Presented by: Marissa Rex Professional School Counselor

Exciting School-Wide Programming in an Elementary School SettingHow to Make Your School a "Model School" Presented by: Marissa Rex Professional School Counselor

Background Information • Marissa Rex Professional School Counselor • Hiawatha Elementary School Toledo, OH • 2nd Year as School Counselor • Additional License: Early Childhood Education • Hiawatha Elementary, Washington Local Schools • 330 Students • 50% labeled as “Economically Disadvantaged” • School closure in the district • District lines changed---1/3 of our students reassigned, gained slightly more

Other Services • Individual Counseling • Small Group Counseling • Classroom-Based Counseling (lessons/units) • Counselor Mail • 2 letters per student each school year • 1 letter per classroom each week During the last week, some classrooms get more (it keeps the Counselor Mail cycle even) • Includes: • Hand-written letter • Word search, funny picture, etc. • Reminders during Monday announcements

Overview of School-Wide Programs • Main Programs: • PAWS- Pride, Attitude, Work Habits, Self-Control • Cooperative Games (Fall and Spring) • Mix it Up at Lunch Days • No Name-Calling Awareness Week • Bully Free Awareness Week • Be the Change Day • Focus: • Specifics of the Programs • How Hiawatha Organized the Programs • Recognition and Feedback • How to Apply for Awards

PAWS Cards Student’s Name: ________________ This student made a difference, showing excellence in… Pride Attitude Work Habits Self-Control • Goal: • Help students recognize their PAWSitivebehaviors • Make connections between good behaviors and positive recognition • Reward System: • Each month, we hold a drawing for students and teachers. • Prizes are pencils, certificate • Grand prize winners get a gift certificate to a book store

Cooperative Games • Goal: • Improve school climate • How it Works: • Divide students into groups (K-6) • Play cooperative games • Have picnic lunch • Fall and Spring • Student Leaders, 1 adult per group • Organization: • PE teacher, volunteers, committee

Cooperative Games

Mix it Up at Lunch Days • Goal: • Help students get to know each other on a more meaningful level. • Improve school climate, students interactions • How it started: • Teaching Tolerance website • Building off Cooperative Games (Fall) • Wanted to improve SWIS data

Scheduling • Sub-committee • 2 Groups (A and B) • 1 grade level per group • Divide students evenly among teachers • Use the regular lunch schedule • Students eat on their Mix it Up Day teacher’s schedule. • Discuss with cafeteria manager • We did this on a “one choice” day for buyers • Packers can take their lunches with them or you can line up lunch bins in the cafeteria based on regular classrooms

Wall of Intolerance Classrooms created bricks Wall under bricks was covered with class pictures and our district’s core values

Cooperative Games/Recess • Built on what we just did with Cooperative Games • Older students are the leaders • Had to change schedule to lunch then recess • Recess supervisors call out group numbers (room numbers) instead of grade level when recess is over • They all had a checklist of when groups arrived at recess and when they would need to be picked up

Lunch • Students eat based on their Mix it Up Day teacher’s schedule • Our cafeteria manager was very willing to work with us on this program • Give everyone plenty of notice!

Classroom Time • The time during the lunch/recess block when a group is not at lunch or recess. • 11:50-1:15 (lunch/recess block) • Groups most often have “sandwiched” time • Classroom  Lunch  Recess  Classroom

No Name-Calling Awareness Week • Goal: • Continue to improve and maintain building climate • Events: • Classroom lessons (sign-up) • Creative Expression Contest • Pictures • Songs • Sculptures • Stories • Poems

Bully Free Awareness Week • Goal: • Continue to improve and maintain building climate • Events: • Classroom lessons • Door Decorating Contest • Student-driven • Celebration of each classroom’s effort

Be the Change Day • Currently aimed at our intermediate students • Eventually we hope to incorporate this message in our school-wide efforts • Similar to a “Challenge Day” • If You Really Knew Me • http://www.challengeday.org/mtv/ • Provides students with an opportunity to get to know each other and break down barriers

Recognition and Feedback • Awards (2009-2010) • Model School Award • Promising Practice Award • Working on 2011 State School of Character Application • Grant (2009-2010) • Ohio School Counselor Association • Staff Feedback

How to Apply for Awards/Grants • Model School Award • http://www.tolerance.org/mix-it-up/model-schools • Character Education Partnership • Promising Practice Award • http://www.character.org/applicationprocess • State School of Character • National School of Character • http://www.character.org/nsocapplicationprocess • OSCA Grant • http://www.ohioschoolcounselor.org/Default.aspx?pageId=536895

Conclusion • Whether you are a new school counselor or a veteran, you can organize effective school-wide programs! • A positive attitude and strong work ethic goes a LONG way and can change people’s view of the school counseling field. • You do NOT have to do this alone! Contact information: Marissa Rex (419) 473-8266 mrex@wls4kids.org

Presented by: Marissa Rex Professional School Counselor