We have a dedicated Core Team that has administrative support. Our administrators attend trainings and play an active role in the PBS process. They actively communicate their commitment to PBS and attend team meetings.  The administrators support the decisions of the PBS Team. Each member of the team participates and is committed to a common goal and vision for our school. We believe as a team that we can provide a school-wide positive support for students and staff which enhances a safe and orderly learning environment through emphasis on the principles of responsibility, safety, readiness to learn and respect for others.

The team meets every third Monday in the Media Center. At each meeting the team has a specific agenda and meets the goals of the meeting. The team reviews the data to identify trends and specific types of referrals that have occurred. We identify the time of day and where most referrals happen. The team has worked directly with students and staff to find strategies to help alleviate problem behaviors. The administration actively works with specific students to help them adhere to the PBS goals. Savanna Ridge has a wonderful learning environment and focuses on positive school-wide expectations.

Sharing information with the faculty is an important goal for our team. At the beginning of the year all staff members are trained on the implementation of PBS. We reviewed the Vision and Mission and Goals of PBS. We taught the School-Wide Expectation- S.O.A.R. and discussed what those expectations looked like. We also taught the hallway expectations- W.A.L.K.S, the cafeteria expectations – T.A.B.L.E and the bus expectations- B.U.S.E.S.  All faculty members were given examples and non-examples of each of the expectations. They were able to discuss what each expectation should look like and discuss ways to teach these expectations to the students at Savanna Ridge. The veteran teachers were asked to develop lesson plans that the new faculty could use during the first three weeks of school. During the workshop they designed a primary and intermediate lesson for Classroom Expectations, Hallway Expectations, Cafeteria Expectations, and Bus Expectations. These teachers modeled the lessons using role playing. The staff thoroughly enjoyed this activity and implemented the lessons during the first week of school. The staff was also trained on the use of the PBS Observed Student Behavior Form and the District Referral Form. Other ways that we share information with our staff is with a monthly newsletter and staff meetings. We started this in November after the surveys stated that they need more information from the Core Team members. As a team, we addressed the staffs concerns and implemented effective strategies to alleviate their concerns. The Mid-year booster training discussed the areas of concerns that the faculty expressed. The staff was able to ask questions and discuss some of the implementation issues that they were having. The staff appreciated that the team was actively working toward a unified PBS plan.

 Our team uses the feedback from the faculty to make decisions that affect our school. The faculty is given many opportunities to offer suggestions and to help decide how to implement the PBS program at Savanna Ridge. After monthly school wide events, teachers are asked if their students liked or disliked the events. We ask teachers and students for suggestions. This year we have teamed with the Student Council to come up with different dress themes on early dismissal day, such as, crazy hat day, wear green day, silly sock day, etc. During the monthly faculty meetings the administration reminds the staff of the goals of PBS and motivates the staff to use the crane currency.

The overall strength of the team is that each team member is highly motivated to do what is best for the students at Savanna Ridge. The team works well together and wants all students and staff to have positive support system which enhances a safe and orderly learning environment. The team continually works to ensure that the reward system guidelines and procedures are implemented across the campus. Having a broad representation of team members enables the core team to work with other staff members to help support them in the implementation of the PBS system. Each team member volunteers for roles and activities to help the group accomplish the goals of the team. This year each team members planned a monthly school wide-event. One team member volunteered to write the newsletter when the staff requested more information. The core team works together to provide a cohesive PBS system.  

