SWPB: Ice Skating!

Just a few moments after the morning announcements today, seventy-five happy students boarded the bus for the annual School-Wide Positive Behavior incentive field trip. Their reward for making good choices for this last 9-week grading period? A few hours of fun, laughter, and winter-sports fun at Hess Ice Rink in Neshannock Township.

For junior Jy’ah Alexander-Clark (HA), it was her first time at the rink and her first time ice skating! “I did have a a lot of fun,” she laughed, “and I will return…just for the heck of it!”

Hailey Loveless, junior health assistant student, became less than health conscious as she chuckled, “I’ll never forget watching Ryan fall — really hard — but just once.” Ryan Locke (COT junior) has arms and legs that seem to go on forever, so this act of “grace-less-ness” must have been quite the sight! Update: Ryan is perfectly fine — perhaps only bruising his dignity a bit.

Hess Ice Rink has been undergoing several renovations after winning the Renovate the Rink contest, sponsored by the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Commercial Construction. When the renovations are complete the plan is to have eight new locker rooms including bathrooms and showers, and expanded main lobby, and better seating for fans. K’asia Walker, RT junior, recognized the changes having visited the rink before: “The changes they are making make being there flow better — especially the quality of the ice; it was really nice!”

“I can’t really claim to be a great skater,” laughs T’Kyia Harper, “but I do plan to return! I had a lot of fun!”

“It was a nice place to spend time with friends and make memories,” added fellow RT junior Cassidy Twentier. “I’ll definitely go back to skate; it was so much fun!”

Overall, the School Wide Positive Behavior activities are a wonderful incentive to reward students for making good choices. All who attended have been referral-free for the last 9 week grading period. Junior Szofia Miller (Cos) states, “I can speak for everyone able to attend this skating event when I say that we all appreciate the opportunity to take a break for a few hours to have a little fun — all because we chose to act in positive ways.” She recognizes that this reward is an incentive to take a moment, “check myself,” and react in a manner that will have a beneficial outcome.

As a school, we all thank Mr. Orelli and the SWPB team for all they do to recognize our students for "making good choices" and "doing the right thing” because we are “here, we’re ready, we’re respectful, and we are safe.”

We’d also like to thank Hess Ice Rink for, once again, working with us to offer this opportunity to our SWPB students. We celebrate the improvements you’ve been making at the rink, and we look forward to our next visit!

“Szofia also states, “I’m looking forward to the next activity in the spring!” Stay tuned for more fun opportunities that reward positive behavior!