WCSD PBIS: Anchor in The Storm!
August 2020
California PBIS Coalition Again Recognizes Whittier City Schools!
Continuing a five-year streak, Whittier City Schools have again been recognized by the California PBIS Coalition! This time, the Community Cares recognition was awarded for "outstanding contribution of support and care during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and resulting disruptions to school."
ALL of our schools made heroic efforts to provide support of all kinds to their students, families, and staff. We are grateful to the eight principals, assistant principals and PBIS Leads who used the last drops of energy they had left at the end of the school year to submit their applications by the deadline!
Schools and community partners will be acknowledged at the virtual CPC Conference on September 21 (1:00-3:45, only $25), and are listed on the coalition's website.
CONGRATULATIONS to all of our schools for their enduring commitment to schools that are welcoming, safe, positive, and focused on the whole child! Scroll to the end of this newsletter to see picture and video samples of the many activities that helped our school communities stay connected during the first months of the pandemic crisis.
Also in this newsletter...
- PBIS leadership teams create plans to support student engagement and resilience during distance learning
- Links to resources for social emotional learning and resilience
- Updates on what is coming soon
PBIS Team Summer Planning for Distance Learning
Just before school started in August, PBIS Leaderships Teams at all of our schools met virtually to adapt their school wide PBIS systems for distance learning, providing an essential anchor for students and staff. Their accomplishments include:
- Updated behavior expectations matrix for virtual classroom and home settings
- Updated rewards menus & process
- Plans to support staff morale and resilience
- Plans for school-wide celebrations & community building activities
PBIS Teams are comprised of a combination of teachers, administrators, counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, community liaisons, and paraprofessionals. They meet monthly to review data for problem solving and planning individual and community celebrations.
Leaning on the systems we have created over the past several years help keep us grounded in evidence-based actions that result in school settings that are safe, predictable, supportive, and equitable for all.
Did you know...
Our PBIS systems follow the national blueprint that is based on implementation science. Since 2013, LACOE has coached us to increased fidelity each year, resulting in dramatic decreases in suspensions and office referrals, and increases in positive school climate. Each one of our schools has earned awards for PBIS fidelity. Not bad for a little school district!
Watch West Whittier's principal, Ms. Aceves, introduce the new Wildcat PAW Pride Expectations for Distance Learning
Coming Soon ...
Our Wellness Team is developing new tools and adapting our systems to support staff, students, and families during distance learning:
- Universal screening to identify students who need support
- Staff resilience
- Tier 2 supports (Check-In-Check-Out, counseling groups)
- Suicide awareness training and psychological first aid how-to for staff
- Family engagement
Find links to each school's Wellness website for mental health and social emotional learning tools and resources, including virtual calming rooms!
The Wellness Team is comprised of the school counselors, social workers, psychologists, and interns that support our Whittier City school community.
Get Inspired! A Sample of Whittier City SD Entries for the 2020 Community Cares Recognition from the California PBIS Coalition
Andrews TK-8 Learning Academy
Katherine Edwards Middle School: Celebrating Teamwork & Community Partnerships
- Grab and go meals! One of the 3 sites within Whittier City School to serve hundreds of breakfast and lunch meals to students and their families.
- Book Drive!
- “Student of the Month” on the go!
*Additional note: The song playing during our video submission are members of our Edwards Royal choir who virtually recorded this song for our virtual promotion. Led by our choir director Mr. Ryan Culton.
Video length: 3 min 30 secs
Hoover HAWKS Care!
Watch Hoover's slideshow entry for the "Community Cares" recognition, featuring:
Orange Grove School
Second Step extends free access to online resources through December 31st, and has added resources for community building activities for elementary and middle school, and staff resilience!
Implementation guides, scope and sequence, Staff Resilience curriculum, and more!
WCSD PBIS Newsletter Archive
Each newsletter has:
- videos
- summaries of relevant articles and blog posts
- links to resources for further reading
- classroom activities
- self-care tips for educators
- updates on district PBIS and Wellness initiatives
PBIS Team summer planning tools
Support student engagement, classroom management, & staff resilience
April 2020: A Little Grace
Coping with a whole heart; tools for resilience
March 2020: It Matters To Kids
Data from Whittier City's PBIS & RTI initiatives
November 2019: Lean on Each Other
Ingredients of positive and supportive school culture
August 2019: Community is Strength!
Community building ideas for staff and students
Fall 2018: Trauma Informed Schools
Launch of Wellness Program
Second Step Resources
Trauma Informed Practices resourcesSpring 2019: Wellness Matters!
Data reflecting the impact of the Wellness Program
Summer 2019: Resilience!
Winter 2018: Winter Boost!
Silver Awards all around!
Classroom Management resources to refresh routines
Fall 2016: Relationships!
Collective teacher efficacy
Strategies for building relationships with and among students
Winter 2017: Positive School Climate
Spring 2017: Classrooms!
WCSD PBIS: Positive School Climate for Student Success
Email: pbis@whittiercity.net
Phone: .