A Look Behind the Curtain: The Laker Way at Work

At first glance, The Laker Way may look like a simple system. At both Spring Lake Intermediate School and Spring Lake Middle School, staff hand out small tickets to students for being respectful, responsible, and caring. On the surface, it feels lighthearted—an encouraging word here, a quick recognition there. It is that: positive, simple, and fun.

But The Laker Way is more than just passing out tickets. It is an intentional framework designed by staff to help build a culture where positive behaviors ripple through the building and shape the way students and staff interact every day.

The approach is built around three core goals:

• Strengthening school culture. Recognizing students for their choices reinforces the values of respect, responsibility, and care, helping those qualities grow within the school community.

• Reducing cruelty. By focusing on positive interactions, The Laker Way helps minimize meanness and reinforces a culture where every student feels safe and valued.

• Providing support. The system also helps staff notice when students may need additional guidance, ensuring no one slips through the cracks.

What may look like a small gesture—handing a student a ticket—is actually part of a much larger, thoughtful process. Every ticket is a reminder to students that their choices matter, that they are seen, and that they belong.

Most importantly, this work begins on Day One. From the very start of the school year, students learn that The Laker Way isn’t just about following rules; it’s about building a community where respect, responsibility, and care shape every interaction.