So Sandburg is a PBIS school - is that a big deal? In a word, “yes.” It’s a big deal. Sandburg has received state-wide recognition for being a high-performing PBIS school. PBIS or Positive Interventions and Supports is a process for creating a school environment that is calm, predictable, supportive, and effective for achieving academic and social success with students.
A key strategy of the PBIS process is prevention. Behavioral expectations are taught in the same ways that academics are taught. Through instruction, comprehension, and regular practice, all staff members teach and model a consistent set of behavioral expectations. The majority of the students follow those expectations and are consistently recognized. Students who have yet to meet behavior expectations are presented with reteaching opportunities.
The PBIS model is research- based. The staff, by intentionally building relationships with students and creating a sense of belonging to a community provides a three-tiered approach to behaviors that act as a barrier to learning. We only have 180 days each year to advance academic progress, so instructional time is very valuable. Research shows that schools using a PBIS model recover hundreds of hours of instructional time over the course of a child’s academic career and provide inclusive, calm, and nurturing learning environments. Sandburg’s three rules of respect are: RESPECT YOURSELF. RESPECT OTHERS. RESPECT PROPERTY. Ask your child about it today!