Scoring Points For Doing The Right Thing;Behavior Initiative Rewards Positive Behavior
By: Marlisa Goldsmith
Updated: November 12, 2012
Parents joke about the difficulties of having to watch four or five kids, but imagine having the responsibility of hundreds, and dealing with their behavior problems.
"You have just that small number of students that take up your time with discipline issues, and that was the reason for us really looking at how to promote the positive aspect," says Principal Karen Munoz.
This year Principal Munoz and her staff started the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports initiative, also known as PBIS.
Students receive wooden chips in exchange for positive behavior, as a way to reward good conduct as opposed to focusing on the negative.
Munoz continues, "They can give them at their discretion. Whether it's holding a door open, saying thank you, walking down the hall, having their ID."
Munoz says the initiative is changing the culture of her high school, and even students are taking notice of that change.
"You can just tell there's an overall better school spirit within everyone and all of the electives are kind of joining on with it so it's helping a lot too," says Alicia Dorado, a senior at Cooper High.
Todd Duquette adds, "It has focused more on the positive things throughout the school and it's encouraged more of the positive things. People to do better academically or outside of the school and just become a better person."
Cooper High created a school motto to live by.
"Rise Up," which stands for Respectful and Responsible Individuals Supporting Each other, and it is giving everyone something to feel a part of.
"It's individuals, it's parents, it's teachers, it's the community, all rallied behind cooper high school," says Colonel Steve Shinkle.
Some say the PBIS initiative may just be the best thing that has ever hit Cooper High.
"Everybody wants something to believe in and this is something to believe in. Rise up is here now and here to stay," says Coach Todd Moebes.
"You have just that small number of students that take up your time with discipline issues, and that was the reason for us really looking at how to promote the positive aspect," says Principal Karen Munoz.
This year Principal Munoz and her staff started the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports initiative, also known as PBIS.
Students receive wooden chips in exchange for positive behavior, as a way to reward good conduct as opposed to focusing on the negative.
Munoz continues, "They can give them at their discretion. Whether it's holding a door open, saying thank you, walking down the hall, having their ID."
Munoz says the initiative is changing the culture of her high school, and even students are taking notice of that change.
"You can just tell there's an overall better school spirit within everyone and all of the electives are kind of joining on with it so it's helping a lot too," says Alicia Dorado, a senior at Cooper High.
Todd Duquette adds, "It has focused more on the positive things throughout the school and it's encouraged more of the positive things. People to do better academically or outside of the school and just become a better person."
Cooper High created a school motto to live by.
"Rise Up," which stands for Respectful and Responsible Individuals Supporting Each other, and it is giving everyone something to feel a part of.
"It's individuals, it's parents, it's teachers, it's the community, all rallied behind cooper high school," says Colonel Steve Shinkle.
Some say the PBIS initiative may just be the best thing that has ever hit Cooper High.
"Everybody wants something to believe in and this is something to believe in. Rise up is here now and here to stay," says Coach Todd Moebes.
