Starting this quarter students at Fountain Hills Middle School will start receiving a wristband if they make the honor roll or the principal’s list.

This new reward for academic prowess is just one part of the effort that FHMS principal, James Carrick, is spearheading to do more to celebrate the academic achievements of students.

“It has always annoyed me, as an administrator and as a teacher,” Carrick said. “We focus so much on the athletics and the clubs – rightfully so, they are huge accomplishments – but we are an academic institution. I don’t think we do a good job at prompting all of our great academic accomplishments.”

Along with creating tangible rewards like wristbands, Carrick also wants to make the students who achieve this success more visible.

“For academic groups like spelling bee winners and honor roll students, we’re going to have framed pictures of them in the front lobby,” Carrick said. “Eventually, we’ll move them to another hall and keep the photos in the lobby current and up to date.”

Carrick’s excitement has spread to his teachers as they start to look for new ways to spotlight students’ academic success.