A select group of 16 incoming ninth graders at Winton Woods High School have been chosen to participate in the district’s new Warrior Scholars Program for the 2008-2009 school year. “The Warrior Scholar Program was initiated to honor students who have demonstrated qualities that the Winton Woods City Schools value and promote: scholarship, character, service, and leadership,” said Superintendent Dr. Camille Nasbe.   

According to Winton Woods High School Senior Counselor Kevin Jones, “the goals of this program are to reward the middle school achievement of selected participants, to optimize future performance in high school courses, and to enhance performance on college entrance exams, thereby increasing scholarship opportunities.

Students must have met specific criteria during both seventh and eighth grades to be selected for the program. These criteria include a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA); no quarter grade lower than a B in any academic class; accelerated or advanced performance on the Ohio Achievement Tests in reading and math; and the demonstration of behavioral excellence as outlined in the district’s Student Discipline Code of Conduct.

“Participation in the program continues throughout the student’s four years at Winton Woods High School provided the student meets additional criteria during each year,” said Jones. These criteria include:

• Achievement of a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA in an approved college-prep course of study.
• Attendance of regularly scheduled PSAT/SAT/ACT preparation sessions to be offered during after-school hours.
• Participation in the October administration of the PSAT at Winton Woods High School during freshman, sophomore and junior years.
• Participation in at least one approved academic or service-oriented extra-curricular activity during each year unless the activity conflicts with participation in an approved sport or marching band. Approved activities already in place at Winton Woods High School include Academic Quiz Team, KEY Club, SAFE (Students Acting For the Environment) and JETS (Junior Engineering Technical Society).
• Demonstration of behavioral excellence as outlined in the district’s Student Discipline Code of Conduct.

“In addition to the academic benefits of meeting the criteria for continued participation in the program, each Warrior Scholar will receive specific incentives from their freshman through their senior year,” said Jones. Incentives for freshman year include a Warrior Scholar t-shirt, free admission to one home athletic event per season, free participation in district-sponsored PSAT preparation classes, participation in an after-school leadership course and a field trip to the Camp Joy Outdoor Education Center.

Additional incentives during the four-year program include admission to Winton Woods High School’s annual fall play and/or spring musical; free participation in the fall administration of the PSAT at Winton Woods High School; and admission to up to three home athletic events per season.

“During a student’s senior year, any Warrior Scholar who achieves the honor of National Merit Semi-Finalist or National Merit Finalist during junior year will receive free admission to all home athletic events during one season of his or her choice, free admission to two home athletic events per season during each of the other seasons, and free admission to both the high school’s fall play and spring musical,” said Jones. 

“We want students and their parents to know that we reward students who have a strong character and a strong work ethic,” said Nasbe. “Our goal is to continue to attract and retain the very best students.”