WOODBURY – This morning before school Nonnewaug High School hosted a Chiefs with Character Breakfast which recognized students who exemplify what it means to be a Chief: students who bring leadership, courage, kindness, and the intangibles that a traditional course grade simply cannot capture. NHS faculty choose a group of students at the end of every semester to be celebrated during this breakfast.
To attend this breakfast, a teacher must nominate a student, and out of the people nominated, some of them get chosen to be recognized. When these students are chosen they and their family are invited to the breakfast.
“This award is simply to recognize students who are good people,” said NHS Vice Principal Declan Curtin. “Many kids get awards for sports, academics, arts, drama and Agriculture, but kids also need to be recognized for just being good citizens.”
Adam Hart, a sophomore at NHS and recent Chief with Character winner, shares that it felt nice to be acknowledged.
“It’s really great that people appreciate the things that I try to do, and it pushes me to be a better person,” says Hart.
Curtin shares that Chiefs with Character is given to people who just try their best to be good people.
“The Chief of Character award that’s given out to kids who are just good kids. Simple as that,” says Curtin. “The individuals that just have a smile on their face throughout the day.”
The Chiefs with Character program was introduced several years ago by math faculty member Ray Robillard. Robillard’s vision for the program helps to shine light on NHS students who deserve recognition for their contributions to NHS’ welcoming campus culture.
“While many of us may not remember what grade we received in chemistry or gym class,” Robillard said to this morning’s room-full of parents, students, faculty, and administrators, “what we will always remember is the kindness that was shown to us. Those are the people we never forget.”
The students recognized at the ceremony were Flora Frangu, Aaron Coretto, Michael Lipinski, Flynn Amodio, Matthew Clifford, Josh Finley, Brynne Michaelis, Piper Robinson, Keira Zupan, Selena Argiro-Bevilacqua, Adam Hart, and Olivia Starr.
“Our society doesn’t need every graduate of Nonnewaug High School to have straight A’s,” Robillard said following the ceremony. “As a matter of fact, many factors are more correlated to future success than grades. Among those are resourcefulness, leadership ability, integrity, etc. If we truly want our students to be successful after they leave these halls, these are the traits that we must model, teach, and value. Chiefs with Character celebrates those traits and so many more.”
