West Potomac High School

Presented by: Aaron Engley, Assistant Principal Carrie Jones, School Social Worker and

PBS Coach Garrett Hubbard, PBS Team Co-Leader

West Potomac High School

Where Are We?

• Northern Virginia, just south of Alexandria in Fairfax County. •Located between Route 1 and the Potomac River. •South of the beltway that circles Washington, D.C.•Our neighboring school is T.C.Williams, made famous by the movie Remember the Titans.

Who Are We?• Approximately 3,000 students and 250 staff members come to West Potomac daily. •We have two magnet programs in our school - the Academy (600 students) and Pulley (90 students). •More than 300 courses are offered, including 23 AP courses.•Our graduation rate is 90%, and 92% of those students pursue postsecondary education.

We are Diverse in every way.

Culture ReligionLanguageAbilitySpecial NeedsSocio-economic statusUrban/suburban

• 2,057 students attend West Potomac.• 56% of students come from minority backgrounds.• 35% qualify for the free/reduced meals program.•Students represent more than 66 different countries and speak more than 40 languages.• 8% of students are full-time participants in the program for English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

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black

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Am Indian

Why PBS and Character Education?

Disrespectful school climateDiscipline problems

2003: 2386 Office Referrals 541 Suspensions/Expulsions

Apathy/Tardiness/TruancyLow test scoresStaff/administration turnoverLack of community involvement

What did we want our School to be like? Responsible, respectful, caring community High academic achievement Appreciative of differences Few discipline problems Cohesive, supportive learning community Community involvement Attractive facilities

PBS At West Potomac

2004-2005: Achieved Buy-In and Partial Implementation

2005-2006: Full Implementation August 2006: Staff Presentation to

maintain buy-in 2006-Present: Full Implementation

BUY-IN

The following slides are some of the information that was provided to staff in order to achieve buy-in.

Administrative Support was critical during this process.

Gallop Poll: Positive WorkEnvironmentsCreate working environments where employees…

(Buckingham & Coffman 2002, Gallup)

1. Know what is expected2. Have materials and equipment to do job correctly3. Receive recognition each week for good work4. Have supervisor who cares & pays attention5. Receives encouragement to contribute and improve6. Can identify person at work who is “best friend”7. Feel mission of organization makes them feel like their jobs are important8. See people around them committed to doing a good job 9. Feel like they are learning new things (getting better)10. Have the opportunity to do their job well.

The goal of PBS is to. . .

Reduce challenging student behavior through a proactive, positive, and consistent manner

across all school settings and

Improve academic achievement and social competence

Primary Prevention:School-/Classroom-Wide Systems for

All Students,Staff, & Settings

Secondary Prevention:Specialized Group

Systems for Students with At-Risk Behavior

Tertiary Prevention:Specialized

IndividualizedSystems for Students

with High-Risk Behavior

~80% of Students

~15%

~5%

CONTINUUM OFSCHOOL-WIDE

INSTRUCTIONAL & POSITIVE BEHAVIOR

SUPPORT

What does School-Wide PBS Look Like?

>80% of students can tell you what is expected of them & give behavioral examples

Positive adult-to-student interactions exceed negative

Function based behavior support is foundation for addressing problem behavior

Data- & team-based action planning & implementation are operating

Administrators are active participants Full continuum of behavior support is available

to all students

How could we change the school climate?

Establish ROAR Committee: Responsibility, On-Time, Achievement and Respect.

Build meaningful relationships between students and faculty.

Implement Professional Ethical Learning Communities

Develop school service learning program.

ROAR Committee

Comprised of administrators, teachers and staff that represent numerous departments and areas, including counselors, parent liaisons, bus drivers, security, specialists, and students.

Meets monthly after school, averaging about 10 attendees each meeting.

ROAR Initiatives

ROAR Cards Lesson Plans School-Wide Activities New Discipline Referral Form Level 1 and Level 2 Referrals Check-In Check-Out System Media and Student Involvement

West Potomac High School

We have a responsibility to be on time and prepared, to achieve at a high level and to be respectful of

all.

ResponsibilityOn-Time AchievementRespect

ROAR Cards

Positive Reinforcement System Teachers provides student with a card when

they exemplify one of our core values. Cards are drawn every week and

students/teachers receive recognition Quarterly ROAR Assemblies are held to

recognize all students that have received cards.

ROAR Assembly

Lesson Plans

Topics have included: ROAR values, Citizenship, Tolerance, Generosity, Perseverance

Lessons are taught through the use of video, activities, class discussion, and writing prompts.

School-Wide Activities

Club and Activities Fair Passport to Success Mix It Up Career Fair Lesson Plans ROAR Assemblies Staff Tailgates and Focus Groups Service Learning

Discipline Initiatives

Amended Referral Form Created Level 1 and Level 2 Referrals Track referral and attendance data monthly Currently creating a check-in check-out

system

Student Involvement and Media

ROAR slides are posted on Channel 6 ROAR reps share info with PTSA Student newspaper and tv show cover

ROAR initiatives ROAR included in Student Planner SGA/Club representatives on ROAR

committee and support initiatives as well as create their own.

Data

Referral and attendance data is reviewed monthly

Data kept on ROAR Card recipients and teachers who provided them

Staff and Student surveys will be completed in November

Staff focus groups will take place on Nov.3 SET, TIC and BoQ

Barriers

Maintaining staff buy-in Funding for activities Working lessons and initiatives into the

school schedule Getting students more involved

SET and BoQ

SET: May 0f 2007

Implementation Average – 92% TIC: May of 2008

73.68% Completed

26.32% In Progress BoQ: May of 2008

Total Score – 69%

PBS Data: 2003-200852% decrease in office referrals74% decrease in suspensions/expulsions

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275 296183 141

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Suspensions Official Referrals

2003-20042004-20052005-20062006-20072007-2008

Paradigm Shifts we’re seeing…We’ve noticed a gradual change in focus from: Aggressive disrespect to an appreciation of

manners, respect and excellence. “Us against them” to shared, thoughtful

collaborative relationships between students and staff.

Emphasis on teaching to an emphasis on learning. “Do what I say” to “understand why it is

important for you to do this.” “It’s someone else’s fault” to assumption of

responsibility.

Plan for 2008-2009

Continue current initiatives Increase student and staff involvement Collaborate with new Dean of Students on

attendance concerns and establish check-in check-out system.