2023 School of Distinction Recipients
The Jostens Renaissance School of Distinction designation was created to celebrate those schools that, in collaboration with the Renaissance community, are making a positive impact on school climate and culture through executing the Renaissance Results Formula™:
RESPECT + RECOGNIZE + REWARD + REINFORCE + RELATIONSHIPS = RESULTS.
For School Year 2023, 36 schools met the requirements and are designated as Schools of Distinction. 21 schools qualified for Platinum, 5 qualified for Gold, and 10 qualified for Silver. All demonstrated the profound effects that culture and climate have on school results!
Learn more about each School of Distinction below, and see one of the amazing things they did this year!
Want to be a School of Distinction? Check back in August to see the requirements for School Year 2024.
Alvin C. York Institute – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“Our goal for Dragon Renaissance is to positively impact the culture at Alvin C. York Institute for all Staffulty and students on a daily basis. We want to make it a place that all Staffulty love their jobs and students never want to leave. Many activities are for the entire school, however our goal is for 100% of our student body to be a member of the academic side of Dragon Renaissance by meeting the grade and/or attendance requirements! Core values of our program include citizenship, academic excellence, good attendance and supporting our community..”
Outstanding idea:
Alvin C. York institute began doing Random Knock days to recognize and reward student attendance!
Bixby High School, OK – Silver Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“The goal of Bixby High Schools Renaissance program is to build a school community where all students are respected, feel welcome, and belong.”
Outstanding idea:
The Bixby Renaissance team took the “Thankful Thursday” Idea Exchange and created a tree for students to recognize their loved ones who have cancer.
Bonney Lake High School, WA – Silver Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“Our school’s goals are represented in our POWER Values. POWER stands for Perseverance, Ownership, Work Ethic, and Respect. These values are present in everything we do and are apart of all school awards and recognitions. Our school has a large focus on equity and ensuring 100% equitable access to success for all students. We call ourselves The World’s Greatest High School because we believe in 100% graduation and are committed to ensuring every student has full opportunity to receive their diploma.”
Outstanding idea:
Bonney Lake High School held a contest for students to design the best poster featuring their school’s values.
Brazoswood High School, TX – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“We establish and create a healthy and inclusive environment at our Brazoswood High School campus. Our Staffulty and students receive the utmost attention from our student leaders and officers. We amount to great lengths to express our love and care to the entire campus… Our core values are a built in staple to our campus – every student, every Staffulty, every parent knows our brand, knows what we stand for, and knows ‘It’s a great year to be Buccaneer!'”
Outstanding idea:
Along with every group and organization on campus, the Brazoswood Renaissance team organized a carnival for their community!
Cienega High School, AZ – Silver Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“At Cienega High School, the Renaissance Club strives to recognize and encourage hard work of both staff and students. The Club strives to award those who have excelled in areas of academic improvement and positive behavior. These goals also include acknowledging students who may have overcome some sort of adversity in their educational goals or behavioral issues. The Club wants to ensure that each student on the campus is aware that they are important to the success of the school climate and they are special to the staff here at Cienega. The Club holds several core values to heart. Here on campus, Bobcats care about each other, treat each other with respect, take on responsibility, and are trustworthy. We call that the CAT Statement. We work together as a club to acknowledge not only the students but also our wonderful Staffulty. We try to provide them with awards and acknowledgement of their greatness. This is a great way to make Staffulty know they are respected, needed, and are very much appreciated.”
Outstanding idea:
They asked an art student to create this gorgeous logo for their Renaissance group!
Clear Creek Middle and High School, CO – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“The goal of the Renaissance program at Clear Creek Middle and High School is to improve the overall culture and climate of the school, improve academics, improve behavior and repair formal recognition and give students a voice in school life as well as how students are honored.”
Outstanding idea:
Renaissance students at Clear Creek decorated and cups of coco to deliver to elementary students during December, spreading cheer during the winter!
Dawes Ave Elementary School, NJ – Gold Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“Our core values as an elementary Renaissance program stem from our commitment to ensuring our students develop the foundational skills and have the experiences needed to later be able to define student leadership and more importantly to develop and implement student leadership activities into practice that will positively impact the climate and culture of their building for others.”
Outstanding idea:
Dawes Ave hosted a night of STEAM activities that was sponsored by their community partners so it could be no cost to students, their families, and Staffulty.
