Newtown Rotary Selected Five To Honor

As December Students Of The Month

Rotarian Tony Salvatore, who is also assistant principal at Reed Intermediate School, introduced students and explained why they were chosen as the Rotary Student of Month in December. Rotary President Paul Lux assisted by presenting a certificate to each student during a ceremony to introduce the students.

Sally Martinelli is a fifth grader at Reed Intermediate School. Sally’s teachers state that there were many students worthy of recognition; however, the achievements of Sally Martinelli stood out.

Her teachers said that Sally is not only an excellent student, but is also a giving member of the community. She currently serves as the vice president of the Reed Intermediate School (Rotary Sponsored) Interact Club and has been an integral part in many service projects. Sally spent a Saturday morning working at the Rotary Club’s 45th Annual Pancake Breakfast along with other Interact Club members from the middle and high schools.

During the Halloween season, instead of collecting candy and treats, Sally collected money for UNICEF and contributed to the $1,800 raised at Reed School. On Veterans’ Day, she wrote cards to thank local veterans for their service to our country. Recently Sally led a team of Interact Club members in affixing personalized presentation labels to approximately 100 dictionaries in support of the Newtown Rotary Club’s Dictionary Project for every fourth grader in Newtown.

In her spare time, Sally is actively engaged in the Girl Scouts, is an altar server at St Rose Church, and participates in soccer, tennis, and the swim team. Sally also enjoys playing the violin and piano. She played the piano at the 2005 Holiday Festival Victorian Tea.

Sally acknowledges her supportive family in her “love to help the world” as well as her cairn terrier, Nellie. Her teachers, Jonathan Hull and John Sicbaldi, witnessed one of the more touching and kind moments this year when Sally invited other students to sign a card for a friend with cancer. Her teachers say Sally is a positive force.

Christina Gould is a sixth grader at Reed Intermediate School. Her teachers Barbara Mancher and Sara Strait say that Christina is an excellent student who always gives 100 percent effort in everything she sets out to do. She is a kind, considerate, and helpful young lady to her peers and teachers. Along with the fine work that she does in the classroom, Christina is just as helpful in the community.

She is a member of the St Rose Youth Group, Girl Scouts, the travel soccer team, and has worked with Newtown Junior Women’s Club. She has volunteered at soup kitchens and participated in events such as Jump Rope For Heart and Relay For Life. In her spare time, Christina plays the clarinet, enjoys tennis, spends time with her older brother, her parents, and her dog, Abbey.

“Christina realizes how lucky she is and is dedicated to helping those who are less fortunate. She puts service to others before herself and is deserving of this honorable award,” Ms Mancher said.

Danielle Vabner is a sixth grader at Reed School. Her teachers Valerie Pachniuk and Richard Neeb are proud to recognize Danielle for her accomplishments so far this year. Her teachers report that Danielle was new to Reed Intermediate School this year. She immediately took an active role as a learner. Her positive attitude, eagerness to do well, and desire to meet many new friends was just part of her success.

Danielle immediately gained the respect of her peers as she ran for homeroom representative on the Student Council, and was selected as an alternate. This responsibility has since changed into a full-time position as the homeroom representative, and she keeps her peers informed about council news.

Danielle demonstrates her creativity, responsibility, and honesty every day in class. She is compassionate to her classmates, and listens to her peers. Her class work and organizational skills are beyond her years. Danielle’s demeanor is quiet, but her friendly personality can light up a room and is well received by others.

“She is not only an asset to our class, but also to our school as a self-directed leader and positive role model. It is our pleasure to recognize Danielle with the Rotary’s Personal Achievement Award,” her teachers stated.

Shannon Paproski is a seventh grader from the Green Cluster at Newtown Middle School. She is the daughter of Stephen and Diana Paproski of Newtown. Shannon has one older sister, Stephanie, a sophomore at NHS. Her nickname is Pickles.

Her teachers — Karen Bejerle, Wendy Bowen, Jillian Morias, and Tom DeBenedetto — were pleased to select Shannon as their Rotary Student of the Month. She was instrumental in gathering pumpkins for a cluster activity and is a tremendous asset who is well respected by both her teachers and classmates alike.

Shannon plays the oboe in the school band, and recently tried out for the NMS March production of the musical Seussical. Outside of school, sports is a favorite activity. She is a member of the Parks and Recreation travel soccer team and the basketball team. Shannon has taken private tennis lessons for the past two years and enjoys taking a hip-hop dance class at Dance, Etc.

 She is an active member of her church’s youth group. Along with her sister, Shannon enjoys babysitting for three little boys. Along with the members of her family, Shannon helped raise $5,000 for Relay For Life.

At home on Castle Hill Farm, Shannon has many chores such as feeding the animals. She helps to care for several chickens, one bull, two steers, a pet rooster, George, who lives inside their home in winter, three dogs, and 28 cats! She participates in the 4-H Club and would like to become a veterinarian.

Sara Sjoblom is an eighth grader at Newtown Middle School. She is an honor student from the Green Cluster. Her parents are Eric and Theresa, and she has a younger brother, Brian, who is a fifth grader at Reed Intermediate.

At school Sara particularly enjoys math and social studies and is looking forward to the eighth grade trip to Washington and Gettysburg in April. She takes advanced gymnastics at Monroe Dance Academy. Sara enjoys babysitting for 2-year-old twins. Sara is an active member of her church’s youth group and will be participating in an upcoming environmental project.

Her teachers — Phil Cruz, Mary Connolly, Beverly Johnsen, and Jeanne Cavallaro — are very proud of Sara and remark, “Sara is a very conscientious student. If there is an assignment that she is not certain about the requirements, Sara is certain to ask. As the year is getting more difficult, Sara is not discouraged; she is rising to the challenge of our expectations. A mature, young woman, Sara works well in all different groups with her peers.”

Lucy French is a senior at Newtown High School. Lucy plays basketball for the high school and loves it. Lucy has been an outstanding student, states her social studies teacher, Amy Replay.

“Lucy is truly a star student, she always makes insightful and heartfelt comments. Lucy is outgoing and never is intimidated nor afraid to say what she thinks,” said Ms Replay.

“In our Conversations on Race class she has truly bridged the gap with her use of conversation between the students of Newtown High and Bassick High School. She is truly an individual.

“I hope that I will have students like Lucy in the future because she brings so much to the program,” continued the teacher. “I am glad that next year she will be my student again in sociology and independent study.”