Penn Hills Elementary School recognized for positive student behavior program

For the second straight year, Penn Hills Elementary School is being recognized by the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support Pennsylvania Network.

This year’s honor recognizes the school’s strong foundation to support the student body with the positive behavioral program dubbed “Bee Your Best.”

“Part of our core culture and climate is our Bee Your Best Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support program,” Penn Hills Elementary principal Kristin Brown said. “It’s all about being respectful, responsible, safe and kind. Those actions guide what we do every day with our schoolwide plan.”

Being recognized at the next level of the program means that the school has a solid core for the active program and the capability to form individual strategies to support students on a more personal level.

Brown credited the progression to her faculty members and Cyndi Perlow, the school’s Just Discipline Project coordinator. The project implements restorative practices with PBIS to accomplish a smooth solution to conflicts. Among the restorative practices are community and healing circles.

“Healing circles are more targeted for when there’s a conflict,” Brown said. “If there’s an altercation or a verbal conflict, they sit down and talk about how we can repair the community of that classroom, of that friendship – whatever environment.”

As a part of the circles, students participate in “Morning Circle,” a group discussion of what the day will include or what students want to talk about. Brown said that this practice has helped increase attendance numbers — something the district has struggled with in the past — because students don’t want to miss their morning meetings.

The school hosted a “bus circle” after students were reported for bad bus behavior. Brown said that the students who ride the bus, the driver and Krise Transportation management members gathered in the cafeteria to discuss how to solve the conflict.

“We talked about how we needed to do things differently for the safety of all,” Brown said. “A letter went home to families. Ms. Perlow said that it’s never been done before so we’re forging the lead with creative circles so we’re proud of that.”

Brown said that the PBIS and Just Discipline programs have opened the opportunity for students to speak their minds and form communication with their teachers and peers.