Beverly Vista Middle School Earns Highest California PBIS Honor

Beverly Vista Middle School has earned Platinum recognition, California PBIS's highest award level, for its approach to school culture and student support, according to the Beverly Hills Unified School District.

The honor follows two consecutive years of Gold recognition and was celebrated at the September 22 BHUSD Board of Education meeting. It adds to the school's California Distinguished School and Schools to Watch designations.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, known as PBIS, provides a framework for teaching behavioral expectations, recognizing student growth and responding to individual needs. At BVMS, the district said, that framework includes schoolwide expectations, targeted assistance and one-on-one support.

Students receive help through goal setting, regular check-ins, counseling and individualized behavior plans. Staff use student progress data to adjust that support, alongside social-emotional learning and restorative practices that give students opportunities to learn from their actions and improve.

The school's four core values are Build Resilience, Value Learning, Make Connections and Show Integrity. Students who demonstrate those values can receive recognition tickets, access to a student store and spotlight lunches, acknowledging contributions that may fall outside traditional academic awards.

"Our goal is for every student to know that they belong here and that there is a team ready to help them succeed," BVMS Principal Rich Waters said in the district's announcement. "Earning Platinum recognition reflects the care and consistency our staff brings to that work. I am proud of our teachers, counselors, administrators, support staff, and PBIS team for making student support a shared responsibility across our campus."

BHUSD Board of Education President Judy Manouchehri said the award reflects the school's combination of expectations and support.

"This is a proud moment for Beverly Vista Middle School and our entire district," Manouchehri said. "High expectations and meaningful support go hand in hand. This recognition celebrates a team that puts both into practice and continues to strengthen the middle school experience for our students. We congratulate Principal Waters and the entire BVMS staff on this outstanding achievement, as well as for being recognized as a California Distinguished School and a California Schools to Watch."

The district said BVMS will be formally recognized at the annual California PBIS conference, scheduled for October 7-9 in Sacramento.