Pyramid Model News

• Participation in National Pyramid Model Conference (NTI)
• Mindful Minutes on Laughter
• Minnetonka Pyramid Model Site Celebration
• Welcoming 2022-2023 Pyramid Model and PBIS Teams
• 2022-23 Training Calendar
• Sustainability Planning Day
• Culturally Responsive Practices
• Summer Routines and Schedules for Family Support
• End of Year Data Share

Hello Pyramid Model Teams,

Thank you for visiting our final SMORE of the school year! We are so proud of the progress and scale up of Pyramid Model sites during another year that has presented difficult challenges. You have persisted to have the "Mindset of a Champion" as you invest in supporting the social emotional development of children and families in your communities, and for that, we are extremely grateful! Throughout all of the obstacles presented, you have continued to have a "growth mindset" in looking for opportunities to improve your systems, programs, and supports. Congratulations!

Click on the short Ted Talk "Mindset of a Champion" video below for inspiration shared from the perspective of a 5th grader.

Please be sure to complete the Feedback Survey at the bottom of this newsletter. This will help us best organize our newsletters in ways that are most meaningful to you.

Sincerely,

Pyramid Model Communications Subcommittee

Pyramid Model State Implementation Team

MNCoE was fortunate to send Content Leads to the annual Pyramid Model Conference (NTI). MN presented two intensive breakout sessions around scaling up and sustaining the Pyramid Model, and also shared a poster session around the scale up of Behavior Coaching efforts over the last 2 years.

The Pyramid Model continues to spread internationally and throughout the United States. Statewide implementation of the Pyramid Model is now taking place in 35 states and in 45 countries! Yes, 45 countries!!! The value of supporting children's social emotional development is being addressed throughout the world and we are fortunate to be part of those efforts!

In upcoming months, new ePyramid courses will be available through the Pyramid Model Consortium on the following topics:

• Practice Based Coaching
• Early Intervention
• Law Enforcement
• PTR-YC

Whether you're guffawing at a sitcom on TV or quietly giggling at a newspaper cartoon, laughing does you good. Laughter is a great form of stress relief, and that's no joke.

Stress relief from laughter

A good sense of humor can't cure all ailments, but data is mounting about the positive things laughter can do.

Short-term benefits

A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. Laughter can:

• Stimulate many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
• Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
• Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

Long-term effects

Laughter isn't just a quick pick-me-up; it also has good long term effects. Laughter may:

• Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. By contrast, positive thoughts can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.
• Relieve pain. Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
• Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.
• Improve your mood. Many people experience depression, sometimes due to chronic illnesses. Laughter can help lessen your stress, depression and anxiety. It may make you feel happier and improve your self-esteem.

Resource:

Mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456

Minnetonka Public Schools Pyramid Model Implementation Team was the proud recipient of a 2022 Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation Teacher Grant for $3,000. This grant will help support Minnetonka Preschool through the purchasing of materials recommended from the Pyramid Model Expansion Kit. The multicultural and diverse additions chosen will help children explore and engage with materials that represent both themselves and others. It is our hope that this grant helps students build a foundation of social and emotional intelligence around belonging and wellbeing that they will carry with them throughout their lives.

We are excited to announce new districts participating in Pyramid Model or PBIS implementation next school year (see below). As a reminder, we have the PBIS/PM Collaboration Tip Sheet available to support programs implementing both the Pyramid Model and PBIS. We encourage Implementation Teams to explore the nine different ideas on what collaboration with PBIS partners might look like.

Pyramid Model Cohort 12: Cook County/Grand Marais, Pequot Lakes

PBIS Cohort 18: Austin Public Schools, Barnesville Public Schools, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage, Cannon River STEM School, Dover-Eyota, Edina Public Schools, Fairmont Area Schools, Lakeville Area Schools, Mankato Area Public Schools, Mountain Iron-Buhl School District, Paynesville Area Schools, Rocori, Red Wing Public Schools, Rochester Public Schools, Sauk Centre School District, SciTech Academy Charter School, St. Louis County School District, Wabasha-Kellogg School District, Waseca Public Schools

The 2022-23 Training Calendar has been released and posted on the MNCOE Pyramid Model Share Site. Our training options include both virtual and in-person trainings.

• Virtual trainings will ONLY be virtual and In-Person ONLY in person

• In person Pyramid Model Trainings are scheduled for Fridays

• Virtual trainings across innovations are offered on a variety of days

MNCoE values our partnership with every program in Minnesota and looks forward to continued opportunities to work together for the benefit of all children and families.

Is your Implementation Team reflecting on current Pyramid Model efforts and considering what continued implementation will look like in the future? At MNCoE, we refer to this as sustainability. Sustainability is the ability to maintain program-wide systems that support staff members to use social-emotional evidence based practices as intended.

During Sustainability day, your PDF will guide you through topics around:

• Planning for your Implementation Team

• Sustaining Ongoing Staff Buy-In

• Planning for Ongoing Professional Development (training, coaching, embedded PD etc.)

• Systems for Ongoing Data Collection and Use

• Budgeting and Funding Sources

For more information, please reach out to your Professional Development Facilitator.

We are all different and unique, as are the children and families we serve. Culturally Responsive Practices has become a priority over the past years as programs continue to diversify. Exploring our beliefs and practices is essential to becoming aware of our own biases and how they influence our behaviors and interactions.

Dr. Rosemarie Allen, along with other dedicated researchers have spent time developing and creating helpful professional development resources to support our growth in these areas.

• NCPMI recorded webinar: Having Conversations about Race, Bias, and Equity
• EC-BOQ Cultural Responsiveness Companion is a resource created by NCPMI for Implementation Teams to consider as they develop Pyramid Model systems set up in a culturally responsive manner.
• Pyramid Model Consortium's "Culturally Responsive Practices to Reduce Implicit Bias, Disproportionality, Suspension & Expulsion" ePyramid module, led by Dr. Rosemarie Allen.

Additional resources can be found on the MNCoE Pyramid Model Share Site under the Culturally Responsive Practices tab.

Summer break is just around the corner. This transition can be a big change for students and families. One way to help families support their child's transition this summer is through continued routines and expectations. Check out the links below for at-home ideas for a smooth summer break. Also included is a social story to support families in thinking about the transition back to school in the fall.

Positive Solutions for Families (Family Routine Guide)

Going on Summer Break Social Story Caregivers can color this social story for a fun activity with their child.

Summer is Over Social Story

12 Home Activities that Build Social Emotional Skills

For more helpful parenting resources check out the MNCOE Pyramid Share Site >Family Engagement and the NCPMI >Family Engagement tabs.

Pyramid Model sites work extremely hard all year long to scale up and implement Pyramid Model strategies! As you consider celebrating your accomplishments from this current school year with staff, the school board, and/or families, consider using the NCPMI Infographics Template. This excel document makes it extremely easy for Pyramid Model sites to cut and paste your own data into the template, which then creates an instant infographic for sharing with others.

Thank you for your dedication to Pyramid Model efforts during the 2021-2022 school year. We are so proud of your continued dedication and partnership!

As a reminder, we would appreciate you taking a minute or two to provide us with feedback on this SMORE newsletter. Feedback Survey