Celebrating student achievement is fairly common at middle schools in Westerville, but what makes Blendon Middle School’s Renaissance Awards Program stand out is the way that achievement is celebrated. Starting with an awards program in the school gym, each qualifying student receives not just a certificate for their accomplishment, but a tangible reward donated by various local businesses. For the third quarter Blendon Renaissance Awards Program, each pupil received a variety of coupons from Dave & Buster, First Watch, Gahanna Lanes, and Marcus Theaters.
Then there were the raffle prizes – again donated by local businesses and PTA parents – including gift cards from City BBQ, Cold Stone Creamery, Donato’s Pizza, Dairy Queen, Fazoli’s Italian Restaurant, Marie Scrambler’s, On The Mat Martial Arts, Pizza Hut, and Skate Zone 71. Following the awards presentation, students spent the rest of the day at Hoff Woods Park where they enjoyed a variety of games set up by Games2U, as well as Kona Ice treats, compliments of the Blendon PTA. A total of 168 Blendon students qualified for the 3rd Quarter Renaissance Awards Celebration. Students had to meet goals in academic achievement, community service, attendance, attitude, and school spirit in order to qualify. This is the third year for the Renaissance program, which has grown from less than 100 qualifying students to nearly 200 each quarter.