|
Royal Treatment for Academic Achievers at Palmetto High School
(PALMETTO FL - December 1st, 2006) High achieving students at Palmetto High now get the kind of royal treatment normally reserved for star athletes.
Thanks to the “Team Success” program introduced at the school this year, students at Palmetto who earn a grade point average of 3.0 or higher get access to all sorts of school-wide accolades.
On a recent Thursday morning, 922 Palmetto students who achieved or surpassed the 3.0 goal were excused from their first-period classes. Wearing white Team Success T-Shirts - emblazoned with the phrase “Paying attention to kids who pay attention” - the students paraded throughout the campus accompanied by fellow high academic achievers in the school's marching band.
Palmetto High principal Debbie Valcarcel led the parade in a red and white golf cart.
“With all of the concern and focus on No Child Left Behind and struggling readers, we want to make sure we don't forget about the kids who are doing well in school and being successful,” Valcarcel said. “We want to recognize them and in turn have them help us inspire other students.”
The Team Success approach appears to be working. From the final quarter of the last school year, through the end of the first quarter this school year, the number of students achieving a 3.0 or higher has risen 56 percent, according to Assistant Principal Bob Carroll, the Team Success Coordinator at Palmetto.
When the recent parade of successful students reached the school gym, the Team Success students were treated to cheers from the cheerleading squad, a dance number from the dance team and music from the band.
Each student received a new book bag and a plethora of prizes were given away including a plasma TV, portable DVD players, digital cameras and more.
“This is great,” said senior Ashley Clark, a Team Success student. “It's a good way to reward the students who are trying to do really well in school.”
The Team Success concept was initiated by an area educator named Fred Spence. He spoke to the students gathered in the gym and told them the goal was to help more of the school's total population of 1,950 students to strive for academic excellence.
“It's cool,” said freshman Johanna Fjare. “At most schools, the kids that do hard work don't get recognized.”
Palmetto High Team Success memebers celebrate academic achievement
