TORRINGTON – One by one, they came to the front of the cafeteria to receive a certificate, bumper sticker and pen from school administrators and to be honored for academic achievement.
Wednesday was the junior class’s Honor Roll Breakfast. Students spent the morning with their parents, eating biscuits and gravy and receiving a collective, “good job.”
“We wanted to recognize the students for their academic achievements,” said first-year principal Cedric Cooper, who brought the idea for the recognition breakfasts to campus. “The academic part (of school) is the most important.”
Seldom is academic excellence recognized in this particular way. It’s a first for Torrington High School.
“This is a time when parents can have time with their child and recognize what they’re doing in school,” Cooper said.
The event was broken into four days, one morning each for freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. That was done to accommodate the approximately 260 Silver or Gold Honor Roll students, along with their families, in the small commons area of the school, Cooper said.
Junior Alyssa Galvan was one of the students honored Wednesday, with her parents Willie and Claudia by her side. The recognition, both by school officials and her peers, makes her want to continue to try to excel academically.
“It’s nice to have the recognition,” Claudia Galvan said. “This motivates the students to continue to do well.”
Mr. Galvan agreed: “I’m proud of what she did. She worked hard for this.”
Equally important is the format, which is similar to that of the traditional awards banquet, hosted by a sports booster group, athletic team or other student clubs, said junior class guidance counselor Michele Ogburn. It serves to not only motivate the students who received the awards this week. It can inspire other students to strive and do better.
“This is huge,” she said. “The academic part is what makes for well-rounded people.
“If they can achieve in academics, they can achieve in their lives,” Ms. Ogburn said. “Academics is all about success.”
