Teamwork, Leadership and Character Awards

One of the things that makes Turnbull special, part of the secret of our success, is the value the members of our community – parents, teachers and students – place on academic effort.  In a world and an age where it is easy to be complacent and cynical, where ‘average’ is the ideal to which too many strive, it is cool to “try” and “excel” at Turnbull School.  As educators, and for our students, this makes Turnbull a wonderful place to teach and learn.

At the same time, we realize that a vital part of our students’ education occurs outside the classroom – in clubs, on teams, on committees, and in the wider community.  Our students are not just learning about history, math or science through the process of education, but about themselves – what they value, who they are, their strengths and personalities.  We know effective education includes and recognizes opportunities for students to discover and strengthen their personal character.  To this end, we have established TLC Awards for Grade 8 students at Turnbull School.

The Teamwork, Leadership and Character Awards have been established to recognize Grade 8 students who stand as an example to others within the Turnbull community - through their academic effort, involvement in student life and in the wider community, and through demonstrated leadership qualities.

These awards are intended to:

Recognition is given at three levels: Merit awards, Distinction awards and, for those who achieve the highest level, a TLC Letter Award.

Our Grade 8 students maintain a TLC portfolio throughout the year to track their contributions and achievements.  These portfolios are then reviewed by the staff TLC Committee and awards are bestowed at graduation.

As an example of a TLC activity this year, Grade 8 students participated in an insightful and interactive personal effectiveness workshop. It was a special opportunity for students to participate in activities and discussions aimed at developing their sense of self and their leadership skills, and to provide further opportunities for team building. Through an examination of different personality types, students gained valuable insight into how they make decisions, their strengths and challenges, how to interact effectively with others, the value they bring to a team, and their individual learning and communication preferences.  This increased understanding of self and others will help students to strengthen their communication, leadership and interpersonal skills.