The Lower School community — students, faculty, staff and leadership gathered in the Lower School gym for the final Tree Talk of the school year on Thursday, May 29. Birthdays were celebrated, milestones were shared and examples of Lead From Here were recognized as members of the Lower School Student Council led the program.

Another important part of the program was the presentation of two special fifth-grade awards celebrating Ravenscroft’s core values of scholarship, leadership and character. 

Fifth-Grade Scholar Awards

The Fifth-Grade Scholar Award is given to students who demonstrate academic excellence across all subject areas, a passion for learning, and key attributes such as accountability, resilience and a growth mindset. 

This year’s recipients are Rowan English ’32 and Ananti Patel ’32.

“Ananti is an outstanding student who consistently excels in every subject. She was chosen for the Fifth-Grade Scholar Award due to her steadfast commitment to academic integrity and genuine passion for learning,” fifth-grade math teacher Nicole Spivey remarked. “Fifth-grade teachers describe her as accountable, resilient, and someone who exemplifies a strong growth mindset — all traits that reflect her deep commitment to Ravenscroft’s Lead From Here principles."

"Rowan shines as a true leader every day, in addition to his academic achievements. His teachers describe him as academically driven, inspiring and kind-hearted. An active member of the Lower School Student Council, Rowan is always ready to support his peers. He demonstrates honesty, fairness, respect, and responsibility — values central to the Ravenscroft community.”

Dr. Chris Harper Citizen Leader Award

The Dr. Chris Harper Citizen Leader Award was established last year and named for longtime Ravenscroft counselor and Lead From Here facilitator Chris Harper. The award recognizes two fifth-grade students who exemplify the traits of adaptability, collaboration, ethical behavior, and inclusion, qualities that Harper has consistently modeled throughout her tenure at Ravenscroft. What makes this award particularly meaningful is that it is peer-selected.

Two students were chosen to receive this year’s Dr. Chris Harper Citizen Leader Award: Charlie Baldwin ’32 and Keyan Coole ’32, recognized for their thoughtful leadership and positive impact on the Lower School community. 

“Charlie and Keyan have always committed to working effectively in diverse environments, valuing collaboration, upholding the highest ethical standards, and fostering an inclusive culture with their classmates,” fifth-grade history and social studies teacher Wes Brown said. Keyan's peers said he is ‘funny’ and ‘easy to talk to.’ And Charlie’s peers characterized her as ‘very smart and kind to everyone’.

Congratulations to these remarkable students!

Enjoy photos from this event and more on Flickr.