As students return to school for 2025 in Maercker District 60, they will notice a few new initiatives around the building that are all about supporting the culture of connection and collaboration that was such a focus in the first part of the school year. By using Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) throughout the district, D60 is giving students the opportunity to see how their individual actions can be a part of something bigger.
Read on for a sneak peek at what each school will be doing to kick off the new year in a positive, fun, and supportive way!
Holmes Primary School
When students return, teachers will review Classroom Promises and conduct a refresh of schoolwide expectations that help all students to Be Safe, Be Caring, and Be Ready each day. Students will get to watch the Wildcat mascot demonstrate expected behaviors through a video presentation and slideshow.
Holmes will continue to select a behavior of focus every two weeks which could be things like appropriate voice volume, using kind words, and others. Students who are meeting and exceeding the expectations and being a strong example for others will continue to earn paws from staff. Students will also be celebrated and recognized during weekly announcements, where groups of students who have demonstrated they are PAWsitive Wildcat Learners will be featured.
Maercker Intermediate School
At Maercker, the PBIS refresh will once again see the principal team visiting every classroom to share a story and connect it to PBIS lessons and recognitions for good behavior. This could be about the Gold Paw program or other ways that students will be seen and celebrated for being a positive part of the school community.
The goal will be to reconnect and reteach the schoolwide expectations of Be Kind, Be Safe, and Be Responsible in common areas throughout the school with a greater emphasis on lunch and recess. Students will receive an expectation trading card to keep with them to help remind them of the expectations and continue to build those important relationship skills.
Another new addition is that exceptional behavior will be recognized at a greater level with the "Good News from Maercker School" postcard. This postcard will have a space for teachers to write a short bit of "good news" about what students are doing during the school day. The cards will be sent home via mail, so watch your mailboxes for good news!
Westview Hills Middle School
At Westview Hills, staff and students know that the values held by the school community guide everything about the school day. Students will get reminders on being responsible, respectful, and ready to learn.
Westview Hills also uses a system called CHAMPS to guide how students should be engaged with daily activities and the school community. CHAMPS stands for Conversation, Help, Activity, Movement, Participation, and Success, and is a proactive approach to classroom management that helps teachers create a positive and productive learning environment. Teachers will be reviewing their CHAMPS systems for their classrooms during the first week back. Instead of focusing on discipline, CHAMPS emphasizes praising positive behaviors and providing clear guidelines for appropriate conduct, rather than solely focusing on punishment.
With a unified approach to PBIS and supporting every student across the district, Maercker D60 is showing a commitment to being student-focused while creating a sense of community and belonging for all!