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Upper School Recognition & Awards
School Year 2008-2009
| Recognition and Awards for Our Students |
| At American Heritage and American Academy, we expect our students to do their best at all times, whether it’s in daily academic classes, the playing field or court, or special academic contests. We believe in recognizing students’ efforts in a variety of ways. |
| ACADEMIC RECOGNITIONS |
| High Honors lists are posted quarterly. Students who maintain a 4.0 or above average make the High Honors List. Exemplary behavior and a record of promptness to class are also required. Students named to the High Honor List are honored quarterly at a Principal’s Breakfast funded by the PTO. |
| SPORTS |
| Sports Awards Assemblies are held six times yearly for all students participating in our sports teams and their parents. Each athlete is individually recognized. Most Valuable and Most Improved players are named for each team. At the last assembly of the year, Most Valuable Male and Most Valuable Female Athletes of the Year are named. |
| CONTESTS/COMPETITIONS/CONFERENCES |
| A Speech Contest, held in the fall, offers opportunities to Upper School students to earn plaques/trophies/scholarships. Students involved in the Fine Arts Department have the opportunity to participate in art shows at Promenade, Broward County Fair, musical competitions at All County Band and All County Solo Ensemble; drama competitions in Florida Theater Conference, S.E. Theater Convention, District and State Thespian (both individual and one-act). Both a major musical and major drama or comedy are put on yearly by Upper School Fine Arts students. At the end of each year, Best Actor, Best Actress, Rising Star and Director’s Choice awards are given at the Annual Fine Arts Banquet. American Heritage Upperclassmen are nominated for the nationally known Hugh O’Brian Youth Foundation and Freedoms Foundation conferences yearly. We send representatives to Youth Leadership Broward and encourage student participation in local programs. |
| HONOR SOCIETIES |
| Inductions are held each year for Spanish Honor Society, French Honor Society, and National Honor Society. (Student Handbook contains specifics on these societies). |
| END OF YEAR AWARDS |
| End of the year awards ceremonies are held in late spring for both grades 7 and 8 and grades 9-11. These are evening ceremonies to which honored students and their guests are invited. Top students in each class (Math 8, Life Science 7, etc.) are presented with a certificate of honor. The Patriot Award is given to one student at each grade level who has made a noticeable difference in the school’s program through his/her participation in athletics, fine arts, compliance with all rules, and general student morale. A plaque is awarded and the student’s name is engraved on a plaque on permanent display in the Upper School office. Outstanding Student Award is given to one student at each grade level who has shown an exemplary academic record plus participation in school activities. An individual plaque is awarded and the student’s name is engraved on a plaque on permanent display in the Upper School office. Each May, seniors have their own special dinner where all their achievements, and contributions are honored. Family members and faculty gather at a local restaurant. The evening begins with a dinner, followed by each department naming (and presenting gifts to) its outstanding senior. Throughout the evening, various accomplishments are recognized. American Heritage’s Patriots Athletic Club and the Center for the Arts present scholarships to select seniors who have shown exemplary character, scholarship and involvement in the total program. (Seniors have an opportunity in the spring to present applications for these scholarships). The valedictorian and salutatorian are honored with a plaque and one senior is named "outstanding" and presented with a gift from the faculty. A senior video is usually considered the hit of the evening. This special evening is our way of honoring those who have provided leadership serving as role models to the underclassmen throughout the year. |
| (This is by no means an all-inclusive listing of the rewards and recognition given to deserving students. It is intended to give the highlights and requirements of our traditional awards in upper school.) |
| NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY/ JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY (Heritage Only) |
| Requirements for membership in the National Honor Society: 4.3 cumulative GPA and 60 hours of community service (within the last school year preceding the induction) are minimum requirements. Documentation will be required for service, so we suggest you ask for verification as you complete the service. The faculty council in their deliberations for membership look for an on-going pattern of service, not a one month block of "getting hours in." Outstanding scholarship, service, character, and leadership are required by the National Honor Society. For assistance in finding places you can perform community service locally, access Youth Service America’s web site at www.SERVEnet.org. |