It’s no secret that the end of the year is a tough time for students to focus on their work, but students at Questar III’s Rensselaer Academy have a reason to make sure that excitement over the impending summer vacation doesn’t land them in trouble.
The initiative, called “In it to Win it,” is used as a motivator for students to maintain good behavior or improve on some behavior that might not be up to par. It’s done in conjunction with RA’s PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Support) system to manage behavior in the school.
“The PBIS Motivation system is pivotal to the foundation of our school,” Principal Karla McDowell said. “Positive character is modeled and reinforced by use of the skill of the month. In June, the skill of the month is integrity- a character trait that is valued in all hierarchies of our social and political systems.”
PBIS is based on three building-wide expectations: be respectful, be in control, and be ready to learn.
The PBIS system gives students constant feedback on their behavior and provides goal planning. Students can earn up to 12 points every half hour, and they keep track of their points with a point sheet that acts like a scorecard. There are four levels of points within the PBIS system. Students begin at level one, and to move to level two they must earn 80 percent of their daily points for three days in a row. To move from level two to level three they must earn 85 percent of their points for 10 days in a row and show significant progress on targeted skills. To reach the top level (level four), students must earn 90 percent of their daily points for 20 days in a row and continue to show significant improvement on targeted skills.
McDowell and Behavior Interventions Coordinator Teresa Adalian challenge their students to remain on or move up to level three or four in the PBIS system. Any student who earns their daily points is given a raffle ticket. Each Friday, students put their tickets into a raffle for the prize of their choice. This year, prizes include McDonald’s and Walmart gift cards, headphones, and basketballs.
McDowell says the challenge isn’t just a way to end this year positively, it helps prepare students for next year as well.
“This is an effort for students, no matter if mistakes have been made throughout the year, there is an emphasis to optimize all student positive behaviors and for students to make it to level three or four to end strong and to start off on the right foot in the summer/fall.”
“Last year the challenge was highly successful, and over 20 students ended the year on level three or four,” Adalian said.
The challenge lasts for 10 weeks, and at week five and week 10, raffle winners are drawn. At the close of the challenge, McDowell and Adalian host a pizza and wings party for all students on level three and four. The student council donates the prizes and supplies the food for the party.
Adalian she says Alexa Brannigan, Faculty Advisor for Student Council, and Kerry Ouellette, Faculty Point Store manager, have been instrumental in making the challenge a success.
