PBIS – Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

Holmes School has been using the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program for a number of years to help meet the academic, social and emotional needs of our students both in and out of the classroom. The program features a tiered system of supports that includes universal supports for all students (Tier I), as well as specialized supports for students who need additional assistance (Tier 2 and Tier 3).

The principle components of our school’s Tier 1 intervention plan include:

  • Holmes School Pledge
  • Feathers - Positive behavior
  • Second Step Program

Holmes School Pledge

We have high behavioral expectations of our students here at Holmes School. One of the ways we reinforce these expectations and help create a common language and understanding among our students is to recite the attached Holmes School Pledge each morning following the Pledge of Allegiance.

PBIS Feathers

Acknowledging students who make good choices helps promote a positive climate and culture in our building. With this in mind, our staff members recognize and reward our students with PBIS feathers when they observe them demonstrating respectful, responsible and/or safe behaviors. These feathers are a form of currency that students can use in a variety of ways, including:

  • Buying items at the school store. Our student council and PBIS team are currently working to determine the number of feathers it will take to make various purchases.
  • Entering the feather into a school raffle for a chance to win a prize, such as playing a game with the principal, eating lunch with your teacher or earning a no homework pass.
  • Using the feathers as a class to achieve a common goal and earn the opportunity for everyone to participate in a fun group activity, such as a pajama day or extra recess.

Second Step Program

Through the Second Step program, we provide instruction that aligns with the state’s social and emotional learning standards and aids on the development of skills, such as empathy, emotion management, friendship skills and problem solving.

During the first week of school, our students visited a series of PBIS stations where staff members helped teach them the expectations we have for being in the classroom, hallways, bathrooms, office, playground and lunchroom. These expectations, which we will reteach periodically throughout the school year, are aligned to the following commitments:

Be Respectful

Be Responsible

Be Safe

As stated above in the section about the PBIS feathers, one of the key strategies we use to reinforce these expectations is to recognize students who demonstrate positive behaviors.

During the remainder of the school year, we will teach weekly lessons in conjunction with this program that will be incorporated into our daily curriculum and focused on topics that include:

  • SELF- MANAGEMENT
    • Managing emotions and behaviors to achieve one’s goals
  • SELF- AWARENESS
    • Recognizing one’s emotions and values as well as one’s strengths and limitations
  • RESPONSIBLE DECISION-MAKING
    • Making ethical constructive choices about personal and social behavior
  • RELATIONSHIP SKILLS
    • Forming positive relationships, working in teams, dealing effectively with conflict
  • SOCIAL AWARENESS
    • Showing understanding and empathy for others

I have attached our PBIS school matrix for your review. It can also be used to help reinforce the program’s lessons and expectations at home. In addition, our PBIS team will be sending you Home Links, which will be grade specific and provide you with information about our social emotional learning focus for the week.