<p>I have very mixed feelings about school awards ceremonies. I still remember my HS freshman awards ceremony where one boy got every single award. Ticked me off, but then again, if he was the best…</p>
<p>My daughter’s middle school gives an award for the highest grade in every class (one award even if there are multiple sections.) This year they gave two kids an “Academic Excellence” award. It was because their names kept cropping up for the highest grade, so instead of having them win every award, they got a big award, and other kids got the individual awards. I think that was a good way to handle the situation.</p>
<p>Our middle school just gives awards to everyone over a certain grade point average (over 1/3 of the school!) </p>
<p>At D’s high school, the teachers get together and pick awardees for each department. It is not usually the highest grade, it could be for diligence, attitude, etc, and kids from non-honors as well as honors classes receive recognition. One of D’s teachers went out of her way to tell her and a few others that she was not giving them awards since they are already being recognized for other things. It was not necessary for her to tell them this, none of them would be devastated by not getting awards in every single department; they understand the need to spread these things around among all the deserving kids.</p>
<p>My son’s middle school award night is tonight. probably 450 kids in his 8th grade class. GPA Awards for about 60 between 3.5 and 4.0; about 120 between 3 and 3.5., 180 total. Very nice, I think. </p>
<p>There is a special list of those who have a 4.0. I am not crazy about that, because it causes extra stress on the perfectionists. (No stress on my easy-going son, but for some? knowing she needed a 4.0, never even an A-, to be on the special short list would have given my niece sleepless nights.)</p>
<p>Of course, while I found the award to be wise and sensitive, my daughter was still a bit ticked because one of the girls who received the excellence award is actually a good friend of hers and is NOT taking the most difficult classes offered, although she could certainly do well in them. I guess it’s a parental move calculated to insure awesome grades…higher level middle school grades are not given extra weight.</p>
<p>Funny m.s. award story from my house…At my S’s 8th grade grad., he missed getting the perfect 4.0 ribbon/recognition due to one class, a B in Social Studies (first B he had ever made in sch. to that point) from a teacher who had missed almost half of the school year with med. problems and was extemely unorganized…lost papers, inaccurrate grading,etc. </p>
<p>So after the 4.0’s are recognized, they give out class awards. Guess what S gets? Best 8th grade Social Studies Student award!</p>
<p>PackMom, probably a good life lesson for your child about awards, teachers, etc.</p>
<p>missypie, lol, that was long ago. He’s 21 now. I remember him tossing the little award plaque to me when we got home saying he didn’t have any use for it (in typical 14 yr. old boy fashion). “It doesn’t count for anything, he said. Everybody knows high schol grades are all that count,Mom.”</p>
<p>My middle school limited “academic excellence” awards to one per student (each teacher presented one.) Had they not, certain people would have received these awards from all 8 of their classes.</p>
<p>I remember our k-8 school devising more and more awards so that those who did not get academic awards would still get something, such as most improved student, best citizen, etc…</p>
<p>I’m still debating whether i should go to my high school awards ceremony. I know I will be getting at least couple awards, but I don’t really like the whole idea of an awards ceremony. The past couple years, all the kids that have gotten awards have been the “suck-ups”, and it seems very unfair which leaves many deserving kids out of awards. I also think these awards ceremonies leave more kids feeling sad at the end than happy. While a few may feel excited, a majority is left feeling bitter and sad. </p>
<p>My mom wants to go the awards ceremony mainly to show off, but i am against the whole idea. I have a couple days to decide, but as of right now, i don’t really want to go.</p>
<p>Our school only gives out merit scholarships on awards night. They also recognize the kids who are graduating with honors, but nothing else. No best art student, no best English student, etc.</p>
<p>I am opposed to the ceremonies where it is totally about touchy feeling.</p>
<p>azngamer54, go to your awards ceremony as a gift to others. As a non-suck-up who has done well, those who know you or know of you will be inspired by your success and motivated to do better. Give your Mom a little pleasure. Give anti-intellectualism a shove.</p>
<p>misspye, I like what your school chose to do also.</p>
<p>Our high school’s senior awards night is usually a long drawn out affair sitting on uncomfortable gym bleachers. Thankfully the school sends letters a week in advance to seniors who will receive awards so you kow whether you need to be present or not</p>
<p>. We attended the 3 hour affair when S1 was a senior. It turned out to be a long boring parade of the same few kids (not mine!) getting heaps of praise while picking up community based scholarships or class awards. Each comm. organization that gave an award sent a rep. who made flowery speeches about each recipient. It took way too long. In contrast, the Chief who presented S1’s NROTC scholarship was quick and to the point!</p>
<p>We did not attend the awards night for S2’s class last week as we knew he would no be getting any award. Generally only the seniors (and parents of)getting awards show up. It is just too long to sit through if you don’t have a stake in it.</p>
<p>Interesting, our school only invites the parents of student receiving an award. They send out a letter about a month before stating your child will be receiving an award…of course you know that b/c they have to take copies of the scholarship letter to the gc.</p>