Archive: Around Town

Twelve Lansing high School students were recognized with 'Student of the Quarter Awards' earlier this month.  High School business teacher Matt Loveless told the Board Of Education Monday that this new initiative will seek to acknowledge students who are not typically recognized for academic or athletic achievements. 

"We brainstormed as a staff about different areas we would like to acknowledge individual students in terms of achievements in the classroom -- not necessarily academically," Loveless reported.  "Students who are participation catalysts, students who come prepared to class on a regular basis, students who are helpful or respectful towards others."

Loveless led the 'Student of the Quarter Awards' initiative, resenting the awards for the first time about two weeks ago in a ceremony attended by parents and other family members.


Recipients for the second quarter are Thomson Khan (11th grade), Peter Karandeyev (12th), Dylan Bland (12th), Lauren Menzies (9th), Alexis Ryan (9th), Caleb Moseley (10th), Zachary Detrick (10th), Ryan Buchanan (10th), Michael Bashta (10th), Jared Sterling (10th), Jarod Christofferson (11th) and Kala Mattoon (11th).

High school teachers volunteered to be part of a committee that came up with a list of suggested characteristics for teachers to look at when thinking about which students to nominate.  Each department recognized one student for a total of 12 recipients for the second school quarter.

"We also asked faculty or staff to generate a one minute write-up about these students," Loveless said.  "Qualities, characteristics of what the student has achieved that quarter.  We sent a letter home to the parents or guardians of nominated students.  On February 13th we held our first ceremony."

"It's the personal approach," said High School Principal Coleen Ledley.  "They wrote very personal paragraphs that they read to the kids in front of their families.  I think it made it really meaningful.  It was remarkable how each of these students had a hard time standing up in front of everybody and taking that kind of praise.  For many of them it was their first time."

Loveless says the faculty intends to offer the rewards in future quarters.  Middle School Principal Jamie Thomas said the idea would also work well in the Middle School.

"It was a nice opportunity for these kids to be recognized for achievements or qualities they exhibited throughout the quarter," Loveless said.  "This is something we are looking to continue in the third quarter."

v10i7