Students earn points for bragging in Woodland

Woodland — Woodland Intermediate School is asking students to brag. The school’s new Behavior Recognition and Academic Growth program is intended to improve student behavior and academic progress by acknowledging and encouraging students to achieve success with special lessons, awards and competitions. Each month, students study a new character trait or habit and learn how to incorporate it into their daily lives. In January, students learned about prioritizing important work, like schoolwork, homework and chores, instead of playing games or other recreational activities. Throughout the month, teachers award “BRAG points” to students when they demonstrate the principles of that month’s lessons, other good behavior and academic growth. Students are also given “BRAG tags” when they earn points. The students are divided into teams to compete on receiving the most BRAG points throughout the month and during special competitions. In January, teams built Native American totem poles as their special competition. At the end of each month, the school holds a special assembly to review what students learned that month and to award certificates recognizing good behavior, academic growth and perfect attendance.