Del City High School, OK – Silver Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“Our goal is to have a positive and open culture at Del City High School who listens to all students and staff. Del City High School focuses on the students needs and the Staffulty needs.”
Outstanding idea:
Del City students signed a C2G gown, and voted for having a retiring principal from a feeder school wear it to their graduation.
Drew Middle School, VA – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“Our overall goal in Renaissance is for students to feel valued and connected to our school community. Our core values include assuring our students to feel seen, heard, and cared for. After the pandemic, we noticed our students were experiencing low self-efficacy, which in turn affected their performance in class and investment in the school culture. As a result, we tailored our Renaissance program to recognize and reward students for doing the right thing with a specific focus on reinforcing school community involvement.”
Outstanding idea:
Drew Middle School hosted a pancake dinner event with family games, student recognition, and, of course, pancakes! As students entered the event, they stopped at the Commitment to Graduate station to sign their certificate.
Evans Elementary School, CO – Gold Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“The goal of our Renaissance Group is to build culture and community by promoting and modeling positive behavior expectations and making every person feel valued and respected. Our main focus this year was to increase student and Staffulty recognitions and build positivity with our actions. ”
Outstanding idea:
Evans Elementary students created cards and notes of appreciation for their assistant principal, and totally surprised him when Staffulty posted them all over his office!
Flanagan-Cornell High School, IL – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“Our goal as a Renaissance group started out to improve the overall culture and climate of the school. With the help of Jostens we have started off this school year recognizing more students and teachers. Making everyone in our student body to be recognized for their independent growth and values. Our mission statement is: we believe FCHS should be all of our students, teachers, and staff actively being kind and encouraging to one another. We should build one another up, and work to create a fair, fun, and understanding environment for all the people in it. We live in a small community which gives us the unique opportunity to have meaningful connection.”
Outstanding idea:
The Renaissance crew created a partnership with Livingston County Master Gardeners to maintain a butterfly garden and celebrated Arbor Day with a student body tree planting.
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, CA – Silver Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy presents a Tologs’ chapter of the Renaissance Student Leadership. Our focus is to encourage and recognize the hard work and inspiration shown by anyone and everyone in the school community. It hopes to emanate a sense of pride that is reflected in the results seen in improved academic performance, behavior, student engagement, and school spirit. The Renaissance Student Leadership emphasizes the importance of individual growth as well as the development of a well-rounded school-wide identity. The FSHA chapter will build on this national identity using the values we heavily place on Faith, Integrity, and Truth. We will highlight the growth that can be achieved on the individual and community levels through living a life guided by the four Dominican pillars of prayer, service, community, and study. Some of our main goals include bringing together the student and faculty body through various school-wide events; recognize academic, athletic, and artistic achievement of the student body; ensure a sense of school community by hosting bi-monthly student activities; and promoting an incentive towards graduation.”
Outstanding idea:
Renaissance Students created “High Five” packages to reward all students who received a 5 on their AP tests!
Green River High School, WY – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“Our main goals for this year in our Renaissance program have been to connect our community and stakeholders to our school the same way we have improved our student to Staffulty and Staffulty to district leadership relationships. The goal of our Renaissance program is to empower and motivate students to achieve their full potential academically, socially, and personally. Our program strives to create a positive school culture where students feel supported, valued, and encouraged to contribute to their community. The core values of our Renaissance program include respect, responsibility, integrity, and service. These values serve as the foundation of our program and guide our efforts to build a positive and inclusive school community. We believe that every student has the potential to achieve greatness and that it is your responsibility to create an environment that fosters their growth and success.”
Outstanding idea:
Renaissance students teamed up with their school’s chapter of National Honor Society and lobbied to make a city dog park, and they are currently in process of creating it!
Greenbrier High School, TN – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“Greenbrier’s High School’s Jostens Renaissance program focuses on celebrating on only student’s academics, attendance, and behavior, but also we celebrate and encourage our Staffutly. We take pride in maintaining a positive climate and culture..”
Outstanding idea:
To further improve their school look, students and Staffulty worked to together to create a cozy, relaxing study space in the school library.
Henderson County High School, KY – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“The goal of our Renaissance program is to make our school a better place for both students and staff. Our Leadership Dynamics class (core piece of our Renaissance program) takes time to value different individuals, groups, teams, programs, etc. throughout the school. We try to recognize everyone in our school, we believe making people feel important is a huge part of making the school a better place. We also believe rewarding our students and staff for their hard work keeps our school more proactive. Lastly, in order to make HCHS the best possible school it can be, we promote school spirit. Our Renaissance class does it’s best to spread school spirit and encourages students to be involved. Our core values include being committed, caring, and confident Colonels and growing our students into better leaders.”
