The AASD High School Department envision a high school experience where Deaf and hard of hearing students thrive in a bilingual ASL/English environment, grow into confident leaders, and graduate prepared to lead independent, fulfilling lives as contributing members of society.
Mission Statement
Our mission is dedicated to creating a language-rich, student-centered learning environment that reflects the unique needs of each learner. Through a bilingual approach, innovative teaching strategies, and strong collaboration with families and the community, we empower students to achieve academic excellence, develop leadership and self-advocacy skills, and prepare for lifelong success. We embrace technology, differentiated instruction, and inclusive opportunities to ensure every student is supported in reaching their personal and educational goals.
The Atlanta Area School for the Deaf cares about the safety and well-being of our students. We want to make sure our school is a safe place for students to learn. To do this we will be using a program called the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. OBPP is a proven bullying prevention program used to prevent and/or reduce bullying in schools. The goals of OBPP are to reduce bullying problems and prevent new bullying problems from happening. The program is also used to improve relationships among students. The program is for all students, not just those who are being bullied or who are bullying others.
We have established an anti-bullying policy that comes with an age appropriate consequences for your child. Following is the list of consequences, bear in mind that all consequences are subject to change in order to meet severity and circumstances surrounding the bullying incident.
How the program works:
Consequences for High School Students:
First Offense: Time in Student Responsibility Center; lunch alone, removal from the class for 50 minutes, or removal from activities. Parents will be notified.
Second Offense: In School Suspension, Parent Conference and start the referral for Response-to-Intervention. Parents will be notified.
Third Offense: Out of School Suspension, IEP meeting, start Functional Behavioral Assessment and Behavioral Intervention Plan.
Fourth Offense: Extended Out of School Suspension, Local School System Contact and Parent Conference.
Consequences for Middle School Students and High School Students with additional disabilities.
First Offense: Time in Student Responsibility Center; lunch alone, removal from the class for 50 minutes, or removal from activities. Parents will be notified.
Second Offense:In School Suspension, Parent Conference and start the referral for Response to Intervention. Parents will be notified.
Third Offense: Two-day In School Suspension, IEP meeting, start Functional Behavioral Assessment and Behavioral Intervention Plan. Parents will be notified.
Fourth Offense: Out of School Suspension, Local School System Contact and Parent Conference.
Fifth Offense: Extended Out of School Suspension and IEP Meeting.
Consequences for Elementary Students and Middle School Students with additional disabilities:
First Offense: Time in Student Responsibility Center; lunch alone, removal from the class for 50 minutes, or removal from activities. Parents will be notified.
Second Offense: Prolonged Time in Student Responsibility Center (Breakfast and Lunch Alone for a week, or missing Recess/Social Time) and parents will be notified.
Third Offense: Extended Time in Student Responsibility Center, Parent Conference and start referral for Response to Intervention.
Fourth Offense: In School Suspension, IEP meeting and start Functional Behavioral Assessment and Behavioral Intervention Plan.
Fifth Offense: Two-day In School Suspension, or Out of School Suspension.
The Atlanta Area School for the Deaf recognizes the effects of bullying on students who are bullied. It can cause depression and health problems in children, and their schoolwork is likely to suffer. Every student has the right to feel safe in school and be spared the experience of being bullied.
Parents and guardians play a key role in this program. Your child will be asked to tell an adult at school and at home if he or she is bullied or sees bullying happening at school. It will be very important that you take any bullying seriously and tell our school staff. Our staff members are trained to deal with bullying situations when we are told about them.
Bullying should not be seen as “kids being kids” or something with which students just need to deal. Having a safe school experience is something that all students should be able to enjoy.
Thank you so much for your support to make your child’s learning experience a positive and safe one.
