NEW RICHLAND — The faculty and staff at New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva High School have found a new way to promote positive character roles in its students.

Prior to the 2011-12 school year, the educators decided on implementing the Making the Cut program, which features students getting to cut men’s ties.

With this program the staff selects a word each week that they hope the students can strive to show as a part of their character. Words include those such as “organized,” “creative” and this week’s word — “spirited.”

“We’re trying to make kids more aware of ways to be good students and good citizens,” said Mark Domeier, an English teacher at NRHEG. “By seeing what other kids do in everyday life to deserve this reward, we hope others will simulate them in their own lives.”

The staff nominates the students who exemplify good examples of the week’s word and then the educators vote on a member of grades seven through nine and then grades 10 to 12.

Winners of the week’s voting get to take a pair of sheers and cut off the tie of either Domeier or Paul Cyr, the high school principal, at lunch on Fridays.

Domeier handles the duties for the middle school students and Cyr handles the high school students.

“I am known for wearing a tie almost every day, a dying attribute in today’s society,” Domeier said. “Thus, it made sense to use me for the junior high cutting since I teach at that level.”

Domeier uses his own ties, though he admits he selects the least expensive ones to get the snip. The two have also had tie donations from other men who don’t wear ties anymore.

The program is expected to run through the rest of the year.

“We’ll need 70 by the time we’re done!” Domeier said.

Beyond the bonus of cutting a staff member’s tie in front of the student body at lunch, the students also get to keep their half of the tie as a memento for their lockers.

“This is a good chance to focus on the positives among our student body,” he said. “And possibly recognize some kids who aren’t top scholars or athletes, but contribute a lot of good things to our school.”

Domeier added that Making the Cut has gotten the students excited during the week. He said they are always speculating and excited about who will get nominated.