Students at Jane E. Tuitt School in Savan had a big day Tuesday, starting with a parade to support positive behavior (and thinking before acting), which ended with the distribution of dictionaries to all third-graders.
Cooperation, respect, responsibility and safety are the cornerstones of the Positive Behavior Support (PBS) program, according to Heather Saks, PBS team captain and the school’s physical education teacher.
Tuesday’s festivities were the kickoff for the program. Saks said the youngsters are expected to display their positive behavior in the cafeteria, walkways, on field trips, and in restrooms.
Monthly ceremonies are held to offer awards to students who do well with the program. Those who don’t will provide the beginning of data that will be collected to help the more difficult students along the way.
"We can see patterns," Saks said, adding that they can also identify negative behaviors early.
Stop, think and go is the other behavior-shaping program that was presented Tuesday using the image of a stop light with all three lights.
"It reminds students to stop, think and go whenever they have a decision to make," Saks said.
As the parade festivities ended, members of Rotary St. Thomas Sunrise arrived to distribute dictionaries to the third -raders along with a lesson on how to use them.
"Let’s look up the word ‘team,’ said former teacher, school administrator and longtime Rotarian Diana Parker.
The children—who has just received their blue soft-covered, thick books—scrambled to be the first to find the word.
"Use your guide words," instructed longtime teacher Lisa Evans.
Shortly hands began to pop up with students vying for the opportunity to read the definition.
While others worked at putting their names in the space allotted in the front of the book, Parker explained the dictionaries had come from a program fostered in the territory by Gretta Moorhead.
"Be sure to write a thank-you note to Mrs. Moorhead," Parker said, departing the classroom along with Rotarian Susan MacFarland-Helton to the chatter of those still discovering the meaning of the second word they were asked to look up: Teacher: one who instructs.
