H.E.A.R.T. at Valentine (PBIS)

At our school, we believe every child is growing not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well. Elementary school is an important time for children to learn how to manage their feelings, work through conflicts, and build positive relationships with others. Along the way, it is natural for students to make mistakes—negative behaviors at this age are typical as children develop the skills they will carry into the future.

To support this growth, we use the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework. PBIS allows us to set clear expectations for behavior, recognize students when they make positive choices, and provide consistent support when they struggle. Rather than focusing only on correcting misbehavior, PBIS emphasizes recognizing and celebrating when students demonstrate positive actions.

Our H.E.A.R.T. Expectations

We have adopted school-wide values in the form of H.E.A.R.T. that are the guiding principles of our school-wide behavior expectations:

H – Helpful
E – Empathetic
A – Accepting
R – Respectful
T – Trustworthy

All students are explicitly taught these expectations. The H.E.A.R.T. Matrix, which you can view below, is posted in every classroom and throughout the school. Teachers and staff guide students in what it looks and sounds like to show H.E.A.R.T. in different school settings—classrooms, hallways, playgrounds, the cafeteria, and beyond. Students don’t just hear about these values; they see them modeled and practiced daily.

Recognizing Positive Behavior

To reinforce these expectations, we use H.E.A.R.T. Slips. When a student is caught demonstrating H.E.A.R.T., they receive a slip that goes into their classroom’s H.E.A.R.T. Box. Every other Friday, one winner from each classroom is chosen to select a prize in the main office. Afterward, all slips are collected into a school-wide container. Once the container is filled, our entire school earns a special H.E.A.R.T. Recess, complete with music, sidewalk chalk, and extra fun. This system helps students see that their positive choices not only benefit themselves but also contribute to the joy and success of the entire school community.