Survey

Survey

School Song

Here is a cute video that shows students proudly singing the school song!

We've got some great singers in our school!
Great job kids!!!

Allen Brook School Moves on to the next Positive Behavior Level (PBIS)

Allen Brook is proud to announce that we have very successfully launched our "Universal" level (Tier 1) of the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) initiative.  In November 2011, ABS scored 98.2% in our school-wide Tier 1 assessment conducted by the State of VT PBIS.  (The goal is achieving 80% to continue to the next level!)  This means that we have the distinction of moving to the next "Targeted" level (Tier 2) of PBIS which will help us to positively plan for and address frequent and/or chronic student behaviors to maximize student learning.

The Allen Brook PBIS Statement of Purpose is "To create a positive school culture through common teaching, modeling and practicing school-wide behavior expectations.  Making data-based decisions, using a proactive systems approach, will help build a community of successful learners."

For more information please contact Carolyn Tatlock, the ABS PBIS Coordinator at ctatlock@cssu.org or 879-5852 or see our blog at http://abspbis.blogspot.com/.

Congratulations to Allen Brook School!!

PBIS from a Parent's View on the Committee!

As a parent to a Kindergartner, my husband and I were having a hard time sending our daughter to school.  We wanted her to have a wonderful year meeting new friends, learning and having fun.  When, we went in for our orientation we received a pamphlet from Mr. Terko on PBIS.  For those of you who don't know already PBIS is an acronym for Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports.  When he explained that the children would be learning the three rules of the school:  Be Safe, Be Kind & Be Responsible it made my husband and I feel so much better.  It was important to us that as parents we had our own rules being taught in school.  So, they are getting it at home as well as school.

I was so excited about this program that I acquired about it to a teacher friend who was on the committee.  I then spoke with Mr. Terko and explained my views on this and asked what I could do to help send this message across to parents, our community, friends, peers etc.  I was invited to a staff meeting about PBIS and is now part of the committee.  They opened their arms to my ideas and thoughts and I've been a member since October 2011.

One of our responsibilities is to incorporate behavioral data into a program called SWIS Data.  This helps us do comparing from months and years previously, so we can create reports to see where the problems are and what kind of behaviors are being reported.  This helps us target certain behavior problems, when, where and what is happening.  Our report for Oct., Nov, and Dec. had no change in the numbers of minor referrals in the classroom.  The team decided that we needed to get more specific in choosing our goal to effectively measure and make positive changes in behavior.  The data shows that most of the referrals are coming from "Obtaining Peers Attention."  This gives us ideas on how to target this particular goal.  How can we narrow "obtain peer attention"? (Examples:  Is it language based? sharing? need/wants for an object?)  We've asked the teachers to be more specific when checking off the referral form so it helps us monitor what's happening just before the behavior/referral.

Our new Goal for January and February based on Motivation and Location.  After reviewing the SWIS  Data more closely, we noticed that the most common "motivation" across all grade levels is to "obtain peer attention and the "location" was the classroom.  (which makes sense and is consistent with other schools as the kids spend most time in the classroom.)

So, how do we address the classroom and obtaining peer attention?

• Re-teach skills around making friends, keeping friends, etc.
• Continue targeting positive behaviors in the classroom with yellow buzzies but focus on how to appropriately get your friends attention.
• Letters/info to families in "The Bell" to tell about our new focus and share ideas to reinforce at home.
• Link information to the PBIS Blog
• Offer online resources to staff and families

Here are the supporting ways we came up with to get your friend's attention in the classroom.

