presented by: marissa rex professional school counselor
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Exciting School-Wide Programming in an Elementary School Setting How to Make Your School a " Model School". Presented by: Marissa Rex Professional School Counselor. Background Information. Marissa Rex Professional School Counselor Hiawatha Elementary School Toledo, OH - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
EXCITING SCHOOL-WIDE PROGRAMMING IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SETTING
HOW TO MAKE YOUR SCHOOL A "MODEL SCHOOL"
Presented by:
Marissa RexProfessional School Counselor
BACKGROUND INFORMATION Marissa Rex
Professional School Counselor Hiawatha Elementary School
Toledo, OH 2nd Year as School Counselor Additional License: Early Childhood Education
Hiawatha Elementary, Washington Local Schools 330 Students 50% labeled as “Economically Disadvantaged” School closure in the district
District lines changed---1/3 of our students reassigned, gained slightly more
OTHER SERVICES Individual Counseling Small Group Counseling Classroom-Based Counseling (lessons/units) Counselor Mail
2 letters per student each school year 1 letter per classroom each week
During the last week, some classrooms get more (it keeps the Counselor Mail cycle even)
Includes: Hand-written letter Word search, funny picture, etc.
Reminders during Monday announcements
OVERVIEW OF SCHOOL-WIDE PROGRAMS Main Programs:
PAWS- Pride, Attitude, Work Habits, Self-Control Cooperative Games (Fall and Spring) Mix it Up at Lunch Days No Name-Calling Awareness Week Bully Free Awareness Week Be the Change Day
Focus: Specifics of the Programs How Hiawatha Organized the Programs Recognition and Feedback How to Apply for Awards
PAWS CARDS Goal:
Help students recognize their PAWSitive behaviors
Make connections between goodbehaviors and positive recognition
Reward System: Each month, we hold a drawing for students and
teachers. Prizes are pencils, certificate Grand prize winners get a gift certificate to a
book store
Student’s Name: ________________
This student made a difference, showing excellence in…
Pride
Attitude
Work Habits
Self-Control
COOPERATIVE GAMES Goal:
Improve school climate
How it Works: Divide students into groups (K-6) Play cooperative games Have picnic lunch Fall and Spring
Student Leaders, 1 adult per group
Organization: PE teacher, volunteers, committee
COOPERATIVE GAMES
MIX IT UP AT LUNCH DAYS Goal:
Help students get to know each other on a more meaningful level.
Improve school climate, students interactions
How it started: Teaching Tolerance website Building off Cooperative Games (Fall) Wanted to improve SWIS data
SCHEDULING Sub-committee 2 Groups (A and B)
1 grade level per group Divide students evenly among teachers Use the regular lunch schedule
Students eat on their Mix it Up Day teacher’s schedule.
Discuss with cafeteria manager We did this on a “one choice” day for buyers Packers can take their lunches with them
or you can line up lunch bins in the cafeteria based on regular classrooms
WALL OF INTOLERANCE
Classrooms created bricks
Wall under bricks was covered with class pictures and our district’s core values
COOPERATIVE GAMES/RECESS Built on what we just did with
Cooperative Games Older students are the leaders
Had to change schedule to lunch then recess Recess supervisors call out group numbers (room
numbers) instead of grade level when recess is over
They all had a checklist of when groups arrived at recess and when they would need to be picked up
LUNCH Students eat based on their Mix it Up Day
teacher’s schedule Our cafeteria manager was very willing to
work with us on this program Give everyone plenty of notice!
CLASSROOM TIME The time during the lunch/recess block when
a group is not at lunch or recess. 11:50-1:15 (lunch/recess block) Groups most often have “sandwiched” time
Classroom Lunch Recess Classroom
NO NAME-CALLING AWARENESS WEEK Goal:
Continue to improve and maintain building climate
Events: Classroom lessons
(sign-up) Creative Expression
Contest Pictures Songs Sculptures Stories Poems
BULLY FREE AWARENESS WEEK Goal:
Continue to improve and maintain building climate
Events:Classroom lessonsDoor Decorating Contest
Student-drivenCelebration of each
classroom’s effort
BE THE CHANGE DAY Currently aimed at our intermediate students
Eventually we hope to incorporate this message in our school-wide efforts
Similar to a “Challenge Day” If You Really Knew Me http://www.challengeday.org/mtv/
Provides students with an opportunity to get to know each other and break down barriers
RECOGNITION AND FEEDBACK Awards (2009-2010)
Model School Award Promising Practice Award Working on 2011 State School of Character
Application
Grant (2009-2010) Ohio School Counselor Association
Staff Feedback
HOW TO APPLY FOR AWARDS/GRANTS Model School Award
http://www.tolerance.org/mix-it-up/model-schools
Character Education Partnership Promising Practice Award
http://www.character.org/applicationprocess State School of Character National School of Character
http://www.character.org/nsocapplicationprocess
OSCA Grant http://www.ohioschoolcounselor.org/Default.aspx?p
ageId=536895
CONCLUSION Whether you are a new school counselor or a
veteran, you can organize effective school-wide programs!
A positive attitude and strong work ethic goes a LONG way and can change people’s view of the school counseling field.
You do NOT have to do this alone!
Contact information:Marissa Rex(419) [email protected]