*The non-profit Glendale Education Foundation has as a primary purpose to recognize and reward in any number of ways those high school students at Glendale School District who have shown high academic achievement. The criteria to achieve this particular “Academic Letter” sponsored by the Foundation means a high school student has to have earned the “Principal’s Award” (94% GPA) for at least three (out of four) nine week grading periods. The Foundation board of directors began with the idea that this “Academic Letter” Program would not only give students in Grades 9 through 12 a tangible reward---but act as a bonus incentive for students to “keep up their great work!” Since its inception we have seen a growth in the numbers of those who have earned the award overall.
Similar to varsity sports letters, underclassmen who achieve an “Academic Letter” in successive years will earn (instead) a ‘gold pin’ shaped like the “Lamp of Learning”—similar to the design on the letter itself (*see design LEFT)—which is to be pinned to their initial chenille letter. So a ninth grade student scholar--by the time he/she would graduate--could potentially earn the maximum of four Academic Letters, represented by the actual letter plus three gold “lamp of learning” pins attached! Students are proud to have these to look back on their academic success in the classroom! Our "Academic Letters" are awarded to qualified students on the very last day of school to in a ceremonial assembly of winners. In addition, senior students who have earned an Academic Letter (and 3 gold pins) over their four years in high school are recognized at the awards night in mid-May. |