Keeping The SPARKThe Story of Bernard Elementary School

http://bernard.sd33.bc.ca

November 5, 2013

PRESENTERS

DAVID WELLINGHAM

GRACE JONES

CHERYL SMITH

SETTING

BERNARD ELEMENTARY

Urban school in Chilliwack, BC Inner-city school designationCurrently enroll approximately 300

students Approximately one-third are Aboriginal,

Metis, or claim Aboriginal ancestry Increasing multiculturalism

SPARK

The term SPARK was coined in 1998

SPARK is an acronym from the virtues:SafetyPeaceAttitudeRespectKindness

SPARK

Staff began looking for a way to address concerns about student conduct and school environment

‘Necessity is the mother of invention’ – PLATO

SPARK Committee started in 1999 and developed a Code of Conduct and lesson plans around SPARK virtues

SPARK

Development of EBS at Bernard came from growth in three key areas:

Students learning to show SPARK behaviors Staff development Building community

From 1999 to 2001 SPARK had a classroom focus

Matrix

From 2001 to 2003 SPARK became a school-wide focus

Expectations were incorporated into a Quick Scale format

Based on the Social Responsibility curriculumStaff developed ‘I statements’ and used

performance standards

Matrix

First ‘Matrix’ developed in 2003-2004

Expectations put onto posters identifying the different settings of the school

Based on rubrics from the Seabird Island First Nation and other sites

Matrix

Virtues project also accompanied SPARK from 2004 to 2006

SPARK Committee planned lessons for each of the virtues for all classes

2011 Matrix review:Fewer settingsKey phrase for all settings

Matrix Rotation

Students learn the matrix in September, January, and March

The SPARK rotation began in 2008September: Teacher teaches to class January: Committee member teaches

expectations to classMarch: Peer Leaders teach to class

SPARKS

SPARKS were given out from the very beginning

SPARK draws were originally done in classrooms

Student prizes given in weekly assemblySPARK draw now part of announcements with

prizes given dailySPARK bins located in front of officeGive SPARKS value – SPARK Store

SPARK Data for September 2013563 SPARKS22 Discipline referrals (9 from Red Zone)

SPARK Data for October 2013745 SPARKS49 Discipline referrals (14 from Red Zone)

Student Engagement

Principal for the DayLunch with Principal SPARK ChallengeStudent AnnouncementsSelf-evaluationYear-end Awards

Student Engagement

PassportsTaggingWriting projectsArt projectsWeekly/Monthly eventsSkits and plays

Support Systems

Code of ConductDRFBRFAlternate PlacementCheck and ConnectReflection Sheets IEPSchool Goal

Support Systems

Bronco BuddiesPeer LeadersAlpha BuddiesCircles of CareHouse Teams/GamesClassroom BuddiesDistrict Sharing

SWIS

Concern areas: Classroom and playgroundConcern behaviors: Defiance and physical

contact Referrals per year:

2007-08: 673 2008-09: 840 2009-10: 670 2010-11: 664 2011-12: 268 2012-13: 261

Surveys and Evaluation

Surveys available through PBIS website to help with assessing and planning behavior supports in schools.

SET (School-wide Evaluation Tool) is an external evaluation of implementation of the critical features of school-wide behavioral support

2000 and 2009: Implementation average of 87%

EBS CommitteeCommittee meets on a monthly basis the week

before a staff meeting

Advisory committee

2013 Committee has 9 members