Star Team Awards

Descriptions and Criteria

The following awards are given annually at the Star Team Awards Ceremony held at the end of the year.  It is likely that each award will be presented to more than one student.  Students may qualify for consideration for more than one of the awards described, but students are eligible only to receive one award.  Not all students will qualify for an award, and, if appropriate, not all awards will be presented.

N.O.V.A. Award
        This award's name is an acronym for Notable, Outstanding, and Vigilant Achievement.  This award is presented by an individual teacher who wants to recognize special effort and/or achievement in his/her classroom.  The award can be earned in math, language arts, social sciences, or science.  While the grade a person earns in the class can have an impact on consideration for this award, teachers reserve the right to consider anyone who demonstrates the characteristics of hard work, self-motivation, positive participation, and a desire to achieve.  Students who can be considered for a N.O.V.A. Award in more than one area may be considered for one of the higher awards given by the Star Team.

Rising Star Award
        During the course of any school year, teachers observe some individuals who make deliberate, measurable, and marked improvements in the way they approach their schoolwork, in the way they perform academically, or in the way they manage their behavior in the classroom.  The Star Team wants to recognize those individuals who have shown improvement in their performance, and have therefore the Rising Star Award.  Students who earn this award generally have shown grade and/or citizenship improvement in more than one class, and perhaps all classes.  A consensus of all teachers on the Star Team is sought before presenting this award.

S.T.A.R. Award
        This award's name is an acronym for Sensitive, Truthful, Amicable, and Respectful Individual.  Those students who would be considered for the S.T.A.R. Award demonstrate qualities of personal character that the Star Team of teachers believe to be the building blocks to success.  At Kennedy, people who live by the "Six Pillars of Character" earn our respect and admiration.  We believe that persons of character are as likely as top scoring students to find success in our world.  The criteria for this award are in the name, and because of the subjective nature of this award, recipients are chosen unanimously by the teaching team.

Sir Isaac Newton Award
        One of the operational and deliberate aims of our curriculum on the Star Team is to develop critical thinking skills.  Developmentally, eighth grade students are at all different places on the spectrum as regards critical thinking.  This award's purpose, then, is to highlight our goal of critical thinking, and recognize those students whose personal development of the skills is deserving notice.  Students become eligible for this award by demonstrating their emerging skills in this area and being dedicated to their development.  Generally, Star teachers reach a consensus on the students who earn this award.

Shining Star Award
        The Shining Star Award is given to students who have performed admirably in every class.  Students who have earned A's and B's consistently throughout the year could qualify for this award.  Other criteria include consistent homework completion, positive participation in class, and a contribution to the overall academic environment.  This award in an indication of excellent general achievement in the courses offered by the Star Team.  Winners will be determined by a unanimous selection by the team of teachers.

Polaris Award
        This is the highest award offered by the Star Team.  Students who qualify for this award are distinguished by excellent performance on several levels in every class.  This award exists for those who should be honored for their academic, behavioral, developmental, and social growth.  These students are the Stars of Stars.  Just as the North Star (called Polaris) is used by people trying to find their way, these students are models of behavior and achievement who others would be wise to emulate.  Winners will be determined by a unanimous selection by the Star's teaching team.