Thursday November 28, 2024 | LANGFORD, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The Governor General’s Academic Award is a longstanding tradition in Canada to recognize outstanding academic achievement of students in Canada.
At the November 26 Sooke School District 62 (SD62) public board meeting three students were recognized for having received this award.
- Belmont Secondary School (Langford)- Luis Al Mhanna
- Royal Bay Secondary School (Colwood) – Makayla Graham
- Edward Milne Community School (Sooke) – Abbey Hayward
The awards were announced by the principals for each of those schools: Belmont Principal Laura Fulton, Royal Bay Principal Mike Huck, and EMCS Principal Mike Bobbitt.
Importance of academic learning:
Parents send their kids to school to get a good education, so this was a striking comment to hear at the board level as a way of justifying the interest in academics: “Academic achievement sometimes gets lost with many other things going on.”
Over the past couple of decades there has been a significant shift in the education system to the dynamics of social-emotional learning, which can often override the discipline of academics. In SD62 there is a strong emphasis on a range of activities in addition to academic excellence including sports and the arts which both get ample attention.
Family support:
The importance of parents and families who support students in academic achievement is not always recognized. On Tuesday evening, the mother of Royal Bay Secondary winner Makayla Graham attended to receive the medal on her daughter’s behalf.
Background:
The Governor General’s Academic Medal started in 1873. It has been given for over 150 years and has become one of the most prestigious awards that a student in a Canadian educational institution can receive
The Bronze Level medal is awarded to the student graduating with the highest average from high school.
The other levels are Collegiate Bronze (college post-secondary diploma level), Silver (university undergraduate level), and Gold (graduate level).
The medals are awarded for academic marks only, regardless of the more intangible qualities of students’ life, such as good citizenship, moral behaviour or popularity.
Medals are presented on behalf of the Governor General by participating educational institutions.
Recipients also receive a personalized certificate signed by the Governor General. There is no monetary award.
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NEWS SECTIONS: SCHOOL DISTRICT 62 | K-12 EDUCATION