Get Ready to Fill Your Pockets with the New School Currency
The Climate Committee is making RIFLO more integrated into student life with a new coin design.
By Sharon Kim
The Climate Committee is making RIFLO more integrated into student life with a new coin design.
By Sharon Kim
How to best reinforce good behavior has been the focus of debate at many of the climate committee’s meetings. Trials and tests with digital currency and stickers were methods of the past, and the newest addition is a currency system introducing the RIFLO coins.
They are wooden coins inspired by the design of old Associated Student Body coins to reward good behavior that can be redeemed for more than snacks. Possible redeemable rewards include ways to purchase Student Store snacks and food; Pioneer swag such as lanyards, shirts and water bottles; and other privileges such as one-time use of front line lunch passes, discounts on Homecoming dance tickets and VIP graduation seats.
Having this wide array of choices was a priority for Assistant Principal of Student Services Erin Cahill in the staff meetings, since she was one of the people who inspired the coin system.
“As a team, we wanted to create more opportunities to provide rewards that would engage students in a variety of ways, so they could choose which rewards that most interested them,” said Cahill.
RIFLO coins will be distributed to staff, counselors and teachers to give to students when they see them demonstrating the qualities of RIFLO. The tokens that students can earn look different depending on which academic department it's from adding a personalized touch for the staff. Social studies teacher Lillian Luu sees the RIFLO coins as a way to gamify the reward system in the school.
“Each department has their own coins too so it's a little bit like Pokémon where you gotta catch ‘em all,” said Luu.
Some concerns the committee felt was how the teachers and admin would react to this new development, but English teacher Theresa Udell feels that it's worth a shot.
“I think a lot of teachers tend to be a little bit hesitant about another thing you have to do, but I think if you try it and if it works then you get something cool that's going to work for you and if you don’t try it then you’ll never really gonna know,” said Udell. “It all depends on your attitude. As for students, students like prizes no matter what those prizes kind of look like at least in my experience so I think they’re going to be a little bit, hopefully, excited about it once they see and understand how it really works.”
Grades have been the main source of reward and gratification for the student body to receive. However now with the coin system being reminiscent of elementary or middle school currencies, Luu hopes students find joy in that and it can encourage them.
“I know it seems like a little bit elementary but it's also school, like why not make it a little bit fun,” said Luu. “It's a little bit of extrinsic motivation, and then maybe making it intrinsic motivation to just do better at school, be more kind, be a little bit more flexible in terms of how we interact with each other.”
Students like Allie Gonzales, 10, were also present at the climate committee’s meetings and are hyped to see the coin’s development and arrival.
“It’s like the coolest thing the school has done! I think not only is it very cool, I also do think it is a very good incentive to get students actually engaging with RIFLO and for teachers to be looking out it because who wouldn’t want to give out such a cool coin,” said Gonzales.
Another student Cali Lau, 10, shares this excitement and will be on the lookout for these new coins.
“We did see all the designs on the projector and those looked really awesome, so I’m very excited to just collect,” said Lau.
The climate committee’s main goal is to make the school better bit by bit. World history teacher Darlene Dueck sees this coin as a step in the right direction.
“I’ve always been big on climate and I think when students are happy to be where we’re at, then the learning comes easier,” said Dueck.
They are wooden coins inspired by the design of old Associated Student Body coins to reward good behavior that can be redeemed for more than snacks. Possible redeemable rewards include ways to purchase Student Store snacks and food; Pioneer swag such as lanyards, shirts and water bottles; and other privileges such as one-time use of front line lunch passes, discounts on Homecoming dance tickets and VIP graduation seats.
Having this wide array of choices was a priority for Assistant Principal of Student Services Erin Cahill in the staff meetings, since she was one of the people who inspired the coin system.
“As a team, we wanted to create more opportunities to provide rewards that would engage students in a variety of ways, so they could choose which rewards that most interested them,” said Cahill.
RIFLO coins will be distributed to staff, counselors and teachers to give to students when they see them demonstrating the qualities of RIFLO. The tokens that students can earn look different depending on which academic department it's from adding a personalized touch for the staff. Social studies teacher Lillian Luu sees the RIFLO coins as a way to gamify the reward system in the school.
“Each department has their own coins too so it's a little bit like Pokémon where you gotta catch ‘em all,” said Luu.
Some concerns the committee felt was how the teachers and admin would react to this new development, but English teacher Theresa Udell feels that it's worth a shot.
“I think a lot of teachers tend to be a little bit hesitant about another thing you have to do, but I think if you try it and if it works then you get something cool that's going to work for you and if you don’t try it then you’ll never really gonna know,” said Udell. “It all depends on your attitude. As for students, students like prizes no matter what those prizes kind of look like at least in my experience so I think they’re going to be a little bit, hopefully, excited about it once they see and understand how it really works.”
Grades have been the main source of reward and gratification for the student body to receive. However now with the coin system being reminiscent of elementary or middle school currencies, Luu hopes students find joy in that and it can encourage them.
“I know it seems like a little bit elementary but it's also school, like why not make it a little bit fun,” said Luu. “It's a little bit of extrinsic motivation, and then maybe making it intrinsic motivation to just do better at school, be more kind, be a little bit more flexible in terms of how we interact with each other.”
Students like Allie Gonzales, 10, were also present at the climate committee’s meetings and are hyped to see the coin’s development and arrival.
“It’s like the coolest thing the school has done! I think not only is it very cool, I also do think it is a very good incentive to get students actually engaging with RIFLO and for teachers to be looking out it because who wouldn’t want to give out such a cool coin,” said Gonzales.
Another student Cali Lau, 10, shares this excitement and will be on the lookout for these new coins.
“We did see all the designs on the projector and those looked really awesome, so I’m very excited to just collect,” said Lau.
The climate committee’s main goal is to make the school better bit by bit. World history teacher Darlene Dueck sees this coin as a step in the right direction.
“I’ve always been big on climate and I think when students are happy to be where we’re at, then the learning comes easier,” said Dueck.