SODA SPRINGS — Schools are consistently seeking new ways to motivate students to push themselves to maintain good grades and Tigert Middle School in Soda Springs is no exception to this endeavor.

Many factors are attributed to poor student performance in the classroom. There is a growing rate of discouragement, anxiety and depression in young kids that is increasing year after year. All of which are linking back to lower classroom participation which inhibits learning capabilities.

Tigert Middle School introduced the SOAR (Serve, Overcome, Achieve, and Respect) motto a few years back and decided this school year to apply the grade motivation program to its curriculum. Tigert teacher Michael Woolley saw a similar program at work from a previous school and helped bring the idea to the schedule.

Students who maintained a minimum GPA of a “C” qualify for SOAR time, which is held the last two periods of the day, every other Thursday. If a student has anything below a C average, those student’s have to use this time for study hall and receive extra help.

Students chose from a variety of activities that change each quarter. A few example activities include making friendship bracelets, rocketry, gardening, dirt bike maintenance, backpacking, chess, ultimate frisbee, golf, archery, theatrical makeup, bingo and a number of service projects.

The school resource officer Trevyn Phelps was often found teaching such things as evidence gathering, fingerprinting and shoe printing, as well as joining Sgt. Cejay Golightly for a K-9 demonstration.

Recently, sixth grade math teacher Chelsie Potter and a group of girls were able to donate a number of baby hats to the maternity department at Caribou Medical Center. The girls spent weeks weaving on looms to finish enough hats for donation.

Potter commented how much the SOAR program has helped not only those who were struggling to make grades but also noticed self-esteem improved in students and how it pushed them to try things they probably never would have otherwise.

Parents have shared how they have appreciated the life-lessons SOAR taught their children.

“It has taught these kids service to others, compassion and how to see a project through from start to finish,” said seventh grade parent Kimi Hopkins. “As a parent, I have heard the excitement in my child’s voice when she shares about the projects she’s been involved in. Things from learning about horses to doing diamond painting.”

Hopkins spoke about how its Angel Tree program at Custom Iron had a chance to be on the giving side when one SOAR project was led by Becca Sweers, an active learning classroom teacher at Tigert Middle School. Sweers brought her class to choose some angels of their own to serve. The class raised money, shopped for angels and brought the gifts back to Custom Iron.

“It was a great lesson and the kids had fun doing it,” Hopkins said.

Maty Hopkins, a seventh grader at Tigert Middle School, added “I liked SOAR and the new projects we were able to choose from each quarter. It encouraged me to get good grades and to be better in school. It was fun and the wide variety of things to pick from is great and is still growing. I loved SOAR this year and hope it comes back next year.”

Tigert has found a successful way to connect to a high number of students and create a positive way for students themselves to create self-discipline. SOAR continues to be a great motivator for students. Many faculty, parents and students hope to see the program return this fall.