The Greater Dayton School recently brought together 138 families, 180 students and the entire school staff for its Spring Awards Ceremony. It’s a twice-a-year event designed to celebrate achievement, reinforce values and recognize the people helping students build long-term success.
The Greater Dayton School is one of three in-house programs operated by Kids & Community Partners, The Connor Group’s non-profit arm.
At the Spring Awards Ceremony, 28 awards were presented to students, staff and families. Students were recognized for progress toward the school’s Age 27 Goals, a long-term vision that focuses on helping students become physically and mentally healthy, live with character and integrity, achieve financial independence, establish a career and define success for themselves.
Teachers were honored through Core Value Awards, which recognize staff members who model the school’s values: Student-first; student-centered. Dream big; work hard. Ownership by everyone. Do the right thing.
Families were also celebrated for their partnership with the school and their role in supporting student success.
“As we know, successful people need to truly feel success,” said Connor Group partner Ryan Ernst of Kids & Community Partners. “Our staff and students are succeeding at rates virtually unheard-of anywhere in the American educational system. It’s important for us to take time to celebrate that success.”
That belief has become part of the culture at GDS, where recognition is not just about celebrating success but reinforcing the values behind it.
“Students and staff are truly buying into the culture we’re building at The Greater Dayton School,” GDS principal A.J. Stich said. “Presenters talked about our core values, our Age 27 Goals, and what those ideas mean in practice. Hearing those themes show up so naturally in their stories and reflections reinforced that this work has become an important part of the fabric of our school community.”
As the school closes its extended school year, the Spring Awards Ceremony served as a reminder of what happens when recognition is done with purpose. It celebrates progress, strengthens culture and it gives students something to strive for.
