Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS)

During the school year, Brentwood Middle School will continue the implementation of Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports or PBIS.  PBIS is a school-wide social skills program which emphasizes effective systems of support that include proactive strategies for defining, teaching, and supporting appropriate student behaviors. A variety of positive behavior support for all students is implemented in areas including the classroom and non classroom settings (such as hallways, restrooms).

In some schools, school-wide discipline has focused mainly on reacting to specific student misbehavior by implementing punishment-based strategies including reprimands, loss of privileges, office referrals, and suspensions. Research has shown that the implementation of punishment, especially when it is used inconsistently and in the absence of other positive strategies, is ineffective. Introducing, modeling, and reinforcing positive social behavior is an important component of a student’s educational experience. Teaching behavioral expectations and rewarding students for following them is a much more positive approach than waiting for misbehavior to occur before responding. The purpose of school-wide PBIS is to establish a climate in which appropriate behavior is the norm.

We have designed positive rewards for student demonstrating appropriate behaviors, as well as clarified the process to follow in the event of inappropriate student behaviors.  As a result, we expect Brentwood students to act in a way that demonstrates:

C - Come Prepared

L – Listen and Learn

A – Act Respectfully

W – Work Hard

Students demonstrating appropriate behaviors may be given  Bengal Bucks, CLAW-mpliments, and/or Bengal Booster awards.  These awards will describe the appropriate behavior, where and when it occurred, and will list the student’s name, as well as the staff member who gave the recognition to the student. Again, the purpose of school-wide PBIS is to establish a climate in which appropriate behavior becomes the norm, and students are encouraged to behave in an appropriate manner.

If a student chooses to behave in an inappropriate manner, progressive discipline will describe the consequences. In other words, the misbehaving student will be warned, given a chance to refocus and adjust, have family contacted, and given after school learning opportunities. After these interventions to correct inappropriate behaviors, that child will be escorted to the office.  We will then decide the most appropriate response to the situation.  You will be hearing from us so we can discuss a method to assist your child in making better choices. 

If a student chooses to break rules regarding the safety of him/her and others, acts in a disrespectful manner, threatens or bullies other students, or acts in a way that is detrimental to our students and staff, the student will be automatically escorted to the office and receive consequences in line with our District 6 discipline matrix.

Our goal for the implementation of our Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports Program (PBIS) is to encourage our students to demonstrate appropriate behaviors.  Students will be taught the expected behaviors at the beginning of the year as well as ongoing throughout the school year.  If you would like to know more about this program, have ideas, or would like to donate items for prizes for our drawings, please contact us in the office.