By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Administrators and teachers at Eisenhower Elementary School in Great Bend want students to love coming to school. Prinicpal Abby Jonas shared some of the ways her staff is doing that during Wednesday's USD 428 Board of Education Luncheon at the school.
"We had really two main goals this year," she said. "We wanted to celebrate kids as much as we could. I wanted all the teachers to buy in and they really have. In the month of October, we pushed positive phone calls home."
Teachers and office staff made more than 200 calls to parents in October. "We had parents crying," Jonas said. "We had parents telling how much they loved the good coming from the school, which is what we want to hear from them."
Staff was already handing out positive office referrals. This year, they have added kudos cards and always a deck handy to give to students doing positive things. Students get a sticker when they go to the office after receiving a kudos card.
"I think the biggest surprise with that is the kiddos are now giving them to teachers," said Jonas. "They're recognizing when a teacher does good, and I feel like that's a huge win for us. Our kids are now feeding off what we're doing to them to do back to our teachers."
Staff also hands out I Did It cards to celebrate academic learning. Jonas said Wednesday is staff's favorite day of the week as progress-monitored students who make any gains throughout the week get to visit the office where they are celebrated. In an attempt to incorporate all K-6 students, I Did It cards will soon be handed out for reading at home.