Perkiomen Valley School District Annual Report 2017-18 Annual Report 2017-18 1 | Page 13

SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL NEEDS p. 13 PVSD Annual Report 2017-18 www.pvsd.org PV Adds to Student Mental Health Resources Perkiomen Valley School District has always had a strong commitment to providing instruction, ser- vices and other opportunities that help students to develop not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. In the 2017-18 school year, that commitment contin- ued through the expansion of the School-Wide Pos- itive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (SWPBIS) program to include Skippack Elementary School and Perkiomen Valley Middle School East. Skippack and East’s adoption of the program brought the district’s total of schools with SWPBIS in place to four (Ever- green and South adopted in 2015 and 2016, respec- tively. Schwenksville and Perkiomen Valley Middle School West kicked off in 2018-19). A SWPBIS approach teaches behavioral expec- tations in the same manner as any core curricu- lum subject, and stresses character traits such as respect and responsibility. Faculty and staff are trained on how to reinforce and reward positive be- havior in all areas of the school, from the classroom and the bus, to the cafeteria and the playground. How positive behavior is recognized varies from school-to-school, but typically involves rewarding students with tickets or certificates when teachers or staff members observe positive behavior. In spring of 2018, Evergreen Elementary School was recognized by the state for implementing SWPBIS with 100-percent fidelity. As one of 300 schools in Pennsylvania to receive this designation, Evergreen joined an elite group of educators. The school celebrated with an assembly featuring local politicians and school district representatives. In addition to SWPBIS, the district has been placing a focus on providing resources to support student social and emotional health. Some of these re- sources included: • The addition of a social worker and four additional school counselors at the elementary level. These positions were approved in the spring of 2018. • Partnership with Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems to allow families needing outpatient counseling services access through our schools. • Partnership with Be a Part of the Conversation to offer three community workshops throughout the year for parents/guardians about subjects pertaining to substance abuse. • Re-establishment of the School Wellness Com- mittee and organized a subcommittee on men- tal health and wellness. Through an assembly held in spring of 2018, Ever- green Elementary School students celebrated their school’s achievement of implementing School-Wide Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports with 100-percent fidelity. Perkiomen Valley Middle School East counselor Chris Jackson addresses the audience who attend- ed “Have You Had the Conversation?”, a presenta- tion held in November 2017 for parents about how to talk to their children about drugs, alcohol and substance abuse.