Communication Guidelines

You, the staff member should make every effort, to ensure positive, constructive communication between staff, parents, and students.  A willingness to share openly in and atmosphere of trust and sensitivity characterizes our communication with eachother and with the community at large.
 

• Communicating with students

Expect students to be what you want them to be.  Observe your students doing well and let them know how much you appreciate their efforts.  Give them the same respect you would like to have them give you.  Constructive criticism is always appropriate.  Emphasis should be placed on maximizing the growth of the student while enhancing the student’s self esteem. 
 

• Communicating with the community

Remember that you contact with the community leaves a lasting impression.  You are an educator and reflect the high standards expected by the profession and the public.  Your role as a model for youth cannot be overestimated.  Guard your communication with the public carefully.  Teacher comments taken out of context unintentionally give an erroneous impression.  Try to reflect a positive image of yourself and the school whenever possible. 
 

·         Positive attitudes and practice

Professional research makes it clear that one of the qualities of an effective school is the emphasis on positive communication and feedback.  Each member of the school staff has a a responsibility to bring out the best in others.  Acknowledging and reinforcing the success and accomplishments of students and fellow staff members and approaching issues from an optimistic and problem solving point of view will provide the atmosphere and climate in which everyone maximizes potential and exhibits mutual respect.
 

• Co-operation and support

We must support and cooperate with each other individually and collectively in order to develop and effective school.  In order to do this, each staff member needs to contribute ideas and support activities and projects generated by others. 
Each faculty member is encouraged to provide information to carry out responsibilities, and is encouraged to accept and implement school decisions.  This does NOT mean that disagreement is not allowed.  It does mean that disagreement in an appropriate forum should be the guiding principle.  Open communication and trust are encouraged and expected.  Total agreement will not be reached on every issue; dialogue and debate will encourage our best thinking. 

To this end, the following principles should guide our actions.  Loyalty to the school, to each other, and to our common purpose should be encouraged by everyone.
Differences of opinion over issues should be open and honest and addressed in an appropriate manner.  Once a decision is made, each member of the staff should support the decision and aid in its implementation.  Each staff member will attempt to resolve parent, student, or staff conflicts with an open attitude. 

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