The first month of the new school year has breezed by in the proverbial blink of an eye at Washington Primary School. Students walked into their respective classroom back in early September and quickly settled into their daily routines, rolled up their sleeves and got down to the tasks at hand.
The sun is always shining over Washington School. Need proof? Walk around and see all the smiling faces. Students disembark their bus each morning and make a beeline for the front doors of the building. They happily greet Principal Marsha Neville, teachers and support staff members along the way as they head down the hall to their room.
Washington students have shown an almost mythical degree of loyalty to the school since it opened in September 1954. They simply love the place and retain fond memories of school there long after they move on with their lives.
Mrs. Neville recently presented awards to a large group of students who were cited for their exceptional efforts throughout September. The honorees were announced over the building’s public address system. One by one they walked down to the main lobby and were given a handsome certificate. The group then went outside and posed for a commemorative photo with the principal.
September’s Washington Ways Award honorees include Sophie Tarry, Hunter Moreno, Byron Jimenez, Behan England, Cecilia Lee, Riley Nakelski, Jimena Jimenez, Danny Stabile, Leo McTaggert, Lindsay Romero-Bonilla, Michael Bonilla, Janelle Benitez, Amanda Ganley, Leila O’Toole, Michael DiVencenzo, Paola Lopez-Flores, Juanita Marquez Alvarez, Katherine Valle-Herrera, Anderson Avalos Coreas and Keysy Diaz Campos.
The entire classes of teachers Mary Grever, Cindy Palmirotto and Jennifer Stucchio were recognized as September’s Blue Ticket Award honorees.
Here’s how the Washington Ways program works:
White tickets are awarded weekly for good behaviors and actions in the classroom. White ticket winners are honored with special recognition in their classroom at the end of each week and their names are announced every Monday morning.
Red tickets are presented to individuals for notable good behavior outside of classrooms, including in hallways, buses, the playground and cafeteria, etc. At the end of the month, the student in each class with the greatest number of red tickets is recognized with a special certificate.
Entire classes can earn blue tickets for positive group behavior out-of-the-classroom. Blue tickets are also awarded to the two classes within the building with the most tickets overall.
Featured Artists of the Month
Mrs. Neville also presented Featured Artist of the Month Awards to Constance Bublin, Fabian Martinez Umana, Henry Nottingham, Ariel Alvizures Uceda, Dana Gonzales Ramirez, Nathan Falk, Aylin Gomez Chileno, Josue Quintanilla Lopez, Spencer Sturges, Emmet Cocoman, Jaden Guardado Velasquez, Marilyn Mendoza Virula, Sophia Fiore, Christina Ray, Ella Van Horn, Aris Cruz Guevara, Breilin Perez, Sophia Saravia Garay and Anderson Avalos Coreas.
Each member of the group received a certificate and a medallion hanging from a red, white and blue ribbon that they wore around the neck. Their artwork is now on display in the school’s main hallway near the cafeteria. The students are in classes taught by art teacher Maria Mazzola.
