At Donahue Academy, excellence is no accident. Students pursue it wholeheartedly not only in academics, but also in music, the arts, gymnastics (or physical education), and importantly, virtue. One of the ways that the school fosters this culture of excellence is through the quarterly awards, which give students well-deserved recognition for doing the good. In a world where it’s often easier to focus on weaknesses and failures, Donahue chooses to emphasize the good.
Donahue Academy has celebrated its students with end-of-the-year awards since its inception in 2007. However, last year, the Dr. Marc Snyder, Principal, expanded this tradition by adding quarterly awards for students in the Grammar (Grades 3 to 5) and Logic (Grades 6 to 8) Stages. Rhetoric Stage (Grades 9 to 12) students are on a semester schedule, whereas students in Pre-K through Grade 2 focus on learning skill development rather than academic grades.
“Honor is a reward of virtue and excellence,” he said in the opening remarks, quoting St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologiæ. Awards at Donahue Academy are designed to honor excellence in a variety of areas.
- Principal’s Honor Roll – Awarded to students who achieve straight As in academics and conduct.
- Honor Roll – Given to students who earn As and Bs in both academics and conduct.
- Virtue Award – Recognizes students for outstanding character and moral integrity. These students are nominated by their teachers.
- Specials Awards – Recognizes excellence in Art, Music, and Gymnastics.
- Perfect Attendance Award – Given (by semester) to students who maintain perfect attendance.
The awards encourage students to see their own potential and inspire them to do the good, uphold the beautiful, and seek truth in every endeavor. When students see their peers being recognized, they see a real-life model and begin to understand how to strive for excellence. Dr. Snyder said: “We often hold up saints as models of excellence. While this is important, it is sometimes difficult for students to relate to someone who may be far removed from their everyday experience. On the other hand, students relate to their peers daily.”
This Palm Sunday, our students’ efforts to be the best they can be remind us that imitating Jesus requires that we take action, but above all, that we remain humble as He completes the work of salvation He has started in each one of us.
