Last night, Steinbach Regional Secondary School (SRSS) held their annual Grade Awards, honouring 275 individual students.
Vice Principal Greg Sawatzky explains that the ceremony celebrates the achievements of last year’s Grade 9, 10, and 11 students.
“This is looking at students that not only exceeded in academics but also in the vocational programs, the arts, the athletics, citizenship, leadership, all those areas that also demonstrate and develop individual character.”
He shares that it's important for SRSS to do this annually, as celebrating student's successes aligns with the school's values.
“We want to take some time to pause and recognize those students who have achieved high levels of success throughout the year. And as a staff, we feel it's really important to recognize our students, to show what we value as a school and as a community.”
There are various selection procedures depending on the awards and Sawatzky says the Academic Awards recognize the top 10% of their students in each grade who have maintained an average of at least 80%.
“But the reality is the top 10% all have averages in the high 90s, and they also have to have completed at least six courses over that school year. So, these would include your math, science and those typical subjects, but also graphic design, interdigital media, your applied commerce, technical and vocational awards which include automotive, carpentry, aesthetics, and culinary, those are based on marks.”
The Citizenship Award is based on student learning behaviours, and report cards.
“So, the report cards also have a place where teachers record and assess students on various learning behaviours and so we use that as our basis for Citizenship Award and it's a combination of staff input,” says Sawatzky. “The students need to be excellent contributors in class, and they also have to be consistently demonstrating positive learning behaviours.”
A number of awards including athletics, drama, and music, are nominated by the staff.
He explains that it’s a great way for the staff to connect with their high-achieving students.
“The vice principals and the grade level care team do get to hand out the Academic and Citizenship Awards, and that's special to us. We have over 500 students in each grade and so it's a good chance for us to see those shining stars who we might not see on a regular basis. So, it's really important for us to connect with those fine young people in a positive way and recognize their achievements.”
The award ceremony is always well attended and Sawatzky says it shows that the students and their families really care and are proud of their achievements.
“And in talking to some of the students the next days after and congratulating them, you can see it in their faces that they are proud that they've been recognized for one of these different categories, regardless of what it was, if it's an academic, citizenship, art, or drama. The fact that we celebrate that everybody's an individual and that everybody has their own gifts and talents, so kids get to see that ‘This is who I am, and this is what I'm good at’, And I think they do feel proud.”
Lastly, he shares an award that is sentimental to the SRSS staff.
“It's the Henry Kasdorf Award, it's an athletic award, it's named after Henry. He was a student and also a phys ed teacher here, a passionate coach and Henry really valued traits of good citizenship and strong leadership. Our phys ed staff, who are really connected with this award, they select one student from each grade who exhibits these characteristics.”
Pictures from the evening and award winners will soon be posted on the SRSS website!