Article submitted by Mr. Blake Young, WPS Principal
If you have had a child attend Wauseon Primary or have one attending for the first time this year, you may hear some strange language around your home or while visiting the school. That is because we are all PAX leaders at Wauseon Primary!
What is PBIS?
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based, tiered framework for supporting students’ behavioral, academic, social, emotional, and mental health. When implemented with fidelity, PBIS improves social emotional competence, academic success, and school climate. It also improves teacher health and wellbeing. It is a way to create positive, predictable, equitable and safe learning environments where everyone thrives.
PAX has become our foundation for our PBIS system. We keep PAX at the forefront of our decision making when it comes to procedures around the building for all to follow. In the first days of school, we will be covering what PAX expectations are in the classrooms, hallways, restrooms, cafeteria, playground, etc. These expectations will be visited frequently.
What is PAX?
The program was designed with the intent to provide an atmosphere that was trauma informed. Many students in their young lives have experienced many traumatic moments that have had a significant impact on their ability to learn and function within society. PAX is a powerful evidence-based practice, consisting of proven instructional and behavioral health strategies used daily by teachers and students in the classroom. It consists of a set of strategies to help students learn important self-management skills while collaborating to make their classroom a peaceful and productive learning environment.
Everyday at the primary students strive to better their world, better themselves, and to be leaders. These sayings are the basis of everything we do within our classrooms and other settings around the building. When students make choices, either positive or not, the conversations are led by going over these three principles. Students are encouraged to predict, monitor, and reflect on activities. Visitors may hear students discuss what they would like to see happen in the upcoming moment, teachers pausing for a quick check for students to monitor themselves, and finally a reflection period of how the prediction went.
Students are encouraged to show PAX. This means a positive behavior or showing great character. Teachers may say things like, “I see _______ is showing PAX by using a 3 inch voice.” On the opposite end of PAX are Spleems. These are the behaviors that are distracting/prohibiting us from showing PAX. Spleems are our teachable moments to help students understand how to regulate themselves and strive to better their world, their selves, and to be the leader we know they all can be.
Parents may also hear things like: Granny’s Wacky Prize, the different inch/foot voices, PAX classroom visions, PAX quiet, PAX hands/feet. Don’t worry, we are still teaching proper grammar, language, and vocabulary, but these sayings are specifically designed for our PAX program. Teachers will send information throughout the school year with more details about PAX and how it can carry over at home as well. Once again, if you have any questions about this program and would like more information about it, please do not hesitate to reach out to either your child’s teacher or me!
So, have you bettered your world, bettered yourself, or been a leader today?