No recognition

[Anonymous]

DD has been going to this private school for five years and has received zero recognition for academic achievements.

They have award ceremonies every year, but DD never gets awarded anything.

When DD gets all As, we only see “Honors Roll” or “Deans List” on the academic report PDF. There is not a ceremony where she is recognized.

When DD won first place in state math competition representing the school, a teacher handed her the certificate in a hallway, passing on the way to a class.

When her programming club placed second in a local competition, she was not acknowledged by the school.

It’s like she’s invisible.

Should I complain about it? What the actual f?

[Anonymous]

I agree with you - this would definitely annoy me.

[Anonymous]

Do other kids get recognized?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD has been going to this private school for five years and has received zero recognition for academic achievements.

They have award ceremonies every year, but DD never gets awarded anything.

When DD gets all As, we only see “Honors Roll” or “Deans List” on the academic report PDF. There is not a ceremony where she is recognized.

When DD won first place in state math competition representing the school, a teacher handed her the certificate in a hallway, passing on the way to a class.

When her programming club placed second in a local competition, she was not acknowledged by the school.

It’s like she’s invisible.

Should I complain about it? What the actual f?

Is she one of a few who earned straight As, or are there many other students who have, too? Does your school include a list of award winners at the end of the year/near prize day or whatever equivalent your school might have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Is she one of a few who earned straight As, or are there many other students who have, too? Does your school include a list of award winners at the end of the year/near prize day or whatever equivalent your school might have?

I don’t have data for how many get straight As. Her friend group mostly get As, but they’re the most academically overachieving group. But even in their group some have a B here and there.

It’s definitely very hard, she works very hard to get all As. I don’t think grades are inflated much.

[Anonymous]

OP I hear you. Seems like athletic achievements are always celebrated, but we somehow have to stifle the smart kids' recognition to make others not feel bad about themselves. It is ridiculous as the mom of a high academically achieving kid who is not super athletic.

[Anonymous]

I think you should read out to the PTA President as well as the Principal to inquire as to academic recognition of students, and couch your request in general terms, for all students.

Is the school interested in recognizing athletic, musical, theater performances as well? Is it their stated mission to prioritize academics (some schools don't want to create an academic pressure cooker), and reward the most outstanding academic work? If it is, then there are varying gradations of recognition. They could name the students in their weekly electronic newsletters to parents. Or they could wait until the end of the year, at the graduation/promotion ceremony, to hand to students of any grade, certificates for winning competitions or tournaments. There are ways and means.

This is a big picture thing.

[Anonymous]

If it’s Bullis where it seems everyone gets an award - yes. Ask but don’t complain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD has been going to this private school for five years and has received zero recognition for academic achievements.

They have award ceremonies every year, but DD never gets awarded anything.

When DD gets all As, we only see “Honors Roll” or “Deans List” on the academic report PDF. There is not a ceremony where she is recognized.

When DD won first place in state math competition representing the school, a teacher handed her the certificate in a hallway, passing on the way to a class.

When her programming club placed second in a local competition, she was not acknowledged by the school.

It’s like she’s invisible.

Should I complain about it? What the actual f?

That’s a shame on the school’s part. A missed opportunity to bring positive publicity to the school. So when someone googles the school and awards your child’s name may come up in local media outlets for this achievement, the school benefits from this type of stuff. They should thank her for doing good for the school.

[Anonymous]

What achievements are they recognizing at the awards ceremonies? It would be one thing to not have awards ceremonies at all. But, if a school is going to have them, it definitely seems they should be recognizing academic achievements (in addition to other types of achievements).

[Anonymous]

Not sure what school, but in my experience awards are given to the high donor kids who meet criteria. It is not done on merit (this is not said aloud, but what I observe).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What achievements are they recognizing at the awards ceremonies? It would be one thing to not have awards ceremonies at all. But, if a school is going to have them, it definitely seems they should be recognizing academic achievements (in addition to other types of achievements).

They have awards where each teacher nominates one student from the entire grade. These are not necessarily the best academically.

They also do ceremonies for sports achievements.

[Anonymous]

Are other kids getting public recognition for equivalent achievements and she’s not? Was her team acknowledged but her name left off?If so, that’s worth an email to her advisor or or to the division head to point out the oversight. If student achievements in general are not acknowledged or celebrated, like one pp said, you could reach out to ask about increasing that awareness and public recognition for all students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What achievements are they recognizing at the awards ceremonies? It would be one thing to not have awards ceremonies at all. But, if a school is going to have them, it definitely seems they should be recognizing academic achievements (in addition to other types of achievements).

They have awards where each teacher nominates one student from the entire grade. These are not necessarily the best academically.

They also do ceremonies for sports achievements.

Then you need to say that this is discrimination, if only athletics are rewarded in public, and nothing else in the academic, humanities, art or STEM realm.

[Anonymous]

Just so I understand this, is your daughter the only one not being recognized while others with similar achievements are?