Sandburg is proud to be a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) school. PBIS is a program supported by the Colorado Department of Education and Littleton Public Schools to promote and maximize academic achievement and behavioral competence. It is a school-wide strategy for helping all students achieve important social and learning goals. We know that when good behavior and good teaching come together, our students will excel in their learning.
Desired Outcomes of PBIS at Sandburg
- Everyone (adults and children) knows the expectations – “We are Safe, Respectful, Responsible and Productive in all school settings.”
- Fewer office referrals – Referrals have decreased by 50% since PBIS program initiation August 2007.
- More time spent learning and teaching
- Positive, safe environment
- Increase in student achievement – Overall, CSAP scores have increased by 12 percentage points since PBS program initiation August 2007.
Our PBIS Journey:
We Started with a Team . . . January 2006, a team of teachers, paraprofessionals, and a parent liaison attended PBIS training sponsored by the Colorado Department of Education. Together we chose the mountain lion paw logo to symbolize our expectations --“We are Safe, Respectful, Responsible, and Productive” at Sandburg.
Starting on the First Day of School . . .
Each year on the first day of school, students and teachers participate in a PBIS “circuit training” of the five areas of safety—playground, bus area, car area, crosswalk and cafeteria—by reviewing what it looks like to be safe, respectful, responsible, and productive in these areas.
Continuing Through the First Week . . .
Teachers facilitate additional tours/conversations with their students to define expected behavior in their own classroom, the bathroom and the hallway. Check out classroom expectations on Teacher Pages. Mrs. Linger (office), Mr. Newell (science center), and Mrs. Tejan (library) also meet with each class to establish positive behaviors in these settings. Expected behaviors are posted in each setting. Scroll down to see examples of expected behaviors in other settings
PBIS Success!
PBIS is not a one time event. Success depends on explicit teaching, consistent modeling, and a heap of positive feedback—5 positives to 1 negative is recommended. Thanks to the high level of commitment at Sandburg, we see results. Our office referrals are half of those prior to PBIS implementation. Academic achievement as measured by CSAP has increased by 12 percentage points since implementation initiation in 2007.
Parents Support PBIS. . .
Parents report that their children can recite the PBIS expectations with ease and want their friends and classmates to follow the rules. Parents are encouraged to support this model by incorporating the language (safe, respectful, responsible, and productive) and increasing the use of positive feedback at home.
Learn more about PBIS 