Schools debut 'the Lynx Way'

A new character-building program in the Brandon Valley School District is helping students and staff, parents and the community define exactly what it means to be a Lynx. 

‘The Lynx Way’ focuses on five traits: respectful, kind, responsible, safe and being active learners. 

Administrators brainstormed to pinpoint the program’s five pillars.

“It’s essentially a series of expectations for our students and a code of conduct,” said superintendent Dr. Jarod Larson. “I’m pleased with how it’s going so far.”

The district’s four elementary schools are using the Lynx Way in the commons area during lunch, in the halls and on the playground.

At the elementary schools they’re also issuing Lynx tickets to students to reward appropriate behavior and using Positive Behavior Intervention System (PBIS).

“Rather than correcting negative behavior, we are promoting positive behavior,” Larson said.

“It’s all about connecting all our kids to one another and clearly communicating character traits we want to see.”

Likewise, teachers and staff throughout the district are incorporating the words into their language at school, Larson said.

The Lynx Way encompasses several guidelines students are taught to follow at school and at home, such as being tolerant, patient and polite. Students are also expected to be prompt, clean, helpful and keep their hands and feet to themselves.

T-shirts, which came from community grants, were given to every student and staff member in the district.

Larson said the district will continue to identify ways in which classroom teachers, faculty, administrators and staff can implement the Lynx Way throughout the 2017-18 school year.

“It takes everyone,” Larson said. “Student character educaion is everyone’s business. We’re enlisting everyone to engage with students.”