Murrieta Valley High School

At Murrieta Valley High School, we believe that positive relationships and attitudes are essential to maximize student learning. MVHS is committed to a physically and emotionally safe environment that provides a productive learning atmosphere.

MVHS implements a school-wide approach to student management known as Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). The main focus of PBIS is to provide a clear system for expected behaviors in all school settings. While many faculty and students may have assumptions of what is expected behavior, we cannot assume that everyone’s beliefs are similar. Through PBIS, we work to create and maintain a school culture in which all school community members have clear expectations and understandings of their role in the educational process.

The purpose of implementing PBIS is to:                                         

• Create a positive school culture
• Create consistency among adults
• Strengthen family and community partnerships
• Reduce office discipline referrals
• Identify students in need of more support

PBIS System in Action at MVHS

Behavioral expectations are defined. A small number of clearly defined behavioral expectations guides Murrieta Valley High School’s code of conduct. MVHS Nighthawks are expected to "Do it the R.I.T.E. Way, the Nighthawk Way, with Respect, Integrity, Teamwork, and Excellence.

Behavioral expectations are taught. The expectations of “The R.I.T.E. Way” are taught to all students in the building. Teaching appropriate behavior involves much more than simply telling student what behaviors they should avoid. Behavioral expectations are taught using the same teaching formats applied to other content areas. Students actively participate in a lesson that demonstrates both positive (“right way”) and negative (“wrong way”) examples.

Appropriate behaviors are acknowledged. Research shows that once appropriate behaviors have been defined and taught, they need to be acknowledged on a regular basis. MVHS is committed to recognizing our students for their positive behavior.

Behavioral errors are corrected proactively. When students fail to exhibit the behavioral expectations, clear procedures are used by staff to provide information to them that their behavior was unacceptable. Staff remind students of the behavioral expectation and re-teach the behavior. If the student fails to respond to the behavioral correction, an office discipline referral is completed and forwarded to the Dean of Students.

The Dean of Students conferences with students upon receipt of an office discipline referral. During this conference, the Dean considers the context of the misbehavior and possible motivation of the student for the misbehavior. The Dean then assigns an appropriate consequence or intervention based on all the facts and context of the misbehavior. The goal is to repair any harm the student caused as well as prevent the behavior from happening again. Parents are notified of all office discipline referrals and the assigned consequences and interventions.  A list of consequences and interventions can be found in the MV Student Guide book..