S.T.A.R.

Students Thriving on Achievement & Responsibility

v Purpose: To motivate students to improve in accordance to the school statement of purpose and the Decatur Way – pride, respect, responsibility, and achievement.

v Target Audience: Grade 9 – 12 students in need of recognition. Students demonstrating academic achievement, personal growth, and /or the Decatur Way will be recognized.

v Criteria: Students showing marked improvement in any class (at least 5 percentage points), or representing Stephen Decatur in an activity, deed, or endeavor which exemplifies the Decatur Way are eligible for nomination. Honor roll students may only be nominated for behavior over and above the norm in a non-academic activity. Nominees are not automatically invited to the end of the year ceremonies. Students must maintain good behavior and academic standing according to the teacher that made the nomination and the committee. The same standards used for athletic eligibility will be followed in determining the final selection.

v Implementation: Each marking period staff members will recommend students they believe should be recognized. Students from Partners for Success, Honor Society, and other organizations may also make nominations to their advisors. The committee will review each nominee and present the students with a letter of recognition. If a student that is nominated has office referrals, an administrator will counsel the students and, when behavior improves, he or she may be recognized the following month.

v Recognition: A showcase of each month’s S.T.A.R.’s will display photographs and summaries of their accomplishments. Students that have maintained the criteria for the school year will be invited to a recognition breakfast with their parents and special guests. Each will receive a framed S.T.A.R. certificate of recognition, a gift certificate from a local merchant and opportunity for door prizes.