Eighth-Graders Honored at JMMS

Joseph Mellilo Middle School honored eighth-graders on June 23 for academic achievements. Parents of award-winning children were directed to the auditorium holding brightly colored invitations sent home last week to attend the ceremony.

This was more than just an awards assembly; the students received recognition from President Barack Obama. The award is called the President’s Award for Academic Excellence. It was presented to 22 students for maintaining an overall average of 90 percent or higher for two years. In addition to the plaque the students received, they were sent a special letter from Obama.

Assistant Principal Phyllis Savo was on hand to congratulate her students, accompanied by teachers from the Navy and Purple teams, along with guidance counselors and special education teachers.

Guidance counselor DeMaio emceed the awards ranging from honor status, unified arts, teacher awards for academics in core classes, as well as specialty recognitions for leadership, principal and assistant principal awards, and prestigious awards such as the Marie Carbo Service Award, Martin J. Defelice Award and the South Central Area Superintendent’s Association Award.

In a separate category, special awards were given for Pillars of Character.  Citizenship, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring and respect fall into this area. These awards are not based on academics, but solely on character. Pillar students recognized were Michael Falanga, Brianna Kaufman, Shawn Miller Zachary Tyler and Nicholas Vitale. Travis Giordano received all six pillars.

Students who had received awards monthly during the school year were asked to stand and be recognized as team achievers and students of the month. Peer students, parents and teachers applauded them loudly.

Savo made a special point of telling the eighth-graders that she expected them to continue on to higher goals, wherever their education made lead them in different high schools.

President’s Award

Megan Allderige, Francesca Amici, Donita Conieso, Melanie Carpanzano, Jessica Cima, Michael DeAngelo, Dante Gallucci, Ross Jones, Michelle Kabel, Stella Khan, Pedro Martinez, Alexandra Monico, Stephen Musial, Kaylee O’Brien, Bhumi Patel, Anthony Pepe, Daniel Petr, Sophia Sabaten, Zachary Vineyard, Caroline Wajdowicz, Natalia Wisniewski and Nicole Zielinski.

JMMS teacher Bonaguiso presented the South Central Area Superintendent’s Association Award to Michael Smith, citing him for his service to others, leadership in the school community and academic prowess relative to ability. Michael was originally recognized at a March 18 luncheon at the Laurel View Country Club. He also received special recognition for making a personal donation of Knex pieces to JMMS to support the bridge-building projects completed by eighth-grade students.

Marie Carbo was a dedicated and outstanding secretary at JMMS for many years, and through a presentation of the Marie Carbo Service Award, she is remembered each year. This is given to a student who shows dependability and a willingness to help others. Gem Sophia Sabaten was the student cited for 2011. The Assistant Principal's and Principal's awards are bestowed on students who inspire others to behave in a positive way, who have shown improvement and are assets to the school and community. Alexandra Monico received Assistant Principal, while the Principal’s award was granted to Stella Khan.

Teachers Curcio and Holt, who oversee the Student Council at the middle school, presented the Martin J. DeFelice award to Alexis Finkle, daughter of John and Cathy Finkle, and to Michelle Kabel who is the daughter of Millianne and Timothy Kabel.

Donita Canieso and Pedro Martinez were recognized as Scholar Leaders. “They have shown academic excellence, exemplify positive attitudes in all they do and are role models to their peers, always an example in the ideals of the school," said DeMaio. "They demonstrate leadership in the classroom and also in other activities in which they participate. These students are dependable and offer assistance if asked. Their personalities and character show the utmost integrity.  They were recognized on June 6 at a banquet at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington, and we are proud to recognize them here.”

Unified Arts Awards

Music at JMMS has three categories: band, choir and general music. Alyssa Vazquez, Angela Patella, Jeffrey Capone and John Lago received awards for participation in the school band. Some of the students will go on to the Yellow Jacket Marching Band at EHHS, and quite possibly the jazz ensemble and symphonic band there as well.

Dedication to choir for their heavenly voices and participation cited Francesca Caruso, Ross Jones, Brianna Kaufman, Megan Philips, Abigail Poulin, Michael Smith and Nicole Zielinski. General Music awards were presented to Melanie Carpanzano, Dante Gallucci, Alexandra Rivera and Derick Trickett for their dedication to this art.

Athletes awarded in physical education included Stella Khan, Amanda So, Samantha Bouthillier, Megan Allderige, Donita Canieso, Abigail Poulin, Anthony Pepe, Aaron Mino, Anthony Perrotti, Mike (Diesel) DeAngelo, Jeff Capone and Zachary Vineyard. These young men and women also participate in extra- curricular sports such as football, baseball, softball, track and field, hockey, soccer and basketball.  Many have been participants on championship teams.

Health classes at JMMS go hand in hand with physical ed. Alexia Allen and Jena Villeco achieved excellence in this class.

2010-2011 was the first academic year for the category of robotics. Students who excelled in these classes were also awarded. Congratulations to Megan Allderige, Natalia Wiszniewski, Stella Kahn and Diego Maldonado.

World language students recognized for excellence in reading, writing and speaking Spanish during their two years at Mellilo were the likes of Aaron Milano, Alexandra Monico, Zachary Vineyard, Pedro Martinez and Kevin Torres.

Computer class icons Sarai Rincon, Erin Duffy, Melanie Carpanzano and Kaylee O’Brien were cited by their teachers Curcio and Dutro. This year, a new addition to this course was state-of-the-art smart boards, using a new and different technology to entice the students and peak their capabilities through interactive learning.

Al Camera is the art instructor at the middle school who encourages creativity and individuality in his classroom. Students whom Camera recognized for height in art were Robin DelGobbo, Chazz Ferguson, Marc Cordova, Jayson Corso, Aaliyah Clark, Megan Allderige and Angela Barba.

Core class academic awards were presented to the following students for excellence.

Algebra: Caroline Wajdowicz and Natalia Wiszniewski. Pre-algebra: Francesca Caruso and Alexis Franco. Science: Dante Gallucci and Daniel Barcomb. Language Arts: Kaylee O’Brien, Savannah Smeriglio, Anthony Perrotti and Marco Cordova. Integrated language arts: Alexandra Monico, Megan Allderige, Alexia Allen and Stella Kahn. Social Studies: Christopher Anderson and Nicole Zielinski.

Phyllis Savo ended the ceremony by thanking the students for a wonderful academic year and congratulating them for their hard work and the achievements they have made. She wished them all good luck in high school.

“I hope you will take with you all you have learned in your years at JMMS, build on it and make good decisions. Keep your work ethic and standards high,” said Savo. Jokingly, she told them to “stay off of Face Book; I hope they shut it down.”