By Joseph Mesa
Contributing Writer

At a recent meeting of the Avon Grove School Board, students from Avon Grove Middle School took the spotlight to talk about how a new behavior program that is already changing the culture of their school. The program is part of the district’s version of the research-based framework known as Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS), which empathizes teaching, reinforcing and recognizing positive behavior.

Here’s how the students explained it to the board: During the first two weeks of the school year, all students at the school receive lessons about what it means to be respectful, responsible and safe in classrooms, hallways, and shared spaces.

During the school year, students earn “Grove Bucks”—a school currency awarded for actions like cleaning up the hallways or helping other students, or a teacher recognizing an “extraordinary act of kindness.” 

Redeeming those bucks is part of the fun: students use them at the “Grove Store” to snag prizes like squishmallows (a clear student favorite), Bluetooth speakers, outdoor lunches in the spring, hot cocoa in the winter, raffles and experiences like tickets to the school play, soccer games, or kickball matches. 

Interestingly, the whole store is run by students, giving them a taste of business and ownership in their school environment. The numbers the students presented to the board were striking: last year Avon Grove Middle School students redeemed a total of 69,074 Grove Bucks. This year, only over a month into the school year, students have already claimed 21,858 Grove Bucks. Board members listened attentively as the students said they felt more connected to their teachers and to each other— they talked about “cleaner hallways, and less pushing” in the corridors. 

The board members also asked thoughtful questions to the students to express their admiration for the program. Middle school is a pivotal time as students are navigating more independence, more complex social dynamics, and higher expectations. A structured program that clearly teaches what good behavior looks like, awards it when it happens, and involves students in its operation can help shift the culture of a school environment. PBIS, when implemented well, supports a positive school climate and fewer behavioral disruptions. By empowering students to both earn and manage their rewards system, Avon Grove Middle School is engaging them in the very change they are asked to uphold. There are upcoming events across the Avon Grove School District highlighting community involvement (https://www.avongrove.org/calendars). They give more occasions for the PBIS framework to ripple outward beyond the middle school, shaping how students, families and staff experience the school together. The middle schoolers’ genuine enthusiasm offered a reminder of why these programs matter—not just for better behavior, but for building community.