Eagle Club supports good citizenship
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

Good citizenship will be rewarded at Alice C. Stelle Middle School in Calabasas.

A new program named Eagles Club was kicked off last week at an assembly to reward students who take citizenship seriously.

Every student at the school entered 2007 as a member of the Eagles Club, said Somer Harding, assistant principal. Students started the year with 100 points each.

"As long as they don't lose any, they are automatically members of the club," Harding said. To reward good behavior, Harding said students with 100 points at the end of the year will be treated to field trips and other school-wide incentives, including "front of line lunch passes," and other enticements.

Harding said Lindero Canyon Middle School in Agoura Hills has a similar program. Rather than reinforce good behavior with negative reinforcement of punishment, the program focuses on positive incentives, she said.

Lost points will result in lost fun, Harding said. Administrators are already discussing a field trip to an amusement park for students who managed to hold on to their 100 points.

Students will have the opportunity to earn back lost points, but only up to 99 points. A student must maintain at least 90 points to attend events during the school year. Grades are not part of the equation of the club, Harding said. "Eagle Club members are children who are great all year long," Harding said.