Schools earn state recognition for behavioral support program

Keystone Elementary School, Brookwood Elementary School and Armstrong Middle School in Bristol Township School District all earned state recognition for success in the School Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (SWPBIS) program. The schools were slated to accept the State Banner Awards at the PA Implementers Forum in Hershey, but will now participate in a virtual celebration on November 13.

SWPBIS is a universal, school-wide program that aims to establish a social culture within schools where students expect and support appropriate behavior from one another. “The SWPBIS model is very specific and geared towards helping our school become a safe and enjoyable place to learn,” said Melissa Schweiker, first-grade teacher and SWPBIS building coach at Keystone Elementary School.

Keystone is being recognized for implementing Tier 1; Brookwood is being recognized for implementing Tiers 1 and 2; and Armstrong is being recognized for implementing Tiers 1, 2 and 3 for the 2019-20 school year. Tier 1 is a school-wide program, which features a code of conduct, activities and assemblies to promote positive behavior. Tier 2 is for a smaller group of students with minor behavioral challenges. These students are provided with more instruction and support each day. Students in Tier 2 use the Check-In Check-Out Program (CICO) to check in with mentors at the beginning and end of each day, and the program and progress is monitored. Tier 3 continues to reteach behavior to students and provides more intensive interventions then Tier 2.

“I am very proud of the success Brookwood, Keystone and Armstrong achieved through implementing the SWPBIS program,” said Superintendent Melanie Gehrens, Ed.D. “All of our schools have been working hard to model positive behavior for our students – even as they learn virtually – and students have been responding to the program extremely well.”