• Each teacher discuss in Morning Meeting what it means to get a friends attention (expected and Unexpected:  What does it look like, sound like, feel like?  How do others feel when you get their attention in safe kind and responsible ways.  
• Tell them why we are focusing on this area
• Relate the discussions to "Be Safe, Be Kind and Be Responsible"
• Use yellow buzzies to specifically reinforce/reward positive behaviors that support obtaining peer attention.  (Examples where given out via handout.  I will be obtaining them soon to attach to this blog post)
• Provide a list of children's books that address these issues and ask teachers to read them at least weekly about the topic.
• Could we do a school-wide project to display what we learned?  (where and who?)
• We will send home ABS PBIS school magnets with some information to parents of our new focus on "Ways to get your friend's attention"

As you can see, how very important this committee and data information is to not only the school but to the parents.  Starting this program at an early age will help with guiding our kids to be a great friend, listener, responsible, kind, safe and behave in all aspects of life.  Hopefully, in the long run we will have less bullying, clicks, behavioral problems, and we can all get along.  Life is hard enough for everyone and by giving these tools to them at an early stage of life we can gain more respect, responsibilities and safe environments.

Please use this link to the ABS Library as a resource to check out the books on these topics.
http://www.cssu.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=1000 to ABS Character Words books!!!  Also, the library has several books on making and keeping friends in addition to what you have at home.  The Guidance office and Special Educators are also good resources to get info from.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or problems that you might be having.  If I can't answer you, I'll find someone who can.  It's a wonderful program and our children will only succeed in life by learning this both at home and in the classroom.  It's time to make the community and world a better place.

Treat others as you want to be treated.  It starts from within!

Sincerely,
Shannon Clark
Email:  koalamyst@yahoo.com

Hokey Pokey Swarm Party Celebration

Allen Brook Students will have their "Hokey Pokey" Swarm party on Thursday February 2 from 2:10-2:25 in the gym.   They have been learning the Hokey Pokey within their classrooms and now it's time to share it with the school.  


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E5F2iDg0FU


Enjoy your celebration Allen Brook Staff & Students.  Remember to "Shake it" all about!!!!!

School Wide Celebrations 2011

School Wide Celebrations are given when The Bee Hive is filled with warm/golden fuzzes.  Due to the PBIS program working positively through out the school.  We have been able to have monthly celebrations.  The list below are the celebrations that the school has enjoyed.

September 2011:  Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Celebration
October 2011:     Treats & Bee visit by John Terko
November 2011:  Classroom Switch Up (Random pairing and switch half classes) 2:10-2:25pm
December 2011:   School Wide PJ Day

Pictures to be uploaded soon.

Congratulations to all students for making these school wide celebrations fun and exciting!  Keep up your great work being Safe, Kind, & Responsible.

The Royal Bee

The Royal Bee award is received every week to a special staff member who is acknowledged by another staff member doing something safe, kind or responsible.  "Golden Tickets" are filled out and dropped in the jar at the main office.  Every Friday a new "Royal Bee" is picked.  PBIS members, John Terko (Principle), Liza Pouliot and Carolyn Tatlock (School Counselor) wear special "BEE" hats to deliver the news to the new Royal Bee.  At that time they will be given the "Royal Queen Bee" (stuffed pillow pet), a homemade box (by Carolyn) with chocolates and the privilege of parking in the special reserved space in the parking lot that reads:  "Leave it free for the Royal Bee".

This list are the recipient's of this award to date.  Congratulations to you all.  Thank you for being Role Models to your peers and to the children you work with.

September 2011:  Kate McLaughlin, Synergy Grade 1 Teacher
                            Cindy Pavlik, Administrative Assistant
                            Pat Bannerman, Related Arts Teacher (PE)

October 2011:     Jenn Kozlik, Planning Room Para-educator
                            Lyn Porter, Related Arts Teacher (PE)
                            Julie Rogers, Synergy Grade 1 Teacher

November 2011   Karen Allen, Lunch/Recess Aide
                            Jenn Kozlik, Planning Room Para-educator
                            Sarah Read, Kindergarten Teacher

December 2011   Terry Thyng, Harmony Grades 1&2 Teacher
                            Liza Pouliot, Kindergarten Special Education Para-educator
                            June Simmons, Guidance Secretary/Reception