Columbia High School has received statewide recognition for its comprehensive system to promote good behavior among students.
In February the school earned the status of “Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Tier 1 Model Site” for 2019-2020.
Chemistry teacher Shelley Putnam chaired a team of parents, students and teachers who helped the school achieve the honor.
Putnam said they developed a system of expectations for each area of the school. If students act out, the goal is to not just reprimand them but to restate the expectations and provide rewards for students who do right.
“We want to develop our kids as leaders as part of our vision, and there's no way to do that except to show them how leaders act in different situations,” Principal Braxton Stowe said.
Stowe said not many high schools received this honor because there is a perception, which Stowe says is incorrect, that high school students don't respond to rewards. He said high schoolers like to know what the parameters are and know how far they can go and still get rewarded.
After talking with students last year, Stowe said it was clear they wanted to simply get out of class and have food. The school has been able to do that, and it doesn't cost much money, he said.
The school has had three events so far this year for students who met the behavioral criteria:
1. A game day in the auditorium where students could play video games on large screens, along with volleyball and food.
2. Boo Fest at Halloween, where students dressed up in costumes and could spend tickets they earned through good behavior.
3. Chill and Raffle where tickets could be used toward gifts donated by businesses.
A fourth event, a field day, is set for April.
Putnam said the events don't interfere with instructional time because they're done during a study hall/lunch time for students.
The school worked with Reach Mississippi based at the University of Southern Mississippi to develop the behavioral plan. They spent all last year coming up with the system and then began full implementation this year.
Tier 1 is a school-wide set of expectations to set a positive environment for learning. If students have discipline problems, they are moved to Tier 2, which is more individualized, and then Tier 3 for major behavior problems.
A team from Reach Mississippi came to CHS to make sure the plan was actually being carried out. Putnam said they randomly interviewed 10 to 12 staff and students and asked about what the expectations were for different areas. CHS passed with a 98% score.
Putnam said they use data for things like discipline referrals and use that to steer what they incentivize. For example, when there was a problem with students having their IDs on the them at all times, the school began handing out tickets to students who had their IDs. The tickets could then be used during the fun days.
Discipline referrals to the office fell from 330 in the first nine weeks last year to 180 in the first nine weeks this year. Stowe said there's an emphasis on handling minor violations in the class and calling parents to get to the bottom of those issues.
Also as part of the program, Columbia High will be doing a community service project on the morning of April 3. Stowe said they're looking for community organizations that need help.
If you have a project that students might be able to assist with, call the school at 736-5334.
