The Responsive Classroom approach is a way of teaching that emphasizes social, emotional, and academic growth in a strong and safe school community. This approach is grounded by seven guiding principles that were conceived from the work of educational theorists and the expertise of exemplary classroom teachers. Additionally, at the heart of RC are 10 classroom practices/strategies for helping students build academic and social emotional-competencies day in and day out. In so doing, students may internalize and then demonstrate our agreed upon school rules of C.A.R.E.S—Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy and Self-Control. For more information about the principles and practices visit www.responsiveclassroom.org.
As a Responsive Classroom (RC) School UES strives to be proactive in supporting all of our students’ learning that occurs everywhere here at UES. This year we have set a goal to rejuvenate our commitment and dedication to the use of RC as we join forces with our state’s school-wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system. Our school-wide common learning areas include the classrooms, cafeteria (including the Quiet Cafe), playgrounds, buses, Interactive Special classrooms, and even our nurses office.
Students and teachers established our school-wide expectations for each of these areas during the first six weeks of school. Classroom teachers and UES staff members then explicitly taught C.A.R.E.S. using modeling and practicing opportunities for each of the common learning areas.
The PBIS committee has been meeting weekly to further this system. After much consideration an owl was chosen as our school symbol which is used on our Give A Hoot! coupons. These coupons are given to students who are making good choices that demonstrate our school expectations. Each coupon states “A wise owl C.A.R.E.S. At the end of November we will be encouraging students to explain why he/she is being given a hoot.
The PBIS committee consists of:
- Owen Bradley (Principal)
- Shannon Baker (School Guidance Counselor)
- Theresa Giffin (Excel Coach)
- Pat Collier (Special Educator)
- Mary Catherine LeFebvre
- Melissa Parker
- Erica Farnham (School Social Worker)
- Sarah Guyette (FIT Instructor)
For more information about PBIS visit www.pbis.org.
Parent Volunteers are Needed:
A critical part of RC is for the school community—staff, parents, students—to work together to collaboratively problem solve. One way this is currently happening is that our fifth grade students have recognized a need to improve both of our playgrounds. This proactive, community building goal will provide more creative and skill building apparatus and equipment that will allow children to make even better choices.
Parents may help us in a variety of ways:
- Grant writers are needed to raise the funds
- Individuals to work on the design of a natural playscape for the lower playground
- Volunteers to oversee soccer, football during lunch recesses (11:00-1:00)
- Volunteers to eat lunch in either the large cafeteria or the Quiet Cafe
