Pep for PBIS
As students entered the gym for the first annual Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports pep rally, sounds of the Classic City drumline welcomed them. The PBIS Committee and student leaders of Cedar Shoals hosted the pep rally on Jan. 27.
“I knew (through PBIS) there was gonna be a lot of outreach within the school, and making a more positive and a better place. I wanted to be a part of the future of Cedar because it starts when we do stuff like this,” senior PBIS student leader Joshua Daniel said.
Freshman Academy principal Mr. Damian Powell opened by discussing the purpose of PBIS, and emphasized the PRIDE acronym: preparedness, respect, integrity, dedication and engagement. Following his speech, students and faculty members faced off in three-point shooting contests, students participated in a dance off, and grade level pep competitions amped up the audience.
“My favorite part was being able to shoot with my soccer coach,” sophomore Makalah Owens said. She competed against girls soccer head coach Alley Howell.
Behavior Specialist Ms. Cindy Allen, who worked with PBIS at her old school in Hart County, spearheaded the project.
“As a team, we come together and create different fun activities for the kids. That’s why we started the PBIS student leadership team,” Allen said. “It inspires me to keep going.”
To conclude the pep rally, Dr. Tolbert discussed the benefits of PBIS before Coach Jones and several students attempted half-court shots.
“I’d like to have more crowd involvement with more games and hopefully we can have that at the next one,” Daniel said.
POWERFUL PRIDE: The Classic City Drumline plays as students enter the gym. The pep rally hyped up PBIS with dance offs and competitions, but some students like sophomore Makalah Owens wished they had gone further. “I think they should include more knowledge about the school and its history,” Owens said. Photos by Isabella Morgan and Kylie Toney.
