Helper stays on track to being an excellent school with a new principal

By CARBON SCHOOL DISTRICT

The halls at Helper Middle School are filled with many of the same students and faculty as last year, but a new addition has changed some things a little. Rob Bradley, who was named the new principal of the campus this past summer, now greets the students when they get to school each morning.
Bradley, who taught at the school for a number of years before moving on to Carbon High was named the principal after Mika Salas was appointed to a position at the district office this past summer. However, a new principal in the front office doesn’t mean a change in what is expected from students this year.
“A lot of what we do here remains the same as in past years,” said Bradley. “Our behavior plan continues to help students and reduce distractions in the classroom. That plan has been in development by the staff for the last three years and does a great job of communicating expectation to students.”
While a behavior plan often means dealing with negative things that happen in the school, Bradley pointed out that it is not all about what kids do wrong, but there is also a very positive side to the plan that works too.
“Each faculty member gives three congratulations tickets to students each day,” he said. “This is to recognize the good things that they are doing in the school: whether that is exhibiting positive behavior or doing something nice for someone.  Positive behavior is reinforced, by allowing students to be entered into a  drawing where their names are drawn out for a daily or weekly prize.  The students look forward to those positive recognition steps we are taking and respond well to them.”
In addition to the fall sports programs such as football, volleyball and cross country, Helper Middle School has plenty of regular positive activities.
“At the beginning of the year we organize each student into house groups (black, red and white houses).   They all receive a tee shirt that designates the house they are in.”  
One recent activity was the 8th annual Color Dance. “The kids take bags of colored chalk onto the football field and it goes everywhere.” During the dance they had competitions between those houses as well.   At the dance, Mr. Ovard gives them challenges while they are dancing and then awards points to the houses for things such as, “most in unison”, “best dance moves,” and “best air guitar” to name a few.
“We all walked away just caked in colored chalk,” stated Bradley with a smile on his face.
Throughout the school year, the houses compete with each other and at the end of the year a house cup is awarded to the house that wins the most points for the year.
As with all the schools in the district, Bradley says the school has some amazing reading groups going on and welcomes volunteers from the community to come in and listen to the students read.
“Mrs. Fidell is leading that effort and is looking for more volunteers to come in and help,” he said. It happens at 10:45 a.m. every Tuesday for a half an hour. “We provide the students with leveled readers at every step, so there is always something new to read.”
Bradley said that the beauty of Helper Middle School is in its size. With a student population that wavers between 150 and 200 students each year, the camaraderie and the attention that can be given to students is amazing.
“Customized learning occurs during our intervention time so that all students can get the help they need. They can self sign up for courses that include extension activities or subject specific help time. In addition, is allows the opportunity for teachers to pull students in for retakes and make up work. We also have a student achievement workshop each day for students that have failing grades.”
“Students are able to grow and flourish because of that attention,” said Bradley. “That is what makes this such an amazing place. The faculty, the staff and the students make an incredible learning environment.”
Overall, Bradley says he is as happy as he can be, now being the principal at Helper Middle School.
“I just can’t imagine being in a better place,” he concluded.