It resembled something from another era. Teachers suited up in tie-dyed t-shirts and all students and staff donned brightly colored fluorescent sunglasses. On the wall, a gym-length banner on which bubble-letters spelled out: Be Respectful. Be Responsible. Be Safe. Be Caring.
It was a groovy scene as the Fletcher School community reviewed it’s four behavior expectations last Friday. The whole-school gathering, entitled, “Groovin’ Into the New Year,” kicked off 2020 by bringing everyone together to celebrate community and to serve as a reminder of the school-wide behavior expectations, all part of a tie-dye theme.
Periodically reviewing school-wide behavior expectations is an essential practice within the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (P.B.I.S.) framework. While the proactive teaching, modeling and practicing of expectations happens throughout the year, a “booster” review after school breaks is an important way the Fletcher staff helps everyone get back into the “groove.”
“While the longer school breaks are a fantastic time to unwind, the many changes to children’s routines can make it more challenging for students to settle back into the expectations of school,“ Instructional Coach Denette Locke, a member of the school’s Leadership Team, said. “Our goal is to get out ahead of those challenges by reminding everyone of the expectations. The new calendar year presents a particularly great opportunity to renew our commitment to a positive school community.”
Students were encouraged to think about one of Fletcher’s four behavior expectations to focus on as a new year’s resolution, of sorts, and each student helped fill in the letters of the banner with a tie-dyed coffee filter they made in art class. As students completed the project, Locke serenaded the group with a song about positive behavior written to the tune of the song, Feelin’ Groovy.
“I put my design on the expectation that says to be caring,” third grader Koda Chipman said. “I think it’s important to know when someone is feeling down and do whatever you can to cheer them up. That’s my goal for the new year.”
Fifth grader Maddie Weaver said, “I chose the expectation that says to be respectful because that helps everyone learn better and makes people feel welcome here.”
“The more our students think about the expectations in various contexts, the more meaning they will be able to make of them,” Locke said. “That’s precisely why frequently reviewing the expectations and what they mean across settings is important.”
“This is a nice way to start school again after vacation,” Fourth grader Cailin Macaulay said. “It sets the tone for a good new year.”
Christopher Dodge is the Principal of Fletcher Elementary School and is a regular contributor to THE FWSU STORY. You can follow him on Twitter @FletcherFalcon
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