COOL TOOLS
McKINLEY SAFE SCHOOL GUIDELINES
As a SAFE SCHOOL, we at McKinley are committed to a caring community for learning in a safe environment. Therefore, we will adhere to the following guidelines:

  1. We will be respectful of differences of all types -- physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual. We will choose our words and actions to help not hurt others. We will work to keep our school free of verbal and nonverbal put-downs, with regard to the following:

    • academic progress
    • age
    • appearance/body image/mannerisms
    • athletic ability
    • belief systems
    • cultural, ethnic and/or racial background
    • family background and composition
    • friendships
    • languages
    • learning styles
    • physical challenges
    • sexual harassment of any type, including gender stereotypes and homophobic taunts

  2. We will use school-appropriate language
  3. We will not tolerate physical abuse, taunts or threats

As a Safe School, we will accept responsibility for our words and actions without excuses.

When they say (or you say):

They really mean:
BUBBLE OF SPACE I need my own space, one that doesn't displace anyone else.
THAT'S NOT OKAY
Stop! It's not okay to put me or anybody else down.
DEFLATE NOT INFLATE
Let's find ways to take the hot air out of this conflict to cool it down.
PUT-UPS NOT PUT-DOWNS
Kind words, not cruel words, cool down conflict.
I GET 5 PUT-UPS It takes at least 5 honest-to-goodness put-ups to repair 1 put-down so I need 5 or more put-ups to build me back up after that put-down.
CHOICE OF VOICE OR MICROPHONE VOICE
Tone of voice is more than 90% of the message; I can't hear or respond to the words until the choice of voice changes.
INTEGRITY STATEMENTS I go straight to the truth because I know it's the right thing to do.
I FELT STATEMENTS NOT YOU STATEMENT
Responding to an incident with "I felt..."(followed by a feeling word) is cooler than starting with "You are..." or "You always..."
WE CAN STATEMENTS OR LET'S COMPROMISE Responding to an impasse with "We can compromise" cools down the conflict to create a WIN-WIN situation for everyone involved.
KEEP THE PROMISE IN COMPROMISE
Once we've compromised, I need to use my integrity to keep my part of the promise and trust that you'll keep your part of the promise.
CLOSED-DOOR EXIT OR EXIT IF IT ESCALATES If you feel bullied and we can't compromise or cool down the conflict I'm closing the door on taking any more and finding a safe way to exit.
I'M USING MY CHILL SKILLS
I'm doing what I can to chill or cool down before discussing the incident further or making a decision.
TOOTHPASTE CHALLENGE I'm going to zip my lip the minute the wrong words start to come out.
IS THAT A RED, YELLOW, GREEN, OR BLUE DECISION?
Using the color code for decision making helps me know the type of decision and clarifies the boundaries for me.
LET'S SORT IT OUT If I don't feel I'm BAD or in BIG trouble, I can tell my point of view with integrity, listen to others' perspectives and help sort it all out to resolve the conflict (which may or may not include consequences).