Thursday, January 5, 2023 Volume 17 Issue 14
Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports
You may have heard about our NEW Pup Point Raffle on Fridays! Students can earn what we call Pup Points throughout their day from any staff member in the building. If they get caught doing something AWESOME like wiping down their cafeteria table, putting away the equipment at recess, or following other school-wide expectations they may receive a Pup Point! Students then write their name on the back and submit their Pup Point for our raffle. We pull one student a week from each grade level to choose a prize. Prizes include treats, games, and experiences.
Pup Points are part of Thurgood Marshall’s larger philosophy on discipline, which we call PBIS. PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports. We apply what we know about the science of human behavior and racial equity to improve school climate and discipline. It is our process for teaching social and behavioral skills so our focus can be on teaching and learning. It is a positive, proactive schoolwide discipline plan. We use Pup Points because we know that teacher and staff attention have a powerful influence on the behavior of our students. Adult attention helps create a positive and safe learning environment.
Our PBIS common values at Thurgood Marshall include taking care of ourselves, taking care of each other, and taking care of our school.
We would LOVE to have parent representation on our PBIS team to make sure our mission, values, and expectations reflect those of the community. If you have any interest in joining the team, please email our assistant principal, Cat Davidheiser, at
csdavidheise@seattleschools.org. Our team meets once a month.
How can you support PBIS at home?
Set clear expectations for specific areas at home (eating/cleaning up a snack, morning/bedtime routine, etc.)
Provide specific positive feedback when your child is doing something AWESOME!
“Thank you for throwing your snack wrapper in the trash to keep our kitchen clean.”
“I noticed you put the toothbrush and toothpaste back in the drawer, nice work!”
Community Feedback
for School Year Calendar
Please provide your feedback on school year dates and religious accommodations guidance. The survey is open Jan. 3 - 13.
More information and a link to the survey can be found here:
SPS Admissions Fair
January 28 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Seattle Public Schools will host the Annual Admissions Fair for neighborhood and option schools on Saturday, January 28, at the John Stanford Center.
Representatives from schools and district departments will be available to answer questions about their unique school and program, Open Enrollment and School Choice process. School Choice for the 2023-24 School Year begins February 1, 2023. School Choice Forms will be available through Source in February.
Come meet SPS option school and program staff, talk to district leaders, and register your students!
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