Frank Speziale photo

NORWICH – Norwich Middle School recognized its Student Icon Award winners during a mid-year celebration on Thursday morning.

NMS Principal Scott Ryan said the Student Icon Award is part of a Recognition Rethink initiative within the middle school's strategic planning department which strives to find ways to increase opportunities to recognize students in grades six through eighth.

63 sixth graders, 90 seventh graders, and 88 eighth graders were recognized Thursday morning after being nominated by one or more of their teachers for exceeding expectations in the following areas: applying self to daily learning; showing effort, participation and preparedness; having respect for self, peers and the school environment; and demonstrating excellent attendance and promptness.

Ryan said in year's past, as part of the Recognition Rethink initiative, NMS would recognize two students from each grade level monthly.

"What our strategic planning session focused on this year was how can we recognize more students?" said Ryan. "What teachers said was, 'I want to be able to recognize and nominate students for my class specifically.'"