EXCITING SCHOOL-WIDE PROGRAMMING IN AN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SETTING
HOW TO MAKE YOUR SCHOOL A
"MODEL SCHOOL"
Presented by:
Marissa Rex
Professional School Counselor
BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Marissa Rex
Professional School Counselor
Hiawatha Elementary School
Toledo, OH
 2nd Year as School Counselor
 Additional License: Early Childhood Education
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Hiawatha Elementary, Washington Local Schools
330 Students
 50% labeled as “Economically Disadvantaged”
 School closure in the district
 District lines changed---1/3 of our students reassigned,
gained slightly more
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OTHER SERVICES
Individual Counseling
 Small Group Counseling
 Classroom-Based Counseling (lessons/units)
 Counselor Mail
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2 letters per student each school year
 1 letter per classroom each week
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During the last week, some classrooms get more
(it keeps the Counselor Mail cycle even)
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Includes:
Hand-written letter
 Word search, funny picture, etc.
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Reminders during Monday announcements
OVERVIEW OF SCHOOL-WIDE PROGRAMS
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Main Programs:
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PAWS- Pride, Attitude, Work Habits, Self-Control
Cooperative Games (Fall and Spring)
Mix it Up at Lunch Days
No Name-Calling Awareness Week
Bully Free Awareness Week
Be the Change Day
Focus:
Specifics of the Programs
 How Hiawatha Organized the Programs
 Recognition and Feedback
 How to Apply for Awards

Student’s Name: ________________
PAWS CARDS
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Goal:
Help students recognize their
PAWSitive behaviors
 Make connections between good
behaviors and positive recognition
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This student made a difference,
showing excellence in…
Pride
Attitude
Work Habits
Self-Control
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Reward System:
Each month, we hold a drawing for students and
teachers.
 Prizes are pencils, certificate
 Grand prize winners get a gift certificate to a book
store
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COOPERATIVE GAMES
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Goal:
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Improve school climate
How it Works:
Divide students into groups (K-6)
 Play cooperative games
 Have picnic lunch
 Fall and Spring
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Student Leaders, 1 adult per group
Organization:

PE teacher, volunteers, committee
COOPERATIVE GAMES
MIX IT UP AT LUNCH DAYS
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Goal:
Help students get to know each other on a more
meaningful level.
 Improve school climate, students interactions
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How it started:
Teaching Tolerance website
 Building off Cooperative Games (Fall)
 Wanted to improve SWIS data
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SCHEDULING
Sub-committee
 2 Groups (A and B)
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1 grade level per group
Divide students evenly among teachers
 Use the regular lunch schedule
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Students eat on their Mix it Up Day teacher’s
schedule.
Discuss with cafeteria manager
We did this on a “one choice” day for buyers
 Packers can take their lunches with them
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or you can line up lunch bins in the cafeteria
based on regular classrooms
WALL OF INTOLERANCE
Classrooms created bricks
Wall under bricks was covered with
class pictures and our district’s core
values
COOPERATIVE GAMES/RECESS
Built on what we just did with
Cooperative Games
 Older students are the leaders
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Had to change schedule to lunch then recess
Recess supervisors call out group numbers (room
numbers) instead of grade level when recess is over
 They all had a checklist of when groups arrived at
recess and when they would need to be picked up
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LUNCH
Students eat based on their Mix it Up Day
teacher’s schedule
 Our cafeteria manager was very willing to work
with us on this program
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Give everyone plenty of notice!
CLASSROOM TIME
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The time during the lunch/recess block when a
group is not at lunch or recess.
11:50-1:15 (lunch/recess block)
 Groups most often have “sandwiched” time
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Classroom  Lunch  Recess  Classroom
NO NAME-CALLING AWARENESS WEEK
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Goal:
 Continue to improve
and maintain
building climate
Events:
 Classroom lessons
(sign-up)
 Creative Expression
Contest
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Pictures
Songs
Sculptures
Stories
Poems
BULLY FREE AWARENESS WEEK
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Goal:
 Continue
to improve and
maintain building climate
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Events:
 Classroom
lessons
 Door Decorating Contest
 Student-driven
 Celebration of each
classroom’s effort
BE THE CHANGE DAY
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Currently aimed at our intermediate students
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Eventually we hope to incorporate this message in
our school-wide efforts
Similar to a “Challenge Day”
If You Really Knew Me
 http://www.challengeday.org/mtv/
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Provides students with an opportunity to get to
know each other and break down barriers
RECOGNITION AND FEEDBACK
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Awards (2009-2010)
Model School Award
 Promising Practice Award
 Working on 2011 State School of Character
Application
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Grant (2009-2010)
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Ohio School Counselor Association
Staff Feedback
HOW TO APPLY FOR AWARDS/GRANTS
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Model School Award
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http://www.tolerance.org/mix-it-up/model-schools
Character Education Partnership
Promising Practice Award
 http://www.character.org/applicationprocess
 State School of Character
 National School of Character
 http://www.character.org/nsocapplicationprocess
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OSCA Grant
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http://www.ohioschoolcounselor.org/Default.aspx?pag
eId=536895
CONCLUSION
Whether you are a new school counselor or a
veteran, you can organize effective school-wide
programs!
 A positive attitude and strong work ethic goes a
LONG way and can change people’s view of the
school counseling field.
 You do NOT have to do this alone!
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Contact information:
Marissa Rex
(419) 473-8266
mrex@wls4kids.org