Discovery Elementary School
Comprehensive Safety Plan
2014-2015
The 2014-2015 Comprehensive Safety Plan for Discovery Elementary School was
developed as the school was constructed to ensure all kindergarten through fifth grade
students are safe on campus. This plan is relevant to the needs of our population as well
as the resources of our school and incorporates three essential components which include:
(1) providing our students with a safe, physical environment, (2) creating and fostering an
emotional and nurturing environment, and (3) providing strategies to teach every student
the essential resiliency skills. The plan was written in conjunction with the school site
council and was approved at a general meeting on Nov. 4, 2014. Local law enforcement
and city officials were consulted during the development of the plan and the approval
process to assist the administration in designing safety, disaster, behavior, and reporting
plans for a site serving over nine hundred students. Current data continues to be collected
regarding transportation, discipline, and student safety concerns as they arise.
As directed by California Education Code and Senate Bill 187, Chapter 736, three
essential components were addressed while writing the comprehensive plan. The
components are listed below along with the strategies currently implemented at
Discovery Elementary School to ensure all components are met.
Physical Environment
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Disaster plan, procedures, and safety drills are designed and rehearsed to ensure
the safety of all students in the event of a disaster, fire, or armed intruder.
California Education Code and SMUSD board policies, regarding behavior,
suspension, and expulsion are communicated to students, parents, and staff via
parent handbooks, website, discipline assemblies, and staff development. The
automated phone system allows the school to communicate with the entire
learning community. All policies and procedures are uploaded onto our website.
Mandated reporting policies on child abuse, dangerous students, and sexual
harassment are presented verbally and in written form to all members of the staff
prior to the school year. All staff signs an annual notification noting that they
have received information on mandated reporting procedures.
School discipline plans are communicated to students during opening week
discipline assemblies to provide students an understanding of the school rules as
well as positive and negative consequences.
730 Applewilde Drive • San Marcos, CA 92069•760 290-2077 •fax 760 744-8847
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Visitor policies are communicated and logs are maintained to protect the safety of
all students. Student checkout procedures are clearly posted for anyone picking
up a child from school prior to dismissal. The gates on campus are kept closed
during the school day.
Evacuation procedures are posted on the school website to assist parents in the
case of a local emergency.
Characteristics of Students and Staff
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Emotional assistance is provided to those students determined by the Student
Study Team (SST) to be at risk. Our 7 Habits of Happy Kids character education
program also provides students with strategies to acquire confidence.
 The school psychologist works in conjunction with the administration and health
clerk to meet the needs of the learning community.
 Student recognition plans and awards foster positive character traits and
citizenship.
 Safety and Peace Patrol peer groups provide older students the opportunity to
develop responsibility for their younger peers.
Students at Discovery Elementary are encouraged to check their behavior to be sure it
is kind, safe, honest, and includes appropriate language. They are asked to follow the
“7 Habits of Happy Kids,” our character education program that includes lessons in
the following Habits: Be Proactive, Begin with the end in Mind, Put first things first,
Think win-win, Seek first to understand, Synergize, Sharpen the saw.
School Culture
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Our “7 Habits of Happy Kids” character program, as mentioned above, includes
monthly lessons, flag salute presentations, and a daily student recognition
program. Students live the “7 Habits” in class and around campus are given Habit
tickets that recognize their positive behavior. Habits are focused on each month
and students are caught living the “Habit”. Passes are redeemed for individual
and classroom rewards. Weekly and monthly citizens exhibiting the monthly
habit are recognized at flag salute on the last Friday of the month.
Red Ribbon Week activities in October stress drug awareness and a commitment
to remain drug free.
The district drug education curriculum reinforces resiliency in students.
Grade level meetings and structured teacher planning meetings allow teachers to
collaborate to plan instruction and assessment to meet the needs of all learners.
Multiple assessments are utilized by teachers and staff to determine the
appropriate instructional level for all students. The resource specialist instructs
those students needing extra academic support. Our intervention specialist
730 Applewilde Drive • San Marcos, CA 92069•760 290-2077 •fax 760 744-8847
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provides targeted intervention to students and provides data to show growth on a
six week cycle.
Fourth and fifth grade students are trained as STAR tutors and provide tutoring to
teacher selected 1st and 2nd graders. This program takes place before school on
M,T, and TH.
Student Council fosters leadership, student involvement, and shared decision
making.
The Leadership Team meets regularly to ensure students’ safety, emotional, and
academic needs at each grade level are addressed and that the school climate is
one of shared leadership.
A school bullying policy is communicated to parents, students, and staff on our
website and student handbooks.
Our school wide incentive program uses habit tickets to reward students
exhibiting model behavior at school. These ticket vouchers are collected by the
students and turned in for different positive rewards.
The Discovery Elementary School Safe School Plan is a working document that helps
create an environment where children can feel secure and grow.
Sincerely,
Carrie Geldard
Principal
730 Applewilde Drive • San Marcos, CA 92069•760 290-2077 •fax 760 744-8847