School Information

Mission Statement
At Sanders School, we are passionate about equipping our students with skills needed to develop self-awareness, self- regulation, and self-advocacy for self-realization. Our work enlightens others that our students are more than just their behavior. We understand that behavior communicates need for support. It is our job to cultivate our students’ strengths and skills to assist them in fulfillment of their goals.

Beliefs — We believe our students will develop, within a positive school setting focused on a proactive and collaborative approach involving the student, family, and student champions:

• the ability to recognize the required social problem-solving strategies/actions to effectively meet  their needs (Self-Awareness)
• the ability to identify their emotional state and employ successful strategies to self-regulate (Self-Regulation)
• skills in proactively communicating their social, emotional, and academic strengths and deficits to address their needs (Self-Advocacy)
• an understanding of self and socially appropriate ways of being that utilize self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-advocacy to maximize their potential (Self-Realization)

Grades Served — Sanders School is the special day program serving students in kindergarten through age 22 through West Central Joint Services, a five-school district cooperative. Students are placed in the program through case conference committee decisions according to guidelines in Article 7. Students who attend Sanders School need a smaller, more structured environment to meet behavior and emotional needs. Sanders serves students from five school districts: the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township, the Danville Community School Corporation, the Monroe-Gregg School District, Mooresville Schools, and Speedway Schools.

Facility — The school, originally built in 1958, was remodeled and reopened in August 1995. Sanders School is a K-12+ learning facility that utilizes a gym, art/music room, computer/technology lab, dedicated sensory rooms and independent living labs.

School Hours —
Student Hours: 8:40 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Staff — The staff includes one principal, one assistant principal, 15 classroom teachers, a myriad of paraprofessionals based on student need, a social worker, four behavior specialists, one building substitute, a school resource officer, one nurse, one technology teacher, a physical education teacher, and one art/music teacher. A speech therapist, occupational therapist, and physical therapist are available, along with teachers of students with orthopedic impairment, traumatic brain injuries, low vision/blindness, or who are deaf or hard of hearing. An ESL teacher is also available. Some of the students also have additional 1-1 support staff funded by their home school district and/or the Indiana Department of Education to assist in meeting their individual goals.

Programs — The instructional program is designed to assess student academic and environmental needs, to teach students to manage their own behavior independently, and to take ownership of their choices through becoming self-aware, learning to self-regulate, and practicing self-advocacy to realize the goals they have for themselves. The curriculum is based upon the essential skills needed for achievement in academics, daily living, and employable job skills. It is the goal that students learn the skills necessary to move to a less restrictive setting; however, students can graduate or exit Sanders School by earning requirements for a certificate of completion or a high school diploma (issued from their home school corporation).

Behavior Management — The behavior management component of Sanders School is a significant strength. The entire staff participates in Pro-Act training to support students with behavioral challenges. This philosophy behind this training can be found at http://www.proacttraining.com. Sanders has a three-tiered positive behavior support plan based on universal interventions, targeted individual or group interventions, and intensive individual interventions. Students progress through these tiers as they exercise the skills in self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-advocacy as evident through extensive data analysis and individual student study.

Student Activities — In addition to their academic curriculum, students are enrolled in affective education programs with their classroom and in small group setting. These programs include anger management, feelings, problem solving initiatives, personal development, and challenge education. Students and their families also have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities including staff-student boundary ball, staff-student basketball, open house, and a graduation celebration for those graduating or exiting Sanders to conclude formal public school. Students participate in student council activities including raising funds for Kids Caring and Sharing for Riley Hospital and Relay for Life. Students and families also have opportunities to participate in track and field day, quarterly awards programs, talent shows, quarterly perfect attendance breakfasts, field trips, and service learning in the community.  Students in life skills classes also take part in community based instruction.

Dress Code Guidelines

The Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township is committed to providing an environment that is the most beneficial for student’s safety and learning. A broad-based committee of parents, teachers, students and administrators developed the following guidelines, which were approved by the Wayne Township School Board. They were designed to reflect Wayne Township’s Community Values. These guidelines are consistent with the Student Code of Conduct Rules for the MSD of Wayne Township.

No article of clothing, tattoo, or accessory may contain language or graphic representations depicting or promoting the use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, showing gang affiliation or encouraging gang activity, violence, or sexual activity. These guidelines are provided to assist students and their families in recognizing what is acceptable in Wayne Township schools. Please contact your student’s principal for further clarification and requests for special circumstance exemptions.

Shirts / Tops
All shirts or tops must “cover” the underarm, chest, shoulders (no spaghetti straps), stomach, and back.

Pants, Skirts, Shorts
All articles of clothing on the lower torso must rest naturally at the top of the hip to ensure that undergarments are not visible in the standing or sitting position. Shorts and skirts must be mid-thigh/fingertip in length when a student’s arms are comfortably at his/her side. Clothing which is primarily constructed of spandex, spandex type, or other excessively tight material is not permitted as an outer garment, unless it is covered by acceptable clothing at the mid-thigh/fingertip length. Pajamas are not permitted. Any holes in the clothing above fingertip length must be covered with tape or other materials.

Shoes
Footwear must be worn in school at all times. House shoes and house slippers are not permitted. At the elementary level, shoes should be appropriate for recess and student safety should be a consideration. Excessively loose shoes or shoes that pose a tripping hazard should be avoided.

Jackets / Coats
Jackets are permitted to be worn in the school during the instructional day. Heavy coats designed for frigid temperatures and/or excessively large coats are not permitted.

Headwear and Glasses
Sunglasses shall not be worn in the buildings. Head coverings will not be permitted during the school day, this includes hoods of sweatshirts or other garments. Students may appropriately use articles (barrettes, bandanas, headbands, scarves) designed to pull or hold hair.

Hair / Facial Jewelry
Student’s hair, jewelry, or other accessories should not interfere with the educational environment of the school or safety of each student.

Book bags / Backpacks
Book bags and backpacks are permitted in school. Excessively large bags and bags with rollers may be restricted during the school day.

Undergarments / See-Through Materials
Undergarments are not to be visible at any time. Outer garments are to be worn in a manner which will cover up all undergarments. See-through materials do not constitute “cover.”

This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of prohibited items. Clothing, accessories, and other items deemed disruptive, offensive, or contrary to the school’s mission by the school administration may be prohibited.

MSD of Wayne Township K-8 Grading Scale