Creating a Culture of Wellness Phillip Pittman, Principal of Keith Elementary Michigan Wellness Council Presentation July 15, 2015
Aug 08, 2015
Creating a Culture of Wellness
Phillip Pittman, Principal of Keith ElementaryMichigan Wellness Council Presentation
July 15, 2015
About Keith Elementary• Located in West Bloomfield, Michigan• Largest elementary school in the Walled Lake Consolidated School
District• Over 650 students and 65 staff members
• Keith Elementary celebrates a 50-year tradition of excellence in education
• We emphasize mental, physical , social/emotional growth and well-being
• We promote healthy lifestyle choices, honor the arts, develop student leadership, and encourage selflessness through a culture of caring and a spirit of giving
• We are committed to continual improvement through collaboration and innovation as we strive for achievement, meaning, and fulfillment.
About Keith Elementary• Every member of the Keith community contributes to making our
school the best place to be. • We emphasize working hard—always giving our best effort—and
being nice—treating everyone with kindness, compassion, and respect.
• We are most successful when we work together by sharing our talents, learning from each other, and communicating openly, honestly, and respectfully.
• The 7 Habits of being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win-win, seeking first to understand then to be understood, synergizing, and sharpening the saw help us become more responsible, productive leaders.
About Keith Elementary• We enjoy our time together by making the most of all the amazing
opportunities we have! • The idea of wellness – in mind, body, and spirit, is woven into our
goals, our educational processes, and involves the entire Keith community.
Recognition• Awarded 1st place three times in the Michigan Surgeon General’s Healthy School
Environment Recognition Program • Received a Best and Brightest in Wellness Elite Award in 2014-15• Michigan Green School at the Evergreen level (the highest ranking) for the 3rd
year in a row and for the 4th time in our school’s history• Between 92nd and 98th percentile in Michigan Top-to-Bottom rankings• Great Schools Rating of 10• Staff presenters at numerous conferences around the state and country• Top Book Fair in Oakland County• Participate in numerous community service activities• Home of 3rd grade teacher Melody Arabo
• Michigan Teacher of the Year for 2014-15• Oakland County’s 2015 Elite 40 under 40 winner• Author of Diary of a Real Bully
About the Presenter• Phillip is a proud husband to Kristina and
father to Kyle (16) and Stephanie (12)• Going into 5th year as principal of Keith
Elementary• Formerly a teacher and administrator at
North Farmington High School• Received BS in English Language and
Literature; MA in Literature; and Ed.S in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University
• Currently a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership at EMU
• Enjoys playing basketball, weight training, running, reading, and writing
Creating a Culture of Wellness
Key Action Steps
• Engage stakeholders (students, staff members, families, community members)• Identify shared beliefs and values• Create a common mission and vision• Set high expectations• Communicate clearly and consistently• recognize and celebrate successes
Our Clear and Shared Focus
The Extra DegreeTo get what we’ve never
had, we must do what we’ve
never done.http://play.simpletruths.com/movie/212-the-extra-degree/
Excellence
We are relentless in our pursuit of excellence.
ALL STUDENTS
Implement/Adjust
Evaluate & Plan
Analyze
Monitor Progress
Social and Emotional Well-Being• Community
o Involvemento Acceptance, belonging, and inclusivityo Investment in others and collective purposeo Unityo Recognition and celebration of diversity
Diversity Week Culture Day MLK Celebration
• Positive School Culture• Giving Back• Recognizing and Celebrating Success
• Gold Slips• Student Award Breakfast• PA Announcements
• Having Fun
InvolvementOur PTA sponsors numerous signature events: • Welcome Back Picnic• Family Outdoor Movie Night• The Fun Run • The Keith Caring for Our Community Family Night• The Keith’s Got Talent Variety Show • The Staff Charity Volleyball Challenge • Family Bingo Night• Fall and Spring Book Fairs• Kindergarten Orientation• Field Day• Furthermore, the PTA provided a subscription to Math IXL and Storia for
every student at Keith, funded additional classroom supplies, and provided needed scholarships for 5th grade camp.
The Dragon’s RoarAt Keith we lead with our hearts and our minds,
Working hard and being nice time after time.Investing in each other is where we beginTo solve each problem so everyone wins.
We plan, listen, and use our voice.
We include others and make the right choice.Working together and being a team
Is key to achieving our dreams.
We stop for a moment for balance and funTo take in the beauty of what we have done.We prepare for the future ready to explore,Beginning each day with a new Dragon roar!
Student LeadershipSTUDENT COUNCILComposed of representatives from each third through fifth grade classroom and four officers, the Student Council provides a forum for students to engage in community service projects and school spirit activities.
SAFETY PATROL & SERVICE SQUADFifth grade students have an opportunity to serve on the Safety Patrol or Service Squad to make sure the school environment remains a safe place to learn. Members of the Safety Patrol or Service Squad assist with arrival and dismissal procedures, kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms, sidewalk and hallway supervision, and several other important tasks.
OTHER LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES• Announcement Team• Kindergarten Lunch Buddies• Recycling Team• Yearbook Art Team
Student Clubs
• Math Club• 4H Club• Fitness Club• Ski and Snowboard Club• Engineering Club• Green Club• And Many Others through
Community Ed. Dept.
Green Club
Positive School Culture• Appropriate student behavior is vital for all students to safely learn
and perform at the highest levels. Our PBIS program is designed to teach safety, responsibility, and respect through a culture of kindness and compassion using a leadership theme guided by the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. We reinforce positive behavior choices through teaching, modeling, practice, recognition, and accountability.
• Our PBIS program provides teachers and other school staff with information to emphasize the behaviors that create a safe, productive learning environment while preventing behavior problems. Research has shown how PBIS can result in an increase in learning opportunities, an increase in positive behaviors, and a decrease in disruptive behaviors. Posters that highlight behavior expectations for all areas of school life remind students of what is expected from them in each area.
