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Goal

To enhance our House Program by rewarding students who exhibit positive behaviors with a House specific treat. 

What will be done with my students

A districtwide survey showed that many middle school students lack a sense of belonging at school. Although we were initially surprised, the results made sense. Elementary students, enjoying their first educational experience, gain a natural sense of belonging in an environment that is so warm and nurturing. High school students have sports and clubs to rally them together. Middle school can often be awkward; a time when many students are navigating the transition from child to teenager.
North Naples Middle School staff knew we had to take action. To combat this feeling of isolation, we adopted the House System as a means of improving the sense of belonging for our student population. Similar to what is described in the popular novel, Harry Potter, our students are divided into four different Houses. Each House is comprised of students from all three grade levels, who work together to earn House points and rewards. They support each other, cheer each other on, and both win and lose as part of a team. Each House leader holds a monthly meeting with the members of their House of Representatives - students voted into "office" by their peers - to share information and gain student input.
The four Houses, Rispetto (Respect), Reise (Journey), Tiyaga (Perseverence), and Valentia (Courage), were named to represent some of the native languages spoken at our school and a few of the characters traits our students embody. Each House has a crest that was designed by a student. On Wednesday's, students wearing their House crest shirts and colors, hold posters and cheer for other House members as they arrive on campus. Students are incredibly excited and supportive of this new program.
We would like to have House cookies made by a company that is able to create an edible version of the House crests on the frosting. These, individually wrapped, shelf stable cookies would be used to recognize and reward students who go above and beyond normal expectations to help/support members of our school community. These students would be rewarded during lunchtime, in front of their peers, and would also earn points for their House. Based on student feedback, we know the cookies would be a hit!
The most affordable company, Wicked Good Cookies, makes a 3" round logo cookie and can imprint an edible image of each crest onto the frosting. These custom cookies run about $2.50 each. Similar to the cookies used as promotional items by large companies, the cookies are individually wrapped and shelf stable for several weeks. We would like to order 100 cookies for each House, enabling us to recognize 400 students over the course of a month, or so.
 

Benefits to my students

Research has proven time and again that students who have high engagement and a strong sense of belonging at school experience positive academic gains. By identifying students who exhibit positive behaviors and recognizing their contribution to both their individual House and the whole school community, we are increasing engagement and sense of belonging.
Receiving one of these treats in a public forum, such as the school cafeteria, will allow students to recognized by both staff and their peers in a very positive way. Our hope is that the desire to earn the recognition, the treat, and the incredible feeling that comes from helping a peer, will spread throughout the student body and encourage more acts of kindness.
This year, more than any other, we want to be sure that students know they are not alone! 

Budget Narrative

Shipping is approximately $15 per box and a box holds about 140 cookies. I am estimating we will need three boxes. 

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