GRADUATION AWARDS / HONORS
ACADEMIC AWARDS
Valedictorian: Awarded to the student with the overall highest grade percentage in their Seventh and EighthGrade years. ALL percentages for each academic subject are factored in for each Trimester of Seventh and Eighth Grade. The student must also have a "G" or better each trimester of Seventh and Eighth Grade in Work Habits and Behavior.
Salutatorian: Voted on by the 8th grade class to represent them as a class at graduation, and give the commencement address for the class.
Graduating Class Awards: Individualized awards are given out to members of the graduating class in several areas, including but not limited to: Leadership Award, Reading Renaissance Award, Fine Arts Award, Technology Award, etc.
Academic Excellence in Core Subject Areas:
Students who receive 93% or greater in each Trimester of Eighth Grade in a particular subject and/or demonstrate consistent excellence and mastery of the subject matter during the year.
Presidential Academic Awards:
Academic Excellence (GOLD):
- Cumulative percentage for Grades 6-8 of 93% or better
- Top 25th percentile standardized test scores in 8th Grade in Reading and/or Math
Academic Achievement (SILVER):
- Cumulative GPA for Grades 6-8 of 93% or better OR High Honors in Standardized tests in Reading and/or Math; OR
- Student who has excelled in a particular educational area; OR
- Student who has overcome obstacles to achieve academic success;
- Approval by the Junior High Staff and Administration
ATHLETIC AWARDS
Outstanding Graduating Athlete:
This Eighth Grade student is nominated by the coaches he/she played for during Eighth Grade, with the final determination made by the Athletic Director in consultation with the Principal. This student (or two students some years) must have attended SPBS for Seventh and Eighth Grade and excelled in two or more sports during both those years. This graduating student demonstrates the following qualities: sportsmanship, athletic skill, enthusiasm, leadership, team play, and is an active, positive influence in the school's Physical Education classes. Academically, this student must have maintained a 75% or better in each academic subject, each Trimester, throughout their Eighth Grade year, an "S" or better in each Trimester of Eighth Grade in both Work Habits and Behavior, and a “PA" or better in P.E. in both the first and second Trimesters. This award is presented at our annual SPBS Sports Awards Banquet in the spring. In addition, the recipient's name is added to our perpetual plaque maintained in the school office.
Scholar Athlete:
This is a prestigious award for SPBS athletes who have participated in two or more sports in a single year, maintained a cumulative 90% or better in their academic subjects each Trimester of the current school year, a "G" or better in both Work Habits and Behavior each Trimester of the year he/she is nominated, as well as a “PA" in P.E. during each of the first two Trimesters of the year he/she was nominated.
HIGH SCHOOL MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS AND EIGHTH GRADE AWARDS
The PTO Board, Saint Paschal Baylon Men's Club, and Noel Family Fund provide 8th Grade Scholarships:
Please encourage students in Eighth Grade, who meet the criteria, to apply for merit scholarships through SPBS. One application is used for both our organizations.
The Saint Paschal Baylon School Parent Teacher Organization Board (PTO) and the Saint Paschal Baylon Men's Club believe in supporting secondary Catholic education and high achievement for the students graduating from our parish junior high school. Therefore, the PTO Board and the Saint Paschal Baylon Men's Club are pleased to provide scholarships to SPBS graduating students, who have exhibited a commitment to Christian service, and meet/or succeed the criteria below. It is the intention of these organizations to work closely with the school principal, in deciding how to award the scholarship funds. They will consider academic, spiritual, and extra-curricular factors, as well as the student's commitment to community/Christian service. In addition the selection committees carefully consider the student essay portion of the application, which is written in class. Applicants' names are not known by the selection committees. Applications are to be filled out legibly and entirely by the student applicant, on the form provided by the school. Representatives of both 8th Grade scholarship sponsors will present the scholarships (checks are made out to the student's Catholic high school; and in the case of the one student-recipient continuing on to public high school, to the student) at the SPBS graduation awards ceremony.
