Students at Da Vinci Design Are Raking in the Design Tickets

We are really proud of our Designers at Da Vinci Design. Students continue to step it up to show kindness, mindfulness, and respect to each other and it’s so incredible to see how these students are engaging each other on the 4th floor.

This year, the leadership team at Da Vinci Design implemented a new positive reinforcement system to amplify and celebrate students who demonstrate characteristics such as mindfulness, respect, and responsibility through everyday activities and interactions. 

The net outcome of the new system allows students to become more aware of their impact, and to realize that they have a choice about the impact they’d like to make, and that the choice they make can have positive rewards. The new Design Ticket system also helps teachers and staff to promote and foster students’ social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health by recognizing their good deeds and amplifying them.

As a result, students feel safe, they feel heard, and they feel supported—not just by their peers, but by the leadership as well.

“Da Vinci Design has always made me feel supported. I feel like everyone is rooting for me and setting me up for a brighter future. I’m never scared of my future after high school because there are always people looking out for me, making sure I am going to be successful,” said 12th grader Sophia Quintanilla.

Students who are “caught” doing great things receive a Design Ticket, and then turn it into the office. As the student turns the Design Ticket into the office, they are celebrated by staff and leadership once again for the good deed they did, just by simply being their natural, mindful, respectful, responsible selves.

At the end of each week, the leadership team pulls 3-4 tickets from the bucket and then announces the names of the students whose tickets were pulled over the school-wide loudspeaker. As the names are announced, students cheer for and celebrate their peers, adding to the amplification of good deeds.

“The students have been so excited to earn their tickets and turn them in,” said Korina Barefield, Da Vinci Design’s Dean of Student Success and Culture. “There’s a celebratory atmosphere. Teachers and administrators are celebrating the kids. The staff, teachers, and parent educators are all handing them out. All staff are on the lookout for behavior that matches the ‘be mindful, be respectful, be responsible’ standards,” she continued.

Community businesses are also getting involved with helping Da Vinci Design to celebrate their students. Raising Cane’s donated 75 gift cards for free combo meals for students. Chartwells created a gift certificate for students to receive one free handmade drink. Students whose tickets are pulled can choose whether they want a free meal at Raising Cane’s, or a free handmade drink from Chartwells.

Students report that they love the Design Ticket system and they love being a part of the Da Vinci Design community and family.

“It’s been amazing here!” said 9th grader Tyler Davis. “I’ve been able to make great friends. I hang out with older students, and they make me feel like I belong even as a freshman.”

Over the past few months, almost 450 Design Tickets have been handed out to students who were “caught” doing great things.

Not only are Designers enjoying the recognition they are receiving by doing great things naturally, but the staff, teachers, and parent volunteers are truly enjoying the opportunity to celebrate students and play a role in celebrating the healthy, happy, safe community they’ve all created together. And students can feel it.

 “Da Vinci is a safe space because it is welcoming and the community makes school feel like home,” said Amelia Griffin, a 12th grade student at Da Vinci Design.

Da Vinci Design’s Principal Russell Stoll had this to say: “I love that we have a way to recognize Designers for all of the good things that they do, big or small! We are lucky to have a community of students who are so willing to help out and be good role models for each other. I’m always on the lookout for a student who is doing something helpful or supportive and it is fun to reward them when they least expect it.”

As this practice of giving Design tickets continues, we’ll be sure to keep you updated as to the total number of Design tickets handed out during the year.

Thank you, Designers, for being great! We’re so proud of you.

Thank you to all the leadership, parents, and volunteers who work to make us great.

And thank you to Raising Cane’s and Chartwells for supporting our students and this initiative.

We are grateful for all!