Chieftain HERO is a way to sum up the great behavior and hard work we expect out of Dowagiac students.

This idea was created by two of our elementary schools who participated in a program called MIBLSI.

Our counseling staff has taken some of the information we learned through MIBLSI and integrated it into all schools.

MIBLSI, Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative, is a wonderful program which uses teaching strategies and behavior support strategies that are proven to work and to raise student achievement.

The theory behind the behavior strategies is that if children are behaving correctly, they will not miss instructional time for discipline issues.

This benefits students who have difficulty with behavior and their classmates.

When teachers don’t have to spend lots of time correcting behavior, there is more time for teaching and learning.

MIBLSI behavior strategies include teaching students the behaviors that teachers want them to use and reminding and reteaching behavior expectations when students are making poor choices.

It also involves using lots of positive support to help students get excited about good behavior, and to raise self-esteem in all students.

This makes school a more positive, efficient learning environment overall.

Two elementary schools in our district, Patrick Hamilton and Justus Gage, decided to become MIBLSI schools.

Their staffs have gone through extensive training and put in many extra hours of work to use the strategies that come from MIBLSI.

The counseling department has worked hard as well, implementing some of these strategies throughout all of our schools, so every Dowagiac student can enjoy uninterrupted learning time.

Elementary school counselors provided a training day for non-certified staff to learn how to use positive behavior support on the playground, in the cafeteria and on the bus.

They have worked with all staff on the importance of teaching students exactly what we expect of them and providing lots of opportunities for positive praise and privileges when students make good choices.

The middle school has taught sixth, seventh and eighth grade students what it means to be a HERO.

They have spent time in classes and during sixth grade orientation to teach the DMS behavior expectations to all students.

Many schools have begun using “HERO Tickets” as a way of recognizing and rewarding students for modeling appropriate behavior.

We are all working together to minimize classroom disruptions and to increase time spent working and learning.

Our goal is to make our schools very positive places to be and to foster highly successful students.

This week’s column is by Lisa Armijo, elementary counselor.

HERO is an acronym which stands for different things in each building.

At Pat Ham is stands for Helpful, Earning and giving respect, Responsible and Orderly and safe.

At Gage, Honest, Earning and giving respect, Responsible and Orderly and safe.

And at DMS, Helpful, Engaged in learning, Respect and Ownership.