Students from elementary, middle and high school levels were given awards for outstanding achievements in band, orchestra and chorus at the May 28 meeting. Seven students at the elementary level were recognized for achievements in the All-County Orchestra, followed by three in the All-County Band. Intermediate All-County orchestra awards were then presented by Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champ, including three students from the middle school and four students who were awarded for excellent performances in the intermediate All-County band.
Two high school students, Christian Prencis and Julian Kalehoff, were recognized for performances in All-County Jazz Band and four high school students were recognized for their performances in All-State String Orchestra, including Marcus Blackburn, Luis Joshua Casanas, Evan Kaplan and Cecilia Ojo.
Two students were granted awards for performance in All-State Concert Band, followed by two in All-State Mixed Chorus and three in All-State Treble Choir. High school student Rachel Solomon was presented with two awards: one for All-State Symphony Orchestra, as well as one for excellence in musical performance, which she was awarded for her soloist award at the World Strides Heritage Festival in Nashville. Awards were then presented to Pelham High School student Elliott Levine, who received three certificates for his accomplishments in the area, including the all-state symphony orchestra, All-County Jazz Band, All-State Symphonic Band, All-State Orchestra alternate, and a soloist award at the World Strides Heritage Festival.
In the highest level of musical performance, Samantha Bonanno received an award for All-State treble choir and All-State chorus alternate, accompanied by Grace Kiame, for excellence in musical performance in All-State vocal jazz.
Champ warmly presented the awards, commending families and recognizing that musical excellence is a “team effort to achieve at this level.”
The Board of Education appointed a total of fifteen teachers for tenure at the meeting.
“We are gathered here to recognize an incredible group of 15 educators whose unwavering commitment to our students and school community has earned them this well-deserved milestone tenure,” said Dr. Fitzgerald, the Executive Director of Human Resources. “It’s a proud moment not only for them, but for their families, their colleagues, and all of us who benefit from their work each and every day.”
The list of teachers is as follows:
- Ms. Kathy Briceno-Paul, high school and middle school Spanish teacher
- Ms. Donna Dolce, high school teacher’s assistant working in the Therapeutic Support Program
- Mr. Brandon Barocco, high school living environment and engineering teacher
- Mr. Ken Olympio, middle school accelerated algebra, algebra I, and high school AP Computer Science
- Mr. Christopher Motta, 6 grade social studies teacher
- Ms. Christina Sacco, middle school special education teacher
- Mrs. Danielle Cristerna, Prospect Hill Elementary School kindergarten teacher
- Ms. Kristina Gallina, Prospect Hill Elementary School library teacher
- Ms. Gabby Sokol, Prospect Hill Elementary School third-grade teacher
- Ms. Amesquita, Prospect Hill Elementary School interventionist
- Mrs. Kara Weiss, Prospect Hill Elementary School research room teacher
- Ms. Annamarie Nardon, Colonial Elementary School psychologist
- Ms. Elyssa Szoke, Hutchinson Elementary School occupational therapist
- Ms. Karen Weaver, Elementary School psychologist
- Ms. Tracy Holtz, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services
