Restorative Practice

Here at Newcastle, we strive to achieve a preventive, proactive, relationship-based mode of discipline.  This is why the PBSES Team (teachers, dean, counselor) just attended a "Restorative Justice in Schools" professional development, where the importance of class meetings/circles was reaffirmed.  We very much believe in social emotional teaching and reinforcement, and growth mindset applies here in addition to academics.  Some of the most valuable teachable moments for children is via behavioral/social/emotional issues, as these lessons will help them to be successful across various important life aspects (including academics!).  This is why punitive and dismissive practices like suspension are very much a last (or no) resort, while the priority instead is to rebuild harmed relationships and teach a very important lesson about how our actions impact others.  Perspective-taking and effective restorative communication is a powerful tool for life success and well-being.
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Most classrooms at Newcastle use class meetings and circles to build relationship and a sense of community and family, so that when a relationship is harmed in any way, students genuinely want to repair that harm.  Below is an example of what this might look like:

Restorative Practice