Thames Valley District School Board is committed to creating a safe culture of caring for all students to support them in reaching their full potential. Effective school communities are based on the development of positive personal relationships which promote student achievement. Traditional Approach vs. Restorative Approach to Conflict Resolution: Traditional focuses on the past and ranges from punitive, to neglectful, to permissive responses.  Ask: What rules have been broken? Who did it? What consequence/punishment is deserved? Restorative  looks at past incidents in the present, with a view to creating a better future for all involved, and focuses on working with each other to build and restore relationships.  Ask: Who has been hurt? How have they been affected? All involved need to consider what should be done to make things right and by so doing, restore relationships. Restorative Approaches Value: Mutual respect Character development Acceptance of diversity The belief that people have the capacity to change The belief that given time, support and a chance to explain, problems can be resolved An inclusive approach to problem solving where feelings, needs and views of all involved  are considered Building and maintaining respectful relationships The creation of a safe inclusive culture of caring

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The application of Restorative Approaches is implemented along a continuum. It begins with building a school culture and climate of engagement in the classroom and hallways to providing a framework which assists administrators and staff with suspended or expelled students to re-engage them within the appropriate learning environment.

  

The administration and grade 7 and 8 staff at four additional elementary schools (Eagle Heights PS, Emily Carr PS, Jeanne Sauve PS and Orchard park PS) and the staff and administration of the TVDSB U-Turn program are also implementing Restorative Approaches. TVDSB, in collaboration with St. Leonard's Community Services staff and London Police Services, Secondary School Resource Officers, will assist these schools in the implementation of Restorative Approaches to restore relationships and maintain the students in the learning environment. They will address the harm caused and work to resolve conflict while holding students accountable for their actions.