Dec. 6 was a big day for students and staff members of Blue Ball Elementary School (BBES), 126 Ewell Road, East Earl. Principal Heather Schrantz shared that the entire student body, which includes 400 children in kindergarten through grade six, attended assemblies where Box of Light presenter Rand Whipple gave a chemistry presentation.

Just prior to the afternoon assembly, which was for students in grades four through six, Schrantz, accompanied by assistant principal Andrew Kreider, made an announcement concerning the school earning Tier One status for the Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) program from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The school had been informed of the achievement in late October.

During the presentation, Schrantz noted that the school's oldest students have been part of the PBIS process at BBES since it began three years ago. "You have gotten to experience this journey with us," she said. "For many of you, since the beginning of your days at Blue Ball, we have been talking about High Fives and how to be safe and respectful and responsible not only to make our own days successful but to make the days of those around us successful." PBIS focuses on safety, respect, and responsibility in all areas of the school. High Fives are rewards that students earn for displaying behavior that exemplifies those three characteristics. "Success at BBES is getting along with folks and making sure everyone can do their best," said Schrantz, who pointed out that the goal of the program is to duplicate those positive behaviors outside school. "It's about learning and not only here at school, but learning how to do those processes so that when we go out into the community or play sports or eventually make our way into middle school, we have those skills to continue to be productive."

According to Schrantz, the success of PBIS at BBES can be traced to several teachers who formed a leadership team and worked with state employees who guided the process. "The team designed matrices for each of our learning environments," said Schrantz, who said the matrices answer questions about what safety, respect, and responsibility look like in the dining room or in the gym or on the playground. To reward students for positive behavior, High Five tickets were developed. In addition, 10 special Golden High Five tickets may be given out each day by staff members who distribute them on a rotating basis. Each student who earns a Golden ticket may take it to the office, where a secretary will call his or her parents with the good news. High Five tickets may be accumulated to earn prizes. One of the most popular prizes, according to Schrantz, is a coupon for a sundae kit that a student may share with a friend during lunch. The kit includes ice cream, cherries, sprinkles, and more. "Getting to share is the biggest treat," said Schrantz.

In recognition of Tier One achievement, the school received a banner from the state. Tier Two status will help the school meet the needs of another 15% of the school's student population. "With the help of all the teachers and kids doing their best and continuing to think about safe, respectful, and responsible behavior, the work of the first step has been achieved," Schrantz told the students as she and Kreider held up the unrolled banner. "Thank you to all of you for continued efforts to make Blue Ball the best place it can be."