Message to Parents of Seniors

Dear Senior Parents,
 
I would like to clarify the two different invitation letters that you or your Senior son/daughter may have received earlier this week.  The first letter went to Senior students who earned an overall 90 and 95 GPA up through the 3^rd marking period inviting them to a gathering on the 16^th during homeroom to receive their “Honors” and “Honors with Distinction” cords which will be worn at Commencement.
 
The 90 and 95 GPA recognition system is new this year and was board-approved in December 2015. It serves to expand what was once a recognition of the Top 20, to shine the spotlight and celebrate all students who worked hard to achieve at high levels (90 and above).  As a result, there are more students receiving honors/cords:  66 at 90 and above … with 14 of those at 95 and above. Our recognition committee, which was established last year, decided to hold a separate gathering in order to recognize those Seniors who achieved the 90 or 95 GPA.  We met with that group of students this morning in the high school auditorium. During this gathering, students names were called individually and they were given their honors cords.  A group photo was taken and will be posted to our school Facebook page and our school webpage. 
 
In addition, some seniors also received a letter this week inviting them, along with their parents, to Honors Convocation which takes place this evening at 7:00 PM in the Upper Commons.  Only Seniors receiving an award received an invitation to Honors Convocation, which is largely a junior scholarship recognition ceremony.  These senior awards include:
 

• Senior Distinction Awards
• National Merit Awards
• NYS Music Association Awards
• NYS Dept. Scholarship for Academic Excellence

 
These awards have always been given at convocation. There are no changes to that event other than there will not be a gathering of the Top 20.
 
Thank you for your partnership and support as we continually strive to improve and look for ways to better serve our students.

Thank you,
 
Principal Santoro