Cougar Qualities

We are making some changes in the way we recognize students with awards that they receive at the end of the year.  We have implemented a new way to encourage and motivate students to make good choices in their interpersonal relationships with each other, and with their teachers, and to understand and begin to reflect the Christian values and lifestyle that we find in the Bible.  

We have introduced the students to "Cougar Qualities," a list of values using the acronym of the spelling of our school mascot, "Cougars," with each letter representing one of those values, and where it is found in scripture.  These values include Considerate, Obedient, Upright, Growing, Attentive, Responsible, and Self-Controlled.  

This will change the awards we give at the end of the year.  We will continue to recognize the students with the top two students, by GPA, in each academic subject getting an award.  Every student will get one COUGAR award for the one quality they showed the best during the school year.  Students who are on the A honor roll will get an award.  Anyone who has perfect attendance, meaning no absences at all during the year, will get an award for that.  All awards that were not part of a class, like penmanship, library, recess, or spelling, will be eliminated.  

Consistent practice of Cougar qualities will be recognized by giving one "Cougar of the Year" award to one student in each grade level.  Students will receive a daily reminder about Cougar Qualities every morning, prior to the pledges, when the quality, along with the verse that supports it, will be read.  

Many of the awards we used to give out had lost their original meaning and purpose over time.  The Cougar Qualities provide a measure of meaning and context to student recognition, which is a motivation for the students, not just to earn the reward, but to take the action necessary to get there.  Every student has some quality at which they excel, so this motivates them by letting them know that their teachers recognize their qualities.  And the award they earn will be a reminder to them that someone noticed this.  

It will also be more meaningful that getting an award for recess.  This award recognizes a value that is tied to scripture.  

Part of imitating the perfection of God is acting charitably and generously, doing good deeds, working for justice, and praying.  Matthew 6:1, The Voice