Monday, February 01, 1999
Students discover new kind of class
BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FLORENCE — Honesty. Respect. Compassion. Peacefulness.
The emphasis Collins Elementary puts on these four words and others like them earned the school and the Boone County district the Public Education Achieves in Kentucky (PEAK) Award from the Kentucky School Boards Association.
The award honors three programs each year that promote academics through innovative means.
When Collins Elementary could not get school board funding to hire a behavioral management technician, guidance counselor Denise Munson and teachers created JUMP, or Join Us in Making Peace.
The program focuses on a different character skill each month, where students learn what it means to be considerate or fair and are expected to exhibit those behaviors.
JUMP is an education in “emotional intelligence.” The goal is to curb behavioral problems by boosting self esteem.
“We just believe in emotional wellness and kids feeling good about themselves,” Principal Shelley Mayberry said. “The whole success is having the entire school involved. And now it's just a nicer, friendlier atmosphere.”
The 572 students are recognized individually for how well they demonstrate each trait and for improving attitude, behavior and academics.
Each child sets a goal every month, like showing compassion a certain number of times or sharing more often.
Peace kits, filled with posters and other items, help students resolve conflicts peacefully. Each classroom has a kit and an EMO doll, the mascot of the JUMP program. EMO is used in role playing exercises.
The school also has monthly rallies to recognize award winners. Students literally jump to show their success, using pogo sticks, bouncing balls and jump ropes. Even principal Mayberry gets into the action, once going down a slide into a pool of chocolate when the entire school went beyond its goal.
“This is real initiative,” said Carrie Dickman, school board member and parent of two students who participated.
“The school met an identified need of the district and they did it on their own.”
Ms. Munson and others received grants to fund the program and are now working on copywriting and publishing the materials for others to use.
What Mrs. Dickman likes about the program is the boost it gives to students.
“The kids get to be role models without doing anything,” she said. “They get to win awards for being good kids.”
The school is winning, too.
Tests taken before and after the program started showed significant improvements in students' self esteem, self reliance, social skills and leadership skills, Ms. Mayberry said.
“We were able to document that students displayed more skills with working together positively to achieve their goals,” she said.
The JUMP concepts are reinforced through monthly and daily incentives and special plays performed by teachers so that the message does not become stale.
Superintendent Bryan Blavatt said the award is exciting.
“We've been trying and making changes all the time,” Mr. Blavatt said. “Not only do we think we are focusing on public school initiatives but it's nice that we are recognized beyond the school level.”
You can put your stamp on the quarter
McAlpin's vacancy strains downtown
Drugs bedevil Lebanon prison
Census officials can't find any takers
Ditch collapse victim in serious condition
Heart attack likely caused inmate's death
Black history still ignored in school
Hopewell third-graders imitate King's dream
Indian Hill students set Black History events
Mason classes fight intolerance with mosaic
Mount Healthy school group promotes diversity
Other school events for Black History Month
Underground Railroad museum has $25M toward its goal
Cincinnati's Century of Change: February
Gov. Patton sitting pretty
High-speed train proposal excites rail buffs
Newport native enters presidential race
Online college virtually ready
Rookwood Pavilion to expand
State rep seeks more money for libraries
Blink may help identify gunman
Critics back off opposition to school tax hike
Drug sweep sends warning
'98 tax breaks land 9 companies
Big plans riding on school tax vote
Catholic schools celebrate tradition
Money woes dull Corwin's rural charms
More on death row want to die
Retail hopes fading into quaint notion
Students discover new kind of class
Super Bowl coach amazes bypass patient
TRISTATE DIGEST head,14,11p8 Man killed, two hurt in Butler Co. crashes
