Newtown Rotary Club Names December’s Students Of The Month

The Newtown Rotary Club recently recognized five outstanding students for the month of December. The criteria for the Rotary Student of the month award includes community service, citizenship, resiliency, positive attitude, and the capacity for self-directed learning.

Reed Intermediate School Assistant Principal and Rotarian Anthony Salvatore awarded student of the month honors to Casey Demers from the Reed School, Melissa Briscoe and Stefanie Clavette from the Newtown Middle School, Megan Duero from St Rose School, and Michelle D’Amico from the Newtown High School.

Casey Demers was named the fifth grade student of the month. She is a hardworking, self-motivated student who excels in all subject areas. Her continuous smile and her willingness to help her classmates and teachers demonstrate her commitment to the Newtown community. She is respected by her peers and was recently elected by her classmates as a representative to Reed School’s student council.

Casey is active in many school and community activities. She writes Reed School’s newspaper, The Patriot Press, and runs on the school’s track team. She also enjoys horseback riding and playing the piano.

At Newtown Middle School, the Rotary Club student of the month is Melissa Biscoe. Melissa’s teachers, Ms Catanese, Ms Mulligan, Ms Unger, and Mr Ventresca, said that that “she is one of the best students we have worked with and is an ideal student for this award.” They also said that she is a wonderful asset in the classroom, because her energy and enthusiasm draw her classmates into group discussions and encourage them to take risks in the learning process.

They also described her as a “history buff” and said she enjoyed a recent field trip to Plimouth Plantation. Melissa plays percussion in the Newtown Middle School band, and plans on trying out for the NMS spring musical, Beauty and the Beast. Her volunteer work includes assisting Hawley School teachers with various science activities.

Stefanie Clavette, an eighth grader at NMS, was recognized as a Rotary student of the month for her academic achievements, extracurricular activities and volunteer work. Stefanie is an honor roll student, and hopes to become a cardiovascular surgeon. Her teachers, Ms Lang, Mrs Devaney, Ms Glynn, and Ms Hayducky said, “Stefanie is such a conscientious student at all times. She is kind and willing to help other students in our cluster no matter what their abilities might be. She is helpful and compassionate, and we are very proud of her!”

Stefanie enjoys participating in NMS Travel Basketball where she plays forward on the team. She loves to listen to all kinds of music and is a member of the school band where she plays the clarinet. She also teaches CCD at St Rose school, and volunteers at the Dorothy Day House.

Mr Ryan Woodcock from St Rose School named eighth grader Megan Duero student of the month. Megan’s teachers and classmates appreciate her passionate, kind heart, and her mature sense of self. Megan has consistently made the honor roll and high honor roll at St Rose School where she also takes advanced math and Spanish classes. She also enjoys swimming with Newtown Parks and Recreation swim team.

Megan’s volunteer work benefits both St Rose School and the larger Newtown community. As a member of the St Rose Art Club, she helps elementary-age students with their projects every week. She participates in the Live Nativity fundraiser, and in many other fundraising activities. She has also become a “visiting friend” to a local senior citizen. She spends two days a week helping this individual, who has no family in the area. Megan helps with cooking and cleaning, and enjoys conversing and playing card games with the senior citizen

Kristen Violette, a teacher at the Fine and Applied Arts Department at Newtown High school, recognized senior Michelle D’Amico as the fifth and final student of the month. Ms Violette praised Michelle as kind, sincere, respectful, and caring. Michelle demonstrates persistence in tackling difficult school assignments. She enjoys volunteer work, and is always willing to listen and sympathize with her classmates.

The Rotary Club extends its congratulations to December’s students of the month.