Close to 600 elementary students passed through the Father Kennedy Catholic Education Centre this past month to receive a Director’s Award of Excellence.
The celebration was created to recognize and honour the outstanding achievements of students in a number of different categories and subject areas. The awards, presented annually, recognize 12 students from each elementary school for excellence in academics, faith, and community involvement.
“This recognition is big deal,” said Director of Education David Hansen.
In his address to award winners, Mr. Hansen emphasized the importance of the day.
“You have been chosen by your principals and the staff back as examples of the excellence of your school. Not better than your friends back at the school, but examples of the excellence of the school.”
“And in my mind, that is a pretty big deal.”
The first award, “Catholic School Mission/Vision,” recognize a student who models the virtues of Catholic education, specifically, working for and promoting a more just, caring and peaceful school community. The next award – for “Academic Excellence” – is given to a student for overall academic achievement, while “Excellent Effort in the Pursuit of Learning” recognizes a student who works diligently and strives for continuous improvement.
In more recent years, to reflect the board’s commitment to Stewardship of Creation, an Environmental Award was established to recognize student efforts in creating a greener and more environmentally sustainable school community. It is both a subject and a specialty award. The final award category recognizes academic proficiency in the following subject areas: Arts; Religion & Family Life; Language; Science/Technology; Mathematics; Social Studies/History/Geography; French as a Second Language; Health & Physical Education; and French Immersion (for French Immersion schools).
One by one, as students were called up from their seats to receive their award, Mr. Hansen invited them to look into the audience where family members were proudly cheering them on, and thank them, as well.
“I know you don't sit here today without them and what they've done for you,” he said.
“You know, there is a famous story, whether it's true or not, of the artist Michelangelo, and he was asked, how does he come up with the sculptures that he does, and he said, ‘well, when I look at a block of marble, I actually see the masterpiece inside, and then my job is to cut away the parts that don't belong and reveal the masterpiece.’”
“I think that's kind of a good analogy for what we do as parents. We're gifted these children, they come with their unique experiences and their unique talents, and over time we help them reveal the masterpieces inside them.”
“That's what we're here to celebrate.”