ZCES teaching lessons beyond classroom

By Kathryn Reed

STATELINE — Zephyr Cove Elementary School isn’t just focused on academics. Student behavior is also a large component of the school day.

“We don’t like calling it bullying. We call it anti-disrespect,” Principal Nancy Cauley told the Douglas County School Board last week.

Positive Behavioral Intervention Support started last year and is growing. General disrespect or defiance are the main problems. Cauley said typically it’s disobedience that is the main issue.

While those misbehaving get a lesson in how to behave better, the students who don’t need to be disciplined are rewarded on a monthly basis with things like extra recess.

For teachers, the program is about how they manage their classrooms.

Every day the Nevada K-6 school starts with a pledge that is delivered over the loud speaker: “Learn with a positive attitude, respect myself and others, always be safe.”

Sixth-grader Jan Harrison on Oct. 11 told the board, “In my opinion PBIS is a fabulous thing. It absolutely benefits everyone.”

Cauley in her presentation also talked about the ongoing place-based education which focuses on all things Lake Tahoe. This is an opportunity for youngsters to have hands-on experiences outdoors. The last session was Wonders of Water, which Lake Tahoe Unified students participated in, too.

In the classroom, the school is following the state’s Ready by Grade 3 initiative to have all students reading proficiently by third grade.

Letters just went out to parents of nine of the 33 kindergartners who are falling behind. A literacy team is in place to give specialized attention to these students. However, parent consent is required for the intervention.