As students came into Oakland Bay Junior High School on September 2, 2009 they found their teachers lined up in front of the school greeting them as they walked down a red carpet into the building!  It is such a beautiful way to say “hello" and welcome back to another year that the dedicated staff at OBJH do it every year.

This is just one of the ways that the junior high school teachers reach out to students and begin to create relationships that will help guide their young charges toward a strong foundation of learning.  Throughout the last year, the school has been working toward developing a shared vision and mission that will encourage academic achievement for all students.  The goal of reaching “Every One, Every Day” will be the ultimate pinnacle of success for OBJH staff and it started on the very first day with a red carpet welcome!

The day continued with students going to their T-Wolf Academy classroom (advisory) where they will start each day of school.  We introduced the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) discipline program in tandem with the “Honor Level” system that our school uses to help students with  discipline issues before they become major problems. We call this combined approach “P.R.I.D.E.” and we identify the ways that students can be P-productive; R-responsible; I-industrious; D-diligent; and E-exceptional in our school, in the hallways, in the classrooms, at assemblies, and in the commons.

With that task completed we went to the gym for our first Renaissance assembly!  Students were treated to a video showing students having a good time at OBJH last school year.  We also presented qualifying students (.5 Grade improvement; 3.0 GPA; 3.5 GPA and 4.0 GPA) with Renaissance academic achievement cards that can be redeemed for various classroom prizes according to individual teacher discretion.  That was just our first day of school! The students were excited to be here this week – and just wait until we’ve had a whole month!

Pamelia Valentine is a guest blogger and teacher in the Shelton School District.

Previous Blogs:

No Summer Break for School Improvement

School Improvement—Mission Statement Complete

School Improvement—Mission [Statement] Impossible?