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At Kilmer Middle School, getting written up can be cause for celebration. Through March 18, staff had issued more than 1,400 “Positive Referrals” during the school year, recognizing students for helpful actions and good habits.

That total exceeds the school’s enrollment of about 1,200 students and reflects a program designed to make everyday kindness visible.

Seventh grader Sai Gaddabathini earned his first referral after helping another student fix a malfunctioning laptop. His classmate Mohammed Mansour received one after assisting a student with an English question.

Staff record each positive action on a small card that is displayed in the cafeteria window. Students also receive a coupon for candy or a bag of chips donated by the Kilmer PTA.

The cards accumulate so quickly that the cafeteria windows must be cleared every few months.

Principal Steven McFarlane said the program grew from the school’s desire to recognize students who make good choices each day. He said middle school educators must care about both academic content and students’ development as people.

Science teacher Kristen Mattix has watched the referrals help shape her seventh-grade classroom. Many students arrive at Kilmer from different elementary schools and are initially shy around one another, she said. As they see classmates celebrated for helping, they become more willing to step in.

Mattix now writes fewer referrals because that behavior has become part of the classroom culture. When she does present one, students ask her to read it aloud and respond with enthusiastic applause.

Seventh grader Naomi Rosner said the recognition can be especially meaningful at an age when students often doubt themselves or compare themselves with others.

“When you get a Positive Referral you realize, ‘Hey, I am really good the way I am,’” Naomi said, adding that the experience reminds students they are smart, kind and capable of doing great things.

Staff members say the recognition can create a chain reaction. School counselor Kristen Reighard explained that a helpful act benefits both the student receiving assistance and the student whose kindness is acknowledged.

Physical education teacher Alexia Flynn described it as a domino effect: When classmates see someone earn a referral, they want to step up and earn one too.

For many students, that sense of well-being matters more than the cafeteria treat. Naomi said the program shows students that doing good feels good.

Mohammed put it more simply: “Candy or no candy, it’s good to help people.”