Our School

The Panther Pride matrix is a table that lists behavioral expectations for areas all around the school; the classroom, the cafeteria, the hallways, the bathroom, while on the bus, etc. The schoolwide expectations matrix is posted around the building, instructed at the beginning of the school year and reviewed throughout the school year, and site specific matrix expectations posters hang in specific locations. These schoolwide expectations are meant to be a guide and a reminder for our school community, and intentionally DO NOT address every single rule or issue that a student might experience or need redirection on.

One of the main points of focus of any PBIS program is student recognition. Behavioral research has shown that when positive behaviors are recognized at a rate of 4 to 1 versus negative behaviors, it provides the ideal praise-to-criticism ratio for students (1).

Panther Pride aims to seek opportunities for teachers to recognize and reward positive student behaviors with Panther Paw tickets. These tickets are labeled and given to the student with explicit verbal reinforcement of the observed behavior. The students can then collect and turn in tickets for biweekly raffles that winners are drawn from for prizes and rewards. Tangible items like gift cards of small amounts and Haven spirit wear are available, as well as experiences like utilizing the student lounge with friends and peers or having lunch with the principal.

Panther Pride also seeks to recognize our students for their work and perseverance in the classroom. Our student of the month program, now with the moniker of the Panthers of the Month, names 4 students in each grade every month after feedback and collaborative discussion occurs among the grade level teaching staff. The students are treated to a special monthly breakfast with the principals and counselors, are given an award certificate, and have their photo posted in the main hallway foyer outside the library. The message of their work, leadership, and modeling for other students is reinforced and celebrated at this special event.

In addition to recognizing students for their efforts in demonstrating and upholding the tenets of Panther Pride, student engagement occurs in a variety of other ways. Several student engagement groups exist to allow students' voice, choice, and support for Panther Pride.

The Panther Pride student committee and the Panther Pawsitivity club are two groups that have established ways to help run the systems of Panther Pride, or have dedicated time and resources to generating ideas and fun ways to make our school a more fun and rewarding place to be. Other groups, like the Multimedia club, have worked in consultation with the PBIS coaches, staff, administrators, and other student clubs, to support sharing information about and publicizing Panther Pride.

Student Lounge

The Panther Pawsitivity club has worked so hard in the 2021-2022 school year to revamp the student lounge! The student lounge is a supervised place where students can spend time during lunches if they are recognized as students that have demonstrated one of the tenets of Panther Pride and were a monthly winner of a Panther Pride raffle drawing. A lot of work has gone into designing, painting, hanging lights, and soliciting donations to support the student lounge. If you have some ideas to make it better, join the Panther Pawsitivity club and share your thoughts!