Fourth graders in Jinelle Salvatore’s class were named the Golden Book recipients for the first marking period.

There are several ‘golden’ items at WAEC — all parts of the school’s positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) program.

Specials teachers — like Librarian Laura Demers — mark down points for each class that they see.

“At the end of the marking period, this class got the most points,” Demers said. “I asked for a field trip this time.”

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Warren Area Elementary Center fourth graders Kaylee Gray (left) and Gabby Bigelow mark off an item from a Warren Public Library Children’s Department scavenger hunt.

The students spent almost two hours at the library.

“They got a tour of the new teen space,” Demers said.

In the Children’s Room, Children’s Librarian Susan Slater gave the students a tour, then read with them, and sent them on a scavenger hunt. Those who completed the scavenger hunt were entered in a drawing.

“They completely deserve it,” Salvatore said. “They are such a well-behaved class. Every time we leave our specials, their teachers say things like, ‘they were great, well-behaved.'”

The PBIS “is an evidence-based, tiered framework for supporting students’ behavioral, academic, social, emotional, and mental health,” Demers said. “When implemented with fidelity, PBIS improves social emotional competence, academic success, and school climate.”

At WAEC, the program is called, “showing ‘FIRE’ — Friendship, Independence, Responsibility, Excellence,” she said. “We have a school-wide framework that identifies expectations for all areas of the school. Each specials teacher — library, phys ed, music, art — created a framework showing how students can show FIRE in their respective classroom. Each time students attend a specials class, their behavior choices determine which FIRE elements they earn.”

“Each marking period, we have a winner for each Specials class: Golden Book is awarded for library, Golden Cleat for PE, Golden Note for music, Golden Paintbrush for art,” Demers said. “We created a display case to recognize the winning classes and each specials teacher determines a reward for the winning class.”

There are in-class rewards, too.

So far, Salvatore’s class has earned four and the students have selected rewards like being allowed to use their electronics, going outside for a period, and be able to pick their seats.

Taking the students to the library had the side benefit of giving Demers a chance to pick up forms to help them sign up for library cards, so they will be able to visit the library and take advantage of its resources in the future.