Outstanding idea:
For a service project, Renaissance students organized seniors to collect and donate backpacks to youth services and local elementary schools.
Henderson North Middle School, KY – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“North Middle School has taken on some lofty goals and values this year through Jostens Renaissance program and a commitment to recognize, reward, and reinforce positive Cadet skills, behavior, and achievement/growth focused on respect and relationships. Our first goal was strengthening community perception and relationships that we found paramount to changing the direction at NMS this year. Secondly we wanted to foster seamless transitions to and from North Middle School for our incoming 6th graders and our future freshmen, and just as important as our first goal we focused on promoting student growth and learning through essential Cadet values.”
Outstanding idea:
The Renaissance team hosted a Renaissance Rally for the local elementary students and their families at night, so parents could join in on the fun.
Horizon Middle School, CO – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“Our goal is to recognize and reward our students for all of their achievements. We put a lot of emphasis on growth and effort, our population of students benefits from positive reinforcement in these areas. We are about kids, first and foremost – during interviews the administration team is very forthcoming that we do what’s best for kids. The expectation is you build relationships with every student in your classroom, the first week of school and throughout the year we expect to see that as part of your instruction. Teachers are evaluated on class climate, culture and student relationships. All staff must attend two extra curricular activities which are built into their teacher evaluation process.”
Outstanding idea:
As a reward, students got to play “Music Bingo” during school!
Kennebecasis Valley High School, NB – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“The goal of Renaissance at KVHS is to make every staffulty member and student feel valued and recognized. We strive to create an environment at school where everyone feels welcome when they enter the building (including guests). The core values of our Renaissance program are kindness, character and commitment. Kindness to ourselves and each other, positive character traits and commitment to academics, attendance and a positive attitude..”
Outstanding idea:
The Renaissance team expanded their usual sock drive to include masks, bowls, and mugs!
Kingman Academy of Learning High School, AZ – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“The goal of Kingman Academy High School Renaissance is to create a positive climate where students and Staffulty feel welcomed into our family. Our core values are tenacity, integrity, gratitude, empathy, respect, and service. Our Renaissance group is dedicated to building a positive school climate by respecting, recognizing, rewarding, and reinforcing the core values within our school’s community while building meaningful relationships. We plan on accomplishing this goal by recognizing every student and Staffulty member at least once a school year.”
Outstanding idea:
Kingman Academy teamed up with their community partner to create a float in their local parade, Very Merry Street of Lights.
Kingman Academy of Learning Middle School, AZ – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“The Kingman Academy of Learning Middle School Renaissance class works to make a difference on our campus. We make this effort by representing our peers with exceptional behavior, student involvement, and an empathetic outlook. Kingman Academy Renaissance seeks to make everyone feel seen, no matter who they are. The Renaissance class represents kindness, integrity, and more. Our goals are to give staff and students recognition and have a clean and welcoming environment for everyone entering our school.”
Outstanding idea:
The Renaissance team brought their birthday wall OUTSIDE so their whole community can celebrate birthdays with the school!
La Quinta Middle School, CA – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“The LQMS Renaissance team has the goal of making sure every student and Staffulty member feels seen, recognized, and celebrated on our campus. Our goal is also to create an environment where students and Staffulty become family and our campus becomes a home. Our Renaissance program follows the six R’s of Jostens Renaissance. We, at LQMS, value creating an environment where students and Staffulty respect themselves, one another, and our environment. We also value recognizing and rewarding students and Staffulty achievements, reinforcing our Bulldog PRIDE (Professional, Respectful, Integrity, Determination, and Empathy), and building relationships, so that we can have amazing RESULTS!”
Outstanding idea:
For their final C2G activity of the year, La Quinta 8th graders go to the high school football field the morning after the seniors graduate so that the graduation seats and stage are still in place. Then, the ASB and Renaissance leaders carry a C2G banner and lead their peers into the stadium where they sit in the same seats the seniors sat in as they graduated. Student and Staffulty leaders then give speeches, and then each 8th grader crosses the stage to sign their C2G banner.
