RAPID CITY, S.D. — A grant from the Rapid City Public School Foundation is helping South Middle School recognize positive student behavior and build stronger connections between students, staff and families through a program known as the Spirit Awards.

The program was developed by Stacy Cole, a behavioral skills special education teacher at South Middle School and district lead for the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings (OSEU). Cole said the goal was to create a system that rewards positive behavior and values while helping students feel recognized for their growth.

“One of the things that is the most important part of being an educator is building positive relationships with students and also with families,” Cole said. “I wanted to make sure that we were sending positive messages home to families, rewarding values, because it is really important to acknowledge growth instead of what they do wrong.”

The Spirit Awards focus on six values identified by South Middle School staff: self control, perseverance, integrity, respect, initiative and teamwork. Teachers recognize students who demonstrate those traits by giving them tickets that are entered into monthly drawings. Winners receive certificates and are recognized through photos and school communications.

Cole said the program was designed to reinforce positive behavior while teaching students what those values look like in real life. She noted that approximately 21 percent of South Middle School students are Lakota, making it important to ensure all students have opportunities to be recognized and celebrated.

“When I look at our students at South Middle School, it’s really important to make sure that we’re acknowledging everyone,” Cole said. “Seeing those kids light up when they got their reward and taking the picture was probably one of the most valuable experiences I’ve had.”

The certificates also serve as an important communication tool for families. Cole said some households may not always have reliable internet access or phone service, making a printed certificate a meaningful way to share positive news from school.

She believes the program helps students develop skills that extend beyond academics. By recognizing behaviors such as teamwork, listening and perseverance, students are encouraged to practice those skills and repeat them in the future.

“Positive reinforcement is actually a very, very good tool to change negative behavior versus traditional consequences,” Cole said. “Sometimes we just need to practice and meet students where they’re at and then reward them when they make that growth.”

Marie Herbert, the districtwide Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings teacher, said the values highlighted by the Spirit Awards are universal and benefit all students.

“These are things that we have in common as people,” Herbert said. “Being generous to one another, showing compassion and kindness and being respectful. Once students are acknowledged and recognized, they see that they’re valued. You see the change in how they perform in the classroom and how they view themselves.”

Cole said one of the most rewarding aspects of the program has been hearing stories from families. Some students have celebrated their awards with special outings, while parents often express surprise when receiving positive phone calls from school.

“I’ve had students say, ‘I earned a Spirit Award and I was able to go get ice cream,’” Cole said. “When I call a parent to say their child earned a perseverance award, they’re often relieved and excited because they thought the call was going to be about something negative.”

The program has also helped strengthen relationships throughout the school community. Cole said students who were once hesitant to participate have become more engaged in class, while families are communicating more frequently with staff.

According to Cole, the success of the program has ensured its future at South Middle School, and school leaders hope it may eventually expand to other buildings across the district.

“We have some certificates we can continue to use, and positive reinforcement will continue,” Cole said. “This is a whole child based system that can be implemented to help all learners.”

Herbert agreed, saying the concept could benefit students throughout Rapid City Area Schools.

“Seeing if we can get all the schools on board would be amazing,” Herbert said. “This has been a wonderful resource for South Middle School, and it’s exciting to see students recognized every month for their accomplishments, big or small.”