The Sheehan cafeteria has one paid lunch monitor to supervise 2 grades (approximately 100-120 students) at lunchtime. This is not adequate adult supervision. Parent volunteers are not always available and are not trained to deal with discipline issues (nor is it usually appropriate for them to do so). To provide adequate supervision for students at lunchtime and to make the Sheehan lunch period a relaxed and enjoyable experience for students we ask for the following to be implemented:
1. A minimum of 2 paid lunch monitors, who are each given a minimum of 5 hours of training on behavior management in groups & CPR training
2. Monitors should have access to "as needed" consultation with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (already employed in the district) and regular consultation with the Principal to problem solve & resolve discipline issues
3. A consistent, streamlined, and more effective behavior program should be employed to avoid: group punishments, haphazard punishments, overly punitive punishments, students being asked to police their peers, and offensive/aggressive/disrespectful behaviors
Updates
May 9, 2017
The stories parents are sharing in the comments confirm this is a systemic problem at Sheehan. I am currently compiling these experiences to present to the administration.
8 Comments
Erin, thank you for compiling such a well thought out plan and taking action to create improvements. Also any extraordinary "event" whether medical, fire drill, lock down, etc. would warrant a second trained adult in the room. And as you all probably know at this point, I would advocate for Food Allergy Training and awareness for any monitors in the lunch room. Will help in any way I can. Let me know!
As an educator, unstructured times in the school day are always a great challenge but if other schools in our town are finding ways to ensure a more orderly, safe and appropriate lunchroom environment, we should be making every effort to learn from their practices and make sure our children at the Sheehan are given the same opportunity to enjoy their lunch while being appropriately held accountable for the choices they make! 100-120 students with one aide is ridiculous.
I agree more monitors are needed! I do feel badly that Mrs. K has that many kids to watch. There is no way she can see everything given all of her responsibilities!
Let me know how i can help!
Thank you Erin for bringing awareness to our families. I hope we can help.
I also hear complaints from my kids about losing recess due to other students' poor behavior at lunch...and am sympathetic to the challenges of trying to manage that many kids solo!
I am in support of more supervision, training and structure at lunch.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
The Sheehan cafeteria has one paid lunch monitor to supervise 2 grades (approximately 100-120 students) at lunchtime. This is not adequate adult supervision. Parent volunteers are not always available and are not trained to deal with discipline issues (nor is it usually appropriate for them to do so). To provide adequate supervision for students at lunchtime and to make the Sheehan lunch period a relaxed and enjoyable experience for students we ask for the following to be implemented:
1. A minimum of 2 paid lunch monitors, who are each given a minimum of 5 hours of training on behavior management in groups & CPR training
2. Monitors should have access to "as needed" consultation with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (already employed in the district) and regular consultation with the Principal to problem solve & resolve discipline issues
3. A consistent, streamlined, and more effective behavior program should be employed to avoid: group punishments, haphazard punishments, overly punitive punishments, students being asked to police their peers, and offensive/aggressive/disrespectful behaviors
Updates
May 9, 2017
The stories parents are sharing in the comments confirm this is a systemic problem at Sheehan. I am currently compiling these experiences to present to the administration.
8 Comments
My son William has commented numerous times about how loud and unpleasant lunch is. He also feels he has been punished unfairly by the monitor. At times, he has eaten as quickly as possible and spent the rest of lunchtime in the bathroom. This is a very important issue of school culture!
Erin, thank you for compiling such a well thought out plan and taking action to create improvements. Also any extraordinary "event" whether medical, fire drill, lock down, etc. would warrant a second trained adult in the room. And as you all probably know at this point, I would advocate for Food Allergy Training and awareness for any monitors in the lunch room. Will help in any way I can. Let me know!
As an educator, unstructured times in the school day are always a great challenge but if other schools in our town are finding ways to ensure a more orderly, safe and appropriate lunchroom environment, we should be making every effort to learn from their practices and make sure our children at the Sheehan are given the same opportunity to enjoy their lunch while being appropriately held accountable for the choices they make! 100-120 students with one aide is ridiculous.
I agree more monitors are needed! I do feel badly that Mrs. K has that many kids to watch. There is no way she can see everything given all of her responsibilities!
Let me know how i can help!
Thank you Erin for bringing awareness to our families. I hope we can help.
I also hear complaints from my kids about losing recess due to other students' poor behavior at lunch...and am sympathetic to the challenges of trying to manage that many kids solo!
I am in support of more supervision, training and structure at lunch.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 100 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
My son William has commented numerous times about how loud and unpleasant lunch is. He also feels he has been punished unfairly by the monitor. At times, he has eaten as quickly as possible and spent the rest of lunchtime in the bathroom. This is a very important issue of school culture!