Londonderry High School Assistant Principal Katie Sullivan said she is pleased to report the number of first semester disciplinary incidents decreased this year.
The high school saw a total of 187 incidents in the first semester, compared with 190 incidents in the same period last year.
“The number of incidents continues to decrease. In the past five years, they have decreased by 405 incidents,” Sullivan told the School Board at its Feb. 16 meeting. “A total of 93 percent of our students at Londonderry High School did not have a disciplinary incident during semester one.”
Additionally, Sullivan noted six “frequent fliers,” students with five or more infractions, were responsible for 22 percent of the discipline totals.
“Our frequent fliers are all ninth graders. There is a transition period for students and hopefully when I come back in the spring, there will be zero.”
Sullivan said they are also hoping to continue decreasing the relatively small number of students caught cutting class, and noted that incidents involving the misuse of electronics are down 67 percent this year.
“It has been three to four years with the new ‘bring your own device’ policy and I think students and teachers have adapted,” she said.
Sullivan noted students are held accountable when they make mistakes and administration capitalizes on the opportunity to turn them into life lessons, working with students, parents and teachers to address violations of school policies.
“We don’t just hand consequences out, we make it a learning process for them,” she said, noting programs like “Life of a Lancer” and the system of dividing students and staff into the “house” office system has helped administration get to know students.
“New kids that come in call us weird and corny,” she said. “We have such a different vibe in our building, a lot of kids who come with big files actually turn around very quickly. We are very family-oriented and they’re not used to administration taking notice of their little behaviors and getting to know them. But we often hear they like it.”
Addressing the school’s eight incidents involving drug possession/use/transfer, all of which involved internal possession of drugs, Sullivan told the Board it’s school staff’s attention to students’ “little behaviors” that has helped ensure those students get the help they need.
“Our students know they can’t get away with it because we know our kids, and if they are acting funny will call them up on it,” she said. “Students will make mistakes. We have a re-entry meeting and a great program with steps in place for those kids. It’s a team effort between the school and parents.”
“I appreciate the fact you are always looking for the little things,” Chairman Steve Young said.
Board member Nancy Hendricks said she was pleased to see for two consecutive years zero incidents of harassment and bullying.
“I think you guys are doing a great job, and we’re looking at some relatively small numbers. Kudos to the staff,” board member John Laferriere said.
In addition to the high school conduct report, the Board considered Londonderry Middle School’s conduct report for the first semester.
Assistant Principal Donna Dyer said 92 percent of students at the middle school did not have a disciplinary incident during the first semester, meaning the school saw only 79 students for a disciplinary concern.
The school addressed a total of 114 incidents in the first semester this year, compared with 137 incidents for the same period last year.
Dyer attributed the decline in part to the school’s efforts to teach students about perseverance and ownership.
Dyer reported the number of disciplinary incidents involving disrespect has decreased and the school saw no incidents involving alcohol, tobacco or drug use.
“The teachers are always out there,” she said.
Misuse of electronics has gone up at the middle school, which Dyer said is in part due to students forgetting to turn off devices before class.
It’s a transition for them,” she said of the “bring your own device” program. “They’re getting this extra freedom. The sixth graders are the highest offenders. It’s a new privilege.”
The schools will again present conduct reports covering the second semester in the spring.