At Carter & MacRae Elementary, students are reminded each month that their hard work and dedication matter. Through the school’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) assembly, teachers and staff come together to recognize students who have demonstrated excellence in academics, attendance, and behavior. These celebrations reinforce responsibility, and a commitment to learning, all while fostering a positive and supportive school environment.
The School District of Lancaster implements an initiative known as Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, or PBIS for short. At our schools we say, “Be Respectful. Be Responsible. Be Safe.” Look for posters around schools that define examples of being respectful, responsible and safe in each area of the school.
At its heart, PBIS calls on schools to teach kids about behavior, just as they would teach about any other subject, like reading or math. PBIS recognizes that kids can only meet behavior expectations if they know what the expectations are. A hallmark of a school using PBIS is that everyone knows what’s appropriate behavior. Throughout the school day, in class, at lunch and on the bus, students understand what’s expected of them.
This month, the PBIS assembly was even more special. In an effort to strengthen community connections, Carter & MacRae invited the McCaskey Tornado “Mass Destruction” Step Team to perform. The high school students took the stage with energy and precision, delivering a dynamic routine that captivated the younger students.
Amanda Fontaine, social worker at Carter & MacRae, highlighted the importance of the step team’s presence. “A lot of our students have expressed interest in stepping, and some are already part of the Crispus Attucks Step Team. Seeing older students perform at this level gives them something to look forward to as they continue their education,” she said.
Stepping is more than just a dance form, it holds deep historical and cultural significance. As the event began, Tamara Newton-Weaver, advisor, introduced the performance by sharing the origins of stepping, explaining that the tradition traces back to enslaved Africans who used rhythmic body movements as a form of communication when drumming was prohibited. Over time, these movements influenced tap dancing and breakdancing before being incorporated into Black fraternities and sororities in the early 20th century. Today, stepping remains an essential tradition within the Divine Nine, a collection of historically Black Greek-letter organizations.
For many Carter & MacRae students, this assembly was an introduction to a cultural art form that connects history, identity, and self-expression. Watching McCaskey students perform with such confidence and discipline gave them a glimpse of what they could achieve in the future.
“This is something that I could achieve. This is something that’s attainable for me,” Fontaine reflected, emphasizing how meaningful it is for younger students to see older peers from their own district excelling in something they are passionate about. “They get to look up to them and see that there is a path forward in something they enjoy.”
The four McCaskey step team members, Amani, Imani, Jaelynn, and Jada, brought the assembly to life, demonstrating a high level of commitment and teamwork. Their movements were sharp, their rhythm was flawless, and their energy was contagious. As they stepped in perfect unison, the elementary students cheered, fully engaged in the moment.
By bringing McCaskey’s step team to the PBIS assembly, Carter & MacRae is continuing to build connections between students at different stages of their education. Younger students see what is possible as they move through the school district, while older students serve as role models, showing them firsthand the opportunities that await them in high school and beyond.
The success of this assembly highlights the importance of community involvement in education. When students see people from their own neighborhoods and schools succeeding, it reinforces the idea that they, too, can reach their goals. By celebrating both individual achievements and shared experiences, Carter & MacRae is helping to create an environment where students feel encouraged, motivated, and excited about the future.