Golden View Classical Academy considers it our special mission to develop the mind and spirit of our students. To this end, we recognize students’ intellectual achievements through academic awards in individual subjects and in overall academic achievement. We emphasize and reinforce the importance of the seven core virtues  through quarterly character awards. Each quarter, seven students who have embodied the virtues are selected to receive awards.

The following is a list of the student awards:

Each quarter, Grammar School teachers have the opportunity to nominate their students for Character Awards, which are meant to honor and represent the school’s seven core virtues: courage, moderation, justice, responsibility, prudence, friendship, and wonder. Grammar School students are nominated based on their demonstration of one or several of these core virtues, and the nominations are read aloud by the Principal in front of the entire Grammar School. One winner is chosen for each core virtue, and those winners are determined by House Leadership in the Upper School. Character Award recipients receive a certificate and wooden plaque with their name and the virtue engraved onto it. They also earn a pizza lunch!

Odysseus, the great hero of Homer’s The Odyssey, was known for his powerful and flexible intellect. In a later poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson shows Odysseus following “knowledge like a sinking star, beyond the utmost bound of human thought.” In offering this award, we honor not the student with the best grades but the student who displays the most wonder and intellectual curiosity. One Grammar School student will receive the Young Odysseus Award, and one Upper School student will receive the Odysseus Award .

Aeneas, the legendary founder of Rome, was known for his moral virtue. He was most dependable, courageous, and above all, responsible. One particular scene from the Aeneid, Virgil’s epic work depicting Aeneas’ great adventures, typifies what we have in mind in offering this award. With his old city Troy in flames and escape the only option, Aeneas grabs his son by the hand and hoists his father on his back, preserving both his past and his future for a new city and country. He fought to the last, and in the end did what he could to pass on his traditions as all around him was crumbling. One Grammar School student will receive the Young Aeneas Award, and one Upper School student will receive the Aeneas Award.

Each quarter, Upper School teachers have the opportunity to nominate students for the Student of the Quarter Award, which aims to recognize Upper School students who have made an impression with their attitude, behavior, demonstration of virtue, academic prowess, or a number of different things that may catch a teacher’s attention as noteworthy. Select nominations are read aloud by the teacher who nominated each student during an Upper School assembly, and the winner is determined ahead of time by the 6th Grade Embassy (in deliberation with the Assistant Principal). The Student of the Quarter receives an engraved leather journal and a $100 Visa gift card.

Each quarter, coaches have the opportunity to nominate students for the Athlete of the Quarter Award, which aims to recognize student-athletes who have made an impression with their sportsmanship, attitude, behavior, demonstration of virtue, athletic prowess, or a number of different things that may catch a coach’s attention as noteworthy. Select nominations are read aloud by the coach who nominated each student-athlete during an Upper School assembly, and the winner is determined ahead of time by Mr. Petersen. The Athlete of the Quarter receives an engraved leather journal.

Sixth Grade students are uniquely situated to offer mentorship to younger grades and to learn about what it takes to succeed in the Upper School (grades 7-12). Indeed, they are keenly aware of the pending rise to 7th Grade, with the academic and House (student government) responsibilities that attend it. To hone both the sense of responsibility for younger grades and wonder about their future, we have created the 6th Grade Embassy.

Each quarter, the 6th Grade teachers choose, at their sole discretion, six students to participate in the Embassy. Ambassador responsibilities include occasionally joining the Kindergarten students in reading time and recess, and selecting, in a deliberation with the Assistant Principal, which student in the Upper School shall be the Student of the Quarter.

The Embassy is, as well, the only group of students who is a permanent part of the guest list for Elevenses, which is a brief, quarterly celebration of leisure enjoyed by students and faculty alike.