THE PTO BOARD SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA:
Two merit scholarships of $500.00 each will be awarded annually to SPBS graduating students continuing on to Catholic high schools, who participate in community service and meet or exceed the following criteria:
Minimum of 3 years attendance at SPBS (consideration is provided for students who transfer from another Catholic school into SPBS)
A superior commitment to community service
A “G" grade or better in Work Habits and Behavior in each marking period during the 8th Grade year.
A “C" grade or better in all academic classes in the First and Second Trimesters of the 8th Grade year.
THE MEN'S CLUB SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA:
Merit scholarships in the amount of $500.00 each will be awarded to two 8th Grade students continuing to a Catholic high school, and one $500.00 award will be given to a graduate continuing on to a public/private high school, who participate in community service and meet or exceed the above criteria.
THE NOEL FUND FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA:
Merit scholarships in the amount of $1000.00 each will be awarded to two 8th Grade students continuing on to a public/private high school, meet or exceed the above criteria, as well as submit a separate essay about how a particular pursuit outside of school has shaped and influenced your life in a positive manner.
THE SAINT PAUL CHRISTIAN SERVICE AWARD SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA:
Merit scholarships in the amount of $300.00 will be awarded to one graduating 8th Grade student continuing on to Catholic high school, and two in the amount of $250.00 each will be awarded to two 7th grade students remaining at Saint Paschal Baylon School, who have demonstrated an aptitude of service for others in the spirit of St. Paul.
PRINCIPAL'S AWARD CRITERIA:
A plaque and a $500.00 award are presented annually to the graduating student(s) who best exemplifies the overall philosophy, spirit, SLE's, and overall high achievement of Saint Paschal Baylon School. In addition the recipient's name is added to our perpetual plaque maintained in the school office. The Principal, in consultation with the Junior High Teachers, will consider academic, spiritual and extra-curricular factors, as well as the student's ability and willingness to demonstrate compassion towards others. The award recipient is a well-rounded, Catholic, faith-filled, young adult, who does not need to be continuing on to a Catholic high school.
SPBS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOLARSHIPS
We are pleased to provide merit scholarship programs for current SPBS 5th, 6th and 7th Grade students, who are continuing at SPBS for 6th, 7th and 8th Grade the next year. The Men's Club Junior High Scholarship program (Grades 5, 6, and 7) is funded by proceeds from annual Men's Club fundraising events, and the students will be selected by the Saint Paschal Baylon Men's Club Merit Scholarship Committee. The Heather Meathrell/SPBS Scholarship Trust (Grades 6 and 7) is funded in perpetuity, by a bequest from the Heather C. Meathrell estate, to our school Endowment Fund. A portion of the interest generated each year by this bequest is used to fund SPBS Merit Junior High Scholarships in memory of former parishioner, Heather Meathrell, in keeping with the terms of the bequest. Both Junior High Merit Scholarship Programs select their recipients based on the criteria below. Please encourage current SPBS 5th, 6th and 7thGrade students, who meet the following criteria, to apply for a merit scholarship through SPBS. One form is used for both scholarship programs, which is distributed to the students by the administration.
The Men's Club presently provides three scholarships to current 5th graders; four scholarships to current 6thgraders; and four scholarships to current 7th graders – all of whom need to be returning to SPBS. Each scholarship is in the amount of $500.00 credited toward tuition during the next school year at SPBS.
The Heather Meathrell/SPBS Scholarship Trust provides one scholarship to a current SPBS 6th grader, and one to a current SPBS 7th grader. Each scholarship is in the amount of $500.00 credited toward tuition during the next school year at SPBS.
