In most schools, getting “written up” means trouble. But at Kilmer Middle School in Fairfax County, it’s a reason to cheer.
Since August, hundreds of students like 8th grader Amanda Choate have been recognized with positive referrals—official write-ups that celebrate kindness, leadership, and community spirit. Amanda’s moment came during English class when her teacher interrupted to recognize her for encouraging classmates to speak up during a discussion about The Giver. As her peers applauded and she received a blue referral slip, she was overwhelmed with joy.
“It encourages us to come to school and excites us to come to school knowing that our actions and kindness to others do actually mean something,” Amanda said.
The program, launched at the end of last school year, was designed to flip the script on traditional referrals. Instead of only calling out bad behavior, Kilmer’s staff wanted to spotlight the good—building a culture of encouragement and positivity.
Any staff member can nominate a student via a simple Google form. Each week, those referrals are printed, with one copy posted on the cafeteria windows and the other given to the student. And yes, there’s a sweet reward: every Friday, students who receive a positive referral get a candy bar.
Principal Steven McFarlane says the impact has extended beyond the classroom. Some students are so proud, they hang their referrals on the fridge at home. “That, to me, tells me everything—the impact it has on kids and their families,” he said.
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Photo: Getty