La Vista Middle School students are enthusiastically participating in the school's Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBiS) store, a popular incentive program that rewards positive behavior. This student engagement initiative has become a highlight of weekly school life, operating every Friday after school.

Throughout the week, students receive tickets for meeting school expectations and demonstrating positive behaviors in classrooms, hallways, and other school environments. These tickets function as a form of recognition and can be redeemed at the weekly store for a variety of rewards.

When Friday arrives, students have several options for using their earned tickets. They may choose to exchange them for immediate treats, providing a tangible reward for their positive choices. Alternatively, students can enter their tickets into raffles for special high-value items, creating an element of excitement and anticipation around the program.

A unique feature of La Vista Middle School's PBiS store is the opportunity for students to "purchase" art pieces. This creative component adds cultural and aesthetic value to the behavioral incentive system, allowing students to select artwork they appreciate for personal enjoyment or to decorate their lockers or homes.

The successful operation of the weekly store is made possible through the dedicated efforts of several staff members. Ms. Gill, Ms. Armstrong, and Ms. Kalal work alongside the broader PBiS team to ensure the store is well-stocked, organized, and ready to welcome students each Friday afternoon.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports represents an evidence-based framework implemented in many schools nationwide to promote positive school culture. Rather than focusing primarily on punishing negative behaviors, PBiS emphasizes recognizing and rewarding positive choices, which research shows is more effective for creating lasting behavioral change.

This approach aligns with PLCS's commitment to creating supportive learning environments where students understand expectations and receive recognition for meeting them. By providing consistent, positive feedback through tangible rewards, La Vista Middle School encourages students to internalize positive behaviors that contribute to a productive learning environment.

The enthusiasm surrounding the weekly store demonstrates how effective this positive reinforcement system has become at motivating students and building a constructive school culture at La Vista Middle School.