Editor’s note: The Portager publishes letters to the editor from the community. The opinions expressed are published not because they necessarily reflect those of the publication but because we feel they contribute meaningfully to the local discourse on matters of public interest.
On May 24, 2024, The Portager published a letter to the editor from a community member
criticizing local school districts for not appropriately recognizing students “who aren’t the star athletes, or the college-bound scholars.” The letter was followed up by a response from the Kent City Schools. The Ravenna School District (RSD) also has a commitment to ALL students, regardless of their post-secondary plans, and recognizes those same students for their achievements.
To set the stage, however, for these recognitions, it is important to articulate the great lengths to which the RSD goes in an effort to ensure all students have an opportunity for postsecondary success. Whether military, college, employment or trade school bound, the RSD is committed to helping all students find their niche. Each student attends weekly advisory meetings dedicated to enrollment, enlistment or employment. By their senior year these students are attending speaker series and participating in field trips designed to cement their interest, and give them a leg up once graduated.
However, our commitment to these students does not end with exposure (which is important as a standalone goal). Rather, once a student is a senior, they are recognized in front of their peers, their parents, and their families for their accomplishments. Visible recognition comes in the form of Graduation Cords or Stoles, worn with their Cap and Gown, indicating if they were a member of CHAMPS (a group of students, under the guidance of our local Business Advisory Council, who solidify employment goals) or are aligned with the specific branch of service in which they enlisted. These students and their recognitions are also listed in the Graduation Program alongside the Top Ten Scholars.
Each student, prior to graduation, is asked to attend a signing ceremony where they sign their intention to enroll in a college or university, enlist in a branch of the military or become immediately employed. This ceremony is attended by members of the school community, photographed, and the information is distributed throughout social media, including X and Facebook. Additionally, each student’s declaration is placed on a bulletin board in the front hallway of Ravenna High School for all those entering the building or the underclassman to see.
Each month, students are recognized as Game Changers by the School Board — these are students that do the right thing despite their GPA! At our Senior Scholarship night, seniors who are attending trade schools and are receiving scholarships are recognized.
At graduation, three scholarships are awarded to our Most Improved Students — those who have put in the hard work and effort to be admitted to a postsecondary institution but may not be the usual scholarship recipients who are recognized repeatedly.
Finally, also at graduation, two Superintendent’s Scholarships are awarded to students who may have been overlooked despite their hard work and dedication.
The Ravenna School District is very proud of the work they do in an effort to not only prepare ALL students for postsecondary success, but to recognize ALL students who, in the words of Kent resident Michelle Smith, “work really hard and yet never feel the spotlight.” Our students do have the light shined on them, and we are very proud of their accomplishments.
Laura Hebert
Superintendent, Ravenna City School District
The Portager publishes a range of opinions from the community. To submit a letter to the editor, write to [email protected].