Students have a gold initiative

ST. IGNATIUS – The voice of the students matters at St. Ignatius High School and it could lead to a golden reward.

With statewide behavioral standards set before Mission Valley students were born, some procedures were left sleeping in a dark corner until high school principal Jason Sargent reawakened the program to address student concerns and encourage a safe, supportive campus environment.

“I believe that passing the responsibility to those working closely with students each and every day was the key,” said Sargent. “With student and teacher involvement, the results have been remarkable.”

The education tool known as the Montana Behavioral Initiative is a plan to unite students and teachers by allowing them to share important issue with administrators and board officials.

Homecoming queen and Initiative member Courtney Heath believes in getting students involved in improving their educational experience.

“When we as students witness unacceptable behavior, we have a responsibility to get involved,” said Heath. “Getting involved does not mean matching the negative behavior. We just assist our fellow students in choosing a better behavior. We treat each other with respect.”

Teachers, students and administrators gather information from students through an online poll called “The Voice” that allows students to comment on issues such as a sense of belonging, heroes, accomplishment, fun, excitement, curiosity, spirit, leadership and the confidence to take action.

“The data compiled from the polls as well as weekly Initiative meetings show significant improvement,” Sargent said. “We…have had 12 out of 14 improvements regarding student concerns from last year. Giving the students an engine to implement change allows students to feel heard.”

With results tallied yearly, the poll removes the guesswork in what kids think, encouraging more positive behavior for teachers and students.

School officials’ most important concern is a student’s “Confidence to Act.”

St. Ignatius Public Schools had an estimated 230 discipline referrals in the 2012-13 school year. But by addressing concerns taken from the student poll, referrals dropped to 42 in 2013-14, Sargent said.

This improvement earned St. Ignatius High School the state’s prestigious Silver Medal in behavioral performance in 2013.

The district earned a Bronze Medal in 2012 only one year into active participation in the Initiative.

“The school is going to qualify for the Gold rating this summer due to the hard work and diligence of so many,” Sargent said.

School officials do not deny there are concerns regarding insubordination, alienation, aggressive behavior, truancy, drug use, drop-out rates, and vandalism, but they believe they have found a tool to work toward solutions.

But they believe support of the students, teachers and administrators makes a difference.

 “As partners in education, we have a shared responsibility to address these concerns by developing a positive school culture, which includes the characteristics of personal and social responsibility and productive community participation,” Sargent said.

Julie Pribyl, an Initiative state examiner said St. Ignatius officials have done a great job of using the initiative.

St. Ignatius seniors, Raymond Matt and Will Powell, involved in the Initiative over the past four years, have a message for fellow students:

“Get involved in your school and your community as much as possible, share the spirit and practice kindness to one another. People always remember the one who shows kindness. As an individual student you are setting the example for students around you to follow.”