PBIS - A General Overview

South Brunswick High School has received recognition as a Green Ribbon School for its PBIS program. This recognition signifies that the school has effectively implemented a system for teaching and managing school-wide expectations, as well as a system for rewarding positive behavior. 

School-wide Positive Behavior Instruction and Support (PBIS) is a prevention model.  It is based on the premise that all students can benefit from well implemented, evidence-based practices for improving student behavior.  School-wide PBIS provides a comprehensive framework that can be used by any school to design their own system of behavioral supports for all students.  It also provides informed decision making based upon data analysis that guides the process of assessing student needs and providing additional levels of behavioral support to students in need.

Schools are discovering that PBIS:

• helps to create positive school climate
• addresses the behavioral needs of all students with proven, easy to implement strategies
• allows the school to create the “right fit” for them, so that practices are appropriate to the context and sustainable over time
• results in increased time for instruction and fewer disciplinary incidents
• is viable and does not have to overwhelm staff given the limited time and resources that schools are experiencing
• is affordable

Schools that implement PBIS focus on taking a team-based, systematic approach, and teaching appropriate behavior to all students in the school.  Schools that have been successful in building school-wide systems develop procedures to accomplish the following:

1. Behavioral Expectations are Defined

A small number of clearly defined behavioral expectations are defined in positive, simple rules, such as the South Brunswick Cougar Code:

Be - Do - Say- Respect

2. Behavioral Expectations are Taught

The behavioral expectations are taught to all students in the building and are taught in real contexts.  Behavioral expectations are taught using the same teaching formats applied to other curricula.

3. Appropriate Behaviors are Acknowledged

Once appropriate behaviors have been defined and taught, they need to be acknowledged on a regular basis.

4. Behavior Errors are Corrected Proactively

When students violate behavioral expectations, clear procedures are needed for providing them with feedback, and preventing their unacceptable behavior from resulting in inadvertent rewards.  Students, teachers, parents, and administrators should all be able to predict what will occur when behavioral errors are identified.

PBIS at South Brunswick High School

SBHS is dedicated to being a place of mutual respect.  It is an expectation that all members of the South Brunswick community - teachers, administrators, classified staff, students, parents, or guest - will follow the SBHS code and treat each other as they would wish to be treated themselves.  It is expected that everyone on the SBHS campus will conduct themselves in such a fashion that everyone will feel safe and free from harassment, both physical and emotional.

SBHS has implemented the PBIS program in our school.  The main focus of PBIS is to provide a clear system for all expected behaviors at South Brunswick High School.  While many members of our school community have assumptions of what is expected behaviors, we cannot assume that everyone’s beliefs are similar.  Through PBIS, we will work to create and maintain a productive, safe environment in which ALL school community members have clear expectations and understandings of their roles in the educational process.

Our school-wide recognition and acknowledgement system benefits all students who are a part of the SBHS Community.  PBIS focuses on positive behavior.  Students are taught and acknowledged for following the expectations in all areas of the school.  Students must be problem solvers, act responsibly, work hard and show respect in and out of the classroom.

VIDEO- SBHS STUDENT EXPECTATIONS AND SYSTEM FOR BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

SBHS Behavioral Plan will apply to students:

• while on the school grounds
• while going to or from school
• during lunch
• during or while going to or from any school-sponsored activities
• during any other event related to school activities or attendance

Respect and courtesy for persons and property are expected at all times.  Where a specific penalty for violating a rule is not listed, the consequence assigned will be in proportion to the severity of the infraction.