There are times when you are just struck with the wonder of a place. Today was that day, here at MTS Secondary, in a crowded gym full of Seventh through Twelfth graders and their teachers, and other staff.

You could feel the community, the joy, and how much students and staff really knew each other.

Award Day, celebrating some of the finest accomplishments from last semester. And these awards were personal. “One teacher exclaimed over a student, “You really raised the bar on what you can do in a semester.” All subject areas and classes received awards, as well as the leadership academy and a special attendance recognitions. The event culminated with awards to students in each grade in celebration of the highest grade point average.

But it was the award titles that really showed how these students were seen for who they were and what they were capable of doing. Sure, there were awards that celebrated things you might expect like: the most improved, effort, persistence and things like that. But there were also awards for: Jumps Right In Award, Man with a Million Creative Ideas Award, the Workout Warrior Award, or the Go-Getter/Hungriest Self-Starter Award, and the Asks the Best Questions Award.

Students shined. They cheered for each other. True community.

The ability to be truly seen and valued, with teachers knowing what each student is really capable of and help each student reach it is what makes MTS Secondary so unique. Staff invest time and energy in students, and classes are flexible in how students learn, so school works for students, and for some of them, it’s the first time.

Expect great things from MTS Secondary and the General Colin L. Powell Leadership Academy. There will be all kinds of exciting things launching in the fall that you will want to be part of.