Meeting on September 27

Present: Mrs. Heflin, Mr. Weiskopf, Kerman, Todaro, Senkfor, Floyd, Moeller, Menon, Voigt, Kareti, Fulton

-Introduction of new freshmen senators

-Explanation of how senate works for new senators

-There was general agreement that there was no need of a proposal surrounding community service and that if Mr. Harris passed on the message that the senate would suggest the house system encourages community service more actively, this would be sufficient.

-Mr. Harris brought up the issue of the commend student list

-Mr. Harris explained the creation of the commended student system and the issue of its publication

·      Mr. Harris noted the honor Role had become meaningless and the school needed a new system to recognize broader achievement in effort and improvement, etc.

·      Mr. Harris observed there was anxiety about whether or not or how the list should become public

·      Mr. Harris explained there was a fear that if the listed was posted students would analyze it and create a negative environment

·      The senate decided it would be read in school meeting one time and never written down anywhere

·      Mr. Harris said there have been two commended student lists since the last announcement in school meeting.  He sees a need for more timely public recognition.

·      Mr. Harris asked if we should just publish the list.

-A senator suggested we make the announcement at awards day however there was agreement that this was too soon.

-There was agreement that there is no way to solve the publication of the list in the spring intensive and it is best to just send it out on hawknet to the recipients.

-Some senators felt there is not much public anxiety among the students about the list and it would not be an issue to publish it.

-Mr. Harris said it is nice that the list is low-key but it should be public

-There was agreement that the list is should be read in school meeting if the option is available.

-A visitor did not see the meaning in the list and feared it could be seen as a pity prize.

-Mr. Harris addressed these concerns with the idea that the list allows each teacher to decide what is commendable scholarship (taking risks, being involved positively, excellent and consistent grades, improvement, etc.)

-One senator raised the issue of poor communication surrounding the list and that students to not understand the qualifications for it.

-One senator expressed concern that people don’t care about the list.

-Mr. Harris said the list matters for some people and the deans use it as a motivational tool (especially for students who did not expect to be recognized)

-One senator raised further concern about public awareness of the list.

-One senator explained the list was designed to be a big deal (only 10% of the class) but it also lets everyone have a shot at it.  There is a belief that over time people will understand it.

-One senator said the list matters to some people and so it should be kept and adds the awards day acts as a larger aspiration and a published list allows for semi-regular motivation for those who need it.

-One senators said not having the same student two times in a row causes the list to be less competitive and so it means less to recipients. The senator suggests a note of praise may be adequate to motivate students

-Mr. Harris said the list is also about public recognition as well and that some extraordinary students get selected often (making it meaningful).  Mr. Harris also said that the list remains selective due to the pattern of repeat recipients (recognition is not spread out evenly). 

-Senators said the list is important and encouraging to many people and doesn’t have a negative side to it.  A senator adds a published list will not change it.

-A visitor said the nature of the list which prevents students from being recognized twice in a row makes the list less selective and so it is not appreciated.

-Mr. Harris said the senate thoughtfully selected the number of up to 20% of the student body being recognized in a rotation plus intensive and afterwards there could be repeat winners.  Mr. Harris said this system is a balance between diluting the award and keeping it achievable.

-One senator said the nature of the list in that is awarded in the intensive and the rotation allows recipients to receive recognition for either the intensive or the rotation so the recognition is timely and accurate.