Code 5 - HANDS OFF

This week our PB4L focus at school is on our Code 5 rule “Hands Off”. This means we keep our hands,  feet and body to ourselves. It also applies to any item that we may be holding onto. We keep out of other people’s personal space. We do not play games that include pushing, hitting, pulling, slapping, tackling, tripping, bumping, knocking, elbowing, shouldering, grabbing, kneeing with our hands, feet or another object such as a hat. It also means we do not enter into someone else's personal space uninvited. 

When children engage in games that involve hands on, we remind them of the school rule and expectations. We redirect the children to choose an alternate game. Should the children continue to engage in hands on behaviour, they will be given a time out or a reflection depending on the circumstances of the hands on incident.

Often what seems like a harmless game can quickly escalate to become potentially harmful. If children are pulling or pushing, for example, it is quite conceivable that someone could potentially get hurt or upset. This in turn can further escalate quickly into additional hands on behaviour.

From time to time, accidents occur. Children bump into each other or trip over a foot or knock into each other. These unintentional hands on actions do happen. We understand that. We teach and encourage the children to check the other person is OK should situations such as these occur.  It is part of another Code 5 rule we have, “Care for All”. 

We have been reminding the children this week about choosing games that do not involve hands on.  We are making sure the children remember the Code 5 rule“Hands Off”. Please take some time to talk to your children at home about the rule and what this means for them at school. We want our students to have fun at school and be safe.