Nominations for the eighteenth annual Golden Apple Awards are taking place now and students are encouraged to nominate their favorite teacher by November 18, 2010.

                   The Golden Apple Awards recognize and reward the high standards of educators in the Greater Green Bay Area private and public schools.

                  Students can nominate teachers from schools in Ashwaubenon, Denmark, De Pere, Green Bay, Howard-Suamico, Luxemburg-Casco, Pulaski, Seymour, West De Pere, Wrightstown that teach grades kindergarten through twelfth grade.

                   The Golden Apple Awards are sponsored by the Partners in Education, a program of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. These annual awards provide individuals and organizations with opportunities to invest in a better tomorrow for students. 

                  The goal of the program is to improve the community’s awareness of its professional educators in the Greater Green Bay Area. Teachers that receive the Gold Apple Award help to form a community of quality educators in the community.

                  “A teacher that would be Golden Apple worthy would be someone who connects with their students well,” agreed Isaac Vineburg and Peter Schmitz, both sophomores.

                   Educators are selected by nomination from their students which are due by November 18, 2010. The teacher will then be notified of his nomination after December 8, 2010. Educators must then fill out and submit their applications to the Selection Committee by January 25, 2011.

                The selection committee will name the finalists based on the information review and personal interviews on March 9, 2011.

             The teachers that are selected for the Golden Apple Award will receive recognition at the Golden Apple Dinner Program, which will be held on April 20, 2011, and televised live on WLUK FOX 11. They will also receive a cash award of $2,000 and membership in the Golden Apple Academy.

               If Notre Dame Academy has such a large number of highly regarded teachers, why don’t more of them receive the Golden Apple Award?  Principal Mr. John Ravizza says it’s because NDA educators are so humble.

             “They don’t need the outside recognition,” he said.  Among those nominated last year were Fr. Gordon Gilsdorf, Mrs. Anne Hollenback and Mr. Steven Kircher.

                   “People here feel that this is their calling, to be a teacher,” said Mr. Ravizza.

                Students can show a teacher that they care by nominating their favorite teacher for the Golden Apple Award. Pre-addressed nomination forms are available in the Main Office. 

                  Students should detach, stamp and mail the form in by November 18, 2010.  Anyone, including parents, may nominate teachers for the award.

                  Students at NDA gave their views on what makes a teacher outstanding in this week’s Triton Twitter.  Check it out in your Online Tritonian.