Triadic Agreements:
An Overview for Parents
Goethe International Charter School
Overview of Presentation
• Provides a summary of the Goethe
International Charter School (GICS) official
discipline policy, the Triadic Agreements.
• Families will learn about the GICS Universal
Agreements and the GICS Discipline Steps.
• After viewing the presentation parents need
to fill out a mandatory quiz and send it to the
GICS office.
GICS Triadic Agreements
Universal Agreements
• The GICS Universal Agreements are
limits for safe, respectful and
responsible behavior for the GICS
community (students, parents, staff).
• All members of the GICS community
should respect these limits.
GICS Triadic Agreements
Universal Agreements
AT GOETHE, WE ARE SAFE, RESPECTFUL AND RESPONSIBLE
CITIZENS OF THE WORLD.
AS AN INTERNATIONALLY MINDED COMMUNITY, WE...
 cooperate by working and playing as a team.
 communicate to solve problems by listening and sharing
our feelings.
 listen with open-minds and speak with respect.
 show empathy when we interact with others.
 follow adults’ directions respectfully.
 appreciate our learning environment by using materials in
safe and appropriate ways.
 have integrity by following the agreements at all times.
GICS Triadic Agreements
GICS Discipline Steps
The GICS Discipline Steps
• consist of 7 Discipline Steps.
• address student behavior that is not within
the school’s behavioral limits (Universal
Agreements or other school or classroom
limits).
• are based on the philosophy of positive
discipline.
GICS Triadic Agreements
GICS Discipline Steps:
Purpose
The GICS Discipline Steps
• help students reflect on their actions and learn to
adjust their behavior.
• are based on the philosophy of positive
discipline.
• focus on solutions that are reasonable, related to
the concern, and respectful of everyone involved.
• create a safe and caring environment, one in
which risk-taking, critical thinking, and other
attributes of the IB Learner Profile can grow and
develop.
GICS Triadic Agreements
Step 1:
Positive Discipline Strategy
• Applies when a student disregards school or
classroom limit for the first or second time.
• Examples of positive discipline strategies:
– teacher ignores student’s behavior
– teacher increases attention to desired
behaviors
– teacher responds to behavior with a natural
or logical consequence
GICS Triadic Agreements
Step 2:
Think Card
• Applies when behavior continues
despite several Step 1 strategies.
• Purpose is for student to reflect on
the behavior and come up with a
plan to adjust the behavior.
GICS Triadic Agreements
K-1 Think Card
GICS Triadic Agreements
2nd-5th Grade Think Card
GICS Triadic Agreements
Step 2:
Think Card
• Teacher indicates which important
attitude student’s behavior did not follow
by checking the appropriate “leaf” on the
Think Card tree.
• Student fills out Think Card in class and
returns it to the teacher.
GICS Triadic Agreements
Step 3:
Home Think Card
• Applies when the behavior continues despite
several Step 2 strategies (Think Cards).
• Purpose is for students to reflect on the
behavior and desired attitudes with the help
of their parents.
• Students and parents together create a plan
to adjust behavior.
GICS Triadic Agreements
Step 3:
Home Think Card
GICS Triadic Agreements
Step 3:
Home Think Card
• Student and parents fill out the Home Think
Card together.
• Student returns the Home Think Card to the
teacher the next day.
• The Home Think Card is not a punishment but
rather an opportunity for collaborative
problem solving.
GICS Triadic Agreements
Step 4:
Parent Conference or Reflection Circle
• Applies when Step 3 (Home Think
Card) fails to adequately address the
behavior.
• Goal is to create a long-term plan to
help the student observe school or
classroom limits.
GICS Triadic Agreements
Step 4:
Parent Conference or Reflection Circle
• Parents are invited to a conference with the
teacher.
• Alternatively, parents may be invited to
participate in a Reflection Circle which is a
meeting that includes the various parties
affected by the student’s behavior (e.g.,
teacher, administrator, another student).
GICS Triadic Agreements
Step 5:
Reflection Day
• Applies if Step 4 (Conference or Reflection Circle)
fails to adequately address the behavior.
• Student is sent home for the remainder of the
day to reflect on the behavior with the help of
parents.
• Does not count as a suspension on student’s
record.
• Parents and student have to attend a re-entry
meeting with the administration.
GICS Triadic Agreements
Step 6:
Student Success Team
• Applies if Step 5 (Reflection Day) fails to
adequately address the behavior.
• A Student Success Team (SST) will provide the
student with long-term support.
• The SST may consist of the classroom teacher,
resource specialist, parents, and administrator
and will meet on a regular basis with or
without the student.
GICS Triadic Agreements
Step 7:
Suspension
• Applies if Step 6 (SST) fails to adequately
address the behavior.
• For rules and processes related to
suspension and expulsion please consult
the GICS Family Handbook.
GICS Triadic Agreements
Review:
GICS Discipline Steps
Step 1: Positive Discipline Strategies
Step 2: Think Card
Step 3: Home Think Card
Step 4: Parent Conference or Reflection Circle
Step 5: Reflection Day
Step 6: Student Success Team
Step 7: Suspension
GICS Triadic Agreements
Important Notes
about the GICS Discipline Steps
• The Discipline Steps address recurring disregard of school
or classroom limits by a student (i.e., the same or similar
disruptive behavior occurs repeatedly over time).
• Teachers may use their own discretion in determining when
to move from one discipline step to the next (e.g., how
many Think Cards before giving out a Home Think Card).
• Steps may be skipped in case of a serious cause (e.g., injury
of self or others, willful destruction of school property).
GICS Triadic Agreements
Expectations of Parents
• Parents are expected to be familiar with the
Triadic Agreements (Universal Agreements and
Discipline Steps).
• Parents are expected to participate in the
problem resolution process (e.g., help children fill
out a Home Think Card, attend meetings with
teachers).
• Parents are encouraged to use positive discipline
at home to strengthen home-school connection.
GICS Triadic Agreements
How to get more Information about
the Triadic Agreements
• Talk to your child’s teacher or an
administrator.
• Read the complete Triadic Agreements
on the GICS website
(www.goethecharterschool.org).
GICS Triadic Agreements
What to do next
• Print out the Triadic Agreements quiz.
• Fill out the quiz and return it to the GICS
office:
– Email: mary@goethecharterschool.org
– Mail: Goethe International Charter School, 12500
Braddock Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90066,
– Fax: (310) 306-3245.
– Drop it off in person.
GICS Triadic Agreements