At Savanna Ridge the Positive Behavior Support System is an integral part of the school climate. During the morning announcements the Crane Expectations are stated and all students recite – S – Show Respect, O- Obey Safety Rules, A- Act Responsibly, R- Ready to Learn. The expectations are posted throughout the school.  All students and staff are reminded daily that we want a positive environment that is safe and orderly. Our school uses a variety of methods to reward the students for positive behaviors. At Savanna Ridge we use the “Crane Currency” to reward students following the Crane Expectations. The students have the opportunity to buy tangible items at the school store and they also can attend monthly activities or events. This year the team with the help of the PTO, provided the students with a Christmas Store. The students used their cranes to purchase gifts for family members. Throughout the year, the students enjoyed a Movie and a Treat, Jersey Day, Silly Sock Day, Ice Cream Social, Sizzle Ball, Capture the Ball, Obstacle Course, Dance, and Raffles. Other activities that the students participate in daily are eating on the stage, renting PE equipment, shadowing the principal, helping Coach, extra PE, eating with the teacher, and many other activities that the teachers have posted in their classrooms. The students are asked what they would like as an incentive and the team takes these suggestions and implements them.

All teachers are required to teach the expectations during the first week of school. The teachers were given specific lesson plans that were modeled for them during the initial training. Many teachers use role playing, modeling, poster making, books, videos and many other creative activities to teach each of the expectations. Many lessons are embedded into subject area curriculum. The teachers remind students of the crane expectations throughout the school year. This year we presented a Booster Training to the staff during January. The staff was able to ask questions and clear up any misconceptions that they had. The core team used the surveys that the staff completed to guide the Booster Training. Parents are encouraged to participate and learn about the PBS plan. The Schools Monthly Newsletter states the expectations and shares the monthly events. Parents are encouraged to help their children at home by discussing the Crane Expectations. Parents are also encouraged to volunteer and help the team during the monthly events. The staff acknowledges that creating a positive learning environment takes constant re-teaching of the expectations.  The staff also makes sure that new students are oriented to the Crane Expectations and use this time to review with the students the expectations.

All staff members have cranes and they use them daily. The bus drivers, the office staff, the resource teachers, aides, volunteers and maintenance staff  have the opportunity to reward students that are following the Crane Expectations. Each staff member is expected to give out 60 crane currencies each week and teach the expectations daily. Teachers understand behavior has to be taught and they embed lessons daily into their curriculum. All staff members are encouraged to give out Crane currency in a variety of settings other than their own classrooms. Teachers are encouraged to praise other classes and students when the students are following the Crane Expectations.

The implementation of the Positive Behavior Support at Savanna Ridge has had a positive impact on student learning. The students at Savanna Ridge know the school- wide expectations and know they are expected to do their best at all times. The students understand the expectations because all teachers and staff are consistent with the program. The team uses the discipline data to help them identify the patterns and possible causes of inappropriate behavior. This information is used to develop effective interventions to decrease inappropriate behavior and increase the desired behavior. Using the Out of School Suspension Rates, our school has had a decrease of 35% from 2007 to 2008 school year. Our data shows that we have had a decrease in the number of referrals each month. The team contributes this drop in suspension to the PBS project. We believe that the PBS project maximizes students’ academic and social achievements.

The tier three students at our school were identified through the Student Support Team process. A Behavior Analyst conducted a Functional Behavior Assessment and developed a BIP to be implemented for these students.  Data indicates approximately a 50% improvement with target behaviors. Our administrative staff and ESE staff  help the core team with the students that are tier three. They provide these students with interventions that help these students be productive in the school environment. They connect with these students and continually reinforce appropriate behavior. We are fortunate because we have a very supportive staff which helps make all students successful at Savanna Ridge Elementary.

The largest obstacle that the PBS Core team had to overcome is that Savanna Ridge had twenty new staff members. The PBS plan is well established which helped avoid major disruption for the staff members and students involved in the program. The new staff members were trained during the preplanning week so they were able to implement the PBS plan with their students from day one. The veteran teachers were able to model and discuss the expectations with the new faculty which helped make the implementation of the plan easier. At mid-year we realized that the staff needed a Booster Training and we designed a workshop to meet their needs. The team works well together and helps each other complete the task that need to be accomplished. The core team knows that we need more training and have committed to the training in the fall. We will continue to learn and implement the PBS plan to the best of our abilities. We will continue to strive to provide support for students and staff which enhance a safe and orderly learning environment through emphasis on the principles of responsibility, safety, readiness to learn and respect of others.