Wyoming — The Parkview Elementary schoolyard was taken over by wolf howls, chanting, dancing and some big announcements on a sunny late May morning.
“The winning den for the last quarter is Lobos!” exclaimed an enthusiastic Principal Brenna Fraser to the crowd of nearly 400 students in kindergarten through fourth grade, who have been part of a school den system since the beginning of the school year.
After cheers and applause came the announcement of students named “Leaders of the Pack,” or those who have shown leadership in their dens. A beach ball relay, tug-of-war and the announcement of Popsicles for all rounded out the fun.
Students and staff were celebrating another school quarter of friendship, learning and togetherness. Parkview implemented the den system — similar to that at West Elementary — as a way to build belonging and a sense of common values and expectations, Fraser said.
‘We have seen huge decreases in the needs for behavior support, which is of course a big win.’
— Parkview Elementary Principal Brenna Fraser
Structured as ‘four dens, one pack,” the system is Parkview’s version of a Ron Clark Academy House System. Students are divided into dens named Lobos, Mahigan, Tikkani and Obahoshe — all indigenous words for “wolves,” the district mascot.
Students spend time with their multi-grade level dens on Fridays, doing activities with fun themes and, often, a community focus.
“You get to do fun stuff,” said fourth-grader Isaac Amaya on a recent Friday as students worked in their dens on their school garden with volunteers from the nonprofit HOPE Gardens.
Isaac said he likes getting to know younger peers because of the system.
“You get to know second-graders and play with them at recess. It makes them feel more welcome.”
Making It Their Own
Fraser said Parkview staff decided to model their Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports System after West’s dens after seeing how the system worked there.
“We needed a PBIS system in general, and what our school improvement team did was look at other systems and thought about what would make sense,” she said. “We did take the initial structure of West’s den system, mimicked quite a bit of it, but then also made it our own in some different ways,” she said.
As part of the K-4 dens, students get to know each other and compete with other dens for points. When tallied up, top point-getters receive a pizza party, trophy and bragging rights. Students also vote for den leaders.
Fraser said the points, entered on an RCA House System app by teachers who notice good behavior, are making a big difference schoolwide.
First grader Aubrianna Alberta explained why her den, Tikkani, gets points: “Because we are good and we are Wolves!”
Improved Behavior, More Belonging
Parkview tracks data on behavioral incidents each month and has experienced a downward trend. Over the past three years, the number of incidents that have needed behavioral support have decreased every month, with this year having the fewest incidents of all.
“We have seen huge decreases in the needs for behavior support, which is of course a big win,” Fraser said.
Music teacher Angela Clum said she sees the difference.
“The den system has benefited Parkview by creating a sense of community, a sense of belonging, motivating kids of all different ages and grade levels to work as a team to earn their den points,” Clum said. “It builds relationships across grade levels and a sense of family across their den.”
Third-grade teacher Beth Weld-Wallis said the system helps everyone, students and adults alike, focus on the positive.
“It creates a real sense of community and fun,” Weld-Wallis said. “It brings us together as a whole school more regularly, which is something we were really lacking post-Covid.”
Another focus is on the Parkview community, Fraser said. Students have made cards for veterans and delivered them to a nearby assisted living facility. The system also allows for lots of parent volunteering.
Fourth-grader Jacob Lopez said he likes how the week ends with a chance to “play with others, play games and learn new things.”
“I learned about plants and about being nice,” he said, while classmates shoveled dirt and prepared the garden during the den activity with Hope Gardens. “It’s fun being able to play with others.”
At the end-of-year event, fourth-grader Karmello Jones was named a Leader of the Pack.
He said dens are “exciting and fun” and he loves “den days.”
And how did he earn the leader title?
“I listen, learn and pay attention and stay focused,” he said.
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