💡 What is BIST? At Highlands, we teach students that it is never okay to be hurtful or disruptive.  BIST is a schoolwide program designed to help students develop positive behavior skills, manage emotions, and improve learning environments.  

BIST offers strategies to support students in achieving the goals for life:

• I can make good choices even if I am mad. 

• I can be okay even if others are not okay. 

• I can do something even if I don't want to (or if it's hard). 

Through BIST, students and teachers share a common language of both grace and accountability - clear expectations and positive reinforcement. 

👥 As part of ongoing support for families, BIST offers a series of classes for parents and guardians (FREE!).  These training sessions are designed to provide ways you can support your child’s developing academic and behavior skills, as well as increase consistency between home and school.  

BIST Virtual Parenting Series

5:45 PM - 6:00 PM        Enter Zoom Waiting Room

6:00 PM – 6:45 PM   Informational Session

6:45 PM – 7:00 PM       Questions and Answers 

September 18th: “Just One Thing at a Time: Taking on tasks that seem overwhelming & addressing “perceived” helplessness

September 25th: “Why is the Truth So Hard?: Rebuilding trust when our children lie

October 2nd: “We All Live Here; We All Help Here: Teaching ownership, responsibility & pride through “helping out” around the house

These classes are designed to:

• Create consistency between school and home

• Provide language for adults to use when redirecting children

• Share ways to problem solve to increase your child’s success

• Increase generosity and kindness in your children

• Bring a sense of calm to your home

Please join us for any or all three sessions!

To register (deadline to register is Friday, September 12th)

1. Go to http://BIST.org

2. Click Log In on the home screen.

3. If you already created a username by previously enrolling in a BIST class, just log in on this screen.

4. If you have never registered for a BIST class, enter your information (Name, Email, and a Password).  This will register you on the website, but not for the class.

5. At the top of the page, use the dropdown menu called “Classes.”  Click “Training Calendar.”

6. Select the class you wish to attend (Parenting with BIST).  Click “Register” under your preferred class.

7. Fill out the required questions and click “Register.”

8. On the checkout screen, complete the billing details even though this is a free class.

9. Click “Place Order.”  The Order Details page is your confirmation of registration.

10. You will receive an email containing the Zoom link for the training sessions on Wednesday, September 17th.  

11. If you have not received an email containing the Zoom link by noon on September 18th, please contact our office at bist@cornerstonesofcare.org for assistance.

Highlands Attendance WIG: Maintain the percentage of students chronically absent below 5% (24-25 = 4.5%)

💡 Did You Know?

1. Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school.

2. Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade or be held back.

3. By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school. 

4. Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. That’s just two days a month and that’s known as chronic absence.