JUNIOR HIGH MERIT SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA:
Both the Saint Paschal Baylon Men's Club and The Heather Meathrell/SPBS Trust believe in encouraging and supporting ongoing Catholic education for the students attending our parish junior high school. Therefore, they are pleased to provide merit scholarships to current SPBS 5th, 6th and 7th Grade students, who meet the criteria below. It is the intention of the Saint Paschal Baylon Men's Club and The Heather Meathrell/SPBS Scholarship program to work closely with the school principal, in deciding how to award the scholarship funds. In addition they will both consider academic, community service, and extra-curricular factors. Applicants' names are not known by the selection committees during the selection process.
Scholarships will be awarded to current SPBS students who best meet or exceed the following criteria:
- Continuing on to 6th, 7th or 8th Grade at Saint Paschal Baylon School.
- Active participation in school, community, and parish “Christian Service", as well as extra-curricular activities.
- Completion of the application, including the required essay.
- Minimum of two years of attendance at Saint Paschal Baylon School, however consideration will be given to students who have transferred from another Catholic elementary school into SPBS.
- A 3.0 GPA or better, in each Trimester of the current school year.
- A 3.0 average GPA or better during the previous applicable school year, i.e. 4th, 5th or 6th Grade.
- G or better in both Work Habits and Behavior in each Trimester of the current grade.
- G or better average in both Work Habits and Behavior during the previous applicable school year, i.e. 5th or 6th Grade.
Applications are made available to students in the spring by SPBS by the principal, who distributes them in each grade level. The application is to be filled out legibly and in its entirety by the student applicant on the form provided. Essays are completed in class. Scholarships are presented at Graduation (for current 8th Grade students) and at the Third Trimester Academic Achievement and Awards Ceremony (Junior High Merit scholarships), which is held in the Church after Mass on the final day of the school year.
HONOR ROLL/CERTIFICATES OF EXCELLENCE CRITERIA
An Academic Achievement Awards Ceremony is held after the end of each Trimester to recognize outstanding academic achievement in Grades 4-8, as well as excellence in Work Habits and Behavior. Academic subjects, as well as Behavior and Work Habits are considered when determining Honor Roll Students. In addition, students in Grades 4-8 may not have a “D" or an “F" grade on their report card during that Trimester, a Passing grade in all electives/enrichment classes, and must have an “S" or better in both Work Habits and Behavior to qualify for our Honor Roll awards.
Grades 6-8:
Trimester Honors are determined by an overall percentage grade average for the following subjects: Religion, Math, Literature, Language, Social Studies, and Science. To compute the student's percentage grade average for Grades 6-8, add the report card percentile grade equivalent for all academic subjects together, and divide by the number of subjects.
First Honors 95 – 100%
Second Honors 90 – 94.9%
Grades 4-5:
Honor roll for students in Grades 4 and 5 is awarded to students with a “B+" average or better in all academic subjects, and who also have earned an “S" or better in both Work Habits and Behavior during that Trimester and do not have a “D" or “F". Students receive certificates for Honor Roll and for Excellence in Work Habits/Behavior.
Grades 4-8:
Certificate of Excellence in Work Habits: Awarded for Outstanding Work Habits each trimester, in Grades 4-8. Students must have achieved only “Outstanding" marks in Work Habits on their Report Card.
Certificate of Excellence in Behavior: Awarded for Outstanding Behavior each trimester, in Grades 4-8. Students must have achieved only “Outstanding" marks in Behavior on their Report Card.
NOTE: Certificates of Excellence in Behavior/Work Habits are awarded to those students who have consistently exceeded expected standards in that area during the previous Trimester. Awards are given at the discretion of the faculty and administration.
Sisters of Notre Dame Award (1-2 per grade): Given to a student who has embodied the spirit of our Catholic Morals and Values, especially in how we treat those around us.
Spirit of Service Award: (1-2 per grade): Given to a student who is always willing to lend a helping hand and serve those around them.
AR Award: Given to those students who have achieved at least 100 AR points in the trimester.
Outstanding Progress Award (1-2 per grade): Given to a student who has demonstrated personal or academic growth/improvement over the course of the trimester.
