Students at St. Stephen's Academy cannot simply join one of the many and varied clubs offered on Fridays each week at the school — they must climb the "Steps to Success" and earn their way in.

The program allows students to earn points for positive behavior in every class they attend. The points are earned when students demonstrate to their teachers characteristics of "the four Rs," or readiness, respect, responsibility and rule-following.

There are four levels of achievement according to the number of points accrued, and each level offers more desirable activities to participate in. Points are taken away for negative behaviors.

Step one, for example, allows students entry into the Social Skills Club. Step two offers students the opportunity to shop in the school store, go on field trips, attend assemblies, participate in clubs and play on an intramural team.

Step three adds participation in the volunteer program, and the highest step, step four, affords students a hall pass, seating at a student lunch table and consideration for a transition room in the on-campus housing facility.

Some of the clubs available to students include art club, creative cooking, chess/checkers, horse barn, horticulture, computers, hiking and intramural football.

St. Stephen's offers these clubs largely through donations of items for each club. Businesses or individuals interested in donating items for the clubs or the school store can contact Vicky Pacey, deputy director of resource development at Glade Run Lutheran Services, at 724-452-4453, Ext. 1177.