Student Leaders Help Strengthen PBIS Work at Lenox’s Morris Elementary School

Morris Elementary School fifth graders present behavioral expectations to younger grades following Thanksgiving break. (Photo Courtesy Lenox Public Schools)

LENOX — Morris Elementary School is continuing to build its Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Program as the school enters its third year of implementation.

This year’s work includes new opportunities for students to lead. In the days before Thanksgiving break, 20 fifth graders met with Assistant Principal Holly Soules to review the expectations that guide behavior in the cafeteria and at recess. Students talked through each item, suggested edits and additions and planned how they wanted to introduce the expectations to younger grades.

After the break, the student leaders met with kindergarten through fourth grade classes to share what they had discussed. Their presentation reiterated Morris’ behavioral expectations and set the tone for the remaining weeks before the winter holiday break, supporting Morris’ goal of using PBIS to create a positive, predictable and inclusive learning environment.

Morris’ PBIS frameworks include four schoolwide expectations: Rise to the Challenge, Own Your Actions, Always Work Together and Respect Yourself and Others. As students model and teach these frameworks to others, they build confidence, leadership and a shared sense of responsibility and purpose within the school community.

“I am proud to see the growth in both our students and the PBIS Program since we first implemented it three years ago,” Assistant Principal Soules said. “Our frameworks have been instrumental in creating a safe and inclusive environment where students learn to advocate for themselves and each other. Working with the fifth-grade students on their recent behavioral expectation presentation was an impressive example of how our students work together to support each other and their learning community.”

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