Over the past month, students have been settling into school, learning schedules, developing routines, mastering their lockers and making new friends. One part of the beginning of school that students look forward to is the “PBIS Kick-off.”
Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) is a school-wide approach to help prevent misbehavior and learn how to respond when issues do arise. It is successfully used in over 3,000 schools across the country to teach students how to act responsibly.
The celebration kicked off at Van Schaick Grade School on Friday, Sept. 7 with City of Cohoes Mayor Bill Keeler and Superintendent Peggy O’Shea. Students gathered outside at drop off to listen to Principal Jacqueline DeChiaro speak to them about the Three B’s, “Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be Responsible”, a mantra taught at all three elementary schools, which is well-received by students. But at VSGS, they added a fourth, “Be A HERO,” which stands for “here everyday, ready and on time.”
Once inside, Mayor Keeler and Superintendent O’Shea spoke to the group about the importance of attendance and challenged them to strive for 95% perfect attendance to enjoy a pizza party with them at the end of the year. Last year, Mrs.Dorr’s fifth grade class earned the prize and are hoping to do so again this year.
Later that day, Abram Lansing, Principal Cliff Bird reviewed the Three B’s before introducing Ragtime Windjammers to play a few numbers for the entire school. Following that, everyone went outside to enjoy a much-anticipated dance party, which was a great way to end the second day of school and head into the weekend.
It was a lucky day for Harmony Hill fifth grader Mason Waddell who got to read the daily announcements during their 13th Annual PBIS Kick-off Parade on Friday, Sept. 20. Students proudly displayed their creative, handmade class signs while Harmony Hill Principal Mark Perry kicked the event off with reviewing the Three B’s.
Special guests, Mayor Bill Keeler and Superintendent Peggy O’Shea, also reminded students about the importance of attending school before everyone walked down Madeline Hickey Way for the parade.
Next month, middle school students will kick off their PBIS by celebrating their first progress report data with ice pops and sidewalk chalk.