At Northern Elementary school we facilitate a school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework. This program helps both the school-wide social culture and provides additional tiers of behavior support to students when needed. Our behavior expectations are reviewed daily during our morning announcements as well as, as needed for students that may need additional support throughout the day. At the beginning of each school year we teach/reteach/review these school-wide expectations with all students to help aid in the reduction of problem behaviors.
As this system is implemented in conjunction with other policies the behavior data gathered is provided to our staff monthly and discussed by our PBIS team members during their monthly meetings. After extended time out of school students may need to be reminded of these expectations so after each break they are retaught. When returning from Fall break, I discussed with my large group sessions the school-wide expectations thus helping the students become valuable citizens to our school community. We also took some time to discuss and connect our school expectations to some of the principles of citizenship and their role. This will help to build a strong foundation for them to carry into adulthood to make a positive lifelong impact by fostering those core values.
Heather Patterson, School Counselor
Northern Elementary School
Pulaski County Schools
