Standing for “Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports,” Southwest’s school-wide student management program, known as PBiS, has been a part of the school for 10 years. The program is meant to encourage a positive learning experience for students.

“I think the relationship piece is big,” Spanish teacher Mr. Jim Hill said. “I feel like the teachers’ expectations have to be clear but they also need to have the relationships with students for the program to be effective.”

Every month, the school adjusts its schedule for one day to give students a presentation during their second block. These presentations are about many different things, but all of them  inform students about safety procedures, good behaviors, and study tips.

“It reminds everyone what they should be doing or about things they might forget,” junior Matt Texel said. “Like being nice to other people, and the phone thing was helpful too. The presentations get to the point really quickly so I think they’re fine.”

One of the other ways that the school encourages its students to display positive behaviors is through ‘Caught SOAR-ING’ cards. These are given out by faculty when they see a student show behaviors that meet or exceed school-wide expectations. If a student receives this type of award, they can take it to the Media Center to have it put in a designated bowl in the library. Every friday, a staff member draws for winners. The winners will have their pick of a few prizes, including front of the lunch line passes, LSW clothing, free admission to activities, as well as other things.

Hill thinks PBiS is important because it takes time to teach students about good behavior early, so that they don’t have to waste time teaching it over and over again in the future.

“I would try to convince teachers about how the time you waste now is time saved later,” Hill said. “That way teachers catch the behaviors early, so later you don’t have to be correcting them over and over and over again.”