Awards and Recognition

At the beginning of each school year PSAA students are asked to set academic goals with their families. Students who reach their academic goals in all four core subjects will be awarded the Pursuit of Excellence award and recognized at our year end assembly. 

In addition to the Pursuit of Excellence award, those students who achieve 85% or higher in all four core subjects will be recognized with the Academic Achievement award at our year end assembly.

PSAA students who are also pursuing a second language have the added responsibility of a fifth core course. From missing out on Sport Science and TAD topics to balancing a more challenging academic schedule, French immersion students have a unique experience that is worthy of specific recognition. 

The French Immersion Award of Excellence is equivalent to its sister awards. The criteria for this award includes:

1. The successful student embodies the PSAA commitments which include: 

• Working as a team;
• Showing humility in victory and grace in defeat;
• Leading ourselves;
• Being honest with ourselves and others;
• Treating ourselves and others with compassion and kindness;
• Academic triad: Effort, preparedness,
• Showing resilience in the face of adversity;
• Taking responsibility for our choices: and
• Asking for help when we need it

2. Unique to the French Immersion Award of Excellence, the successful student must demonstrate a passion for the french language. They recognize the value of learning a second language and engage fully with the added requirements placed upon them. They uphold the culture of immersion in the school and speak French to their teachers and peers.  

The PSAA Awards of Excellence are named after each of our four sponsoring athletes: Steve Arsenault, Jennifer Heil, Stephanie Labbé, and Ben Scrivens. The criteria for each award is based off each athlete’s definition of excellence: 

Ben Scrivens, Award of Excellence, Grade Six: 

Excellence, for me, is self-confidence and accountability. It is following through on commitments to ourselves and to others, especially when facing challenges. Excellence is consistent and productive actions that carry us towards our short- and long-term goals.

Steve Arsenault, Award of Excellence, Grade Seven:

Excellence is:

• Clarity in purpose
• Continual growth, both in and out of sport
• Leadership
• Accountable
• Driven

Excellence is the commitment to being 1% better every day, in all aspects of life.  There is a Japanese term  “Kaizen.”

Kaizen means to change for the better, to continuously improve.

Kaizen is about being the best version of yourself, which ultimately helps pave the way for success in life.

Stephanie Labbé, Award of Excellence, Grade Eight:

Excellence to me is a journey. It’s about the little things you do on a daily basis to continually improve yourself. Finding creative forward thinking ways of paving your own path, and being resilient in the face of adversity is truly what brings out greatness in all of us.

Jennifer Heil, Award of Excellence, Grade Nine:

Excellence, to me, is about having no regrets by preparing to be your best each and every day and then facing your fears to let your performance happen regardless of the outcome! 

At the end of each school year a valedictorian is chosen from among our grade nine, graduating students. It is the most significant honour that can be bestowed upon a PSAA student. In short, the valedictorian is an ideal representative of our program. They pursue excellence in all facets of their life with grace and humility. They embody the commitments made by all PSAA students at the start of each year and the PSAA slogan of “Strive, Persist, Rise.”

Valedictorian comes from the Latin valedicere which means “bid farewell.” The successful student must be someone who can be trusted with the responsibility of addressing their classmates. Specific considerations for the valedictorian include:

- Academic consideration: the valedictorian is someone who pushes themself to achieve academically and whose academic results are exceptional. 

- Character consideration: the valedictorian is someone who carries themself with honour and integrity. They are kind and respectful to all. They have always been a positive influence on the culture of our program. 

- Athletic consideration: the valedictorian is someone who pursues their athletic endeavours with the same vigour as their academics. They make the most out of their PSAA afternoons and are always seeking an opportunity to get 1% better.

The valedictorian will be recognized at the grade 9 graduation ceremony. They will be awarded with a certificate and their name engraved in the valedictorian plaque. The selection process for the valedictorian is listed below. 

Awards of Excellence and Valedictorian recipients will be selected using a three step process:

1. Teachers will select nominees who best fit the award criteria.

2. Students will vote on the nominees by placing them in order from most to least deserving. This will be a confidential vote.

3. Teachers will consider the student vote while making the final selections for each award.

4. Nominees and the award winner will be recognized at either the year end assembly or the grade 9 graduation ceremony.