panther pride

1. Panther Pride
Be Respectful!
Be Responsible!
Be Caring!
Our goal at PS/IS 226 is to create a safe and supportive school environment for all
members of our school community. We understand the importance of a positive school
culture and that our actions have a direct impact on the success of our students. At PS/IS
226, we have implemented a unique school-wide positive behavior system, Panther Pride.
It is a proactive approach designed to encourage positive behavior and decrease problem
behavior. Our school mascot, The Panther, represents Panther Pride and promotes school
spirit. Every student from K-8 is expected to be responsible, respectful and caring.
Various Panther Pride celebrations and activities take place throughout the school year.
In September, our annual Panther Pride kick-off assembly program welcomes The
Panther back to school. At the assembly, third graders performed a skit about Panther
Pride. The program ends with the entire assembly singing out original Panther Pride
song.
Individual students and entire classes are rewarded for showing Panther Pride on a
daily basis. Individual students are rewarded with green certificates, which state, “I was
caught doing something good!” Students redeem green certificates for various prizes
from the Panther Pride cart. Prizes include toys, jewelry, school supplies and various
novelty items. When an entire class shows Panther Pride, the class earns a blue
certificate, which states, “We were caught doing the right thing!” Blue certificates are
displayed on a chart in the hallway outside the classroom. Every 2-3 months, Ms.
Niarhos, the assistant principal counts the number of blue certificates. The classes with

2. the highest number of certificates receive a special prize. The principal, Mrs.
Tannenbaum, rewards individual students as well as entire classes for showing Panther
Pride with pink certificates, which are worth five times t he value of the green and blue
ones.
Every Friday is Panther Pride Day. All students as well as staff wear Panther
Pride t-shirts to support being a caring, respectful and responsible Panther. Classes
wearing 100% Panther Pride shirts receive a certificate from the principal. Each month
we celebrate a Panther of the Month. A student from each class, who has demonstrated
the most qualities associated with being a good Panther is selected by the classroom
teacher. The student and his or her family are invited to attend the monthly PTA meeting
for the Panther Pride ceremony. The principal presents each student with a certificate.
Then, we take photographs and display the Panthers of the Month in the main lobby.
School Spirit Week also ties into our Panther Pride initiative. It helps to provide
teachers and students with the opportunity to discuss how we can be more accepting of
each other. In February, School Spirit Week runs consecutively with Respect for All
Week. Each day during this week, the students and staff are encouraged to participate by
wearing something special for that day. Every day is different but each day encourages
the children to Respect each other and to display the Panther Pride qualities.
Our year culminates with a huge celebration called Panther Pride Fest. It is in the
schoolyard and is our way of celebrating the children being responsible, respectful and
caring. The school and the community come together for a fun filled day, which includes
games and rides. The students look forward to this culminating event all year long.

3. Panther pride is encouraged, rewarded and celebrated throughout the school year
and has become part of the school culture at PS/IS 226.