FLEMINGTON, N.J. — Students from J.P. Case Middle School described a new school recognition program to the Flemington‑Raritan Regional School District board on Thursday, saying the program rewards leadership, volunteerism, citizenship and standing up for others.

Kaiden Battawala, an eighth‑grade student, told the board the Tiger Honor Court program gives students digital badges in four areas — leadership, citizenship, volunteerism and being an upstander — and that badges are earned through a point system. “The Tiger honor cord is obtained by first earning 4 digital badges. These digital badges consist of leadership, citizenship, volunteerism, and being an upstander,” Kaiden said, explaining that students submit evidence through a Google form on the school’s Tiger’s Den.

Student Sloan Anguli described examples that count toward badges, including volunteering at the Hunterdon County Library, caring for family pets while relatives are overseas, tutoring younger siblings and community clean‑ups. Sloan said the program is open to seventh‑ and eighth‑grade students and that there is no cost for the honor cord. “For the honor cord program, you don't — there's no cost involved,” Sloan said.

Why it matters: The program is designed to encourage student leadership, community engagement and positive behavior and to give students an additional way to be recognized at graduation.

Board members praised the student presenters and said the district will invite other students to future meetings to share updates. The students received certificates and were photographed with board members and administrators after the presentation.

Ending: The board said it looks forward to continuing student participation at meetings and to showcasing student‑led initiatives during the school year.