the group are included. We will make positive comments to one another.
6. At our tables, we need to keep our space organized. We will do our best to share classroom learning materials and take turns putting them back where they belong.
7. We will take responsibility for organizing our box and backpack. We will write our assignments in our assignment book, do our homework and bring it back to school on the right day.
8. If the teacher needs to take a phone call or steps out of the room, we will continue to do our work and act responsibly.
9. When we are not in the classroom, we will continue to model positive leadership by following the rules of our classroom, our school and our community.
10. We will do our very best each day. If we make a mistake, we will think about a way to do something differently and then move on knowing that we will do better next time.
Article II: The Executive Branch
Mrs. Tate and Missy are our Co-Presidents. The Executive Branch works hard to have our team run smoothly. We must be sure to listen to them and do as we are asked. They have the power to:
-Organize our instruction and plan learning activities
-Keep records of our progress
-Teach us respect, responsibility, honesty and generosity
-Plan activities that will help us work as a team
-Help children who need assistance
-Enforce major and minor rules
-Create new rules
-Create exceptions to the rules
-Appoint temporary executives
-Arrange seating
-Grant permission to students to go about the building
-Make learning fun and keep us safe
-Have a sense of humor, a positive attitude and empathy
-Help us to be our very best
-Teach us to have a cause beyond ourselves
-Teach us to be leaders
Article III: The Judicial Branch
The Executive Branch has made their expectations clear to us. It is not their goal to give consequences. They trust that we will be responsible and do our work independently. We are expected to do our best and turn work in on time.
The members of the 4/5 Team are dedicated to learning to be successful members of our community. In order to do so we must be loyal, trustworthy, generous, considerate and kind to others. If we pay attention to this commitment, it is not likely that there will be a need for many consequences.
In the event that a member of the 4/5 Team is unreasonable or irresponsible:
1. A member of the Executive Branch will meet with the team member to determine why that member was not successful. If the member needs help, the executive will give it.
2. If the Executive determines that a team member made a poor choice, the executive will determine a consequence that is appropriate to the rule broken. For example:
a. If someone’s property is damaged, the person who damaged it will either repair or replace it.
b. If someone is rude, they will apologize and explain how they will handle a similar situation the next time.
c. If someone’s feelings are hurt, the executives will help both parties understand what happened and how to repair the hurt feelings.
d. If homework is not complete, on time and up to standards, the child will do it again at a time designated by the executive.
Ratification
Ratification by the unanimous vote of the members of the 4/5 Team on this 23rd day of October, 2007, shall confirm the 4/5Team Constitution as a working document. From this day forward we pledge to follow the Articles in their entirety. We sign our names below as witness to this momentous occasion:
Page created by Mrs. Tate's class.
This page last updated: 12/11/07.