Students Honored At Middle School Moving-Up Ceremony

By Laurie Borst

On the evening of June 21, family, friends filled the O’Neill Center on Western Connecticut State University’s Westside Campus to honor the achievements of Newtown Middle School eighth graders as they marked the end of their grade school careers and looked forward to moving on to Newtown High School.

Middle school Principal Diane Sherlock welcomed the audience and expressed how proud she was of the students and their accomplishments. Eighth grader Katherine McMorran performed a superb rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Student Council President Josh Engler took the podium to thunderous applause for the Welcome Address. He advised his classmates to “be hungry for new experiences and try new things” as they moved on to the next phase in their lives.

Student representatives from each of the five eighth grade clusters presented reflections. Sharing memories and advice for the future were Gretchen Streett, William Northrop, Megan Preis, Alexandra Grant, and Tyler Flynn.

Eight grader Alexandra Henriques provided the musical interlude, performing “The Cat and The Mouse” by Aaron Copland. Brian White played the recessional “Rondo Ala Turk” by Mozart.

Assistant Principal Kathy Boettner announced cluster award winners and special awards recipients after the musical interlude.

 

CLUSTER ACADEMIC AWARDS

Cluster 8 Blue

Highest Cluster Average: Ayesha Dholakia; Language Arts: Jillian Jagoe; Mathematics: Danielle Priolo; Integrated Math I: Andrew Hsu; Science: Dylan Berger; Social Studies: Emma Fiore; Citizenship: Gretchen Streett; Personal Growth/Academic Progress: Aidan Sherman; Creativity: Alissa Silber

Cluster 8 Green

Highest Cluster Average: Miryam Wilson; Language Arts: Melissa Charles; Mathematics: Jocelyn Toll; Integrated Math I: Gregory Campbell; Science: Abben Hung; Social Studies: Michael Shannon; Citizenship: Oliver Powers; Personal Growth/Academic Progress: Madeleine Gagne; Creativity: William Northrop

Cluster 8 Orange

Highest Cluster Average: Ishan Tatake; Language Arts: Kasturi Mitra; Mathematics: Kyle Bella; Integrated Math I: Kristen Carino; Science: Matthew Jensen; Social Studies: James Rebman; Citizenship: Douglas Brede; Personal Growth/Academic Progress: Andrew Bonvini; Creativity: Brandon Adsitt-Weiner

Cluster 8 Purple

Highest Cluster Average: Drew Robinson; Language Arts: Lauren Berko; Mathematics: Austin Jones; Integrated Math I: Kevin Rovelli; Science: Kaitlyn Connolly; Social Studies: Steven Brown; Citizenship: Jennifer Smith; Personal Growth/Academic Progress: Lauren Cody; Creativity: Jane Ellen Anderson

Cluster 8 Red

Highest Cluster Average: Brian Reed; Language Arts: Laura Paik; Mathematics: Sarah Zuvanich; Integrated Math I: Hannah Koch; Science: Erica Green; Social Studies: Alexandra Henriques; Citizenship: Casey Hill; Personal Growth/Academic Progress: Amanda Swift; Creativity: Paige Olsen

Reading

Amanda Swift, Aidan Sherman

World Language Awards

French: Brian Reed, Ishan Tatake

Spanish: Erica Green, Alexander Lansing, Max Nacewicz, Katherine McMorran, Kevin Rovelli, Molly Sheluck, Miryam Wilson, Sarah Zuvanich

Special Awards

Michael’s Jewelers: Alyssa Vetrano and Matthew Datin; Sons of the American Revolution: Molly Sheluck; Connecticut Association of Schools Student Leader: Matthew Jensen and Ayesha Dholakia; Ellen Rogers Award: Sara Hill; Secretary of State’s Citizenship Award: Gretchen Streett; Scholar Leaders: Leah Barrett and Josh Engler; Superintendent’s Award: Brandon Body and Jane Ellen Anderson; Elks Award: Kyra Smith; Weller Award for Highest Academic Average: Molly Sheluck