Welcome to the 2008-2009 Archives
To look at profiles or artifacts posted previously, check out our School Examples Archives:
This past year, as part of a concern of how to help their students be more successful in school, Windsor High School sought and received a School Improvement Grant from DESE. A part of that grant was focused upon implementing School-Wide Positive Behavior Support Practices at Windsor High School. This article is a compilation of the journey to School-wide Positive Behavior Support which has just started this past Fall
In starting down the road to achieve the goal of improving student outcomes a PBS team was formed and they started the planing process. The PBS team decided to use a week long, intensive study of School-wide Positive Behavior Support (including the three focus areas of Systems, Data and Practices) to jumpstart the schoolwide implementation of PBS. From this intensive investigation the PBS team developed a framework to implement Schoolwide PBS beginning with the Fall Semester, 2008. The team took time to explain Schoolwide PBS to the broader community with a newsletter. The team also developed a PBS brochure that was reviewd by the PTA and school board and is to be given out to parents.
From the intensive, week-long meetings came action plans that aligned with the 7 Essential Components of School-Wide PBS,as well as the development of artifacts that documented these components for Windsor High School, including a PBS Purpose Statement and The Greyhound Code of Conduct – Matrix of Behavioral Expectations. The team discussed Schoolwide PBS with the staff during Pre-Service Orientation which included Informaiton regarding the importance of developing classroom expectations which incorporated the Greyhound Code of Conduct that had been created.
Recognitions for students who met the expectations of the matrix were considered. The initial idea was to develop the Hound Pound, which could be exchanged for a number of different items or opportunities. Some ideas considered for exchange were: reduced admission to school events, a free pop corn or, perhaps, a soda at an athletic event or the opportunity to have the Hound Pounds earned placed in a drawing for prizes. Resources for funding these items used to reward those who were recognized for meeting the expectations of the Greyhound Code of Conduct were solicited. A letter was sent to local community business leaders with one possible use for the Hound Pound. Also, the district was privileged to receive a $1,000.00 education grant from Wal-Mart. The idea of a school store where various items could be redeemed with the Hound Pounds received for meeting expectations was a topic of discussion and is being developed.
Having completed the first semester, the focus is on analyzing office discipline referral data from the first semester of this year and comparing it to the data from first semester last year to establish a baseline from which to determine how School-wide PBS is growing at Windsor High School.
Whose Problem Is It?
At Dixon Elementary School the answer to that question is everyone. Everyone is responsible for helping children succeed at Dixon Elementary School where SW-PBS is practiced and supported by all.
Principal Lisa Parker shared this story about how SW-PBS has worked in their building.
Our custodians did a mini lesson a few months back with every class about the bathroom expectations. We also had our kitchen staff help out during the lessons. Each staff member volunteered to teach one class at a time, took them to the bathrooms, showed them the proper way to wash their hands, dry them, and went over the bathroom expectations. It was a big success and we plan to do it again next year! In the photo Staff member Tammy Johnston teaches a PBS lesson.
Our custodians are essential in our school wide PBS. They promote our PBS in all areas and step up to take an active role in encouraging good behavior. When they spot a child following the expectations, they recognize them with a paper paw print. They also recognize whole classes at a time if the class as a whole has great behavior in the hall, bathroom or cafeteria. If the class does a great job in picking up at the end of the day, when they come in to clean they will leave the class a large paw print as well.