Positive School Culture• Our staff is committed to building positive relationships with
students and establishing clear expectations for behavior. If students do not meet our behavioral expectations, we use a number of strategies to elicit improvement, including discussion, reflection, goal-setting, examining choices and alternatives, and providing a level of accountability through appropriate consequences. As part of this process, students may be asked to reflect on their behavior by completing a grade-level appropriate Think Sheet. And, as communication is crucial for success, parents are often contacted regarding behavioral concerns, which gives parents an opportunity to reinforce positive behaviors at home.
• Finally, we work hard to ensure Keith is a Bully-Free Zone, an ideal we champion through assemblies, guest speakers, PBIS, and the Seven Habits.
Positive School CultureHow Can Parents Help?• Read and discuss behavior expectations on a regular basis while
brainstorming alternative solutions.• Familiarize yourself and your family with the Seven Habits of Highly
Effective People• Insist that your child speaks respectfully to adults and other
children.• If your child has a problem in school, review behavior expectations
and discuss other possible solutions.• Support teacher and administrative behavior decisions. Discuss
issues privately with staff.• Support our gold slip incentive program by providing inexpensive
toys, trinkets, books, and school supplies to the school office.• Complete and discuss Think Sheets when brought home.
Giving Back
Kids Against Hunger
Kindergarten Tree Planting
Keith Caring for the
Community Club (KC3)
Keith Caring for Our Community Family Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zpaImZOVmQ
Recognize and Celebrate SuccessSTUDENT AWARD BREAKFAST
The Student Award Breakfast is held once a year to honor two students from every classroom. The selected students and their parents are invited to attend the breakfast ceremony. Possible criteria for selecting a student to attend the breakfast include:• Citizenship• Display of effort in academic work• Academic achievement• Improvement in behavior• Improvement in schoolwork
Celebrate Success and Have Fun
HalloweenParade
Reading Luau
Principal of the Day
Physical Well-BeingNutrition Fitness Education
Nutrition• Proper nutrition is vital• We offer high-quality, nutritious meals (breakfast and lunch)
at an affordable price• A complete lunch includes an entrée, a fruit, a vegetable, and
milk • We offer a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole-
grains, and reduced-fat and calorie entrees. • We offer a salad bar for students and staff, which is loaded
with numerous fresh food options. • We utilize allergen restrictions and safeguards• Healthy snacks (no candy or soda vending machines)
Nutrition• We celebrate birthdays with the student as the focus
o No edible treatso Instead, we recommend donating a book or game to the
classroom. • Classroom parties occur three times per year on Halloween,
before Winter break, and on Valentine’s Day. o Emphasis on activities, games, and crafts. o Food must be kept simple, minimal and healthy, with the
opportunity for a “treat.” • Taste of the Garden
o Salsa Party• “Eat a Rainbow” Week
The Giving Garden
https://www.facebook.com/TheGivingGardenKeith
• “Eat a Rainbow” o Featuring one color per day of fruits/vegetables
• Mileage Club VIP Days• Walk to School Day
o On Count Day• Fun Run
Fitness Week
Martian Marathon
Mental Well-Being
https://animoto.com/play/22XxkRE43KwMwTSxhPAHdw
InterventionsSTUDENT INSTRUCTIONAL PLANNING PROCESS (SIPP)The Student Instructional Planning Process (SIPP) is in place to assist teachers, students, parents in finding solutions to academic, behavioral, social or emotional concerns that Keith students are experiencing. The school-based SIPP team works on identifying interventions and solutions to address student needs through collaboration, support, observation, planning, problem-solving, data collection, and data analysis. Our SIPP Team meets for a half day each week and includes the principal, teacher consultant, psychologist, social worker, speech and language pathologist, resource room teacher, and English language learner paraeducator. SIPP Team meetings often include classroom teachers, parents, and occasionally students, as well.
Staff Wellness
• Holidays Against Weight Gain (HAWG)• American Heart Association “Activity
Tracker” Fitness Challenge• Staff Dance Act for Talent Show• Staff Volleyball Charity Challenge• Staff Retreat• PLC Nights• Block Planning Time
• 7 Habits Training
• Camaraderieo Holiday Partyo Support Staff Breakfasto End of Year Luncheon
• Recognitiono Golden Dragono Staff Members of the Weeko Teacher of the Year
• Team Building Activitieso Lego Challengeo Olympicso Scavenger Hunto Snowball Fight
Staff Volleyball
Game
The Benefits of Wellness• Harmony with Self and Others• A More Positive Attitude• Improved Relationships• More Energy• Higher Levels of Motivation• Increased Productivity• Greater Efficiency• Decreased Recovery Time• Higher Levels of Satisfaction• Better Attendance• Longer Life Expectancy• Reduction in Health Care Costs• Reduction in Substitute Costs
The Benefits of Wellness• Greater Satisfaction
o Keith received the most positive feedback in the district on the Net Promoter Survey
• Better Student Behavioro Drastic reduction in disciplinary offenses
In 2011-12, we had 11 bus write-ups and 6 bus suspensions. We have reduced those numbers each year. In 2014-15, we had 1 bus write-up and 0 suspensions, by far the fewest among the 19 school in Walled Lake.
o In 2014-15, we had 0 out-of-school suspensions• Better Attendance
o Staff absences are 60% of what they were in 2012o Students with excessive absences reduced by 66%
A shared direction and a sense of community means we can do more and go farther.
Contact InformationKeith Elementary School2800 Keith Rd.West Bloomfield, MI 48324248-956-3700
Phillip Pittman, Principal
www.wlcsd.org/keith.cfm