Kenowa Hills — Zinser Elementary’s school store, found in a “top-secret” location on the second floor, is ticketed-entry only.
How can students get their hands on the hottest ticket in town? They can earn them by being kids who C.A.R.E. — caring for others, acting safely, being responsible for their choices and engaging in their learning.
Once a month, third-, fourth- and fifth-graders can traverse the hallways, up an off-the-beaten-path staircase to a storage room above the gym and spend their CARE cards.
“We can earn CARE cards for engaging in our learning, being respectful and nice to others,” fifth-grader Elle Verkaik said.
She and her classmates decided to spend some of their cards on vouchers to be their teacher’s office messenger for the day, as well as some “cool fidgets.”
Staff member Karly Kozminski runs the store and makes sure the tables are always stocked with art supplies, books, trinkets and stuffed animals. Several items were donated by parents and teachers and the inventory is always changing.
Elle’s 3D-printed fidget toys are another hot commodity at the store and she already has plans to make some more.
Students can also choose from a variety of coupons to redeem for LEGO time; a photo with the school’s therapy dog, Panko; a spot at the front of the lunch line for a week; or the opportunity to paint their teacher’s or principal’s face.
“It gives us more motivation to behave and for the whole school to start behaving better,” fifth-grader Gia Calderon said.
Teaching Respect and Responsibility
Principal Brooke Johnston said the idea for a school store came from wanting to support their existing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework and engage students from all grade levels.
“Up until this school year, students could earn their CARE cards and be entered into a weekly, random drawing to win a surprise reward,” Johnston said. “We learned this worked for our younger grades but left a lot of kids out, and wasn’t enough of an incentive for our older kids.”
Now, the older students can earn tickets for exhibiting positive behavior choices in class, at recess, in the cafeteria or hallways, to use as currency at the store.
Since the store is only open once a month, Zinser students have to decide if they want to spend their tickets or save them up for a bigger item, teaching them responsibility and accountability.
“We’ve seen a reduction in behavioral issues since implementing the PBIS store, in addition to the weekly treasure box drawing for grades K-2,” Johnston said. “It encourages students to reflect on their own actions and what they’re doing, or not doing, to earn CARE cards.”
Zinser’s staff have bought into the new process and want to see their students improve and succeed, Johnston said.
She added: “We’re teaching them that good choices lead to good consequences. You have to learn how to assess your own behavior and make changes.”
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