Poughkeepsie Middle School wants its students to Respect others, Involve themselves in learning, Show responsibility and Ensure the safety of themselves and others.
In short, they want the students to RISE.
School leadership introduced the acronym Friday, as well as an overview of incentives for positive behavior, at its PBIS assemblies Friday.
PBIS, or positive behavioral interventions and supports, “is all about making our school a place where everyone feels safe, respected and ready to learn,” Assistant Principal for Climate and Culture Danielle Green told an auditorium full of students Friday. “It’s a way to help us remember to be kind, make good choices and work together so we can all have a great school day.”
PBIS in general is a framework of setting expectations within a school that institute proactive support for students in need of it, rewards positive behavior and discourages negative activity.
The middle school introduced its PBIS for 2024-25 Friday with a series of three energetic assemblies, one for each grade level.
“When we think about PBIS and we think about positive behaviors, we really focus on the good things in our building and elevate those things,” said Green, who is leading the program along with grade-level coordinators Michael Emard (sixth), Dijonae Roberts (seventh) and Takiyah Ingram (eighth). The team wore “PBIS” shirts to commemorate the day.
The school each month will recognize students embodying those four RISE principles by giving “All-Star” awards and “Rising Star” awards honoring improvement. The first round of awards were given out Friday. Each group received a certificate on stage and then posed for a photo.
Students will also earn DOJO points from teachers and staff, which they can redeem for rewards such as extra recess, treats or other increased privileges. The points will be rewarded when faculty sees a student exhibiting positive behaviors, such as helping a friend, being on time, participating in class or following safety rules.
Green led the students in reciting a pledge on living up to the RISE principles, such as respecting unique cultures and stories, showing personal responsibility and ensuring everyone feels valued.
“Together, we RISE to build a community of strength, unity and pride!” the pledge ends.
“This assembly reflects our commitment to a positive and engaged learning environment,” Interim Principal Felicia Schinella said. “Thanks to our dedicated staff and enthusiastic students, we’re off to a fantastic start.”
In addition to the PBIS program, the teachers at the assemblies also gave out the 7 Mindsets Student of the Month honor, and discussed the requirements to make the high honor roll, honor roll and honorable mention lists.
Green called the assembly “a chance to celebrate our values and reinforce a respectful and responsible environment at Poughkeepsie Middle School. We’re excited to see the impact as we continue honoring students throughout the year.”
