Students from both Birches Elementary School and Orchard Valley Middle School were awarded for achievements and academic efforts at last week’s meeting
With bunny ears atop their heads and “Rainbow Rabbit” in their hands, students from Birches Elementary School stood before the Board of Education last week to represent their fellow classmates and their participation in the Great Kindness Challenge last month.
According to Mike Petticrew, Birches’ student assistance counselor and anti-bullying specialist, this is the second year the school has participated in the Great Kindness Challenge Week.
“The week was dedicated to performing as many random acts of kindness as possible at school, at home and in the community,” Petticrew said.
Throughout the week, students celebrated diversity, inclusion and acceptance, spreading the message that kindness matters. This year, students had the help of “Rainbow Rabbit,” a 40-year-old book by Arthur Vallee now being used as an anti-bullying program in schools across the state.
The rabbit’s rainbow coat promotes the idea that unique qualities are special and beautiful, and differences in appearance should be embraced with kindness.
The Board of Education recognized the students for their caring actions and their assistance in helping make Birches a welcoming place for students every day.
Following their presentation, the Board of Education also recognized Orchard Valley Middle School seventh grader Morgan Velykis for being named a finalist in the WHYY-TV I Like This Book contest.
According to OVMS Principal Colleen McLaughlin, Morgan was chosen out of more than 1,500 entries based on her application describing why she enjoyed the book of her choice, “The Hamilton Affair” by Elizabeth Cobbs.
Morgan said the story had “just the right amount of action, drama and romance.”
“Morgan is a young woman who has a quiet strength about herself,” McLaughlin said. “Her compassion for others and her love of writing is a combination of the determination Alexander Hamilton had pursuing his political career and the strength of his wife, Elizabeth Hamilton.”
Morgan had the opportunity to film a 30-second clip illustrating why she liked the book, and her spot runs on the WHYY-TV channel.
“Those of us who know Morgan can clearly understand why she was chosen as a finalist and was filmed for a 30-second clip about herself and the book she read. She is our own personal television star,” McLaughlin said. “I have no doubt that Morgan will achieve her dream and become an author one day. We congratulate her for this remarkable honor.”
In other news:
• Thomas Jefferson Elementary School Principal Gary Breen was recognized by the school’s staff, students and community for holding the position for five years, with this year’s fifth graders his “first graduating class.” A surprise presentation of a framed photo of the entire fifth-grade class was given to Breen to display in his office.
“What an honor it is to be recognized, not just by administration and the board, but by my Thomas Jefferson family,” Breen said. “I am truly lucky to do what I do.”
- The Board of Education approved Eric Ring as the new WTHS wrestling head coach. Ring has held the position of assistant coach since 2012, and is a former Minuteman, having graduated in 2001.
- Board of Education President Ginny Murphy announced the board received a plaque from the state School Boards Association Board Member Academy for achieving their board certification this month.
- Resident Kathy Giaconia asked the Board of Education, administration and community to consider participating in National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 2. As a member of “Moms Demand Action,” she said the day calls for everyone to wear orange in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old girl who was shot and killed in Chicago.
“This is not a political issue, this is not about gun control, it is a push to wear orange in recognition of victims of gun violence in our country every day,” Giaconia said. “It includes suicide, children who have accidentally shot one another or themselves, domestic abuse, crossfires, mass shootings, school shooting, any gun violence that occurs.”
For more information, visit www.wearorange.org.
