Rollout Of Initiative To Encourage Good Behavior At Public Schools Underway

ST. CROIX — Rollouts of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) initiative continue to make waves across the St. Croix school district, according to a Department of Education press release issued last week.

The initiative’s mission is to instill proper behavior in students throughout the school environment. Captivating PBIS events were held at Eulalie R. Rivera and Alfredo Andrews elementary schools on Friday, November 6th, at Juanita Gardine and Lew Muckle elementary schools on Tuesday, November 10th, and at the Alexander Henderson School on Monday, November 16th.

Eulalie Rivera sixth grade students enjoyed PBIS activities. Seven students stood in front of their classmates gathered at the amphitheater and pointed out the acceptable behavioral traits that are expected while students are at seven (7) positions on the school’s campus, namely at assembly, in the restroom, at the bus station, using the cafeteria, in the classroom, hanging around the hallway and at the playground. The school’s upper classmen emphasized the significance of their mascot, the RAMS: Responsible, Accountable, Mindful and Safe. After the assembly, students filed to their classrooms chanting, “We are RAMS.” (See video clip: Rivera Rams).

Alfredo Andrews Elementary School PBIS rollout featured a reversal of roles skit where students admonished the faculty and staff for misbehaving at school. (See clip: Andrews Reversal of Roles Skit.) Andrews Principal Joan Claxton said they have been teaching students how to be “responsible,” “respectful” and “courageous” and that students have been reinforcing the good behavior that they had already learn. Performances by the school’s Alpha Soldiers (See clips: Andrews Alpha Soldiers) choreographed by 5th grade teacher Sharmaine Williams- Stapleton and the Blazerettes Cheerleading Squad (See clips: Andrews Blazerettes) directed by Paraprofessional Merari Felix helped solidified the lessons on good behavior. Paraprofessional Andrea Christian served as emcee for Alfredo Andrews PBIS rollout.

The Juanita Gardine Elementary School Drum Corps led by Devon Walters opened the school’s PBIS celebration. In her opening remarks Principal Barbara McGregor said the PBIS initiative is being incorporated to highlight lessons students already know about proper behavior on the school’s campus. The school’s rollout included chanting and stepping by 4tS, 5th and 6th graders (See clip: JGES Chanting & Stepping), and skits dramatizing the proper behavior at the school bus, the cafeteria and the playground. PBIS committee members sang the school’s family song to close out their PBIS rollout ceremony.

The weeklong rollout of the PBIS initiative in the school district culminated with a ‘roaring rally” at the Lew Muckle Elementary School (LMES), where a pride of lions took over. Placards extolling good behavior filled the school’s cafeteria. (See clip: LMES Roaring Placards) LMES Steel Pan Orchestra directed by teacher Wendy Wynter and her father Noel Wynter set the stage for the “Lions” to ROAR. (See clips: LMES Steel Orchestra plays 1 & 2). Cheerleading directed by Dana Victor stepped up the pace at the roaring rally for LMES lion mascot to make his roaring entrance. (See clip: LMES Lion Comes to Rally).

The Misses of Ceremony for LMES rollout were 3rd graders K’zia Dornalley and Nia Francis. Vida Petersen coordinated the PBIS rollout for the school.

At the rollout of Alexander Henderson School PBIS initiative in the auditorium, students dressed in color-coded t-shirts to signify their grade level. They took to the stage by class and danced, sang and recited poems to reinforce their pledge to behave appropriately at school. However, the appearance of Alex, from the back of the auditorium was the most thrilling. Students got curious when a man dressed in a dark suit and sun shades stood silently before them. But that soon changed to excitement when Mistress of Ceremonies Radiance Clark wasted no time in announcing that “Alex” was coming to the assembly. “Who is coming?” she asked loudly. “Alex!” the children shouted. Ms. Clark asked again and again, “Who is coming?” The reply got louder and louder each time: “ALEX.” Students jumped up out of their seats and turned around to face the back of the auditorium as Alex, Henderson School’s Shark Mascot, was coming toward the stage. The students screamed as the blue and white shark mascot came down the hall swimming and prancing. They too soon followed, moving their arms round and round slowly in swimming motion while music played. Henderson School’s “Shark” mascot ‘swam’ up the stage and the swimming and celebration went on for some time. (See clips: Henderson Sharks 1 & 2)

Principal O’Halloran-Smith, satisfied with the outcome of the PBIS roll out, said in closing that she will be seeing lots more good behavior on Henderson School’s campus.

All elementary schools in the district adopted a matrix to follow when rolling out the PBIS message on good behavior to students, according to the State Office of Special Education (SOSE) Facilitator Kathleen Merchant, whose division monitors the PBIS initiative in the school district.

Pearl B. Larsen School Dolphin family held their rollout on Thursday, October 22nd and Ricardo Richards’ was on Wednesday, November 4th. Rollouts in the St. Croix district wrap up with Claude O. Markoe Elementary on Friday, November 20th at 9:00 a.m.

PBIS is established by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education to emphasize “school-wide systems of support that include proactive strategies for defining, teaching, and supporting appropriate student behaviors to create positive school environments.” www.pbis.org The V.I. Department of Education State Office of Special Education (SOSE) implements PBIS policies for the Virgin Islands public schools.

For more information on PBIS in the V.I. Public School System, contact SOSE Director Renee Charleswell at (340) 776-5802, ext. 2255 or Ms. Merchant at (340) 773-1095, ext. 7087.