Middle school can be an interesting time for students. There are lots of changes and challenges during a time of transition in many ways including from elementary school and preparing for middle school. Thanks to some refreshed traditions and new systems, students at GFW Middle School are finding a new sense of energy and community that is seen in all aspects of the school day.
Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) is a fancy way of saying that a school is focusing on the positives instead of the negatives when it comes to behavior. Instead of always saying “don’t do that” in situations, it is more about building a culture of community and setting expectations and also saying “thank you for doing that” when a student does something that aligns with those expectations. This creates a place where students want to be.
“It is important to have a positive school community because more people will come to your school and others will love that we are kind and help each other and then our school will become bigger and better,” said eighth grader Koufax Rose.
“Sometimes students are confused about work and I always try to sit down and help them understand.” added sixth grader Alex Vos. “This will make them less stressed about their work and will make them laugh more. They might even want to help others more, causing a ripple effect so everyone's helping everyone.”
Teachers have spent time in class going over expectations and ways to live the values of SOARS which is Spirit, Optimistic, Accountable, Respectful, and Safe. The PBIS Team is supporting a variety of activities and the installation of new posters that outline the expectations in the building. Staff are passionate about establishing a sense of community and respect in the school by setting expectations for behavior that students understand and can put into action every day.
“PBIS helps to recognize everyone to be seen for their successes and grow in their self esteem which will make the whole climate better and create a safer environment,” said Teaching and Learning Coordinator Allison Chandler. “PBIS is important for middle school students because it gives them ownership of their behavior that they can see and makes them realize that if we work positively together as a group then we are going to get more done and be able to have more fun.”
This fun shows up in different ways including reward days throughout the year where students who meet the expectations of passing all classes and not having suspensions get to choose from a variety of activities to take part in during the last hour of the school day. A recent reward day featured a group heading to the park to play games, some doing an egg drop experiment, and playing bingo or board games. These activities are another chance to connect with classmates and feel a sense of accomplishment and belonging at school.
Another way students are being recognized is through monthly student of the month celebrations. Teachers nominate students based on behaviors that they see, either for going above and beyond or showing up consistently in doing their work or being kind. The team looks at all of the nominations and watches students to see who will be selected each month. Two students from each grade are recognized during a monthly assembly.
“I always love to be recognized for things I do and being student of the month was very special,” said eighth grade student Megan Hacker. “Being recognized in front of your peers, teachers and coaches makes you feel very good about yourself and what you do for your school and community. I loved it and I hope everybody else does too!’
Parents of the students being recognized are notified ahead of time and get to attend the assembly in secret to see the surprise announcement of students. The events are even more fun thanks to a partnership with NHS students at the high school who organize games and read descriptions of the winners. This connection between the schools is important for all grade levels.
“Middle school students look up to high schoolers a bit and the high school students were wanting to be mentors to middle school students so it was a natural fit,” said High School Teacher and NHS Advisor Jake Langemo. “There was a need to create an environment where the kids felt seen and appreciated and teachers wanted to create stronger connections.”
By establishing expectations and being encouraging, teachers are seeing a renewed sense of community in the middle school where students are helping each other, being kind, and creating more time to focus on teaching and learning. Teachers are also using data around behaviors to find new ways to improve outcomes for all students. There are also plans to encourage more student voice in the program to create a stronger sense of community.