PBIS Best Practices at
Winter Street Elementary
Encouraging Students and Staff
Jen Hardy and Kris Pearl
PBIS Winter Street Elementary
1
4/13/2015
Brief Overview of Winter
Street Elementary
341 students – Pre K – 4th grade
 94% Free and Reduced Meal Students
 Many families with limited resources and
supplies
 Differing academic and behavioral
expectations between home and school
 High student mobility
2
PBIS Winter Street Elementary
4/13/2015

PBIS at Winter Street
• Each classroom has a “stoplight” with individual student
clothespins so that students are aware of their behavior and
consequences.
• Students earn “Bee Cards” for ending their morning and/or
afternoon on the “green” portion of the stoplight. Additional
“Bee Cards” are earned for exemplar positive behaviors.
• Each day, teachers write morning and afternoon behavior
scores in students’ planners so as to keep parents informed.
• Students will earn “Bee Cards” to redeem for classroom
rewards, school-wide drawings and school-wide events.
• All school-wide events have a required number of “Bee
Cards” for students to earn in order to attend.
PBIS Winter Street Elementary
3
4/13/2015
2009-2010
PBIS Mission Statement
“We will set clear behavioral
objectives for all students and
encourage those that work to
make good choices.”
PBIS Winter Street Elementary
4
4/13/2015
Encouraging Students
Upon looking at our behavior data, the PBIS team
decided that we wanted to focus our energy on ways
to encourage our students to make good choices.



Class compliments
Positive Referrals
Exciting events
PBIS Winter Street Elementary
5
4/13/2015
Class Compliments
If a staff member sees a class that, as a whole, is
making good choices, they can present that class with
one “Bee Card”. The classroom teacher can then use
those class compliment “Bee Cards” to create a chain
to display in the classroom.
Once the chain reaches a certain length, the class
would earn a previously agreed upon reward such as
extra recess, craft or coloring time, pizza party, etc.
This strategy was successful for some students that struggled to make
exemplar choices without the model of their classmates. With “Class
Compliments”, those students were still being encouraged, praised and
rewarded.
PBIS Winter Street Elementary
6
4/13/2015
Positive Referrals
If a staff member sees a particular student make a
positive choice, they can complete a “Positive Referral” for
that student. One copy goes home with the student so that
parents can celebrate their child’s good choices. The other
copy is hung on a bulletin board outside of the cafeteria.
Students, staff and visitors pass this bulletin board
regularly and often take time to read the posted referrals.
Students love the individual, positive attention gained from earning a
“Positive Referral”. This practice is beneficial for “green-zone” students
that are always making great choices, but don’t get recognized due to
the fact that those good choices are expected of them. It’s also
beneficial for “yellow-zone” and “red-zone” students that require
encouragement when they make good choices.
PBIS Winter Street Elementary
7
4/13/2015
Student Name
Grade
Referring Teacher
Date
Winter Street Elementary School
Positive Referral
Signature
Thank you for showing a positive character and following our school rules.
Respectful
Responsible
Prepared
□ Showed extraordinary effort to
do my best
□ Showed compassion for others
□ Participated enthusiastically in
class
□ Other Respectful behavior
□ Overcame difficult academic or
behavioral obstacles
□ Showed extraordinary effort to
do my best.
□ Other Responsible behavior
□ Came to school excited about
learning.
□ Had my materials in hand when
the teacher asked.
□ Completed homework which
prepared me for my
assessment.
□ Other Prepared behaviors
Safe
□ Made a wise choice when
confronted with a difficult peer
situation.
□ Showed safe behaviors when
working with others
□ Other Safe behavior
Your behavior is appreciated!
Comments:
Signature
PBIS Winter Street Elementary
8
4/13/2015
Exciting Events
Throughout the school year, the PBIS team schedules
and manages three after-school events and two duringschool events.
Each event requires students to earn at least a certain
number of “Bee Cards”. As the year progresses, the
expected number of “Bee Cards” increases. We feel that
this gives students a taste of what a reward feels like, and
then encourages them to work harder and harder to earn
that reward in the future.
This year’s events included an afternoon movie,
Back-to-School Bash, Winter Hop, Spring Fling Luau, and
Kickball Game.
PBIS Winter Street Elementary
9
4/13/2015
After School Events
Back-to-School Bash, Winter Hop and Spring Fling Luau


Students that earn enough “Bee Cards” to attend,
receive an invitation asking them to bring a parent and
return to school on the evening of the event from 5:007:00.
We incorporate themed crafts, games, refreshments
and music.
PBIS Winter Street Elementary
10
4/13/2015
PBIS Winter Street Elementary
11
4/13/2015
Kickball Game



In May, we invite the top three “Bee Card” earners from
each classroom to compete in a kickball game against
officers from the Hagerstown Police Department.
Students receive T-Shirts that they decorate at school
and wear for the game.
All students and staff are then invited to the playground
to watch the game and cheer-on their friends and/or
local heroes.
Students love the chance to participate in the yearly kickball game.
Those that earn the chance to play are publicly acknowledged for their
positive behavior and choices. Those that don’t get the chance to play,
still enjoy a day outside cheering on their classmates.
PBIS Winter Street Elementary
12
4/13/2015
PBIS Winter Street Elementary
13
4/13/2015
Encouraging Staff
After a few months of focusing on our students,
we realized we’d forgotten to put energy towards
encouraging our staff!!
In the spring, we implemented the “Applause
for Staff” idea. We wanted sincere notes of
appreciation and encouragement to come from
students, parents and other staff members. A letter
outlining the initiative was sent home to parents. The
response was tremendous!!
PBIS Winter Street Elementary
14
4/13/2015
All of the notes that
came back to the school
were placed in a
decorated box that was
located in the lobby.
We selected some
notes and hung them
on the wall outside of
the office. Other notes
were hand-delivered to
the recipient.
The smiles on the
faces of our staff
members were proof
that the encouragement
from others was
appreciated
PBIS Winter Street Elementary
A round of applause for you!!!
You deserve a round
of applause!
Thank you for
everything you do to
inspire and motivate
learning within our
students and our school.
15
4/13/2015
Concluding Thoughts
Through the year, our PBIS team has truly
seen how encouragement and positive comments
can make a difference in an individual’s behavior
or outlook.
We’d love to share electronic templates of
what was shared today or hear
what’s working for you! Feel
free to contact us!
- hardyjen@wcboe.k12.md.us
pearlkri@wcboe.k12.md.us
PBIS Winter Street Elementary
16
4/13/2015