What Is Renaissance?

Principal Phillip R. Silsby started the Renaissance Program at Belleville West in 1993 in order to encourage all students to achieve their academic potential while at the same time fostering a stronger sense of school community among students, faculty, and staff. Originally the Renaissance Program consisted of a few dedicated faculty members who worked with local businesses to find incentives that would motivate students to success. Today the program recognizes over 1,000 students for their academic efforts. The Renaissance Committee is one of the largest co-curricular activities on the Belleville West campus. It is the only activity in which students, faculty, staff, and administrators work together on a regular basis to better their school community.

Renaissance recognizes students in three tiers based on their academic success. The Silver Card Scholars have improved their cumulative GPA by .5 from the previous semester. The Gold Card Scholars maintain a B average each semester. Finally, Maroon Card Scholars earn straight A's each semester. In addition, Renaissance recognizes students through programs such as Students and Staff of the Month and the Class Act Award, which acknowledges students who show exceptional character in challenging situations.

How Do Students Benefit?

• Recognition - Each semester Renaissance students receive Success Cards that correspond to their tier. On the back of the Success Cards are discounts and offers from local businesses that are good for one semester.

• Encouragement - The program encourages students not only to do well in their coursework, but it also encourages them to continually work to improve their grades and move on to the next tier.

• Character - In order to be eligible as a cardholder, a student must not only meet the academic requirements for Renaissance. He or she must also have good attendance and a clean discipline record.

• Support for athletics and the arts - Every year the program recognizes those students and teams who are scholar-athletes as well as the individuals who qualify as scholar-artists based on their activities and grades. In the Renaissance program provides subsidies for cardholders and their parents to attend athletic events and theater productions for free in order to greater enhance their role in the campus community.

• Support for important school programs - The Renaissance Program provides money for those activities that would disappear without funding. In the past the program has paid for the Mighty Maroon Awards in which teachers recognize those students who make a difference, helped provide transportation for those students who cannot afford field trip fees, and recognized exceptional students with the Eagle Award, which is given to one amazing senior who has made the biggest positive change in four years at Belleville West.