McNulty Academy students will return from the winter break Monday (Feb. 28) by celebrating the kickoff of the school’s new Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program. The goal of the PBIS program is to create a safe and nurturing school environment by encouraging the use of positive behavior interventions and consistent expectations for students and staff.

The McNulty PBIS Committee and School Leadership Team have been working on the final pieces of the PBIS plan during the break. The focus of this plan is to create a positive school climate that fosters being respectful, responsible, making good choices, and staying safe. Students will start the week attending a school-wide assembly to hear more about the program, building rules and expectations.

The mission of the PBIS team, made up of administrators, teachers and staff, is to work together to teach and reinforce students how to be safe, act responsibly, respect others and keep a positive attitude.

“We are very excited to get our school PBIS initiative underway,” said McNulty Interim Principal Daniel Connor. “PBIS has played a major role in improving school climate elsewhere in our district and at schools across the country and we expect the same results here.”

PBIS is a nationally-recognized program with a focus on creating and maintaining a positive school environment for students and staff. By focusing on preventative behavioral supports with students, schools typically see a reduction in the need for disciplinary actions, which keeps students in their classrooms, engaged in learning. 

PBIS improves social, emotional, and academic outcomes for all students, including students with disabilities and students from underrepresented groups.

The McNulty program will use the acronym R.A.M.S. to remind students of the school-wide expectations and promote the core values of:

• Respect
• Act Responsibly
• Make Good Choices
• Stay Safe

These core values will be practiced daily in the classroom and throughout the entire building (hallways, bathrooms, cafeteria, recess) and on the school bus. School-wide character traits of the month are also being established such as kindness, honesty and cooperation. As a sign of appreciation, “shout outs” to students will be announced every morning over the morning announcements.

PBIS posters will also be displayed around the building and McNulty will acknowledge and reward classes and students who consistently demonstrate positive behaviors. “Way To Go Jr. Ram!” badges will be given to each teacher to nonverbally acknowledge students’ quality behavior and there will be building-wide RAMS celebrations.

Fun activities and school spirit weeks are being incorporated into the program as well. March (Feb. 28-March 4) will kick off the program with a Read Across America Week/daily dress up days reinforcing this “love of reading” theme.

Other events to round out the school year include a Wellness Friday promoting healthy eating and exercise, a Green Day to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, a Crazy Hair Day, a Red, White and Blue Day to usher in Memorial Day and a Count Down to Summer calendar of events.

The PBIS Committee has also established a PBIS program handbook to guide and support McNulty staff members and the school’s PBIS plan as it continues to develop and implement the program. Further PBIS trainings will be held for staff over the summer as McNulty plans new strategies and activities for the 2022-23 school year.