Meet Mokena Elementary's STARS

Principal Chris Clavenna sent in this article talking about a new program at the school designed to teach students about character:

Knowing that behavior can directly impact learning, Mokena Elementary School has initiated a new school wide positive behavior system plan titled the MES STARS Qualities that target six specific character traits: respect, responsibility, honesty, being fair, caring and cooperation.

The power of this plan is that all staff members are involved in this initiative—administrators, teachers, support staff, building aides, lunchroom staff, bus drivers, and custodial staff.

At the beginning of each month, MES students are introduced to and taught one of the six character traits. Examples are given of what the behavior should look like and what it should not look like so students have a clear understanding of what is expected. Every quality has a specific color attached to it and everyone who is a member of the MES family is asked to wear that color the day the new quality is introduced.

When a staff member sees a student or students exhibiting the STARS quality of the month or a previously introduced quality, the student(s) can receive a ticket. Students put their name on the ticket and place it in their classroom STARS behavior bucket. Every Friday the tickets from each classroom are brought to the MES Office and emptied into a corresponding grade level bucket. On Monday morning, two winning tickets are picked from each grade level bucket. The winners from each grade level come down to the MES Office to pick a chip with a winning number that corresponds to special prize.

Over 100 students have been selected winners of our STARS Qualities since the program began in September but the positive effect this new behavior program has had at MES makes everyone a winner!

Check out more photos from Mokena Elementary School events and add your own pics on any topic at Your Neighborhood Gallery!