You can feel the energy each Friday afternoon as principal Steve Swain draws names from the positive behavior bucket. Over the course of four weeks, two students from each grade level at Chisholm Trail Middle School won a brand-new bike complete with helmets and locks if their names were chosen, thanks to a partnership with Salient Systems.
Salient Systems, a leading software provider of comprehensive, enterprise-class Video Management Software, donated 23 bicycles to Chisholm Trail to be given to students based on criteria determined by the campus.
The idea to donate the bikes was born out of a team-building exercise for Salient staffers. The company purchased new disassembled bikes with parts scrambled between all of the boxes. The teams had to negotiate with other teams and work together for all of the bikes to be assembled correctly. Originally, Salient planned to bring in Chisholm Trail students as part of the teamwork project, then let them take the bikes home, but a COVID surge caused a postponement until the summer months when students were not in class.
“We were so excited to include Chisholm Trail students in our team building,” Jill Nielsen, director of sales operations at Salient Systems, said. “Even though the middle schoolers were unable to attend in person, it was our honor to donate the bicycles to deserving students.”
Swain and his staff came up with the idea of rewarding students for positive behavior, especially teamwork, with tickets. Students added their tickets to the bucket all week in hopes of being one of the lucky winners on Fridays.
“Friday afternoons are an exciting time at Chisholm Trail,” Swain said. “The kids are really working to earn tickets for the drawing. The bicycles have been a great incentive for positive behavior. Some of our students have never owned a bicycle and it is especially heartwarming to see the smiles on their faces the first time they ride it. We sincerely appreciate the partnership with Salient Systems.”
