Be prompt. Be prepared. Be productive. Be polite. Participate. Persevere.

Those six Ps are bringing results at Umatillas Clara Brownell Middle School. The school has started focusing on one of the principles each month to create a more responsible culture at the school.

Weve had these ideas prompt, prepared, productive, polite in the background, but this year, as a staff we started thinking about how we could bring these to life for the students, Principal Dianna Veleke said. We decided to make a theme for each of these and focus on it for a month. It makes a huge difference when kids are aware.

The first month, the school focused on Prompt and set a goal to lower the number of tardies reported throughout the day.

At the beginning of the year, we would have days where we had less than 14 tardies all day long. As the year drags on, we start having students come late to school, they socialize in the hallways and and slide in the door to class late, the principal said. We decided to set a goal of 10 or less tardies a day, and we made it.

To encourage students to participate in the program, staff offered incentives. At the end of the month, if the school meets its goal, the bell schedule is shortened and students have a choice of activities at the end of the day. Students can visit the computer lab, play Bingo, participate in art projects, visit the gym or just hang out with friends.

A bonus seventh word passport gives students access to free periods every week if they complete all assignments.

The kids arent discouraged. They see it as something that will help them, Veleke said. I think we can do a lot of incentives, but what really makes a difference is when they can see the payoffs, when theyre doing better in class, getting better grades.

In January, the theme was Be Prepared, and students were asked to come to class with a book to read, a binder, writing utensil and an agenda. Students said the program and its reminders helped them remember their materials.

It helps a lot, and having everything makes you more organized, eighth-grader Genesis Lugo said. Maybe being more organized helps you get better grades.

The goal was an average 95 percent of students prepared for every class, and after a shaky start to the year, the number of students prepared for class jumped to 97 percent.

Its very exciting for me to see that the data has really changed, she said. Everybody rose to the occasion over it.

Next month the students will look at productive, and the school will set a grade point average 3.2 for the school to maintain for a month. Over the next few months, the school will focus on polite and participate. The last month will give students a chance to persevere by taking a second chance at any goals the school didnt meet in previous months.

Its building a culture, Veleke said. Kids believe in what were doing. We believe in it, we give them the tools, and its happening.