“Heart of a Mustang” centers on building strong relationships. Our goal is to create a supportive and engaging learning environment by nurturing healthy connections, prioritizing social-emotional wellness, and fostering a sense of community and belonging.
“Heart of a Mustang” works in conjunction with our school wide behavior plan.
A morning greeting is more than just a polite exchange; it's a deliberate interaction to build positive relationships. Teachers greet students at the door with a handshake, high-five, or other personalized greeting to show they are seen and valued. This sets a positive tone for the day and fosters a sense of belonging.
At the beginning of class the teacher will start with "good things", in which students share something good that is going on with them. This creates an environment of positivity and helps build relationships.
Good things is 3-5 minutes. Not all students will share everyday. After a good thing is shared the leader should respond by asking a question to show interest in responses. It is our goal to eventually have good things run by students to work on communication skills.
Our school behavior mission statement explains how students and adults in the school are expected to act every day. We repeat this everyday together and refer back to it when asking the Four Questions.
At Mitchell Road, we are the Mustangs.
M-We Make the effort,
U-Uplift others and Celebrate our differences,
S- Strive for success,
T- Take responsibility,
A-Ask questions and Stay curious,
N- Never give up,
G- Grow our brains and our hearts,
S- Shine as Leaders
These are questions that teachers ask to help students stay true to our mission.
Mustang Moment is a teacher-directed time-out in the classroom. Students will complete the MRES Think sheet and return to the group when the teacher decides they are ready.
A student-chosen time out to help regulate emotions. All classrooms will have a designated space that is intentionally structured to help students pause and re-center both physically and emotionally to self-regulate when they are feeling overwhelmed or dysregulated. The purpose is to provide a safe place for students to decompress, regain their composure, and use coping skills. This proactive approach can help them learn how to refocus, learn, and avoid disruptive behaviors.
Teachers will set boundaries and rules about how students may go to the calm space and how long they can stay.
A Mustang Pride Award is a way for teachers to acknowledge students for students to acknowledge teachers who are exceeding expectations and demonstrating the monthly character traits.
Each month we will focus on a core word that ties in with our Mustang Mission.