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Earning Davidson Dollars Help Students Learn Good Behavior

DES Librarian Andrea Clement helps a young student with her Davidson Dollar Store purchases. Earning the dollars teaches the youngsters good behavior and it gives them the basics for handling real money.

By Jack Gurner
Reporter


WATER VALLEY – Davidson Elementary Students danced in the hallways recently to celebrate good behavior at the school.
It was all in good fun as part of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program that focuses on the 80 percent of students who behave appropriately and rewards them for their good behavior.
Superintendent Kim Chrestman told school board trustees at their meeting Oct. 22 that DES students paid eight Davidson Dollars each for the privilege of prancing around at the end of the school day Friday, Oct. 19.
Chrestman said that the youngsters are excited about the PBIS program and are working hard to get the Davidson Dollars, which allow them to buy items in the Davidson Store and purchase privileges, such as the hallway hoedown.
“We appreciate the individuals and companies who have donated money and toys,” Chrestman said.
Also in his Superintendent’s report, Chrestman noted that a fire truck visited DES for Fire Prevention Month. Chrestman said that the kindergarten and first grade students got the opportunity to experience the fire truck first hand, while the fifth and sixth grade students heard a talk by Captain Sherman Gooch of the Water Valley Fire Department.
DES 6th grade students and teacher held a literature celebration on Oct. 19 at the conclusion of their study of the book, “Number the Stars.“ The book is a work of historical fiction about the rescue of a Jewish family during the occupation of Denmark during World War II written by award-winning author Lois Lowry.
Parents and other members of the community had the opportunity to view the displays, which focused on the Holocaust, crafted by the 6th grade students. “Very impressive,” Chrestman said.
He added that on Oct. 26, the high school welcomed former student, Sydney Nelson, who attends the Mississippi School for the Arts. She was on campus to visit with students and talk with those who might be interested in attending.
The Mississippi School of the Arts is a residential school, located on the Whitworth College Campus in Brookhaven, that provides advanced programs of study in music, theatre, visual arts, dance, literary arts, and media arts for artistically gifted eleventh and twelfth grade students from districts across the state.
Finally, Chrestman said that the FFA would soon begin their annual ham and turkey sales for Thanksgiving and fruit sales for Christmas deliveries.
Among other actions at the Oct. 22 meeting, trustees:
• Approved a resolution giving Superintendent Kim Chrestman authority to sign the Community Facilities Loan/Grant application that was the topic of a public hearing Oct. 8.
Chrestman explained that board approval was not required at the time of the hearing. But, because of some recent changes in regulations, authorization now has to be board approved.
The rural development grant is to help finance a $800,000 energy efficiency renovation project at Water Valley High School including windows and central heating and air conditioning for classrooms.
• Approved the District’s test security plan.
• Heard a financial report from District Business Manager Randy Goodwin.
Goodwin said that the fund balance in the district’s maintenance fund as of Sept. 30 was $1,683,721.85.
• Entered executive session at 6:58 p.m. to discuss a student discipline issue.

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