As members of the Jewish community, HALB believes in instilling the importance of social responsibility and respect in their students. The HALB Lower School launched the PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Support) program with several interactive assemblies on Friday, October 16. PBIS is a proactive approach to establishing the social culture needed for all students to achieve social, emotional, and academic success in school. After two successful years of participating in PBIS at HALB, the students were excited to begin the school-wide program, which promotes positive expectations, routines, and behaviors.
The assemblies featured several short films that students created earlier in the week with Mrs. Gail Rusgo, HALB Lower School Director of General Studies. The films demonstrate positive behaviors that are encouraged and recognized at HALB, relating to safety, responsibility, and respect. PBIS cards were distributed to teachers and faculty to be given to students in recognition of positive behaviors, such as holding the door for someone, helping out a friend, and any other act of kindness or respect. In addition to individual rewards, whole classes are recognized for collaborative displays of responsibility and safety, such as cleaning up the yard or walking quietly and safely in the hallways. Weekly raffles and announcements of PBIS winners promote high quality behavior and school pride, and support a safe and positive school climate and culture at HALB. The skills and behaviors reinforced will stay with the children and guide them through life, both inside and outside the classroom.
