Pikesville Middle School
P.R.I.D.E. Behavior Program

Prepared, Respectful, Interact with Empathy, Demonstrate Responsibility, Engage in High Standards

2025-2026 SEL Reward System

Python Bucks:
Python Bucks are used to recognize students who demonstrate:

• Random or extraordinary acts of kindness
• Positive character traits
• Consistent effort over time to follow the P.R.I.D.E. Code of Conduct
• Significant self- improvements
• Meeting stated goals/expectations, etc.
• Consistently wearing school uniforms

This year, students have options to use their Python Bucks to purchase products at the school store and to participate in certain school events. Teachers can also create class school stores where students can purchase items.

Are the incentives & rewards given out fairly?
We will make every effort to distribute Python Bucks with equity. A suggested list of behaviors and how much to hand out has been established to help staff maintain the equitable distribution of the Python Bucks. However, it is ultimately up to the teacher/staff member's discretion as to how/when the cash is handed out.

Within those guidelines, it is important to protect the integrity of the Python Bucks - to ensure they will not be given out more frequently to students with more behavior issues just to keep them from disrupting - while making sure that every student has equal opportunities to earn the reward. Rewards shouldn't be given out for "every little behavior" that meets expectations; rather, reward consistency and recognize great acts of character through praise. This way, students are encouraged to perform such acts because it is the right thing to do, not for the reward.

It is also important to protect the purpose of the Python Bucks, which is to recognize the positive acts and behaviors of students. As a result, Python Bucks should not be taken away from students as a disciplinary measure. Doing so would essentially "take away" the positive act that earned the student that cash to start with - and that defeats the purpose of the program.

Aren't incentives & rewards like "bribing" kids to behave?
No. Simply put, "bribing" means telling someone ahead of time that if they do what you want, you will repay them with something of value. To "reward" is to give someone something in return, especially in thanks for help or kindness or to repay the effort or attention that is given. An "incentive" is a motivator - something that encourages someone into action.

This program is about motivating and encouraging students toward positive behavior while recognizing and rewarding appropriate actions, significant displays of good character, and marked effort and improvement toward personal and academic success.

Students are encouraged throughout their school day to demonstrate the behaviors that are expected within the P.R.I.D.E. Code of Conduct. More often, students are praised and verbally recognized and appreciated for their actions rather than given a tangible reward. This promotes students to become motivated more by the internal feeling of doing the right thing (and the positive attention they will receive) than the external feeling of "getting something out of it."

Students know that they may be rewarded for certain actions, but not always. Further, they are constantly being taught that they should do the right thing, not because of the possibility of a reward, but because of the sense of pride they will feel at knowing they did a good deed (and the good feeling it gives to those who receive the goodness of those deeds.)