San Jose Middle School

The Scorpion “Scholar Dollars” Program

Introducing Scorpion Scholar Dollars
to Recognize Lifelong Learners, Community Builders, and Change Makers
How to Earn | Tracking Your Total | What Can You Buy | When and How to Redeem

Our Vision at SJMS is to inspire and empower each other to be Lifelong Learners, Community Builders, and Change Makers. We believe these are essential qualities that make for a better individual life and a better world. To encourage and recognize students for modeling those qualities, we are proud to introduce The Scorpion Scholar Dollars Program.

How It Works

Students can earn Scorpion Scholar Dollars for all kinds of activities, like participating actively in class, showing extraordinary kindness and respect to others, and looking for ways to create positive change in our community.

Scholar Dollars will be awarded by your teachers when they notice you demonstrating the qualities of a Lifelong Learner, Community Builder, or Change Maker. More details on what this looks like are below.

We’ll highlight point leaders in school-wide announcements, and students will be able to redeem their Scholar Dollars for fun prizes on a special Shopping Day.

The Qualities That Earn Scholar Dollars

- Values learning and is motivated to gain new knowledge
- Perseveres through challenges in the learning process
- Examines different points of view
What does this look like?
- Participating in class
- Above-and-beyond effort on schoolwork
- Reading outside of school
- Deep investigation and insight into class material
- Models empathy, respect, and responsibility
- Demonstrates collaboration, camaraderie, and values difference
- Seeks global awareness and forms relationships with the global community
What does this look like?
- Showing kindness and respect to others (beyond expectations)
- Participating in spirit events
- Responding to teacher requests on Zoom calls
- Encouraging peers to participate and collaborate
- Advocates for self and others
- Leads by example
- Finds solutions
- Searches for ways to improve school and community
What does this look like?
- Checking in with teacher about schoolwork or grades
- Seeking ways to create positive change in community
- Setting and working toward goals
- Setting high expectations for self and others

How Do You Know Your Total?

Our teaching staff maintains a spreadsheet that tracks all students’ Scholar Dollars totals. To check your total, just ask any teacher

What Can You Buy with Scholar Dollars?

There are FOUR levels of prizes:

Check out the seriously cool prizes! Please note that items are subject to substitution based on their availability, and colors and styles may differ from what is pictured.

Where and How Can You Redeem Your Scholar Dollars?

On Wednesday, December 2nd, there will be a Virtual Shopping Day during your first-period advisory. You’ll have a chance to spend your Scholar Dollars and select your prizes. You will be able to pick up your prize(s) at SJMS approximately two weeks following your shopping day.

A calendar page showing December 2nd with the text 'Scholastic Dollar Shopping Day!'