All Hands on Deck

Dividing kids up to join them together, it might sound strange, but it’s a system that’s proving effective at Central Elementary School in Gulfport.
News 25’s Katarina Luketich shows us what the school’s deck system is all about, as well as what’s on the horizon for the students.
As any sailor knows, on a ship there are different decks with different crew members all working together to keep the ship on course. That’s the idea behind Central Elementary’s deck system. It was launched by the school staff at a ceremony at the onset of the school year. Students were split into four different groups called decks, identified by matching bracelets that will team them up for activities throughout the year. Guidance counselor Lyanne Dowling said, “It immediately creates a sense of family and community. Our students feel like they belong to a group that’s gonna support them when they need help and encouragement.”
In addition to a sense of belonging, it’s a way to promote good behavior. Each deck reels in points and every few weeks, the deck with the most points gets a prize. So, how do students earn points? Fourth grade teacher Paul Barnes said, “Following produces and routines without being asked. They get points for helping each other out.”
In order to promote unity, the whole point is that if you help someone else who is in another deck, you get more points than if you would helping someone who is in your own deck.
The deck is stacked with students from different grades, encouraging interaction between older and younger students through activities such as peer tutoring. Fifth grader Juan Pablo Michua-Bernal said, “Some are having trouble on reading or language arts and different subjects that we normally can teach.”
This mentoring can also lead to new friendships. Fifth grader Emma Favre said, “Seeing more people that I’ve never met before which was really exciting to see who was on my deck and how it was going to work out.”
So far, mission accomplished and the deck system is right on course, steering these students toward success and anchored in excellence.