Be the One."

That's what Farmdale Elementary staff members, teachers, and administrators expect from their students. The school is encouraging responsibility by offering incentives and words of praise through its Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support program (PBIS).

"A PBIS plan is something that most schools have in order to establish clarity on what the expectations are of students, in order to build a positive climate and culture in the school," Farmdale principal Trisha Pearson said. "Farmdale's PBIS we refer to as 'Be the One,' and our four expectations are being safe, respectful, responsible, and engaged."

Farmdale provides incentives for each student and sets building-wide goals. "Individually, this year, everybody has a fishbowl, and they have pebbles," said Pearson. "Collectively as a class, they can earn (the pebbles), and when they fill their jar, then they get to go to what we call our Falcon Cart, which is our school store on wheels."

The school is adjusting on the fly. "What we were finding is it's a little bit more difficult for the teacher to manage, and we wanted to build more community and culture," said Pearson. "They earn these pebbles for their jar, for their fish tank, and they get to go shop. The Golden Fish Ticket is going above and beyond, putting someone else's needs above yours, recognizing how can I be the one to help make our school a better place."

When a student earns a Golden Fish Ticket, he or she is called to the office. "We celebrate them, and we have a bingo turner with little bingo balls, and they get a certain number," said Pearson. "We have a chart in our lobby. When a complete row or column or a diagonal is filled of 10, then those students get a special prize and recognition. Any time a student gets a Golden Fish Ticket, their name gets on the announcements, and (a note) goes home to their parents."

In addition to pebbles and Golden Fish Tickets, students can collect Special Stars. "Our special area teachers, which is art, music, library, and visit, also give out these certificates monthly to different students for showing that they're 'being the one' in their class," said Pearson. "We also have these little coupons called Fabulous Falcons. Our building aides who help supervise during lunch and recess can give those out to students for showing that they're 'being the one' during lunch and recess."

Students are able to pick their reward. "They can choose an item, which would be maybe a school supply item like a small fidget or some school-appropriate, small toy," said Pearson. "A lot of students will choose time with an adult. Maybe they want to play a game with an adult or eat lunch with someone in the building. In addition, they can choose a free ice cream pass in the cafeteria or a free snack pass."

Pearson noted that it takes a school-wide commitment. "It's a collaborative effort," she said. "Many people have come together to think of new ideas and ways to keep it fresh. Each year we might change something just a little bit. Also, our FPA (Farmdale Faculty-Parent Association) makes it possible by providing the funding through our fundraisers to provide students with rewards and some incentives."

The school's principles are constantly reinforced, partially through "mini-meets" where faculty members get together with each grade level, kindergarten through sixth grade. "(The mini-meets) may be tailored specifically to a grade level that might be struggling in a certain area or doing really well in a certain area," Pearson said. "We also have all-school assemblies once a month. We call them Falcon Fridays, and we recognize students at those assemblies."

Each morning, following the Pledge of Allegiance, students recite the Peacekeeper Pledge, which reminds students how they need to be responsible for making good choices both at home, at school, and in the community.

Pearson has been the principal at Farmdale for 11 years and hails the school's PBIS. "I think what it's done is it's created a common language for us, what you pay attention to and what you spend time on. You tend to see a lot of growth, and that's what we've done," she said. "We've consistently applied the 'Be the One' principles, and as a result, we have definitely seen a positive change. Farmdale's always been a great place, but in order to continue to cultivate that as students leave and new students come, we communicate that not only to the students, but also to the parents and ways that they can also encourage their student to 'Be the One.'"

The principal stated that it's been a successful decade. "We're in our 10th year of our PBIS, 'Be the One,'" said Pearson. "It's taken on different forms over the years. We've changed some things, but the premise of it has remained the same. We want students to understand that by doing those four things (being safe, respectful, responsible, and engaged), they're able to 'Be the One' and make not only our school, but also our community and our world a better place."