VHS has introduced a new program, PBSIS (Positive Behavior Support in Schools) nicknamed “Verona Values,” to promote school-wide acts of kindness and reinforce positive behaviors. Students can receive tickets from a teacher or administrator for good deeds and then enter these tickets in a raffle to receive prizes, such as gift cards, prom tickets, or parking spots.

VHS lead counselor, Jennifer Gadaleta, who helps run the program, explained the reasoning for creating this program and how the school will be changed as a result:

“The goal of the Verona Values program is to promote a positive culture where students are acknowledged for doing the right thing and in turn, referrals for conduct issues decrease. The ultimate goal is a school environment where every student feels safe, supported, and proud to be a student here.”

Students have a wide range of opinions on the potential effectiveness of the program. Some believe the program will help create a positive environment, while others find the program rather childish and even somewhat problematic.

Senior Zack Balogh points out the potential negative effects a program designed in this way could cause:

“This will negatively affect students as once they are no longer rewarded for good deeds they will ask ‘why should I help, I’m not getting anything out of this?’.” Although Verona Values is trying to reward students for their respectful behavior, the program may be causing more harm than good.  

Other students, more commonly underclassmen, acknowledge the improvement the program could enact in the school. “This will encourage acts of kindness,” says sophomore Grace McKeown.  Students like Grace recognize that Verona Values intends to make students throughout the school interact with each other in a respectful manner.

Some students take a middle ground stance in regards to Verona Values. They see the value, but also worry about the problems it may cause. “They are not portraying kindness in the right way,” says junior Griffin Jordan. “People will do small things for tickets, not just because it’s the right thing to do.”  He understands that the amount of good deeds may increase, but wonders if these good deeds will be done for the right reason.

Another possible problem with the program is that teachers have quotas of the number of tickets that they are supposed to hand out. This will cause problems because teachers may feel pressured to give out tickets, even when students are not truly doing something worthy of a ticket. The quota system upsets the purpose of Verona Values.

The high school community is adjusting to the implementation of Verona Values. Hopefully the program will encourage students to treat each other kindly and create a school environment that makes everyone feel included and comfortable.