OTISFIELD — Otisfield Community School put its own festive spin on positive behavior interventions and supports last week with a school-wide Ticket Carnival, a student celebration that wraps up each trimester.

Each festival features activity stations, dreamed up by school staff, when students can choose how they want to cash in tickets earned with positive behaviors.

“At OCH, we practice what we call RIPPLE (respect, incredibly responsible, perseverance, practice safety, learners everywhere),” explained Principal Jessika Scheldrick. “When kids are caught following the rules of RIPPLE, they earn tickets” towards a future ticket carnival.

Among the choices for students at December’s carnival were temporary tattoos, a book sale, participating in rock painting or a Santa’s workshop, playing basketball or karaoke, and cookie decorating.

Being a big fan of the Grinch, Sheldrick led a station dedicated making pillows of the Whoville hero whose heart grew three sizes on Christmas Day.

“The ticket carnival helps students who might not normally connect, get to connect with one another,” Sheldrick said. “It helps them build friendships and mentorships.  For example, a sixth grader might hang out with a PreK student and help the younger one navigate the event.  Or a first grader and a third grader may wander together to visit different stations.

“It really helps maintain our sense of community, and for the adults, too.”

OES’ ticket carnival is as much an opportunity for students to practice kindness as enjoy rewards for good behavior, according to Sheldrick.

“I don’t know how many times I heard, ‘I don’t have enough tickets to do this activity. I spent mine,’ and then hearing, ‘I’ll pay for you,’  or ‘Well, let’s put our tickets together and go to another activity.’

“It was a wonderful day!  A day to celebrate students making the right choices, their friendships, and our school.”