OSWEGO, NY – Haz mat teams found hazardous waste at the Fitzhugh Park Elementary School and the students along with staff members rallied around the effort to get rid of the materials.

This wasn’t an actual hazardous situation.

Moving the hazardous materials was a project of self control for the team at Fitzhugh Park Elementary School. This was part of the recent PBIS assembly as the students and visiting parents received plenty of laughs from this skit.

But with physical education teachers donning haz mat suits after finding the “blood and sweat of previous Fitzhugh students” the call went out for help.

There was no one other than “Bond” to assist as physical education teacher Pat Bond, with black suit and sunglasses magically appeared. He called for further assistance from “Q” (art teacher Bethany Burns) and her expert team of sunglasses wearing FPS students.

The entire student body watched as the haz mat team placed the bottle of liquid on a small round platform and the surrounding students using ropes attached to the platform slowly lifted it to move it to the other side of the gym for its disposal.

This was part of the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports initiative at the east side Oswego elementary school.

Principal Donna Simmons said, “We were working on the trait of self control and students watched quietly as we moved the ‘hazardous material’ and not only did the students watching, but the students participating displayed self control and cooperation.”

Fitzhugh Park Elementary School, according to the principal, “Is working on improving and strengthening our school culture and climate. We have searched for ways to strengthen our PBIS program.“

PBIS is based on four major components which include respect, responsibility, problem solving and to be safe.

Simmons explained, “Schools are successful when they help children grow not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. To facilitate this growth, it is imperative that we have a safe environment that is supportive and conducive to growth.”

By setting for clear social and behavioral expectations and directly teaching students about expectations it the goal of the Fitzhugh Park staff to teach students about those expectations.

Simmons noted, “We want to recognize students for making the right choices and in engaging in behaviors that improve upon our school climate.”

The Fulton District Wide Storytelling Festival was held and storytellers from throughout the district showcased their talents in telling a wide variety of stories. Participants told a folktale, fairytale, myth, legend, tall tale or fable. The stories ranged from spooky legends to hilarious tales and many had a useful moral attached that provided a bit [...]

Parents: Get your social life back on track! Go out “guilt-free” and have fun knowing that your children are not just waiting for you by the TV — but are having fun too!

Happy New Year to all of our readers in the tri-county region!
While our Richland facility is closed until April, the society is still active with Friday afternoon hours at the Barclay Court House in Pulaski (2nd floor over DMV, 2pm until 5) or by appointment. We got off to a rocky start following our [...]