Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

PBIS

Swansfield Elementary is a PBIS school!

PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports.  The focus of PBIS is on positive behaviors and supporting students in their behavior for a safe and positive school experience.

 

Like academic skills, social/behavioral skills must be defined, modeled, practiced, acknowledged and monitored across all settings. That is why teachers, administrators, and support staff will teach and re-teach positive behavioral expectations to students throughout the year, starting during the first week of school. 

 

We will utilize Restorative Circles to build classroom and school communities (see information below).  We use 1, 2, 3 Magic to reinforce expectations throughout the day.  In addition, as part of PBIS, students are frequently and consistently recognized for behaving in a positive way.  The Spotlights are used to recognize students’ positive behavior.

 

Though the focus of PBIS is on positive behaviors, we recognize that students sometimes exhibit behaviors that are not appropriate.  In those cases we follow the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct.

 

The most important thing to remember is that staff will work to get to know students.  Developing relationships with students and their families goes a long way toward building positive experiences.  PBIS at SES is for all students so that together we will have a great year!

 

Restorative Circles

Swansfield is implementing Restorative Practices schoolwide.  Restorative practices begin with intentional, genuine community building.  We are beginning the year with a proactive community building "circles."  In each classroom, students and their teacher(s) sit together in a circle- a symbol of equality, safety, trust, ownership, and connection.  Throughout this brief "circle," students and teacher(s) in turn respond to various community building questions.  These questions are fun, upbeat, and allow students and teachers to know more about each other on a personal level.  Some examples may include: "What is your best memory from last year?" or " How do you spend your free time?" or "What is one thing the person to your left is good at?"  Circles are a way for students to get to know each other.  They are a chance for people to support each other personally and academically.

Community building circles are conducted daily or weekly, depending on the needs of the classroom.  As we create an environment where students feel valued and safe, students know they are being treated with dignity in the classroom.  This mutual respect between teachers and students, as well as between students and students, allows for another use of circles.  In addition to community-building circles, circles can also be used for problem solving.  Circles that are used in response to a challenging behavior create a feedback loop, so that people can hear how their actions have affected others, and encourage them to take responsibility for those actions.  These circles also pave the way for solutions to problems to be found.

Our school wide Restorative Practices initiative will create an environment of increased student engagement, hope, and well-being.  Students will know that they are trusted, respected, and cared for.  This type of environment will, in turn, help students to take increased intellectual risks, since they know they are supported.