The province’s Positive Behaviour Intervention Support (PBIS) program for students has shown real results since its inception in 2022. And Harvey Elementary School has been cited as a “model school” for its efforts in student behaviour modification using the initiative.
On Monday, Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) Minister Bill Hogan came to the school to announce the program’s success throughout the province. He was joined by New Brunswick Teachers’ Association President Peter Legacy, Harvey Elementary School Principal Julie Holt, and Grade 5 student Maggie Charters.
“Harvey Elementary has shown that PBIS can be a powerful tool, and that it works,” said Legacy. “This is a model school; a school where all students can thrive, and that is something to be incredibly proud of.”
EECD describes Positive Behaviour Intervention Support as “a proactive, evidence-based approach for creating a positive, safe and inclusive environment in schools.” It requires school staff, as well as the community to learn what student behaviour expectations are, and to ensure students understand, abide by, and model those behaviours for other students.
Among the program’s provincewide results are a 3.9 per cent decrease in absenteeism, from 15.4 per cent in November 2022 to 11.5 per cent in December 2023, and a roughly 10 per cent decrease in incidents of serious misconduct.
“The kids understand what we are looking for and they model it for others that are in need of a little extra help,” said Holt.
Harvey Elementary already had student behavioural guidelines—called a behaviour matrix—in place for many years before applying for PBIS funds in 2022, she said. The school was one of 10 in the province chosen for the initiative in its first cohort. Currently, 25 schools throughout the province are using the PBIS program, including four other ASD-W schools: Andover Elementary, Perth-Andover Middle School, Upper Miramichi Elementary School, and Lincoln Elementary School.
Funds from the initiative allowed Harvey Elementary to revise both its current behaviour matrix and its student handbook.
“Harvey Elementary had already started a PBIS journey in previous years and I felt we already had the making of PBIS, so I applied,” said Holt. “This is an important announcement because these supports are valuable to every school. We have an intervention mentor and it helps with her to work with the kids who need a little extra assistance.”
This school year, the school received $4,000.00 in PBIS funds, which will be used on innovative behaviour modification messages.
“One of my teachers is in the process of making new videos for students to go with our PBIS lessons, like what are the expectations in the bathrooms, in the hallways, on the buses, in the playground,” she said.