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This 2019-2020 school year, Los Banos High School introduced Renaissance cards to their students. Renaissance cards are given to deserving students to reward them for their good or improving grades.

Each quarter, students will receive cards based on their grade point average.  Different colored cards will be available for various GPA levels.  If a student’s GPA is 3.8 or better, he/she will receive a gold card. If a student’s GPA is 3.0 to 3.79, he/she will receive a red card. If a student’s GPA increases .5 he/she will receive a white card.

Ms. Latta, vice principal is in charge of handling the Renaissance cards. She said they have been planning on bringing Renaissance cards back since last year. Los Banos High School had Renaissance cards about 10 years ago, although, the teacher who handled them left the school so they stopped the program. Latta says Mr. Gurgen, principal, remembered doing the Renaissance cards when he was only a teacher at the school, so he brought up bringing the program back to the school this year.

Latta says they brought back the cards to recognize hard work and reward students who are getting good grades. The Renaissance cards are also a good way to motivate students to work harder and push up their grades so they can receive privileges.

These privileges are distinct to the three colored cards. Gold card holders can receive goodie bags, eligibility for prizes awarded at the end of each quarter including deficiencies, free treats at lunch at the end of each quarter including deficiencies, front of the lunch line pass any day of the week, hall pass privileges, early out to lunch two days a week, two late to school passes, and teacher incentives.

Red card holders can receive goodie bags, eligibility for prizes awarded at the end of quarter, free treats at the end of the quarter including deficiencies, front of the lunch line pass Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, hall pass privileges, one late to school pass, early out to lunch one day a week, and teacher incentives. White card holders receive goodie bags, eligibility for prizes awarded at the end of each quarter, front of the lunch line pass on Wednesdays, and teacher incentives.

Mrs. Latta says they are also working on getting local businesses to give benefits to card holders. For example, the school will partner with a business and students that have Renaissance cards will be able to get discounts off that business’ products.

The first week after handing out Renaissance cards, all three level card holders were excused early from fourth period in order to receive their lunch.received a free taco lunch. Latta says they do not plan on doing anymore big lunches like that one, but will do smaller things like giving out free hot chocolate at lunch to card holders in the winter.

Most students when asked their thoughts about the cards love leaving early for lunch.  Junior Zachary McCullough said, “The best part so far with having a card is leaving early for lunch.  It helps getting out before the others in order to get to the parking lot.”

In the spring, the school hopes to host a spring Renapalooza Carnival where only Renaissance card holders will be able to attend.