Licking Valley High School, OH – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“Licking Valley Renaissance’s main goal is to create an environment that increases students want to learn and create an encouraging campus. Both of these influence our climate which influences our culture and attitudes of all people on our staff. The Renaissance mission statement at our school is “Building a culture that empowers students to learn and grow un a climate that supports their future.”
Outstanding idea:
Renaissance students organized a special event for Veterans Day, to recognize all the current and former military members of their community.
Lucille Umbarger Elementary School, WA – Silver Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“At the Lucille Umbarger School, we strive to be kind, safe, engaged, and responsible through the lens of love. These are our school’s core values, and the core values of our Renaissance program. Love for our students, love for our Staffulty, and love for our greater community.”
Outstanding idea:
To include and recognize that many students at the school speak Spanish, the Lucille Umbarger School created new school merch that features their school chant in Spanish – Vamos Lobos!
Marshall County High School, TN – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“Tiger Renaissance seeks to promote a positive school culture and climate by identifying what is respected and finding meaningful ways to recognize and reward students and staffulty for their achievements and improvements. Through consistent recognition and reward, we are able to reinforce the importance of what we respect at Marshall County High School — the importance of what it means to be a Tiger.”
Outstanding idea:
Students and Staffulty created amazing and colorful displays throughout the year to help celebrate holidays, and recognize specific moments throughout the school year.
Mayde Creek High School – Silver Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“To recognize and reinforce Ram PRIDE (Purpose, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Excellence) on our campus in our students and Staffulty. To promote a positive school image and school spirit in all that we do – both within our campus and to our community outside of our school.”
Outstanding idea:
Mayde Creek took the old trophy case by the freshmen entrance and made it into a new C2G display, reminding students every time they walk through the doors why they are at high school.
Mountainair Middle and High School, NM – Silver Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“The Mustang STUCO-REN Leadership team’s goals are to create a welcoming environment in which all students feel at home and excited to be at school. Our hope is to create many opportunities for student engagement throughout the school year, encouraging students to be present and active in all aspects of school. The Mustang STUCO-REN Leadership team’s values are to be positive leaders, exhibit school pride, encourage others, provide all students with opportunities to have a voice, and create a fun environment that students enjoy participating in.”
Outstanding idea:
Staffulty invited parents to help chalk the sidewalk to include them in encouraging the students of their community.
Musselman High School, WV – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“Musselman High School aims to provide an inclusive environment in a positive and safe atmosphere. We drive and strive for student success using multiple outlets whether it be for academics, athletics, attendance, discipline, college commitment, military commitment, fairs, or field days. When we started the Renaissance program, our goal was to recognize students for their academics and attendance in a manner similar to that of athletics. We have continued working towards this goal since adopting and implementing the program in the 2007-2008 school year. The core values of our Renaissance program mimic the 6 R’s of Respect, Recognize, Reward, Reinforce, Relationships, and Results; we use these values to guide our student recognition both in and beyond the classroom.”
Outstanding idea:
The Renaissance team at Musselman hosted a Jostens Renaissance Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference – helping surrounding Staffulty and students in their area experience a slice of what JRGC is like!
Northwest High School, MI – Silver Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“Our group’s goals are to create an improved culture where we are seeking to produce respectful, responsible, kind, and hard working community stakeholders. We want to encourage the core values of kindness, intentionality, positivity, gratitude, relationships, growth, and engagement throughout our programs.”
Outstanding idea:
Students and Staffulty created a new art gallery, and a brand new mural outside their school that celebrates their community!
Oak Grove High School, NC – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“This year our Renaissance program worked to establish ourselves as a leadership team throughout the school… We have expanded our efforts and now have a faculty group of 13 members and 20 student ambassadors working together to implement the Jostens Renaissance program.”
Outstanding idea:
Oak Grove did their own take on a C2G signing banner – they took the outline of their school mascot and had students sign on the lines with school colors, creating a beautiful piece of art that features their Commitment to Graduate.
Pascagoula High School, MS – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“The Pascagoula High School Ren Crew’s goals are to provide students with an opportunity to shape the culture and climate of Pascagoula High School. Ren Crew members serve as student representatives who help plan, promote, and implement events throughout the year. Our core values are the same as those of Pascagoula High School – Kindness, Integrity, Determination, and Excellence. Ren Crew members are expected to uphold these values as well as exhibit the qualities of leadership, responsibility, and school spirit. Our Ren Crew is the student leadership portion of our PAWS (Positive Attitudes Will Succeed) philosophy that we use to improve the culture and climate of all members of Pascagoula High School.”
