The newly implemented PBIS Point System has faculty and administration exhilarated, a fair sum of students bothered, and most wondering what it is. This controversial new system rewards students for just coming to school and participating in class.
All of the teachers were asked to implement PBIS rewards, or Positive Behavior Interventions and Support. PBIS rewards is a point system targeted to increase attendance and encourage students.
Principal Kenna Aagard said, “What we do is give you a point for coming to school, for being on time to class, and then you get a point for being engaged in the classroom, like participating and things like that, you can earn two points per every class, so with 5 periods you can get 10 points a day.”
She also said, “We’re going to have a store, and you’ll just trade in your points for stuff at the store.” Then she explained that the points don’t go away either. They roll over from quarter to quarter and from year to year, so you can save up for however long you’d like. The merch or prizes you can earn vary. It could be T shirts, hoodies, hats, prime drinks, candy bars, sharpie markers, Gatorade, and more. “Well here’s the thing: who doesn’t like free stuff?” said Aagard.
Starting November 10th, the store will be open every other Friday. “Just before school and after school, and it will be in the attendance office, that’s where you redeem,” said Aagard, who explained they decided against doing the store during school hours because it would compete too much with lunch or classes.
The idea of a point system came from a principal conference over the summer, and they decided to implement it after having poor attendance. Aagard said, “Our attendance was at 72.8%, that’s not good. We want kids to be here…we’re glad you’re here.”
Although the principal is hopeful that it will increase attendance and be lots of fun, students aren’t so sure. Oaklee Shields, a sophomore, hadn’t heard much about the PBIS point system and didn’t know how popular it would be with students, but said, “You have to actually pay attention in class and assignments, but it’s probably something that’s good for us.”
Lincoln Tuttle, a junior, said, “Yeah it’s good.” But later revealed that he wasn’t sure what the point system was yet. But some students aren’t as in favor.
Kennan, a senior, said, “I’m a senior that doesn’t have very many classes, so I’m not getting as many points and it’s not as motivating.” Other students explained that several teachers forget to put in points, which also makes them unmotivated.
But Ashton Wade said, “I think it’s pretty cool. I think it will be nice to reward the students who show up and participate.” But when talking about it increasing attendance or being effective, Wade said, “I’m hoping, but I’m not sure.”
