Matthews Elementary honored for character-ed program success

MATTHEWS, Mo. - As the three first graders sat together at lunch, some unkind words were exchanged between two of them.

The third student, one who had struggled with his own discipline issues as a kindergartener, intervened. Putting up his hand, he told his friends, “Oh wait, stop. That’s a put down, but it’s OK. Don’t be upset. You can right your wrongs. And I can help you do that.”

The three talked about what was said. The two boys apologized.

Asking his friends if they felt better, the third youngster praised their efforts.

It was one of those moments that let Angie Hanlin know how successful the PeaceBuilders program is for the students at Matthews Elementary in Matthews.

“When I saw that, that made me feel so good that the students truly understand,” Hanlin, the building’s principal, said with a smile. “They just don’t know the program but they are living the program and implementing the program.”

For several years now Matthews Elementary students have taken part in PeaceBuilders, a nationwide anti-violence, anti-bullying program. Most recently the school was recognized by the state of Missouri as one of the sites that is best implementing the PeaceBuilders program and featured it in a video.

According to Hanlin, the program is so successful discipline referrals at the school are almost nonexistent.

“It is a character-ed program that teaches students traits that would make them a peacemaker or peace builder instead of a peace breaker,” she explained

PeaceBuilders is based on six principles: to praise people, to give up put-downs, to seek wise people, to notice hurts, to right wrongs and to help others. The program strives to change a school’s climate and, in turn, reduce incidents of violence and aggression.

Hanlin was among the first to become involved with the program in the New Madrid County R-1 School District. Several years ago, she was one of two Matthews Elementary fifth grade teachers trained to implement PeaceBuilders with funding provided by the Kennett Family Counseling Center.

Hanlin recalled it worked so well with the fifth grade, the PeaceBuilder program was implemented throughout the entire building. Eventually the grant funded the program for all three of the district’s elementary buildings.

For the past three years Hanlin has served as principal at Matthews. She credits the PeaceBuilders program with reducing the number of discipline issues she deals with.

“These students are much kinder. They are very polite, caring. They have learned that people make mistakes and to fix that they have to right that wrong,” she said.

More importantly, she continued, it is the students who are putting the program into action.

“We have seen them actually start to stop and think about their actions and think about the words they are saying. They have really learned their actions and their words have consequences,” she said.

The PeaceBuilders program is interwoven into the school’s day. Mornings begin with the Pledge of Allegiance along with the PeaceBuilders’ Pledge. Teachers put the principles to work as they discuss class lessons.

Each month of the school year has a PeaceBuilder principle. During February, students were reminded to seek wise people with special quotes and special guests including law enforcement officers and R-1 superintendent Dr. Sam Duncan.

“I want the program not to be something on paper or something that we talk about but something that actually will come alive for the students,” Hanlin explained.

When a student is referred to Hanlin because of discipline issue, she puts the program to work asking the student to fill out a sheet about what they did and how that wrong can be made right. The student also writes how they should handle the situation in the future.

Hanlin said this leads to good conversations about their behavior and helps students think more about the impact of what they say and do.

A big part of the program is to focus on the positive. Hanlin said when a student is spotted doing something positive teachers and staff will write praise notes.

Students have picked up on the positive, offering praise for jobs well done and actions appreciated.

“I think it builds a positive environment because you are constantly focusing on the good. You are constantly praising students for displaying the right characteristics or the right traits,” Hanlin said. “So it is just kind of changing your outlook to a more positive focus by always looking for the good, always looking for what students are doing well.”

Students say they can feel the positive energy at their school.

“We had the MAP test not too long ago. Everybody was telling everybody, ‘You can do this. Go get it. It is easy peasy.’ That just lifted me up and I went through it just like that,” said Caleb Moore with a snap of his fingers.

Dawson Loomes said the praising doesn’t stop at the classroom door either. He said he tries to praise people when they play sports in the gym or on the playground.

Cohen Palmer agreed. “Normally you are competitive and want to rush and say mean things to people. But (PeaceBuilders) just like reminds me when you are playing against a competitor in school, it is just having fun.”

Friends Calleigh Cooksey and Allie Kenedy said the program allows them to focus on their school work.

“We aren’t focused on all the drama and stuff,” said Calleigh.

“I think that it just helps take our mind off of everything else because it helps us solve our problems,” said Allie. “ it just helps our school be better then it normally would be without it.”

The students agreed they all righted wrongs using the PeaceBuilders.

Cohen said writing to say he was sorry about something he did during tutoring made him feel better.

“I had done something bad and I didn’t feel good inside. After I wrote it I felt like I had something off my chest for once,” he explained.

The school’s teachers are enthusiastic about PeaceBuilders and its impact.

Christie Kenedy, a fifth grade teacher, credits the program with creating a positive climate at school, which makes the day run more smoothly.

“They know when they come here it is to learn and we are going to have very few disruptions throughout the day that has to do with issues or problems. They are ready for that. They are excited about that when they come here,” she said.

“The kids are very positive. They are looking for ways to help others. They are looking for ways to have acts of kindness,” Kenedy continued. “When they do hurt someone, they right their wrong. It is just throughout the entire school. Everyone is on the same page, everyone is doing the same thing.”

Instead of tattling on classmates, Kenedy said her students are coming up to her throughout the day pointing out the good things their classmates are doing.

Fourth grade teacher Sarah Lawson said the program helps the students take responsibility for their actions.

“They are able to solve a problem instead of waiting for an adult to step in,” Lawson said. “It gives them a sense of ownership of their own discipline and behavior.”

Teachers say the program has changed them, too.

Lawson said she has paused during a lesson and admitted to her students that her words didn’t come out the best way.

“I will say out loud, ‘Hey guys I need to right this wrong and I need to fix what just happened.’ It teaches them how to correct their own behavior because I’m modeling it for them,” she said. “I love righting wrongs because it lets them know it is OK if you make a mistake but then you have to right it. You just can’t say you are sorry and continue about your day, you have to fix it and be aware of it next time.”

According to Hanlin, the students continue to carry the lessons learned through PeaceBuilders as they move on from elementary school. Some students have even stopped her to tell her about using the techniques with solving problems at middle school and high school.

Part of the role of the PeaceBuilders program is designed to reduce alcohol and drug use among the program’s participants by making them better problem solvers. This school year the teachers expanded the program to include lessons on conflict resolution and bullying.

Hanlin recommends PeaceBuilders to other administrators struggling with behavior issues among their students.

“It is not something where we do a Peacebuilder lessons for five minutes here or five minutes there. My hope for the program is that we bring this program to life so that is this living, breathing thing that we do each day,” she said. “I just can’t imagine leading this school without it.”