Matthew Paterson Students Earn Books for Positive Behavior

There is an appetite among the students at Matthew Paterson Elementary School and a new vending machine in the cafeteria is ready to satisfy that craving.

However, the new machine does not dispense food – it dispenses books. The cost? A golden coin earned for showing good behavior.

As part of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) initiative at Matthew Paterson, the school recently celebrated a Spirit Week, which centered on its four “Be” actions for student behavior: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe and Be Kind. 

Students receive golden tickets when they demonstrate one of the four positive behaviors and are observed doing so. The tickets are entered into a raffle each month.

Thanks to the addition of the new book vending machine supported by the Matthew Paterson Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization, the monthly prizes for 2022-2023 are golden coins to use in the vending machine.

The new machine made its debut at a special Panda Power assembly at the culmination of Spirit Week. Students gathered in the cafeteria by grade to recall and discuss the four “Be” actions and provide examples of each.

When asked how they could show respect, kindergarten and first-grade student answers included “keeping our hands and feet to ourselves” and “using kind words.”

Second-grade student Matteo Margalitadze had a wonderful example for how to show kindness: “If someone doesn’t have anyone to play with you could ask them ‘Do you want to play with me?’”

“I know everyone has been working really hard this week on being model students and earning gold tickets,” said Principal Michael Kirk. “We are going to continue that throughout the school year. All school year you will have the opportunity to earn golden tickets for showing awesome Panda Power and the four ‘Be’s.”

Before the raffle, School Psychologist and PBIS Coach Karen Wrobel reminded the students that there would be plenty of opportunities to win gold coins throughout the year. 

“We are so proud of each and every one of you who earns a Panda Power ticket,” she said. “Even if you are trying super hard to earn a ticket and you are still working at it, we are proud of you, too.”

The air of suspense was thrilling as the students waited eagerly to find out who would earn the first golden coins of the 2022-2023 school year. The cheers and applause echoed the room as the October student-winners collected their coins and headed to make their selections from the vending machine.

Happy reading, Matthew Paterson Elementary students!