At Osbourn High School there is a type of rectangular “currency” known as a SOAR card. But what actually is a SOAR card? According to Mrs. Kresge, the creator of SOAR cards, “It is a voucher for students to trade for prizes during lunches at the store.” The SOAR card store is a little area during lunch time where you can give the SOAR cards you have obtained over the year for prizes like candy! The name “SOAR cards” is a reference to how eagles soar in the sky since the school mascot is an eagle.
If you have been at this school for a while, you would know that the SOAR cards look different this year. “The old version used too much ink while we were printing them, and we were being mindful of the school resources,” said Mrs. Kresge. She does not work alone, though. “We work together with Mrs Claire Heard, who works with modified curriculum Special Education students, and those students are the ones who run the store. She also helped us create the store cards and distribute them to the students.”
Mrs. Kresge also thinks SOAR cards can help encourage students to do the right thing. “We wanted to create a culture where the students do the right thing, being responsible, comply with the school rules, and when we catch them doing the right thing, we want to incentivize them,” she explained.
Dr. Choudhary, biology teacher at Osbourn, went more in depth about what SOAR Cards do “At Osbourn High School, SOAR Cards are part of the school’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system to recognize and reward positive behavior, encourage responsibility and respect, promote a positive school culture, and motivate students through incentives or privileges when they collect cards.”
Additionally, Ms. Miller, the journalism teacher, thinks that they are a fun way to reward good behavior in students, too! ” I think they are a quick and fun way to reward students for being good humans. I try to look for students who go out of their way to help others or who make an extra effort on a project.”
Teachers are the ones who typically provide the SOAR Cards to students, but the way they do it varies. Dr. Choudhary, for example, gives them out to students who show the values of SOAR. ” I would give a student a SOAR card when I see them demonstrating the core values of SOAR, for example, showing respect to peers and teachers, taking ownership of their learning and responsibilities, striving for academic achievement through effort and persistence, and helping create a safe and positive environment in the classroom and school.” Mr. Jenkins, a geometry teacher, gives them similar to Dr. Choudhary, “I reward students for being polite, helping others, working hard in class, and improving their grades.”
SOAR Cards have the chance to make students behave and act more mature because they allow students to get rewards, which can motivate them to continue trying to get those said rewards, like candy! Dr. Choudhary seems to agree, “I believe SOAR cards can encourage students to be better people. Since the cards work like earning money that can be saved up and turned in for rewards, students are motivated to consistently show positive behavior. Over time, this not only helps them earn incentives but also reinforces habits such as respect, responsibility, and perseverance, which can shape their character in meaningful ways.” Overall, it seems the way of obtaining a SOAR card, at least based on what Dr. Choudhary said, is to be a good role model by helping others and having good grades.
Dr. Choudhary hasn’t given any SOAR cards out yet, but is planning to. “No, I have not given any SOAR cards yet this year. However, I have been observing my students’ positive behaviors, and I already have a few in mind who will be receiving them shortly.” Similarly, Ms. Miller has not given any yet, but she said, “I have SOAR cards and Ovations on my to-do list every week!”
What is your opinion on SOAR cards? Have you earned any this year? Let us know in the comments below.
