Newtown Middle School Moving-Up Ceremony

Honors Student Achievement

By Laurie Borst

Despite continuing rainy conditions, spirits were high and students joyful at the O’Neill Center on the evening of June 22. More than 450 eighth graders observed the right of passage from middle school to high school. Ceremonies began with eighth graders Brady Eggleston and Patrick Shirley performing “Pomp and Circumstance” on the cello and piano, respectively.

Diane Sherlock, Newtown Middle School principal, welcomed family and friends who filled the hall. Eighth grade students Bianca Crudo, Hannah DeFlumeri, Zoe Destories, Sheena Finlayson, and Kathleen Holroyd performed a beautiful rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” after which Stephanie Suhoza, Student Council president, delivered the welcoming address.

Mrs Sherlock announced the names of the President’s Awards for Educational Excellence. These students have earned a cumulative grade average of 95 on a 100-point scale for seventh grade and the first three marking periods of eighth grade and have recommendations from two teachers. Middle School Scholars were also acknowledged. These scholars are the 25 students who hold the highest academic averages of the President’s Award winners.

Kathy Boettner, assistant principal at the middle school, announced the cluster award winners and the Special Awards recipients.

CLUSTER ACADEMIC AWARDS

Cluster 8 Blue

Highest Cluster Average: Marissa Saravis: Language Arts: Nicole Vournazos; Mathematics: Patrick Harris; Integrated Math I: Calvin Song; Science: Megan Fahy; Social Studies: Christopher McCann; Citizenship: Brady Eggleston; Personal Growth/Academic Progress: Jason Howell; Creativity: Susan Mason

Cluster 8 Green

Highest Cluster Average: Zoe Destories; Language Arts: John Sapienza; Mathematics: Ashley Cech; Integrated Math I: Luke Fiore; Science: Benjamin Mahony; Social Studies: Kyle O’Connor; Citizenship: Wesley Yllanes; Personal Growth/Academic Progress: Eric Ralston; Creativity: Alyssa Rodriguez

Cluster 8 Orange

Highest Cluster Average: Amar Agashe; Language Arts: Julie DeAngelis; Mathematics: Nicholas Pasacreta; Integrated Math I: Brian Kuruc; Science: Hillary Buziad; Social Studies: Andrew Lapple; Citizenship: John Mackay; Personal Growth/Academic Progress: Elyssa Martinez; Creativity: Sheena Finlayson

Cluster 8 Purple

Highest Cluster Average: Samantha Allen; Language Arts: Carolyn Fagan; Mathematics: Mary Alicea; Integrated Math I: Felicia Ran; Science: Benjamin D’Agostino; Social Studies: Sara Phenix; Citizenship: Abigail Peck; Personal Growth/Academic Progress: Alexander Norwich; Creativity: Ryan Ames

Cluster 8 Red

Highest Cluster Average: Neyati Patel; Language Arts: Emily Grier; Mathematics: Jill Kressin; Integrated Math I: Anthony Vacaro; Science: Matthew Iassogna; Social Studies: Ashley Kuligowski; Citizenship: Kaitlin Hunt; Personal Growth/Academic Progress: James Toikka; Creativity: Andrew Nichols

Reading

Ryan Ames, Katherine Bowen, Hillary Buzaid, Meghan Gibbons, Ashley Valentine, Shane Wurtz

World Language Awards

French: Sara Phenix, Marissa Saravis

Spanish: Emily Anderson, Samantha DeFilippe, Zoe Destories, Megan Fahy, Nicholas Neves, Neyati Patel, Christopher Rekofsky, Amanda Sweat

Special Awards

Connecticut Association of Secondary Schools, Middle Level Scholar-Leaders: Nicole Vournazos and Kyle O’Connor; Connecticut Association of Secondary Schools, Middle Level Student-Leaders: Samantha DeFilippe and Timo Roehrs; Ellen Rogers Memorial: Ashley Valentine; Elks Club: Nicolle Waterhouse; Michael’s Jewelers: Stephanie Sanchez and Andrew Nichols; Sons of the American Revolution: Bianca Crudo; Secretary of State Excellence in Citizenship: Amanda Sweat; Superintendent’s Award: Shannon Zamary and Tyler Davenport; Weller Eighth Grade Scholastic Achievement: Zoe Destories