Poplar Bluff Junior High and O'Neal Elementary have received National Showcase Schools awards for their implementation of the Capturing Kids' Hearts program.
The schools were two of 50, selected from more than 5,000 schools in the U.S., to receive the award. According to facilitator the Flippen Group, Capturing Kids' Hearts empowers schools to create an optimal learning environment by stressing safety, mutual respect and positive character traits.
"The Flippen Group, a national professional development provider founded by Flip Flippen, believes what the research demonstrates - that students are most likely to succeed when they are emotionally safe and able to reconnect with their natural curiosity," the group stated in a press release.
"Openness replaces defensiveness. Judging and feelings of being judged are replaced with acceptance and real connectedness to school," the group stated.
Junior high principal Bob Case said the school was honored to receive the award.
"It is also kind of humbling, because there are a lot of schools in the United States that implement Capturing Kids' Hearts. We were one of 57 schools that made national finalist and about 50 or so that made the grade," Case said.
"It puts us in an elite group in culture. I am really impressed with our staff and how they implement the tools of Capturing Kids' Hearts," he said.
Principal Dr. Amy Dill said O'Neal was also honored to receive the award and she was proud of all the teachers, students and parents who made it possible.
"We were so excited. We have been working so hard on our culture and making an impact on our students' lives. We were really surprised, we didn't expect it at all," she said.
Capturing Kids' Hearts, at its simplest, aims to better student and teacher relationships by greeting students in the morning, giving positive affirmations throughout the day and stressing respect among peers.
"Some students may be on the radar and others aren't - this allows us tools to build relationships with every kid. We get to know them at a different level. It's like being a football coach and having your players want to go through the wall for you," Case said.
"Now you have the same opportunity in the classroom. These kids don't want to disappoint you, because they have a great relationship with you as an instructor," he said.
Another part of the program is a "social contract" between teachers and students that outlines what behaviors are expected in the classroom. Each class has their own contract and the ideas contained within - respect, politeness, listening, etc. - are crafted by the students.
"This is the one tool which everything basically revolves around. It is an agreement of behavior. The goal of the social contract is to develop a self-managing team. What parent, teacher, wouldn't want their children to be self managing, so you don't have to watch over them all the time," Case said.
Principal Dill said many of the same tools are used at O'Neal. The elementary school also uses daily greetings, affirmations and a social contract.
"The kids actually have procedures in the classroom where they write each other affirmations and say what they like about each other. It just creates a more positive learning culture. I think it creates a culture where kids feel free to take risks in learning," Dill said.
"It's just that high expectation of how we treat each other," she said.
Case said while the program is not a complete answer to student issues, it creates a framework that promotes positivity in the hallways.
"Capturing Kids' Hearts is not going to replace all the discipline we have at school, but it is a great way to handle it. It's a safe way to handle it. It gives us tools to use, to help kids get through those situations," he said.
Dill also said the program is having a positive effect in the classroom.
"I do think it makes a difference. They spend more time here at school than they do at home in the evenings. You have to feel good, you've got to feel safe here. You can't learn if you don't feel safe and I think that what this leads to, a feeling of unity and safety and family," she said.
Both schools underwent an extensive evaluation to be nominated as a National Showcase School. Flippen group representatives collected student surveys and data to ensure the program was creating an improvement on campus.