Outstanding idea:
Staffulty organized a balloon drop at their Renaissance Rally to reveal that Pascagoula High School achieved an A rating!
Powell High School, TN – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“The goals of Powell High School Renaissance Program is to notice others, listen to them, and let them know they are important. Also, to encourage them to be involved in school activities. We accomplish the goals by instilling out core values of commitment to the school and community, the building of positivity and kindness, and recognition of students and Staffulty.”
Outstanding idea:
The Renaissance team organized a Battle of the Mascots against a nearby high school, in an effort to raise money for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
Puyallup High School, WA – Gold Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“Our Renaissance group’s goal is to create a great climate and culture for the whole student body at our school. We strive to achieve these goals by creating strong relationships with all of our students and Staffulty in order to create an environment which every member of our school wishes to be a part of. Our biggest value as a group is recognition… At PHS we try to recognize ALL groups here at our school. By recognizing all of the clubs, organizations, faculty and staff, we are able to make everyone feel comfortable being themselves at our school… Another important value is inclusion. When all members of the PHS family feel included they are more likely to show up to school on time, participate in class, and get better grades.”
Outstanding idea:
They put on a Renaissance Rally – but not just any rally! A GLOW IN THE DARK RALLY!
Shelbyville Central High School, TN – Platinum Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“SCHS Renaissance seeks to create a positive school culture that fosters academic success, inclusivity, attendance, and improved behavior. This is achieved by focusing on the six R’s of Renaissance: Respect, Recognize, Reward, Reinforce, Relationships, and Results. Our goal is to make our school a place everyone feels welcome, loved, and accepted. As a result, students and Staffulty members want to be here. This creates a more successful learning environment for students and a positive work environment for Staffulty members.”
Outstanding idea:
During a Rally, students gave an honorary diploma to their school janitor – this was an emotional event for all involved as this Staffulty member was once a student at SCHS and was unable to graduate due to needing to work.
Solanco High School, PA – Silver Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“The mission of Solanco High School’s Renaissance Program is to promote and celebrate achievement and commitment. We want to celebrate our climate and culture as well as our academics and citizenship. Our Renaissance program strives to recognize not only individual students, but the entire school community from students to Staffulty. Our Renaissance program is based on the principles of performance, promotion and partnership (both within the school community and our community at-large). It is about renewing the school climate and culture by building the character of students inside and outside the classroom. It is about enhancing and growing connections with peers, parents, Staffulty, community, and all stakeholders. It is about creating a culture of celebration of all achievements to inspire success for the future. We want students and our Staffulty to want to be in school – to want to be an active part of the school community.”
Outstanding idea:
To improve their school look and reinforce a Commitment to Graduate, gold and black graduation caps were painted above the senior lockers.
Stafford High School, VA – Gold Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“The goal of the Renaissance program is to develop a community that supports our school core values while creating a positive school community. We want all members of our school community (students, staff, families, and Stafford county community members) to feel a sense of belonging to our school in a positive way. We want all community members to feel heard, valued, and a part of our school community. We are a community that is very diverse in many ways. A part of out goals is for all members to feel welcomed and safe so that they can perform academically and socially at their best daily. When students enter Stafford High School we have them sign the C2G Commitment to Graduate Wall. They pledge to do whatever it takes to graduate and to finish strong. Our Core values are defined in the acronym TRIBE which stands for Trust, Respect, Integrity, Betterment, and Effort.”
Outstanding idea:
Students at Stafford High School designed and painted new murals in their hallways to celebrate their community.
Summerville High School, SC – Gold Tier
Renaissance goals and values:
“One of our main goals is teacher retention and morale by prioritizing our school climate and culture. This goal overflows into our second goal, which is to recognize and celebrate our students in ways that capture all of our groups/organizations with the utmost diversity! The goal of our Renaissance program is to create a climate and culture within our school where all students and Staffulty know that they matter. They are the game changers and the difference makers in our school. Our core values are aligned with the district core values and our goal is to work with all Staffulty in the school to ensure our students are seen, heard, and loved. We are growing our Renaissance program at SHS and have new Staffulty support members that have been pitching in this year to help us Respect, Recognize, Reward, Reinforce, to get the Results and to build life long RELATIONSHIPS!”
Outstanding idea:
Students created a baseball themed hot dog cart that can go between rooms to surprise Staffulty with this fun reward!